Can you get temporary unemployment for maternity leave in Washington state?

Unfortunately regular unemployment insurance through Washington ESD doesn't cover maternity leave. You have to be able and available for work to qualify for UI benefits, which means you can't be on medical leave or unable to work due to pregnancy/childbirth.

That's what I was afraid of. So there's really no safety net for new moms who can't afford unpaid leave?

Unfortunately, regular unemployment insurance (UI) through Washington ESD won't work for maternity leave. To qualify for UI benefits, you have to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment. When you're on maternity leave, you're not available for work, so you wouldn't meet those requirements.

What you want to look into is Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, not regular unemployment. It's administered by ESD but it's a completely different program. You can get up to 12 weeks of family leave for bonding with a new baby, and it pays about 90% of your wages up to a weekly cap.

There might be other options though - have you looked into Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave program?

Just want to add that you might also qualify for medical leave through PFML if you have pregnancy complications or need recovery time after delivery. That's separate from the family bonding leave.

You want to look into Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, not regular unemployment. PFML specifically covers bonding with a new child and medical leave for childbirth recovery. It's administered by Washington ESD but it's completely separate from regular UI benefits.

Oh wow I had no idea this existed! How do I apply for PFML? Is it through the same Washington ESD website?

Yes, you apply through the same ESD website but it's a different application process. You can get up to 12 weeks for bonding and additional weeks for medical recovery if needed.

I tried calling Washington ESD last month to ask about this exact thing and spent literally 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected. Their phone system is absolutely terrible when you need actual information about different programs.

I tried calling ESD about this exact question last month and could never get through to anyone. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. So frustrating when you need answers about important stuff like this!

I had the same issue trying to reach someone about PFML vs regular UI. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration.

wait i thought you could get unemployment if you quit for good cause? wouldnt having a baby count as good cause??

The PFML program is pretty new - it only started in 2020. A lot of people don't know about it yet. You've been paying into it through payroll deductions if you're an employee in Washington, so you've already been contributing to the program.

Make sure you apply for PFML at least 30 days before you need to start your leave. There's paperwork and approval processes that take time. Don't wait until the last minute like I did!

That actually sounds really helpful. I was ready to give up on getting through to anyone at ESD.

I'm confused about one thing - can you take PFML if you're planning to quit your job after having the baby? Or do you have to plan on going back to work?

wait so PFML is different from unemployment? I'm so confused about all these different programs

Yes, completely different! Regular UI is for people who lost their job and are looking for work. PFML is for people who need time off for family/medical reasons but still have a job to return to.

Does anyone know if the PFML benefits are taxable? I want to make sure I'm prepared for tax season.

ohhh that makes way more sense. thanks for explaining!

To qualify for PFML you need to have worked at least 820 hours in Washington state during your qualifying period. The benefits are calculated as a percentage of your wages, similar to how regular UI works but with different formulas.

I've been working full-time for 2 years so I should definitely meet the hours requirement. Do you know what percentage of wages they pay?

It varies based on your income but it's typically 90% of your first $1000/week in wages, then 50% above that, capped at around $1300/week max.

Just want to add that you can use PFML for both the medical recovery part (usually 6-8 weeks) AND the bonding time (up to 12 weeks). So potentially up to 20 weeks total coverage for new moms.

That's amazing! I had no idea Washington state had such comprehensive coverage.

Yeah Washington's PFML program is actually really good compared to most states. A lot of states have nothing.

One thing to note - you need to apply for PFML at least 30 days before your leave starts if possible. Don't wait until after the baby is born to start the application process.

Good to know! I'll start looking into the application process now then.

Also make sure your employer knows you're planning to use PFML. Some employers try to pressure people not to use it.

I used PFML last year when my daughter was born and the whole process was pretty smooth once I figured out it wasn't regular unemployment. The hardest part was actually getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about my specific situation.

How long did it take to get approved and start receiving payments?

About 2-3 weeks after I submitted all my paperwork. Make sure you have all your medical documentation ready.

just went through this whole thing myself. regular UI definitely won't work for maternity leave but PFML is designed exactly for this situation. you should also check if your employer has any additional benefits that might supplement the PFML payments

I'll definitely check with HR about any additional benefits. Thanks for the tip!

The Washington ESD website has a whole section on PFML that explains the differences between that and regular unemployment. Might be worth reading through before you apply so you understand what documentation you'll need.

I'll definitely do that. I want to make sure I have everything ready before I apply.

The website is actually pretty helpful for PFML info, way better than trying to get someone on the phone.

Quick clarification - you mentioned not being 'able and available' for work. That's the key difference between UI and PFML. For UI you have to be actively seeking work and available to start immediately. For PFML you're taking protected leave but planning to return to your job.

That makes perfect sense. I was getting confused because I thought all benefits through Washington ESD had the same requirements.

Also worth mentioning that PFML has job protection - your employer has to hold your position while you're on approved leave. That's another big difference from regular unemployment where you've already lost your job.

That's really reassuring. I was worried about job security during leave.

If you do need to call Washington ESD with specific questions about your PFML eligibility, I'd definitely recommend using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through their regular phone lines.

How does that service work exactly? Do they just help you get through or do they provide advice too?

They just help you get connected to an actual ESD representative. Once you're talking to someone at ESD, you handle the conversation yourself.

This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was totally confused about my options. Sounds like PFML is exactly what I need to look into.

Right? I'm so glad I asked here instead of just assuming I had no options.

One more tip - keep detailed records of all your PFML paperwork and communications with Washington ESD. Sometimes there are issues with processing and you'll want documentation of everything you submitted.

Good advice! I'll make sure to keep copies of everything.

Just to summarize for anyone else reading this - maternity leave is covered by Washington's PFML program, not regular unemployment insurance. Two completely different programs with different eligibility requirements and application processes.

Perfect summary! Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel so much more prepared now.

This whole thread should be pinned somewhere. So many people get confused about PFML vs regular UI.

Just wanted to share my experience - I had such a hard time getting information about PFML vs unemployment when I was pregnant. The ESD website has the info but it's not super clear about the differences. Ended up using Claimyr to talk to someone who could explain it properly.

One more thing to consider - check if your employer offers any supplemental benefits that could work alongside PFML. Some companies have short-term disability that covers pregnancy and childbirth.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm bookmarking it for when I need to take family leave next year. Thanks everyone for sharing the real info instead of just guessing.