Can pregnant women get Washington ESD unemployment benefits - need help understanding eligibility

Being pregnant absolutely does NOT disqualify you from Washington ESD unemployment benefits! This is a common misconception. As long as you're able and available for work, you can receive UI benefits. The key is that you need to be actively seeking work and able to accept suitable employment if offered.

Thank you! That's such a relief. What counts as 'able and available' when you're pregnant though? I can still work but obviously can't do heavy lifting jobs anymore.

You just need to be available for work that's suitable for your condition. So if you normally did office work, you'd need to be available for office work. You don't have to accept jobs that would be unsafe for your pregnancy.

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. Filed for Washington ESD benefits at 7 months pregnant and had no issues getting approved. Just make sure you're honest about your work restrictions on your weekly claims and keep applying for jobs you can actually do.

Did you have to explain your pregnancy during the application process or did it come up later?

I mentioned it when they asked about any work restrictions, but it didn't affect my claim at all. The adjudicator was very understanding.

Wait, you have to go through adjudication just for being pregnant? That seems unfair.

ugh i've been calling washington esd for WEEKS trying to get through about my pregnancy situation and can never reach anyone!! the automated system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever. this is so frustrating when you need answers

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com, they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

is that legit? sounds too good to be true honestly

Totally legit! I was skeptical too but it actually connected me to an agent in like 20 minutes. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

The job search requirement is what trips up most pregnant women. You still need to apply for at least 3 jobs per week in Washington state. Document everything in your job search log - even if employers don't call back because of your pregnancy, you're still meeting the requirement by applying.

Do I have to tell potential employers I'm pregnant when I apply? I'm worried they won't consider me.

You're not required to disclose pregnancy in applications, and legally they can't discriminate. Focus on applying for positions you can genuinely perform.

this whole system is broken... pregnant women shouldnt have to jump through these hoops when they lose their jobs. the stress alone isn't good for the baby!

I agree it's stressful, but at least Washington state is better than some places. The benefits really help during that transition time.

true, i guess i should be grateful. just wish the process was easier

Make sure you understand the difference between being unemployed due to pregnancy complications vs. being laid off while pregnant. If you quit due to pregnancy-related medical issues, that might affect your eligibility differently than being laid off for business reasons.

Good point! I was definitely laid off due to store closures, not anything pregnancy related. Should I mention that specifically in my application?

Yes, be clear about the reason for separation. Business closure is a straightforward qualifying reason for benefits.

File your claim ASAP! There's a waiting week and processing time. I made the mistake of waiting and lost out on benefits I could have received earlier in my pregnancy.

I'm planning to file this weekend. Is there anything specific I should prepare beforehand?

Have your employer info, last day worked, and reason for separation ready. The online application is pretty straightforward.

Just a heads up - if you go on maternity leave and receive any kind of disability benefits for childbirth, that might affect your UI eligibility during that time. Washington ESD has specific rules about concurrent benefits.

I was planning to apply for paid family leave after the baby comes. Will that conflict with unemployment?

You'll need to report any other benefits you receive. They might reduce your UI payment or temporarily suspend it, but you won't lose eligibility permanently.

Right, Washington state has the Paid Family and Medical Leave program now, which is separate from unemployment benefits. You can't receive both simultaneously for the same period.

been there! filed at 8 months pregnant and got benefits no problem. the weekly claims are easy once you get the hang of it. just remember to certify every week even if you haven't heard back about job applications

How long did it take for your first payment to come through?

about 3 weeks after filing, but that included the waiting week. first payment covered 2 weeks of benefits

One thing that helped me was joining pregnancy job search groups on Facebook. Other moms shared which employers were pregnancy-friendly and what types of work-from-home opportunities were available. Made the job search requirement less stressful.

That's such a good idea! I hadn't thought about remote work options.

Remote customer service and data entry jobs are great options when you're pregnant. Much easier than trying to commute to an office.

i'm dealing with this too but my situation is more complicated - i was already on reduced hours due to pregnancy complications before getting laid off. anyone know how that affects the benefit calculation?

Your benefit amount is based on wages from your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters. Reduced hours right before separation shouldn't affect the calculation much.

ok that makes sense. i was worried they'd use my reduced income weeks to calculate everything

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about work search requirements during pregnancy. Worth reading through if you haven't already. They're actually pretty reasonable about accommodating pregnancy limitations.

I'll check that out! I've been so overwhelmed trying to navigate all the different requirements.

The site can be confusing at first, but the pregnancy-related info is actually pretty clear once you find it.

PSA: if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person. Was skeptical at first but it totally worked - connected me to an agent who answered all my pregnancy-related eligibility questions. Their website is claimyr.com if anyone wants to check it out.

how much does something like that cost? seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our benefits

I thought the same thing initially, but honestly it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly instead of spending days trying to get through on the phone.

Important reminder: keep detailed records of all your job applications and any responses you get. If there's ever a question about your work search compliance, you'll need that documentation. I use a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, and position titles.

Good advice! Should I also note if I mentioned pregnancy-related restrictions in applications?

I would just note what position you applied for and when. Keep it simple but complete.

Update for anyone following this thread - I successfully filed my claim yesterday and already got confirmation that it's being processed! Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice. Feeling much less stressed about the whole situation now.

So glad to hear that! You'll do great. The hardest part is just getting started.

Excellent! Remember to file your weekly claims on time and keep up with the job search requirements. You've got this!

yay! congrats on getting it figured out. the weekly routine becomes second nature pretty quickly

For anyone else reading this later - pregnancy does NOT disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington state. The key points are: 1) You must be able and available for suitable work 2) You still need to actively search for jobs 3) You can't collect UI and maternity leave benefits simultaneously 4) Be honest about any work restrictions but don't let that discourage you from applying.

Perfect summary! This thread has been so helpful. Wish I'd found information this clear on the Washington ESD website.

The official information is there, but it's scattered across different pages. Real experiences from other people are always more helpful.