Switching from ESD unemployment to Paid Family Medical Leave after having a baby - how long for approval?

I went through this exact thing last year! It took almost 4 weeks for my PFML to get approved after having my kid. The frustrating part is you should stop filing for unemployment as soon as you submit your PFML application because you can't collect both, but then you're stuck with NO money during that review period. Really sucks for those of us living paycheck to paycheck.

I work for a different industry, but went through the transition last year. Here's what you need to know: 1. You MUST stop filing unemployment claims from the date you're requesting PFML to begin (usually your baby's birthdate) 2. PFML processing is taking 3-4 weeks currently according to their website 3. They will backpay you from your qualifying event date 4. Make sure you've provided medical certification from your healthcare provider 5. You'll need to have worked 820 hours in the qualifying period One thing to watch for: since you're in construction, make sure all your hours were properly reported by all employers if you worked for multiple companies.

Yes, you need to stop filing unemployment claims from the date you want your PFML to start. If you're requesting PFML from the date of birth, then you shouldn't file any unemployment claims that would cover dates after the birth. If you do, it will cause problems with your PFML application and could potentially result in an overpayment situation.

TOOK 6 WEEKS FOR MINE TO GET APPROVED!!! The system is completely broken. I kept calling and calling but could never get through to anyone who could help move my application along. Had to borrow money from family just to pay rent while waiting.

congrats on the baby! my sister just had her second kid and said PFML is taking forever these days. something about a new computer system causing delays?? not sure if thats true but thats what she heard from her coworker

I process payroll for a construction company and deal with this regularly. The current processing time for PFML applications is approximately 3-4 weeks. Here are some important tips for trades workers: 1. Make sure all your employers reported your hours correctly to L&I 2. If you worked for multiple contractors, double-check that all hours were reported 3. Union members should verify their union reported any training hours 4. Stop unemployment claims as of your qualifying event date 5. PFML will backpay to your qualifying event date once approved The most common issue I see with trades workers is unreported hours from secondary employers affecting eligibility.

You can check your application status through the Paid Leave section of SecureAccess Washington (SAW), but it often just shows "processing" without much detail. For specific questions, you need to speak with someone at the PFML department directly, which unfortunately means calling their customer service line at 833-717-2273. They're experiencing high call volumes, so be prepared for a wait.

Pro tip: document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of all confirmations when you submit documents. Write down dates, times and names when you talk to anyone. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them. The system is a mess right now and I had to prove multiple times that I had already submitted certain documents.

When I had my baby last year I went from regular UI to PFML and it actually only took 2 weeks!!! But my coworker who did the same thing a month later waited for almost 7 weeks. I think it's totally random and depends on who processes your claim. Just bad luck sometimes.