Washington ESD - is paid family leave considered unemployment benefits?

Thank you! So they're both through Washington ESD but different programs? That makes sense why I was confused.

Exactly. Washington ESD handles multiple programs - unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and paid medical leave. They're all separate benefit types with different eligibility requirements.

That's really helpful to know about the job search difference. I was worried I'd have to start looking for work while caring for my baby.

Yeah the job search requirement is what really distinguishes unemployment from other benefits. With family leave you're expected to return to your job when your leave ends.

Oh that makes perfect sense! I do remember seeing those deductions on my paystubs. So I'm basically getting back what I paid into the system.

Right, and the benefit amounts are calculated differently too. Family leave is based on your average weekly wage, while unemployment has a different formula and maximum weekly benefit amount.

Exactly. And family leave can be up to 12 weeks in a year, while unemployment can potentially last much longer depending on the economic situation and your work history.

That sounds really useful! I haven't had any issues with my family leave claim yet but good to know there's help available if I need to reach someone.

I've heard of Claimyr before. Did they actually help you get through or is it just another call service?

They actually got me connected within a few hours. I was able to get my questions answered about benefit coordination when I had both family leave and some worker's comp issues. Much better than trying to call on my own.

That makes total sense. I'm planning to return to my job after my leave ends anyway.

What happens if your employer eliminates your position while you're on family leave though? Can you then apply for unemployment?

That's a more complex situation. You'd need to contact Washington ESD directly to discuss your specific circumstances. There are protections for people on family leave but every situation is different.

You can't collect both simultaneously, but if your employment situation changes while on family leave, you'd need to report that change to Washington ESD. They'll determine your eligibility for different benefits based on your new circumstances.

ok that makes more sense. so I need to report any job changes even while on family leave

That's a really clear way to explain it. Thank you! I feel much more confident about my situation now.

I wish they explained this better on the Washington ESD website. I was confused about this same thing when I had my kid.

Good point about the documentation differences. I did have to provide medical records for my family leave claim.

And with unemployment you have to actively search for work and report your job search activities, which obviously doesn't apply to family leave since you're not looking for a new job.

That's actually why I'm asking these questions! My HR department seemed unsure about some of the details.

Always good to verify information with Washington ESD directly rather than relying solely on employer HR departments. They mean well but don't always have the most current information about benefit programs.

I think I met those requirements since I've been working full-time for over two years before having my baby.

Yeah, if you've been working full-time for two years you definitely meet the requirements for family leave. Unemployment has its own separate work history requirements.

Exactly right. As long as you have a job to return to and you're taking leave for qualifying family reasons, it's a completely separate program from unemployment insurance.

Perfect. Thanks for all the clarification everyone!

Good to know there are options for getting through to them when needed. Hopefully I won't need to call but it's reassuring to know help is available.

Yeah, Claimyr really makes a difference when you need to actually talk to someone at the ESD. Their system handles all the waiting and calls you back when they get an agent on the line.

Taking family leave shouldn't affect your future unemployment eligibility as long as you return to work after your leave ends. The work history requirements for unemployment look at your total earnings and employment, not whether you took leave.

That's a relief. I was worried it might somehow count against me later.

The only thing that could potentially affect future unemployment benefits is if taking leave somehow changes your work history or earnings, but that would be unusual. Most people return to their same job and wage after family leave.

I'm so glad I asked! I was getting confused by all the different information too.

Yeah, these benefit programs can be really confusing when you're dealing with them for the first time. The terminology and requirements all start to blur together.

I didn't know about paid medical leave being separate too. So there are really three different programs?

Yep - unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and paid medical leave. All through Washington ESD but all with different rules and purposes.

And you can potentially use both family leave and medical leave for the same situation, like childbirth recovery and bonding with a new baby. But again, none of them are the same as unemployment benefits.

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped other people too. It's such a relief to finally understand how these programs work.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. Good to know it's a reliable option.

Definitely. I was skeptical at first but it really does work. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own.

Perfect summary! That's exactly what I needed to understand. Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses!

Great thread, lots of good information here for anyone dealing with these questions.