Does unpaid maternity leave qualify for unemployment Washington ESD

That's what I was afraid of. So even though I'm not getting paid, the fact that my job is protected means I can't get UI?

Exactly. The key factor is job attachment. Since your employer is required to hold your position, Washington ESD considers you employed, just on unpaid leave.

Medical leave can be different depending on the circumstances. If it's not protected leave or if the person is able and available for other work, they might qualify. But FMLA specifically creates job protection which complicates UI eligibility.

Oh that makes sense. The job protection part is what makes the difference.

I've been trying to call but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. It's so frustrating when you need a straight answer.

I totally get that frustration. You might want to try 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 showing how it works.

That's exactly what I'm dealing with. Did you end up finding any other financial assistance during that time?

I looked into state disability benefits but didn't qualify for those either since it was maternity leave rather than a disability. Ended up just having to budget really carefully.

I agree it seems unfair, but the logic is that unemployment insurance is for people who lost their jobs involuntarily. If your job is being held for you, you technically still have employment.

yeah but no paycheck is no paycheck regardless of the reason

So if I were to quit my job instead of taking leave, would I qualify then?

Quitting usually disqualifies you from unemployment unless it's for good cause. Having a baby typically wouldn't be considered good cause for quitting in Washington ESD's view.

Don't quit! You'd lose both your job protection and unemployment eligibility. That would be the worst of both worlds.

If you're not on protected leave, the situation could be different. You'd need to meet the able and available requirements, but there might be more flexibility if your job isn't being held.

That's what I thought. The job protection aspect is really the key factor here.

If you're having trouble reaching them, definitely try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It really helps with getting connected to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever.

Thanks, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get a real person on the phone.

I haven't really looked into those yet. Do you know if there are income requirements for those programs?

Yes, most have income limits, but since you're currently without pay, you might qualify. Worth checking with DSHS for temporary assistance programs.

I did apply for the paid family leave but it only covers a portion of my regular pay and for a limited time. That's why I was hoping unemployment might fill the gap.

Unfortunately they don't stack. You can't get both paid family leave and unemployment benefits at the same time.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. The phone system is overwhelmed and people need to actually reach someone who can give definitive answers.

might have to look into that because this is ridiculous

I appreciate everyone's input. Sounds like I need to focus on other forms of assistance rather than trying to get unemployment.

That's probably your best bet. The unemployment system has pretty strict requirements about availability for work.

That's what I'm worried about - getting inconsistent information depending on who I talk to.

Yeah it's definitely worth getting it in writing or asking for a supervisor if you get conflicting answers.

That actually makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. I guess I was thinking about it wrong.

It's a common misconception. People think no paycheck equals unemployment, but there are a lot more factors involved.

Thank you! That's really sweet. It's definitely been stressful worrying about money but trying to focus on the positive.

You're doing great mama! The financial stuff will work out one way or another.

That sounds amazing compared to what I've been dealing with. I think I'm going to try it.

Definitely worth it when you need actual answers instead of just general information from the website.

That's good to know for the future. Hopefully they'll give me my full hours back but it's good to know there are options if not.

Exactly. Keep that in mind when you're transitioning back to work.

Glad it helped! Definitely plan ahead financially since unemployment probably won't be an option.

Will do. Thanks for asking the question and getting all this good information!

Perfect summary. Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses!

This should be pinned somewhere. Super clear explanation of a confusing topic.

Potentially, but you'd still need to meet the able and available requirements. If you're too sick to work, you wouldn't qualify. It depends on your specific circumstances.

got it, so it's not just about whether you're getting paid or not