Can you file for unemployment during maternity leave in Washington state?

Unfortunately, you generally can't collect regular unemployment benefits while on maternity leave in Washington if your job is being held for you. Since you have a job to return to, you wouldn't meet the 'able and available for work' requirement that's needed for UI benefits. However, you might qualify for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) through Washington state instead.

I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get regular UI benefits because I had a job waiting for me. The key thing is that unemployment requires you to be actively seeking work, which you wouldn't be doing on maternity leave with a guaranteed return position.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out since phone lines are always so busy.

The eligibility rules for UI during maternity leave can be tricky because it depends on whether your leave is voluntary or involuntary, and whether you have a definite return date. If your employer terminated your employment rather than granting leave, that would be different. But with a held position, regular UI probably isn't an option.

I'm confused about this too! I thought unemployment was for anyone not working? Why wouldn't maternity leave count if you're not getting paid?

The Washington ESD system is so confusing sometimes. I spent weeks trying to figure out different benefit programs when I was dealing with my own situation last year.

Just want to add that if your employment situation changes while you're on leave - like if your employer eliminates your position or you can't return for some reason - then you might become eligible for regular UI benefits at that point. But as long as you have a guaranteed job to return to, PFML is the program designed for your situation.

I had to use Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim status. The regular phone system is just impossible to navigate sometimes. Really helped me understand which benefits I qualified for.

The bottom line is that regular unemployment benefits and family leave benefits serve different purposes. UI is for people who lost their jobs and are looking for new work. PFML is for people who need time off for family or medical reasons but have jobs to return to. Sounds like PFML is what you need to research.

Just to be absolutely clear - if you voluntarily take unpaid leave with a guaranteed return date, you won't qualify for regular Washington ESD unemployment benefits because you're not available for work. PFML is the correct program for maternity leave situations.

One more thing to consider - even if you somehow thought you might qualify for UI, filing when you're not eligible could cause problems later. It's better to apply for the right program (PFML) from the start.

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD to confirm your PFML eligibility or get help with the application, I'd recommend trying Claimyr if the phone lines are too busy. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand your options.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Everyone here is absolutely right - you can't get regular UI benefits while on maternity leave if your job is being held for you. I made the mistake of initially trying to file for unemployment and wasted weeks before learning about PFML. The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program is specifically designed for situations like yours. The benefits aren't as much as your regular pay, but it definitely helps with expenses during unpaid leave. Make sure you apply as soon as possible since there can be a waiting period. The online application through ESD was pretty straightforward once I figured out I was looking at the wrong program!