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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Congratulations on landing the job! I'm currently on unemployment benefits too and this thread is super helpful for when I hopefully find something soon. One question - did you have to do anything special with your job search log when you stopped claiming? I've been keeping detailed records of all my applications and contacts, but wasn't sure if I need to submit a final report or anything like that to Washington ESD when I stop filing.
Great question! You don't need to submit a final job search log report to Washington ESD when you stop filing. Just keep all your job search documentation (applications, contacts, interviews, etc.) for your own records in case they ever audit your claim later. I kept mine organized by week just like I had been doing while actively claiming. The job search requirement automatically ends when you stop filing weekly claims, but definitely hold onto all that documentation for at least a year like others have mentioned. Good luck with your job search - sounds like you're staying organized which is key!
Congratulations on the new job! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just accepted a position that starts next week and have been on UI benefits for about 3 months. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the process is pretty straightforward: file your final weekly claim accurately for this past week, then just stop filing once you start working full-time. I'm definitely going to take the advice about keeping documentation and saving a screenshot of my final claim submission. It's such a relief to finally be transitioning back to work after months of job searching. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver during the unemployment process!
Congratulations to both of you on landing new jobs! It's so encouraging to see multiple people in this community successfully transitioning back to work. I'm still in the job search phase myself, but this whole thread has been incredibly informative about what to expect when I hopefully find something soon. The advice about keeping detailed documentation and taking screenshots of final submissions seems really smart - Washington ESD can be unpredictable, so having that paper trail could save a lot of headaches later. Best of luck to everyone starting new positions! It gives the rest of us hope that the right opportunity is out there.
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This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through my first PFML claim right now and was feeling so lost about the whole process. My claim just switched to "approved" status yesterday and I was panicking about when I'd actually see any money. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope - it sounds like I should expect to see a deposit within the next few days if the 2-4 business day pattern holds true. I chose the ReliaCard option too and was starting to wonder if I made the right choice, but based on what people are sharing here it seems like it actually might be faster than direct deposit in some cases. The tips about checking the balance online before the card arrives and setting up text alerts are game changers - I had no idea those options existed! I'm definitely going to look into those email notifications in my account settings that Malik mentioned, and I'll remember to call ReliaCard customer service if I don't see the physical card within a week or so. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share their timelines and practical advice. This is exactly what I needed to hear to calm my nerves about budgeting during this leave. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually been through this recently!
Welcome to the PFML journey, Javier! I'm also pretty new to this whole process and this thread has been a lifesaver. It's so nerve-wracking when you're waiting for that first payment and have no idea what to expect timing-wise. Based on what everyone's sharing, it really does seem like the 2-4 business day pattern is pretty consistent, so hopefully you'll see something soon! I'm in a similar boat - my claim got approved earlier this week and I'm anxiously waiting to see the deposit hit. The ReliaCard tips have been super helpful too, especially knowing you can check the balance online before the physical card arrives. That alone is going to save so much stress! Keep us posted on how it goes for you - it's nice to have others going through this at the same time to share the experience with.
Hey Michael! I just went through this exact same process about a month ago and can share my experience. Once my weekly claim showed "approved," I typically saw the deposit hit my ReliaCard within 2-3 business days - usually on a Wednesday or Thursday. The card itself took about 8 business days to arrive in my mailbox, but like others mentioned, the funds were already loaded when I activated it. One tip that really helped me was downloading the ReliaCard mobile app as soon as I got the card - it made checking balances and setting up transfers so much easier than using the website. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to set up those email notifications in your Paid Leave account settings so you get alerts when your claim status changes. It saved me from constantly logging in to check! Since you mentioned budgeting around bills, you might want to reach out to your creditors proactively to let them know about your situation - many are willing to work with you on payment dates if you communicate early. Good luck with everything, and don't stress too much - based on your timeline, you should hopefully see that deposit very soon!
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Adding to what others have said - I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. That "disqualified" status for Week 1 is definitely the waiting week, even though the terminology is super confusing. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly claims and job search activities from the very beginning. I'd recommend documenting everything - dates you filed, what status shows up, your three job searches each week with company names and how you applied. This way if any issues come up later, you have all your records organized. The construction industry can be tricky with unemployment since work is often temporary, but as long as you keep filing consistently and doing your job searches, you should be fine. Don't let that first week status stress you out!
That spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I'm definitely going to set that up today. You're right about keeping detailed records - I can already see how easy it would be to forget exactly when I applied where. And thanks for the reassurance about the construction work aspect. I was a little worried that the temporary nature of construction jobs might complicate things, but it sounds like as long as I stay on top of the weekly filings and job searches, I should be okay. Really appreciate everyone's help in this thread!
Hey there! I went through this same exact situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my retail management job. That "disqualified" status for Week 1 totally freaked me out too - I thought I had somehow messed up my claim already! But like everyone else is saying, it's just the waiting week and completely normal. The terminology is super confusing because "disqualified" sounds so negative, but it's really just how their system labels that mandatory waiting period. I remember spending hours on the ESD website trying to figure out what I did wrong, but there was nothing wrong at all. Just keep filing your weekly claims and doing your job searches - you should see payments start for Week 2. The whole process gets less stressful once you get into the routine of it. Hang in there!
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Just want to add that the Board of Appeals decision is final at the state level. After that your only option is federal court, which almost never happens for unemployment cases unless there are major constitutional issues.
Good to know. Sounds like the Board of Appeals is really my last realistic chance to win this case.
Exactly. Make sure you put everything you have into that Board appeal because it's your final shot.
I went through a similar situation about two years ago. Got denied initially, lost at the administrative law judge level, but then won at the Board of Appeals. The key for me was really focusing on the specific legal requirements for misconduct in Washington - they have to prove it was willful or wanton disregard of your employer's interests. Just making mistakes or poor performance usually isn't enough. Also, make sure you submit your Board appeal within that 30-day window - they're super strict about deadlines. I'd recommend gathering any documentation you have that contradicts what your employer claimed at the first hearing. Good luck with your appeal!
Yuki Sato
Update: I tried the Claimyr service that was recommended, and I actually got through to ESD! The agent told me my employer DID respond and said I was terminated for "failure to meet performance expectations" but they didn't provide any documentation to back it up. The agent said without documentation, it would likely be decided in my favor, but the adjudication could still take 4-6 more weeks due to backlog. I explained about the lack of write-ups and the positive meeting two weeks before termination, and she added notes to my claim. She also suggested I upload a written statement explaining this in detail, which I just did. Frustrated that my employer wasn't honest with me about not contesting, but at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Carmen Ruiz
•Great update! This is exactly why it's so important to find out what the employer is saying. The good news is that "failure to meet performance expectations" without documentation is generally not considered misconduct for UI purposes. Poor performance alone usually doesn't disqualify you from benefits unless they can show willful disregard for their legitimate business interests. The notes you had added to your claim and your written statement will help tremendously. Keep filing those weekly claims while you wait!
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Brooklyn Foley
Really glad you were able to get through to ESD and find out what your employer actually said! It's unfortunately very common for employers to tell terminated employees they won't contest the claim, then turn around and provide reasons that could potentially disqualify you. At least now you know exactly what you're up against. The fact that they claimed "failure to meet performance expectations" but provided zero documentation is actually a good sign for your case. ESD typically needs to see a clear pattern of documented poor performance and warnings for that to constitute misconduct. One unsigned probation notice from January with positive interactions since then doesn't meet that bar. 4-6 weeks is still a long time to wait when bills are piling up, but it sounds like you're in a strong position for approval. Make sure you keep filing those weekly claims - you can't get back pay for weeks you didn't file even if you're eventually approved. Hang in there! The waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you've done everything right.
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Emma Wilson
•This whole situation really highlights how broken the communication is between employers and employees during terminations. It's so frustrating that they can tell you one thing to your face and then report something completely different to ESD. At least you found out early what they were claiming rather than waiting months only to be denied based on false information. The silver lining is that "failure to meet performance expectations" is actually one of the weaker reasons employers give, especially without documentation. I've seen so many cases where employers throw this around hoping it sticks, but ESD usually sees right through it when there's no paper trail. Your situation with just one disputed probation notice from months ago actually puts you in a really good position. Keep documenting everything and stay strong during the wait. The financial stress is real, but it sounds like you're going to come out of this okay!
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