Can you file unemployment on maternity leave in Washington ESD?

The general rule is that you need to be able and available for work to collect unemployment benefits. During maternity leave, you typically wouldn't meet the 'available for work' requirement since you're not physically able to work due to childbirth recovery. However, there might be some exceptions depending on your specific situation.

You'll want to check Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave program first. This is specifically designed for situations like yours where you need time off for bonding with a new child. PFML provides partial wage replacement and doesn't require you to be available for other work like unemployment does.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about this exact situation last month but could never get through to a human. The automated system kept transferring me in circles. If you need to speak with someone directly about your specific case, I recently found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

just went through this!! you CANNOT get regular unemployment while on maternity leave because you're not available for work. but definitely apply for PFML - i got approved and it helped so much during my leave

To be completely clear about the unemployment eligibility: Washington ESD requires that you be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work. Being on maternity leave typically disqualifies you on all three counts. The 'able and available' requirement is strictly enforced.

The Washington ESD website has some information about this but it's not super clear. From what I understand, if you're on approved family leave, you should be looking at PFML not UI. The two programs serve different purposes.

I was in a similar situation two years ago and made the mistake of trying to file for regular unemployment first. Washington ESD denied my claim because I wasn't available for work. The caseworker explained that maternity leave is specifically what PFML was created for.

wait can you get both unemployment and PFML at the same time? or is it one or the other?

Another thing to consider is that if you're planning to return to your job after maternity leave, you probably wouldn't qualify for unemployment anyway since you haven't actually lost your job. UI is for people who are unemployed through no fault of their own and seeking new employment.

I've been following this thread and want to add that timing matters a lot with PFML applications. You can apply up to 30 days before your expected leave start date, which helps avoid gaps in income. Don't wait until after the baby is born to start the process.

THE SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING! Why don't they make this clearer on the website?? I spent hours trying to figure out if I could get unemployment for maternity leave before someone told me about PFML

For anyone else reading this thread, here's the key difference: Unemployment requires you to be actively job searching and available for immediate work. PFML is specifically for when you need time off work for family bonding or medical recovery but plan to return to your job later.

I used Claimyr mentioned earlier when I had questions about my PFML application and they were able to connect me with someone who explained the whole process. Sometimes talking to a real person makes all the difference when you're dealing with these programs.

Also worth mentioning that Washington's PFML program covers up to 12 weeks for bonding with a new child, and the benefit amount is calculated based on your recent wages. It's not 100% replacement but it's something.

One more tip - make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you apply for PFML. They'll need proof of your wages and employment history, similar to unemployment but for different purposes.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to apply for PFML instead of trying to file for unemployment. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the Washington ESD website on my own.

For future reference, if anyone needs to actually speak with a Washington ESD representative about PFML or any other benefits, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but when you're stuck and need answers, it's worth having options.

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm saving this for when my sister goes on maternity leave next year. Had no idea about the difference between UI and PFML.