ESD Paid Family Leave Decision Timeline - Still waiting after 2 weeks

its not actually FMLA, its paid family medical leave (PFML) thru WA state. FMLA is the federal unpaid one that protects ur job. i applied in january and it took about 3 weeks total. make sure u submitted all ur documentation! they are super slow about telling u if something is missing

Thanks for clarifying! I've been using the terms interchangeably which is probably confusing. So 3 weeks is normal? That's a relief. I'm pretty sure I submitted everything - medical certification, ID verification, and proof of relationship. Is there a way to double-check if anything's missing without waiting on hold forever?

The Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave program typically takes 2-4 weeks to process applications, though it can take longer during busy periods. The 14 days you've been waiting is still within the normal timeframe. Make sure you check your Secure Message Center in your PFML account - they often request additional information there rather than by email or phone.\n\nYou can also verify if your application is complete by looking at the \

Thank you for the detailed info! I didn't realize I should be checking the message center - I've only been looking at the main status page. I'll check that right now. Good to know the timeframe is still normal, that makes me feel better.

I just went through this last month!!! Omg they are SOOOO slow right now. Mine took 25 days from application to approval. I nearly had a panic attack waiting. And then after approval it was another 3 days before I got paid. Just hang in there!

25 days?? Wow, that's even longer than I expected. Did you have to do anything special to get it approved, or did it just suddenly change status one day?

It literally just changed status one morning. No warning, no communication. I checked obsessively every day! The money showed up in my account 3 days later.

This is going to sound crazy but CALL THEM. I waited 5 weeks for my claim to process and when I finally got through to someone they told me they'd been waiting for a document I already uploaded!!! Their system had glitched. The rep fixed it on the spot and I was approved two days later.\n\nThe problem is getting through to them on the phone. Have you tried calling early in the morning right when they open? Or use Claimyr to connect with an ESD agent without the wait (claimyr.com). I used it after wasting HOURS trying to get through. Watched their little demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3) and had a call back from an actual ESD agent in like 15 minutes. Worth it to find out if there's a holdup on your claim.

That's a good point, I should probably try to call. I've tried a couple times but gave up after being on hold for 45+ minutes. I'll check out that service - at this point I just need to know if there's something missing. Thanks for the suggestion!

lol good luck getting anyone on the phone!!!! i tried for 2 weeks straight and NEVER got through. ended up sending like 5 messages through the portal and finally someone responded. make sure your employer has completed their part too, that held mine up

This is actually really important - a lot of people don't realize that for PFML claims, your employer has to verify employment information. I work in HR and we often get urgent messages from ESD about employees' claims that need verification. You might want to check with your company's HR department to make sure they've completed their part too.

Oh! I didn't even think about that. I'll email HR tomorrow to see if they've received anything from ESD they need to complete. That could definitely be the holdup.

I processed PFML claims for ESD until last year, and there are a few things to know:\n\n1. The current average processing time is 18-22 days for applications with complete documentation\n2. The most common delays are:\n - Incomplete medical certification (especially missing provider license numbers)\n - Employer verification delays\n - Identity verification issues\n - Missing proof of family relationship for care claims\n\nFor caregiver claims like yours, proving your relationship to your father is critical. Did you upload a birth certificate or other documentation? That's often missed.\n\nAlso, they won't necessarily tell you if something is missing - the system assumes you'll check the document status in your account. Look for any items marked \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I did upload my birth certificate to prove the relationship, but I'm going to double-check all the other documentation requirements you mentioned. I just logged in and checked the document section - everything shows as

That's exactly what would cause the delay. Medical certification review is the most time-consuming part. They have to verify the provider's credentials and ensure the condition qualifies. Since it shows as \

Just want to clarify something important - Washington's Paid Family & Medical Leave program is completely different from FMLA. FMLA is the federal program that provides job protection (unpaid) for up to 12 weeks. WA PFML is our state program that provides paid benefits.\n\nYou need to apply for both separately - FMLA through your employer's HR department and PFML through the ESD website. Many people miss this distinction and it causes problems. Have you also completed FMLA paperwork with your employer? You need both protections.

Yes, I did complete the FMLA paperwork with my HR department first, then applied for the PFML benefits through ESD. Sorry for using the terms interchangeably - I knew they were different programs but I've been referring to the whole situation as \

NOT NORMAL!! My sister applied in March and got approved in 8 days! They must be backed up right now or there's a problem with your claim. CALL THEM!!!!

Processing times vary dramatically throughout the year based on application volume. March tends to have lower volume than summer months. The current average is closer to 3 weeks, so 14 days is still within normal ranges. However, calling to check status is never a bad idea if you're concerned.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! Turns out they were waiting on my employer to verify my employment information. I contacted HR and they completed it right away. The agent said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days now. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

That's awesome! How did you manage to get through to them? I've been trying for days for my new claim.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got a callback from an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Definitely worth it to find out there was an actual issue holding things up rather than just waiting endlessly!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Applied for PFML 10 days ago to care for my newborn and I'm getting anxious about the wait time. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like employer verification delays are super common. I'm going to check with my HR department tomorrow to make sure they've completed their part. Thanks for sharing your experience and the update that you got it resolved!