Washington ESD unemployment benefits when job doesn't offer maternity leave - options?

Unfortunately, regular unemployment benefits through Washington ESD require you to be able and available for work, which typically means you can't collect UI while on maternity leave. However, Washington does have Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) which might be what you're looking for instead of unemployment.

You're right that regular UI won't work while you're unable to work due to childbirth. The 'able and available' requirement is pretty strict with Washington ESD. But definitely look into PFML - it's designed exactly for situations like yours.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this exact situation last month and could never get through. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who explained the difference between UI and PFML. There's a helpful video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Just went through this myself! You definitely want PFML, not unemployment. I was able to take 12 weeks for bonding plus 6 weeks for recovery. The benefits are based on your wages and you don't have to meet the job search requirements like with UI.

To clarify the confusion - PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave) and UI (Unemployment Insurance) are completely different programs through Washington ESD. PFML is for when you need time off for family or medical reasons but plan to return to work. UI is for when you're unemployed and actively seeking work.

My sister went through this exact situation. She initially applied for unemployment thinking that was her only option, but her claim was denied because she wasn't available for work. Then she found out about PFML and was able to get benefits retroactively.

Be careful about the timing of your application! I made the mistake of waiting until after my baby was born to apply for PFML and it took forever to get my first payment. Start the process as soon as possible.

One more thing to consider - if your employer doesn't know about PFML, you might need to educate them. Some small businesses don't realize they're required to participate in the program and might give you wrong information.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr when I had questions about PFML versus UI benefits and the agent was really helpful in explaining the differences. Much easier than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website on your own.

Just to add another perspective - even if your employer is small, you might still be eligible for unpaid FMLA leave in addition to PFML benefits. It's worth checking if you meet the individual eligibility requirements even if your employer doesn't meet the size requirements.

Don't forget to check if you've been paying into the PFML system! Look at your paystubs for 'WA Paid Family Leave' deductions. If you've been paying in, you should be eligible for benefits.

I'm going through something similar right now and the Washington ESD PFML application process is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Way easier than I expected after hearing horror stories about regular unemployment claims.

One last tip - if you end up needing to call Washington ESD about PFML, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. That's when I had the best luck getting through without waiting forever.