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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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Update: I just checked my bank account and my payment from yesterday's claim is already pending! Looks like it'll post tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for the help figuring out the timing.
Perfect. Now you know what to expect for future weeks.
Glad it worked out! Always good when the system works like it's supposed to.
I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months now and can confirm the timing pattern everyone mentioned. File your weekly claim by Sunday evening and you'll typically see the deposit hit your account Wednesday morning. I use Bank of America and it's been consistent every week - payment shows up around 6-7am on Wednesday. The key is filing early in the week and making sure your claim status shows "paid" in your account. If it shows anything else like "under review" or "pending," that's when you might have delays. Also worth noting that if you're doing job search activities online, make sure you're logging them properly in the system because that can hold up payments too.
That's really helpful to know about the job search logging! I'm still figuring out all the requirements. Do you know if volunteering counts as a job search activity or does it have to be actual job applications?
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Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through the PFML process last fall - everything you're experiencing is unfortunately totally normal! The system is definitely not user-friendly. A few things that might help while you wait for approval: 1. Keep checking your email AND the messages section in your paidleave.wa.gov account. Sometimes they send updates through one but not the other. 2. If you haven't already, make sure all your documentation is complete. Missing or unclear medical certification is the #1 reason for delays from what I've seen. 3. The waiting is the worst part, but once you're approved everything moves much faster. I got my first payment (including backpay) within 5 business days of approval. 4. Start preparing now for weekly claims - keep a simple log of any work/income during your leave period, even if it's zero. Makes filing much easier later. Hang in there! The system is broken but it does eventually work. Your early morning call success gives me hope that maybe they're finally getting better at answering phones.
This is incredibly helpful advice, thank you! I'm definitely going to start keeping a work/income log right away - I hadn't even thought about that but it makes total sense. Quick question about the documentation - my doctor submitted the medical certification when I first applied, but I'm wondering if there's a way for me to check if ESD actually received it properly? I'm paranoid something got lost in their system and that's why it's taking so long. Did you have any way to verify your paperwork was complete during the waiting period? Also really encouraging to hear about the 5-day payment turnaround after approval. That takes some of the stress off knowing it won't be another long wait once I finally get the green light!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just submitted my PFML application last week and the waiting is killing me. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring though - at least I know I'm not alone in finding this system completely confusing. Quick question for everyone who's been through this - did any of you have issues with your employer's HR department not knowing how PFML works? Mine keeps asking me questions I can't answer because I'm still waiting for approval, and they seem just as lost as I am about how this all coordinates with their own policies. Also @Jessica Nguyen - thanks for sharing your success story about getting through at 8am! I'm definitely going to try that strategy tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed I get as lucky as you did!
Yes! My HR department was completely clueless about PFML too. They kept asking me for documentation and timelines that I didn't have yet because everything was still pending. I ended up having to explain the state program to them, which was awkward since I barely understood it myself at that point! What helped was printing out some of the FAQ pages from the paidleave.wa.gov website and sharing those with HR. At least then we were all looking at the same (confusing) information. Some employers have their own policies that run parallel to PFML, so it can get really messy trying to coordinate everything. Good luck with the 8am call strategy! I'm thinking of trying that myself if I need to contact them again. The key seems to be calling right when they open before the phone lines get completely overwhelmed.
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This thread is super helpful! I was also confused about some unemployment terminology. Glad to know I'm not the only one who gets mixed up by all the different terms people use.
Right? There's so much unofficial slang mixed in with the official terms that it gets confusing fast.
I'm new to unemployment benefits and this whole thread has been really educational! I was also hearing confusing terminology at my local WorkSource office. It sounds like the key takeaway is that Washington ESD doesn't officially use "sub pay" - it's probably just informal language people use. I'm glad to see there are resources like that Claimyr service for when you need to actually speak with someone, since I've heard the phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on. Thanks everyone for clarifying all the official benefit types vs. the slang terms!
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I went through this exact same situation last year! Having multiple jobs actually worked in my favor because it gave me higher qualifying wages. Just make sure you have all your employment dates, wages, and employer contact info ready before you start the application. The online system will walk you through entering each job separately, but it's all part of one single claim. Don't stress too much about it - Washington ESD deals with this all the time and their system is designed to handle multiple employers.
That's so reassuring to hear! I was really worried about messing something up, but it sounds like the system is pretty user-friendly for this situation. Did you have any trouble with the wage verification process when you had multiple employers?
No issues at all with wage verification! Washington ESD automatically contacts your employers to verify the information you provide. It took about 2 weeks for them to get responses from both of my employers, and then my claim was approved. The key is just being accurate with the dates and wages when you first file - if there are small discrepancies, they'll work it out during verification, but big errors could delay things.
I just wanted to add one more helpful tip from my experience - when you're filling out the employment history section, Washington ESD asks for your "gross wages" from each job. Make sure you're reporting your total earnings before taxes and deductions, not your take-home pay. I initially put in my net pay by mistake and had to call to correct it later. Also, if either of your jobs paid you in tips or commissions, make sure to include those in your total wages too. The system will use all of this information to calculate your highest earning quarter, which determines your weekly benefit amount.
Grace Patel
Final update from my experience: yes it's possible, yes it's complicated, but don't let that stop you from pursuing benefits you're legally entitled to. Just be prepared for extra scrutiny during the application process and keep detailed records of everything.
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Madison Tipne
•Perfect summary. I feel much more confident about moving forward now. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion!
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Grace Patel
•You're welcome! Feel free to update us on how your application process goes. Other people in similar situations could benefit from hearing about your experience.
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Chloe Anderson
I'm actually going through a similar situation right now, though I'm on SSDI for a different condition. One thing I learned from my caseworker is that Washington ESD will likely ask for a detailed explanation of your work capacity during the adjudication process. They might even request documentation from your doctor about what types of work you can perform and for how many hours. The key is being able to demonstrate that while you have limitations, you're still capable of and actively seeking suitable employment within those limitations. My advice would be to gather any documentation about your previous work accommodations and be prepared to explain exactly what type of part-time work you can realistically do. It sounds like you have a good case since you were already working before the layoff.
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Raj Gupta
•That's really helpful advice about gathering documentation ahead of time. I've been keeping records of my work accommodations from my previous job, but I hadn't thought about getting something more formal from my doctor about my work capacity. Did your caseworker give you any specific guidance on what kind of medical documentation they prefer, or was it pretty open-ended? I'm trying to be as prepared as possible before I submit my application.
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