Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I'm pregnant?

That's such a relief to hear! I was really worried they'd automatically deny me. Should I mention my pregnancy in my initial application or wait until they ask?

You don't need to volunteer pregnancy information upfront, but if they ask during adjudication, just be honest. The key is proving you're able and available for suitable work.

How far along were you when you applied? I'm worried potential employers might not want to hire someone who's obviously pregnant.

I was about 7 months when I filed. The job search requirement is separate from actually getting hired - you just need to show you're making the effort.

My doctor says I can work normally until at least 38 weeks. Should I get that in writing in case Washington ESD asks?

It wouldn't hurt to have documentation ready, but most of the time they won't ask unless there's a specific reason during adjudication.

Thanks for the tip! I've already tried calling Washington ESD twice and couldn't get through. How much does Claimyr cost?

They have different options but it's way cheaper than the stress and lost time from trying to call on your own. Definitely worth it when you need answers quickly.

That makes sense - I can work any shift right now so hopefully that won't be an issue for me.

Your friend should have appealed that decision. Having some restrictions doesn't automatically disqualify you if you're still available for suitable work.

Thank you! I'm planning to file this weekend. Do I need to wait until my last day of work or can I apply before then?

You can apply the week after your last day of work. Don't wait too long though - the sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed.

Have you tried calling them? I keep seeing people say the phone lines are impossible to get through on.

I've called probably 50 times and either get busy signal or get disconnected after waiting on hold. It's incredibly frustrating.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's designed to solve this exact problem. Way better than burning your whole day trying to get through to Washington ESD.

That's really good to know! Is there somewhere I can read more about the specific laws around this?

The Washington ESD website has information about eligibility requirements. You can also look up the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act for more background.

Oh that's great to know! I hadn't even thought about what happens after the baby is born. Is that through Washington ESD too?

Yes, it's administered through Washington ESD but it's a different program. You'd apply for that separately when you need the leave time.

That's what I'm worried about. How do I handle interviews when I'm clearly pregnant? Do I have to disclose it?

You don't have to disclose pregnancy during interviews, and employers can't legally ask. Just focus on your qualifications and ability to do the job.

Right, it was definitely a layoff due to company downsizing, not anything related to my pregnancy. Good to know that makes a difference.

Exactly. Since you were laid off through no fault of your own, your pregnancy is completely irrelevant to your unemployment claim eligibility.

The key is 'suitable work' - you're only required to accept jobs that are suitable for your situation. If you have medical restrictions, those would be taken into account.

That makes sense. I guess as long as you're not turning down jobs you could actually do, you should be fine.

How long did it take for your claim to be approved? I'm hoping it won't take too long since I need the income.

Mine was approved within about 2 weeks. Some claims take longer if they need to verify information, but pregnancy shouldn't cause any delays.

I'll check that out! I haven't had any complications so far, just normal pregnancy symptoms.

Sounds like you'll be fine then. The vast majority of pregnant women continue working until close to their due date, so unemployment shouldn't be any different.

That's great news! I'm so glad it worked out. How long did it take to get through with Claimyr?

Maybe 15 minutes total? Way better than the hours I spent trying to call directly. Definitely recommend it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

That's really reassuring. I've been stressing about this for weeks. Sounds like I should just file the claim and stop overthinking it.

Exactly! The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. There's really no reason to delay based on pregnancy concerns.

That's a good point. I'm hoping to find something soon but it's good to know there are options for after the baby comes.

Washington State actually has pretty good family leave benefits compared to other states. Definitely worth researching as you get closer to your due date.

Thanks for the confirmation! It's really helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this.

No problem! Don't let pregnancy anxiety stop you from getting the benefits you're entitled to. You paid into the system, so you deserve to use it when you need it.

That's a good way to think about it. I was putting too much pressure on myself to actually get hired quickly.

Right - the system recognizes that not everyone finds work immediately. That's the whole point of unemployment benefits, to provide support during the job search process.

Hopefully it won't come to that, but good to know appeals are an option if needed.

Most pregnancy-related unemployment claims go through without any issues. The system is designed to be fair, and pregnancy is a well-established protected status.