Can I apply for unemployment again after my previous Washington ESD claim ended?

That's a relief! Do I file online through the same SecureAccess Washington portal or is there a different process for new claims?

Same portal at secure.esd.wa.gov - just select 'Apply for Benefits' instead of reopening an existing claim.

Good to know! Did your benefit amount change much from your previous claim?

Actually went up a little because I had worked more hours before filing the second time around.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They basically get you through to an actual Washington ESD agent without the endless hold times. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but willing to try anything at this point. The regular phone number just hangs up on me after an hour of waiting.

Can confirm Claimyr works - used it to get help with my adjudication issue. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly.

No time limit! You can apply for a new claim anytime after your benefit year ends. Just make sure you're still unemployed or underemployed when you apply.

ok cool thx gonna apply tomorrow then

How does that work exactly? Like if I make $200 in a week do they just subtract that from my benefit amount?

It's a bit more complicated - they have a formula where you can earn up to a certain amount without losing benefits, then they start reducing dollar for dollar after that. The exact amount depends on your weekly benefit amount.

I think you can earn up to about $100 without any reduction but don't quote me on that number. Best to check with Washington ESD directly.

That's so frustrating! Have you tried getting help from someone who knows the system better?

This is exactly why services like Claimyr are helpful - they know how to navigate Washington ESD and can get you to the right person who actually knows the current rules.

I'm still working the part-time job, just need more hours/income. Does that matter?

Oh that's different then - you'd be filing as underemployed which is totally fine. Washington ESD allows partial benefits for people working reduced hours.

How long did it take to get approved? My first claim took forever because of adjudication.

About 2-3 weeks this time, much faster than my first claim. I think because I'd already been through the system before.

Ugh I forgot about that. Do I still need to do job searches if I'm already working part-time?

yep still gotta do them unless you get an exemption somehow

Correct - the job search requirement applies to all claimants unless you have a specific exemption like being on standby with your employer.

What kind of adjudication issues did you have? I'm worried about running into problems again.

They questioned my job separation and it took forever to get documents from my old employer. Eventually got resolved but was a nightmare.

If you run into adjudication delays again, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to someone who can actually help move things along.

They'll use a new base period that includes more recent earnings, which could increase your weekly benefit amount if you've been working.

That's what I was hoping to hear! My earnings went up quite a bit between claims.

How do you report gig work income? Is that different from regular part-time employment?

i think you just report the gross earnings for the week when you file your weekly claim but not 100% sure

Good reminder! I remember that being important with my first claim too.

Yeah Washington ESD is pretty strict about the deadlines. You can restart claims that get closed for missed filing but it's a hassle.

That's reassuring! I remember the website being pretty glitchy during my first claim.

Much more stable now, though I still recommend doing the application during off-peak hours just in case.

Good to know! I wasn't sure if part-time work would be enough to qualify for benefits again.

As long as you've earned enough in your base period you should be fine. The calculator on Washington ESD's website can give you an estimate.

Can you backdate a new claim or do benefits only start from when you apply?

they usually only go back to your application date so yeah apply asap if you need it

That gives me confidence to get started! Did you need any special documents or just your basic employment info?

Just had my Social Security number, employer info, and dates/reasons for job separations. Same stuff as the first time basically.

Good luck! Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues during the process.

And remember if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim, Claimyr can save you hours of waiting on hold.