When to open UI claim after PFML ends - seasonal layoff or medical leave question
I've been on Paid Family Medical Leave since November due to surgery, and my benefits are ending January 4th. My doctor cleared me to return to work starting January 5th (I have a letter stating this). I work in a seasonal industry, and while I left early for my surgery, I would have been laid off in December anyway. My employer has guaranteed I can return in March when the season picks back up. I'm confused about how to handle my UI claim: 1. Should I apply for unemployment on January 5th (first day I'm able to work) or wait until the end of that week? 2. Do I need to upload my doctor's clearance letter with my application? 3. When the application asks about separation reason, should I indicate I was laid off for the season OR that I left for medical reasons? Both are technically true, but I'm worried about which will process faster and avoid adjudication delays. This is my first time transitioning from PFML to unemployment, and I want to make sure I don't mess anything up. Really appreciate any advice!
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Sebastian Scott
Apply on January 5th, the first day you're able and available for work. You should definitely upload the doctor's letter as supporting documentation - this helps establish your ability to work as of that date. As for the separation reason, I'd recommend listing it as a seasonal layoff since you would have been laid off anyway and have a return date in March. The medical reason could potentially trigger additional reviews since the system might question if you're truly able and available for work now. Make sure when you apply that you indicate you have a definite return-to-work date with your employer (March). This might make you eligible for standby status, which means you wouldn't have to do the full job search requirements while waiting to return to your employer.
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Sarah Jones
•Thank you so much for the detailed advice! That makes sense about listing it as a seasonal layoff. I was worried that might cause problems since technically I left a few weeks before the official layoff would have happened, but it sounds like that approach will be smoother. I'll definitely apply on the 5th and upload that doctor's letter right away.
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Emily Sanjay
i went from pfml to ui last year and it was a MESS. took almost 2 months to get my first payment cause they kept saying i wasnt able to work. definately upload that doctors note and call them the same day you apply!!!! the call center is imposible to get thru.
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Jordan Walker
•Have you tried Claimyr? It's the only way I managed to get through to ESD after trying for weeks. The service connects you with an ESD agent without waiting on hold for hours. Their video explains it better than I can: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Website is claimyr.com. Saved me so much stress when I had a similar issue transitioning between benefits.
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Sarah Jones
•Oh no, that sounds stressful! I'll definitely make sure to call them on the 5th. I'm worried about the same thing happening since technically I'm coming off medical leave, even though I would've been seasonally laid off anyway. Did you have to do anything special to finally get it resolved?
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Emily Sanjay
•eventully i got thru to someone who actully knew how to help. they put me on standby status since i had a return date with my boss. make sure u get your boss to confirm your return date when ESD contacts them!!
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Natalie Adams
I'm in a somewhat similar situation. Just wondering - are you sure you'll qualify for UI if you left voluntarily for medical reasons? Even if you would've been laid off later, the fact that you quit before the layoff might be an issue. Have you already checked with your employer about how they'll respond when ESD contacts them about your separation reason?
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Sarah Jones
•That's exactly what I'm worried about! I haven't specifically asked my employer how they'll respond when contacted by ESD. I should probably do that before I file. In my mind it wasn't really "quitting" since I always planned to return, but I guess from a technical perspective I did leave before the official layoff would have happened.
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Natalie Adams
•Yeah, definitely talk to them first! My coworker had issues because what he told ESD didn't match what the employer reported. Created weeks of delays while in adjudication.
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Elijah O'Reilly
Here's the most important thing in your situation: you need to be able and available for work to qualify for UI benefits. The fact that you have a doctor's note confirming you're able to work as of Jan 5th is PERFECT. Definitely upload that with your initial claim. I recommend applying the morning of Jan 5th, not waiting until the end of the week. Reason being, your claim effective date is the Sunday of the week you apply, so applying early ensures you don't lose any potential benefit days. Regarding the separation reason - this is tricky. Technically, you should be truthful about why you actually left (medical), BUT since you would have been laid off anyway and have a return date, you might qualify for what's called "standby" status. From ESD's perspective, medical separations can trigger more scrutiny about your current ability to work. My recommendation: call your employer first and ask how they plan to respond when ESD contacts them about your separation. If they'll confirm it was essentially a seasonal layoff with medical timing, go with that explanation. The key is making sure your story and your employer's story match.
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Sarah Jones
•Really appreciate the detailed explanation. I'll definitely apply first thing on the 5th and will call my employer today to make sure we're on the same page about how to characterize my separation. Hoping for standby status since I do have that definite return date in March!
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Amara Torres
dont 4get that even with standby u still have to do weekly claims!!! easy to mess up
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Sarah Jones
•Good reminder, thank you! So even with standby status, I still need to file every week? Are there any other requirements I should be aware of? I know with regular UI you need to do job searches.
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Sebastian Scott
•Yes, you must file weekly claims even on standby status. The difference is you won't need to complete the usual job search activities (normally 3 per week). However, you must still be able and available for work each week, so be sure to answer those questions accurately. And if your employer calls you back earlier than expected, you must return to work or risk disqualification.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
What a nightmare these different systems are! I had to transition from PFML to UI last year after a surgery and ended up in adjudication hell for SIX WEEKS because of confusion about my work status. ESD kept saying I wasn't able to work even though I had a doctor's note - turns out they were looking at my PFML end date incorrectly. TRUST ME - apply exactly on January 5th (not before, not after), upload that doctor's note immediately, AND call ESD on the same day to explain your situation. You need to get ahead of any potential confusion. Also, make sure your PFML claim shows as properly closed in the system. I'd go with the seasonal layoff explanation if your employer agrees. Anything medical-related tends to trigger extra scrutiny from ESD about whether you're truly able and available for work.
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Sarah Jones
•Six weeks?! That's terrifying. I'm definitely going to be proactive about this. How do I check that my PFML claim is properly closed? Is that something I need to do, or does it happen automatically when the benefit period ends?
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•It should close automatically, but nothing is truly automatic with these systems! Log into your PFML account after your last payment and check that it shows your claim as completed/closed. If you see anything weird, definitely call them. The biggest issue is when one system shows you're still on medical leave while you're telling another system you're able to work. That contradiction is what causes the adjudication nightmare.
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Mason Kaczka
Wait you can go from PFML straight to unemployment??? I thought that wasn't allowed!
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Yes, you absolutely can transition from PFML to UI as long as you meet the qualification criteria for unemployment. The key requirements are: 1. You must be able and available for work (which the doctor's note establishes) 2. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own (seasonal layoff qualifies) 3. You must have worked enough hours in your base year to qualify There's no rule preventing someone from receiving PFML and then UI - they're separate benefit programs with different purposes and eligibility requirements.
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Mason Kaczka
•oh wow ok thats good to know! i always thought it was one or the other
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