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And remember, if you do need to contact Washington ESD for any reason during your claim, services like Claimyr can save you a lot of frustration trying to get through their phone system. Just keep it in mind if you run into issues later.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned - make sure you understand the appeal process for both systems in case something goes wrong. Both SSDI and Washington ESD have specific timelines for appeals that you don't want to miss.
Just wanted to circle back to that Claimyr service someone mentioned - I actually used it last month when I had questions about my unemployment claim status. Got through to Washington ESD in under an hour when I'd been calling for days. Definitely recommend it for complex situations like this where you really need to talk to someone official.
Pro tip: take a screenshot every time you file your weekly claim showing the confirmation. I had a situation where Washington ESD said I didn't file one week but I had proof that I did. Saved me weeks of hassle trying to straighten it out.
The bottom line is Washington ESD pays weekly but it's not guaranteed or automatic. You have to work for it every week by filing your claim, and any little issue can stop payments cold. But if you follow the rules and file consistently, you should see money in your account within 3-4 days of filing each week.
Just remember if you run into problems, don't waste days trying to call Washington ESD. Use that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone who can help.
Liam O'Reilly
I went through the PFML application process last year and it was pretty straightforward once I understood what was needed. The hardest part was just figuring out initially that PFML was the right program, not unemployment.
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Kyle Wallace
•How long did it take to get approved and start receiving benefits?
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Liam O'Reilly
•It took about 3 weeks from application to first payment, but that was pretty typical. Some people get approved faster, some take longer depending on their situation.
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Chloe Delgado
Just to wrap this up for anyone reading - if you're planning maternity leave in Washington State, apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), not unemployment insurance. PFML is specifically designed for family and medical leave situations and provides better benefits than UI would anyway.
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Kyle Wallace
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about the process now.
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Chloe Delgado
•You're welcome! Good luck with everything and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!
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