Bottom line - file ASAP and be honest about your situation. Washington ESD deals with delayed filings all the time, especially in seasonal industries like construction. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my retail job in December and kept thinking I'd find something quickly. Now it's February and I'm realizing I should have filed months ago. Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially learning about the one-year window for backdating. I had no idea Washington was more flexible than other states. Going to start my application tonight and just be honest about why I waited. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - makes me feel less alone in this situation.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to file your weekly claim yesterday despite the restart message still showing? This information would be helpful for others who might encounter the same issue in the future.

This is such a relief to hear! I've been dealing with a similar issue where my account shows conflicting messages, and your experience gives me confidence to just proceed with filing. It's frustrating that ESD's website can be so misleading, but at least we know now that the actual filing system works even when the dashboard is buggy. Thanks for updating us with how it turned out - this thread will definitely help other people who run into the same problem!

To answer your follow-up question: I'd recommend waiting at least 24 hours after filing your final weekly claim before starting a new application. This gives their system time to process everything properly. As someone else mentioned, you'll need to qualify with enough work hours in your new base year, which is different from your original claim's base year.

Just wanted to add that if you're worried about the timing, you can always check your eServices account after filing to see if the payment shows as "Paid" or "Processing." That usually happens within a day or two and will give you peace of mind that everything went through correctly. I've been through this same situation twice now and both times the final week payment processed without any issues, even though filing after the benefit year expired felt weird!

Wishing you the best with your claim! Medical situations are exactly the kind of thing unemployment benefits are meant to help with.

I went through something very similar with a knee injury that prevented me from continuing my job in construction. Washington ESD did approve my claim, but the key was having comprehensive documentation. Make sure you get a letter from your doctor that specifically mentions your job duties and why your medical condition makes those tasks impossible. Also, save all your communications with your employer about requesting accommodations - that shows you made a good faith effort before quitting. The process took about 6-7 weeks for me, but I did eventually get approved and received back pay from when I first filed. Don't get discouraged if it takes time!

Glad it worked out! Just remember that if your hours increase or you get a raise that pushes you over the threshold, make sure to keep reporting accurately. The partial benefits can be really helpful while you're transitioning back to full employment.

This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got a part-time retail job after being unemployed for 3 months. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that the biggest mistake people make is just stopping their claims without properly reporting their new employment. I definitely would have made that error if I hadn't found this post. The partial benefits calculation that Eve explained is really useful too. Going to make sure I file my next weekly claim and report my new job accurately. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's saving me from potential headaches later!