I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through something similar! Last month I had a week where I worked 30 hours at my retail job and was really stressed about whether to file or skip. I ended up skipping that week and then resumed filing the following week when my hours dropped back to normal. Everything went perfectly smoothly - no issues with my claim, no restart needed, nothing. The system just picked up where it left off. Reading through all these responses really confirms what I experienced - the ESD system is definitely designed to handle variable work schedules like yours. You're absolutely making the right choice by skipping this week since you know you won't qualify with 32 hours. Just make sure to report those earnings accurately when you file next week. Don't stress about it - this is exactly how it's supposed to work!

I've been dealing with this exact situation for the past year with my freelance graphic design work! Some weeks I land a big project and work way over full-time hours, other weeks it's slow and I need to file for benefits. You're absolutely fine to skip filing for that week where you worked 32 hours - your claim stays active for the full benefit year (365 days from when you originally filed). I've skipped filing anywhere from 1-3 weeks at a time when I get busy projects, then just resume when work slows down again. The ESD system handles it seamlessly every time. Just make sure when you file next week that you accurately report the earnings from your busy week. This is exactly the kind of variable income situation that unemployment benefits are designed to accommodate. Don't worry about triggering any reviews or having to restart - the system expects people to have fluctuating work situations!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just made this mistake on my weekly certification this morning and have been stressing about it all day. This thread is honestly incredible - it's both reassuring and frustrating to see how many people have dealt with this exact issue. The fact that PFML agents handle this "multiple times per day" but there's still no edit button is just unbelievable, especially when people are already dealing with medical leave and financial pressure. Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that so many people have recommended - the 15-20 minute wait times sound amazing compared to the 2+ hour horror stories with the regular phone line. It's such a relief to know this is actually a quick fix for the agents once you get connected. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - you've turned what felt like a complete disaster into something manageable with a clear path forward!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer to PFML and haven't made this specific mistake yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has been so educational. It's shocking that such a basic feature like editing submitted certifications doesn't exist when this clearly happens "multiple times per day" according to the agents. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as a reference guide - the Claimyr service recommendations from Brady, Skylar, Isabella and others sound like a game-changer compared to the traditional phone line nightmare. The detailed advice about calling at 8 AM, having claim ID/SSN ready, and asking for reference numbers is also really valuable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their solutions and success stories - this community support makes navigating these government systems so much less intimidating!

I'm going through my first appeal process right now too and this whole thread has been so helpful to read! I've been stressing out about my hearing next week - my employer also said they're not planning to attend, which after reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel a bit more optimistic. Like several of you mentioned, I also have medical documentation for anxiety and depression that made it impossible for me to continue in my toxic work environment. My former supervisor was creating a hostile workplace and HR basically told me to "deal with it" when I reported the issues. @Liam Cortez - your situation with having multiple legitimate reasons backed by documentation sounds really strong. The fact that you tried to work with your employer on accommodations and they wouldn't cooperate shows you made good faith efforts. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and hoping we both get positive outcomes! The waiting really is torture though. I've already started obsessively checking my mailbox even though my hearing isn't until next week. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's helping me feel less alone in this stressful process.

I've been lurking in this community for a while but finally decided to create an account after reading through this thread. Your situation really resonates with me - I'm currently dealing with my own unemployment appeal after being denied benefits when I had to leave my job due to panic attacks and an unsafe work environment. What strikes me about your case is how well-documented everything is. Having medical records for both your anxiety and back injury, plus the official restraining order paperwork, creates such a strong foundation for your appeal. The fact that you have emails showing you requested accommodations just makes it even stronger. I haven't had my hearing yet (it's scheduled for next month), but reading about everyone's experiences here - especially those where employers didn't show up - is giving me some hope. The common thread seems to be that when you have legitimate medical reasons AND documentation, the outcomes are generally positive. I know the waiting is absolutely brutal when you're down to your last few dollars. I'm in a similar spot financially and the stress is overwhelming. But based on everything you've shared and all the responses from people who've been through this, I really think you're going to get a favorable decision. Please keep us updated when you hear back!

I just went through this same process a couple months ago after taking a temporary construction job. The reopen is definitely way less stressful than it sounds! One thing that helped me was having all my documents ready beforehand - like proof of when the job ended and my updated resume for job search activities. Washington ESD's online reopen form walks you through everything step by step, and they even have a progress bar so you know how much is left. The hardest part was honestly just remembering my login info since I hadn't used the site in a few weeks! Make sure you have your Social Security number and the dates you worked handy when you start the process.

I actually just helped my roommate through this exact situation last week! The Washington ESD reopen process is really common when you take temporary work - they basically pause your claim when you stop filing for more than 2-3 weeks to prevent accidental overpayments. When you reopen, you're not losing any of your original eligibility or benefit amount, they just need to verify you're unemployed again and ready to look for work. The online form asks pretty straightforward questions about why you stopped filing and your current work status. My roommate's got approved in 3 days and she was able to file her weekly claim right after. Just make sure you're honest about the dates you worked and don't try to claim benefits for those weeks. Also have your job search activities ready to go since they'll expect you to start meeting those requirements again once you're reactivated.

I'm currently waiting for my first PFML payment too and this thread has been incredibly informative! I submitted my weekly claim on Tuesday and it's showing "Claim Submitted" status. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect to wait about 7-14 business days for that first payment. One thing I wanted to mention that might help others - I called the PFML customer service line early this morning (around 7:30 AM) and actually got through after only 15 minutes on hold! The representative confirmed that first payments do take longer because they have to verify everything is set up correctly in their system. She also mentioned that if you have any banking changes or issues with direct deposit, it's better to resolve them now rather than after a payment fails. For anyone still waiting like us, she said the best times to call are right when they open (7 AM) or during lunch hours (12-1 PM) when call volume tends to be lower. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration others mentioned about not being able to get through!

I just wanted to share a quick update for anyone following this thread! My PFML payment finally came through this morning - exactly 8 business days after I filed my weekly claim. The status in my portal changed from "Payment Processing" to "Payment Sent" yesterday afternoon, and then the direct deposit hit my account around 6 AM today. The amount was about 15% less than I expected due to tax withholdings (thanks @GalacticGuru for the heads up on that!), but I'm just relieved to finally have it. For anyone still waiting, hang in there - the system does work, it just takes patience. I'm also setting up those banking alerts that @NeonNebula suggested so I'll know immediately when future payments arrive. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. This community has been such a lifesaver during a stressful time!