I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process recently. You absolutely can file for a new unemployment claim after your previous benefits ended, especially since you've been working since then. The key thing that helped me was having all my documentation ready before I started the online application - pay stubs, employer contact information, and exact dates of employment. Washington ESD's system will walk you through everything step by step. Since you were making $800/week part-time, you should qualify for a much better weekly benefit amount than your previous claim. Don't stress too much about it - the process is pretty straightforward once you get started!

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Filed a new claim in March after my previous benefits ended in September and I had worked temp jobs through the winter. The process was actually smoother the second time around since I knew what to expect. One thing I'd recommend is to file your claim early in the week (like Monday or Tuesday) - I noticed they seem to process new claims faster at the beginning of the week. Also, since you mentioned your part-time job paid well, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by your new weekly benefit amount. The system calculates it based on your highest earning quarter in the base period, so those higher wages should really help. Good luck with everything!

Update: I went ahead with the password reset following everyone's advice here. Cleared my cache first, made sure I was on the official site, and created a password that met all their requirements. The process went smoothly and I was able to log back in without any issues! Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad to hear everything worked out smoothly for you! Your experience will definitely help other members who might be hesitant about doing the password reset. It's always nerve-wracking when these security prompts come up at critical times, but it sounds like following the proper precautions (clearing cache, verifying the official site, meeting password requirements) really makes the difference. Thanks for coming back to update us with the positive outcome!

Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful. Try to take care of your mental health during this process too. The uncertainty is really tough to deal with.

I went through this exact same situation last year - 7 weeks in adjudication hell. What finally broke it loose for me was getting my state representative's office involved. I called their constituent services line and explained how the delay was causing financial hardship. They have a direct line to Washington ESD and can sometimes get cases escalated. It took about 2 weeks after I contacted them, but my claim finally moved forward. Worth a shot if all else fails - most rep offices are pretty responsive to unemployment issues since they're affecting so many constituents.

Just saw this thread and had to add - I work for a company that regularly does layoffs and we've never contested a single legitimate unemployment claim. Any employer who tries to block benefits after a layoff is just being vindictive. Washington ESD will see through it.

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago when my company did layoffs. My manager made some threatening comments too, but here's what I learned: Washington ESD has pretty strict guidelines about what constitutes valid grounds for contesting a claim. For layoffs specifically, employers need to prove either that it wasn't actually a layoff (like you quit or were fired for cause) or that you don't meet other eligibility requirements. Since you mentioned your whole department was eliminated, that's pretty clear evidence it was a legitimate workforce reduction. The worst case scenario is they contest it and cause some delays, but if you have documentation showing it was truly a layoff, you should be fine. I'd recommend keeping any emails about the layoffs, your termination letter, or anything else that shows the business reason for letting people go.

Whatever you decide, don't let them win by giving up. Even if you can't sue, file complaints everywhere - state auditor, DOL, legislature, media. Make noise so this doesn't happen to others.

I went through something similar last year and ended up not suing because the costs were just too high compared to potential recovery. But I did have some success by exhausting every other avenue first. Have you tried requesting a formal records review to see exactly what documentation Washington ESD used in their decision? Sometimes they make decisions based on incomplete or incorrect information from employers, and if you can prove that, it might give you grounds to reopen administratively rather than going to court. Also, document everything about how this has impacted you financially - even if you don't sue now, having that record could be useful if you find a more affordable legal option later.