Can you collect unemployment while pregnant in Washington state?
I'm 7 months pregnant and just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing company. I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD while pregnant? I've heard conflicting information about whether being pregnant affects your ability to collect UI benefits. I'm able to work and actively looking for a job, but I'm worried Washington ESD might deny my claim because of my pregnancy. Has anyone been through this situation before?
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StarGazer101
Yes, you can absolutely collect unemployment while pregnant in Washington state! Pregnancy itself cannot be a reason for Washington ESD to deny your UI claim. As long as you're able and available for work and actively seeking employment, your pregnancy status doesn't matter. You'll still need to meet all the regular requirements like filing your weekly claims and doing your job search activities.
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Yara Nassar
•That's such a relief to hear! I was really worried they would automatically disqualify me. Do I need to mention my pregnancy when I file my initial claim?
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StarGazer101
•No, you don't need to mention your pregnancy at all when filing. It's not relevant to your eligibility. Just focus on your work history and the reason you became unemployed.
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Keisha Jackson
I went through this exact situation last year. Filed my Washington ESD claim at 6 months pregnant and had no issues at all. The key thing is you have to be genuinely able and available for work. If you can't work due to pregnancy complications, that's different, but just being pregnant doesn't disqualify you from UI benefits.
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Yara Nassar
•Did you have any problems finding work while visibly pregnant? I'm worried employers might discriminate even though it's illegal.
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Keisha Jackson
•Honestly, it was challenging, but I kept applying and documenting my job search activities for Washington ESD. I ended up finding something right before my due date.
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Paolo Romano
Just make sure you're keeping up with your weekly claims and job search requirements. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week, and being pregnant doesn't change that. You need to show you're actively looking for work that you can perform.
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Amina Diop
•What counts as job search activities? I'm in a similar situation and want to make sure I'm doing this right.
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Paolo Romano
•Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, contacting employers directly, working with WorkSourceWA. Just document everything in your job search log.
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Oliver Schmidt
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about this. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who confirmed everything about pregnancy and unemployment eligibility. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Yara Nassar
•How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.
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Oliver Schmidt
•They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to a live agent. Saved me so much frustration trying to get through on my own.
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Natasha Volkov
•Never heard of that service but might be worth trying. The phone system at Washington ESD is absolutely terrible.
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Javier Torres
Wait, what happens when you actually have the baby? Do you have to stop collecting unemployment then?
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StarGazer101
•Once you have the baby, if you're not able and available for work due to recovery or childcare issues, then yes, you'd need to stop filing weekly claims. But that's about your availability, not your pregnancy status.
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Emma Wilson
•That's when you might qualify for Paid Family and Medical Leave through Washington state instead of regular unemployment.
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QuantumLeap
I'm confused about the able and available part. What if you're pregnant but have complications and can't work certain jobs?
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StarGazer101
•If you have medical restrictions that limit the type of work you can do, you need to be looking for work within those restrictions. As long as there are jobs you can perform, you can still collect UI benefits.
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QuantumLeap
•Ok that makes sense. So I could still look for desk jobs even if I can't do physical labor anymore.
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Malik Johnson
This is actually protected under federal law too. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prevents discrimination in unemployment benefits. Washington ESD has to treat pregnancy the same as any other temporary condition.
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Isabella Santos
•Good to know there are legal protections in place. Makes me feel more confident about filing my claim.
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Malik Johnson
•Exactly. If anyone at Washington ESD gives you grief about being pregnant, that's discrimination and you should document it.
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Ravi Sharma
Does maternity leave affect your unemployment claim at all? Like if your employer offers unpaid maternity leave?
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Keisha Jackson
•If you're on unpaid leave, you're still technically employed, so you wouldn't be eligible for unemployment during that time. Unemployment is for when you're actually separated from your job.
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Ravi Sharma
•Ah ok, that's an important distinction. Thanks for clarifying that.
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Freya Larsen
I had to deal with this when I was pregnant with my second kid. The Washington ESD rep I finally got through to was super helpful and explained everything clearly. The hardest part was actually getting someone on the phone!
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Omar Hassan
•Tell me about it! I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my claim. How did you finally get through?
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Freya Larsen
•I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth every penny to avoid the phone tree nightmare.
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Chloe Taylor
Just want to emphasize - make sure you're honest about your availability when filing weekly claims. If there comes a point where you can't work due to pregnancy complications, you need to stop filing until you're available again.
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Yara Nassar
•What happens if you accidentally file a claim when you weren't actually available? Can you get in trouble with Washington ESD?
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Chloe Taylor
•Yes, that could be considered fraud. If you receive benefits you weren't entitled to, Washington ESD can require you to pay them back. Always be truthful on your weekly claims.
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ShadowHunter
Question about job interviews - do I have to disclose my pregnancy during interviews? I know it's illegal for them to ask, but should I volunteer the information?
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Diego Ramirez
•You're not required to disclose pregnancy during interviews. That's a personal choice. Some people do, some don't until after they're hired.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•I chose not to mention it during interviews and disclosed after I got the job offer. Worked out fine for me.
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Sean O'Connor
The system is frustrating but it does work. I collected unemployment for 4 months while pregnant and never had any issues with Washington ESD once I got my claim approved. The initial filing process was smooth.
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Zara Ahmed
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm still waiting and it's been 2 weeks.
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Sean O'Connor
•Mine took about 3 weeks, but that was during a busy period. If you're worried, try calling to check on the status.
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Luca Conti
•Good luck getting through on the phone! I gave up and used Claimyr to reach an agent about my pending claim.
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Nia Johnson
Don't forget about WorkSourceWA resources too. They have programs specifically for pregnant women looking for work and can help with your job search requirements.
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Yara Nassar
•I didn't know WorkSourceWA had specific programs for pregnant job seekers. Do you know what they offer?
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Nia Johnson
•Career counseling, job placement assistance, and they understand the unique challenges pregnant women face in the job market. Definitely worth checking out.
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CyberNinja
One thing to keep in mind - if you end up taking a job and then need to leave due to pregnancy complications later, that could affect future unemployment eligibility. Make sure you understand your rights and options.
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Mateo Lopez
•Can you elaborate on that? What if you have to quit a job due to pregnancy complications?
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CyberNinja
•If you quit for medical reasons related to pregnancy, you might still qualify for unemployment, but you'd need to prove the medical necessity. It's more complicated than a layoff situation.
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Aisha Abdullah
Bottom line - pregnancy alone cannot disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. As long as you meet the regular eligibility requirements, you're good to go. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
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Yara Nassar
•Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now.
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Ethan Davis
•You've got this! The unemployment system can be confusing but you have rights and protections as a pregnant worker.
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Diego Flores
I went through a very similar situation when I was pregnant with my daughter. Got laid off at 8 months pregnant and was terrified about filing for unemployment. Turns out all my worries were for nothing - Washington ESD processed my claim without any issues. The most important thing is being honest about your ability to work. Since you mentioned you're able to work and actively job searching, you should be totally fine. I actually found a remote position during my last month of pregnancy, so don't give up hope on the job search either! The key is just staying consistent with your weekly claims and job search activities.
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Derek Olson
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really encouraging to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I'm curious - when you were doing your job search activities during those last few weeks of pregnancy, did you focus mainly on remote positions or were you still applying to in-person jobs too? I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for my situation.
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