ESD Paid Family Medical Leave vs. UI benefits - confused about which to file!

PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave) is completely different from UI (Unemployment Insurance). They're both administered by ESD but serve different purposes. PFML is for when you need time off for medical or family reasons while still employed. UI is for when you've lost your job entirely. If you just needed a few days off for medical reasons but are still employed, PFML might be appropriate. However, PFML typically has a 7-day waiting period before benefits begin, so it's usually not ideal for just a few days off unless you're taking more time in the future. What's your current employment status? Are you still employed but missed a few days, or have you been laid off?

pfml and ui are totly diffrent things!! you CANT collect both for the same days. if ur getting ui for reduced hours then maybe u should just stick with that?? the pfml has a waiting period anyway i think

I went through something similar last year. The key thing to understand is you CAN receive both PFML and UI, but NEVER for the same week/days. It's called concurrent benefits, but they cannot overlap for the same time period. For your situation with just a few days, PFML probably isn't worth it because: 1. There's a waiting week (first week doesn't pay) 2. The application process is fairly involved 3. You need medical certification Since you already have a UI claim open for your reduced hours, you should report your medical absence days as "not able and available" for those specific days. You won't get UI for those specific days but won't lose eligibility for the days you were able to work. Be careful - incorrectly claiming either benefit can result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back.

The whole system is DESIGNED to be confusing so people give up trying to get benefits they deserve!!! I spent MONTHS trying to navigate between these programs last year and ESD gave me different answers every time I called (when I could even get through). They'll probably deny whatever you apply for anyway and make you appeal.

Have you tried calling ESD directly? I know their phone lines are usually jammed, but I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at ESD when I had a similar benefits confusion. They have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Since your deadline is tomorrow, talking to an ESD representative today would be the best way to get clarity on how these programs interact in your specific situation. They can look at your UI claim and advise you on whether PFML makes sense for you or if it would complicate things.

One more important thing: if you're already on partial UI due to reduced hours, be VERY careful about applying for PFML. Here's what could happen: 1. If you apply for PFML for those specific days you were out sick, you'll need to report on your weekly UI claim that you received other benefits for those days. 2. This could trigger an investigation of your UI claim and potentially put your benefits on hold while they sort it out. 3. For just 4 days of missed work, the PFML benefit amount after the waiting period might be very small and not worth the potential disruption to your UI. If your employer is pushing you to apply for PFML, they might be trying to reduce their UI tax rate by shifting some of your benefits to another program. Not saying that's definitely happening, but something to consider.

I got so confused with all this stuff too!!! My doctor filled out PFML paperwork for me last year when I had surgery but then I found out I wouldn't get paid for the first week anyway so I just used my vacation time instead. The application was super complicated!! Plus they wanted me to keep submitting paperwork every few weeks even though it was just a one-time surgery. Good luck figuring it out!

Based on everything you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. For simplicity, stick with your UI claim for reduced hours 2. When filing your weekly claim, report the 4 days you missed as "not able and available" (you won't get UI for those days) 3. Don't submit the PFML paperwork if it's just for those 4 days - the waiting period means you likely wouldn't receive benefits anyway 4. If you have more medical absences planned in the future, then PFML might be worth considering Just remember to always be truthful on your UI claims about days you weren't able to work due to medical issues. It's better to not receive benefits for a few days than to risk an overpayment determination later.