This is such a common confusion! I went through the same thing when I took leave for my father's care last year. The key thing to remember is that FMLA and PFML are two separate programs that can work together: - FMLA = Federal job protection (unpaid) - PFML = Washington state income replacement (paid) Since you didn't receive any income during your leave, there's nothing to tax. But I'd recommend bookmarking the ESD PFML page for future reference - it's really generous coverage (up to 90% of your wages) and you pay into it through small payroll deductions anyway, so you might as well use it if you ever need leave again. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing - a lot of employers don't proactively inform employees about PFML benefits. It's relatively new (started in 2020) so many HR departments are still learning about it themselves.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who actually used both FMLA and PFML together last year for my own medical leave. The process was pretty straightforward once I figured it out: 1. Applied for FMLA through my employer's HR (job protection) 2. Applied for PFML through ESD's website (income replacement) 3. Both ran concurrently for 10 weeks The PFML benefits were definitely taxable - I got a 1099-G from ESD and had to report it as income. But since you didn't receive any PFML payments, you're all set tax-wise! One tip for anyone reading this: Even if your employer offers short-term disability, you should still check if PFML might be better. Washington's PFML often provides higher benefits than private disability insurance, and you've been paying into it anyway through your paycheck deductions.

This is really helpful advice, especially about tracking earnings mid-week to optimize total income! I hadn't thought about strategically stopping gig work if I'm getting close to that earnings threshold. Quick question - when you say "gross earnings," are you including tips that customers add through the app, or just the base delivery fees? I know tips are part of what the apps report to the IRS, but I want to make sure I'm reporting the right numbers to ESD. Also, do you use any specific spreadsheet template or just create your own columns? I'm pretty organized but want to make sure I'm tracking everything ESD might ask for if my claim gets reviewed. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to hear from someone who's been successfully managing this for months!

I've been doing DoorDash while on unemployment for about 3 months now and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me stay compliant: 1. **Weekly claiming timing matters** - I always file my weekly claim on the same day each week and make sure to report earnings for the correct work week, not the pay week. The apps sometimes pay you the following week for work you did, so don't get confused by that. 2. **Track your mileage too** - Even though you're reporting gross earnings to ESD, you'll want mileage records for tax purposes. I use the Stride app to automatically track miles while doing deliveries. Come tax time, you can deduct business mileage which helps offset the self-employment taxes you'll owe on gig earnings. 3. **Be prepared for quarterly tax payments** - Since gig work is 1099 income, you'll likely need to make estimated quarterly tax payments to avoid penalties. Something to factor into your financial planning while job hunting. 4. **Keep your availability flexible** - I only work gig jobs during off-peak job search hours (early mornings, evenings, weekends). This way I'm always available for interviews during business hours and it shows ESD you're prioritizing your job search. The earning limit can be frustrating when you hit it mid-week, but honestly the flexibility to earn some extra cash while job hunting has been a lifesaver. Just stay organized with your tracking and you should be fine!

One more thing to consider - make sure your new employer knows you're currently on unemployment. Some companies want to coordinate start dates to help employees transition smoothly off benefits.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago with Washington ESD. You're absolutely fine to continue claiming during the gap period - just be completely transparent on your weekly claims about accepting the offer and your availability status. I documented everything (offer letter, start date confirmation emails) and had zero issues. The key thing Washington ESD cares about is honesty, not penalizing people for normal employment transitions. Congrats on the job offer and don't stress about it!

One more important point that hasn't been mentioned: When you report freelance/self-employment income, you should report it for the week you PERFORM the work, not when you get paid (which is different from W-2 work where you report when paid). Also, regarding job search requirements: Yes, you must continue performing and documenting 3 job search activities each week, even during weeks you do freelance work, UNLESS you've been approved for standby status or commissioner-approved training. Freelance work by itself doesn't exempt you from job search requirements. And a final tip: If your freelance work becomes regular and ongoing, you might want to look into partial unemployment benefits. You can potentially receive partial benefits for a longer period rather than using up full weeks of benefits during periods of no work.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who did exactly this! I had a 3-week freelance project while collecting unemployment and it went smoothly. The key things that worked for me: 1) I kept filing weekly claims without interruption, 2) reported my gross freelance income for the exact weeks I worked (not when I got paid), 3) continued doing my 3 job searches each week even during work weeks, and 4) kept every email, invoice, and payment record. After the project ended, my regular benefits resumed automatically. Don't overthink it - just be thorough with reporting and documentation!

I'm new to unemployment benefits and just opened a Gesa account specifically because I heard they were good for direct deposits. This thread is so reassuring! I was worried about timing since I'm also dealing with rent deadlines. Quick question for the Gesa veterans here - does the deposit timing change at all if you're brand new to unemployment? Like, do they hold first-time deposits longer or anything like that? I just filed my first weekly claim on Sunday and ESD shows it as processed, but I want to make sure I have realistic expectations for when it might hit my account. Also, is there any difference between using Gesa's mobile app vs online banking for checking deposits? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything!

I've been on unemployment with Gesa for about 6 months and can confirm what everyone else is saying - Wednesday nights between 10pm-midnight is the norm! I file Sunday evenings and it's been incredibly consistent. One thing I'll add that might help with your rent situation: I started using Gesa's "account alerts" feature where they text me the instant any deposit over $100 hits my account. That way I know immediately when my benefits arrive instead of checking obsessively. You can set this up in their mobile app under notifications. Also, for what it's worth, I've found that if I file my weekly claim before noon on Sunday, it seems to process slightly faster than when I file Sunday night. Might just be coincidence, but the earlier filing seems to keep everything on the most predictable schedule. For your landlord, I'd definitely say Thursday morning to be safe, but realistically you should have the funds Wednesday night. The consistency has been one of the few reliable things about this whole unemployment process!