Can I apply for unemployment another time after previous claim ended?

Yes, you can definitely file a new unemployment claim! There's no limit on how many times you can apply for Washington ESD benefits as long as you meet the eligibility requirements each time. Since you worked after your last claim ended, you should be able to establish a new benefit year.

That's a relief! Do I need to wait until my previous benefit year officially expires or can I file right away?

You can file right away since you're unemployed now. Washington ESD will determine if you have enough wages to start a new claim or if you need to reopen your previous one.

Just make sure you have enough qualifying wages from your recent work. Washington ESD looks at your wages from the past 5 quarters when you file a new claim. If your part-time work didn't generate enough wages, they might just reopen your old claim instead of starting a fresh one.

How much do I need to have earned to qualify for a new claim? I was making about $800 per month at the part-time job.

You need at least $1,320 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. With $800/month, you might be borderline depending on how long you worked.

I had a similar situation and Washington ESD just reopened my old claim when I didn't have enough new wages. You still get benefits, just at the old rate.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for three days to ask this same question but their phone lines are impossible! Has anyone found a better way to reach them? I'm getting so frustrated with the busy signals.

Actually, I just discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's been a lifesaver for getting my questions answered without spending hours on hold.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It basically handles the calling process for you so you don't have to deal with busy signals and endless hold music. You get connected when an agent is actually available.

ugh the whole system is such a mess... i filed my new claim online last week and it's been stuck in 'processing' ever since. no idea if it went through or not

That's normal - new claims usually take 1-2 weeks to process. You should get a determination letter once they review your wages and eligibility.

ok thanks, just hate the waiting game when bills are due lol

Update: I went ahead and filed online through the SecureAccess Washington portal. The system automatically determined I have enough wages for a new claim! My weekly benefit amount went up from $295 to $340 because of the recent wage increase. Thanks everyone for the encouragement to apply.

Awesome! That's great news. Make sure to file your weekly claims on time and keep track of your job search activities.

Congrats! Quick question - did you have to do the whole WorkSource registration thing again or did your old registration carry over?

My WorkSource registration was still active so I didn't have to redo that part. Just had to update my resume and make sure my job search plan was current.

For anyone else in this situation, definitely apply even if you're not sure about your wages. Washington ESD will tell you if you qualify or not, and there's no penalty for applying. I waited months thinking I didn't have enough wages and it turns out I qualified the whole time.

This! I made the same mistake and lost out on benefits I could have been getting.

Exactly why I decided to just go for it. Better to try and get denied than assume I can't qualify.

One thing to note - if you do get a new claim approved, your job search requirements will be the standard 3 job contacts per week unless you're in a training program or have other approved activities. Make sure you understand what counts as a valid job search activity.

Good point. Is it still just applications or do things like networking events count too?

Applications, attending job fairs, networking events, interviews, and career counseling all count. Just make sure to log everything in your WorkSource account.

And if you're in a union, make sure to check with them about standby status. That can change your job search requirements.

Been there! Filed three different claims over the past five years due to layoffs in my industry. Each time was pretty straightforward as long as I had the work history. The online system is way better than it used to be.

That's reassuring to hear from someone with experience. Did you ever have issues with them questioning multiple claims?

Nope, never had any issues. As long as each job loss was legitimate and you meet the wage requirements, they don't care how many times you've filed.

Just want to add that if anyone is having trouble reaching Washington ESD to clarify their situation, I had success using Claimyr recently. Worth checking out if you need to actually talk to someone instead of just guessing about your eligibility.

I tried Claimyr after seeing it mentioned earlier and actually got through to an agent today! They confirmed I can file a new claim. Thanks for the tip everyone.

How much does that service cost? I'm skeptical of paying for something that should be free.

I get the skepticism, but honestly the time I saved was worth it. Spent weeks trying to call on my own with no luck.

Quick tip for everyone - if you're filing a new claim after working, make sure you have your most recent pay stubs and employment dates handy. Washington ESD might need to verify your wages and it speeds up the process if you have everything ready.

Good advice! I had all my documents ready which probably helped with the quick processing.

Also keep your Social Security card and ID ready in case there are any identity verification issues.

The system has definitely improved but still has its quirks. Sometimes claims get flagged for adjudication even when everything seems straightforward. Don't panic if that happens - it usually resolves within a few weeks.

Thankfully mine didn't get flagged, but good to know in case issues come up later.

If you do get stuck in adjudication, that's another time when calling Washington ESD directly can help clarify what they need from you.

Exactly. Sometimes it's just a simple documentation issue that can be resolved quickly with the right person.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation and was worried about applying again. Going to file my claim tomorrow morning.

Good luck! The process was much smoother than I expected.

Make sure to file your weekly claim right away once you get approved, even if you haven't received your first payment yet.

For anyone reading this later - yes, you can apply for unemployment multiple times in Washington. I've filed 4 different claims over 10 years and never had an issue. The key is having qualifying wages from work between claims.

Same here. The economy has been rough and a lot of us have had to file multiple times. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's comforting to know this is normal for many people.

One last thing - if you had any overpayments or issues with your previous claim, make sure those are resolved before filing a new one. Outstanding issues can delay your new claim.

Fortunately I didn't have any issues with my previous claim, but that's a good point to check.

Yeah, I learned this the hard way. Had to resolve an old overpayment before my new claim would process.

It's frustrating but they're pretty strict about clearing any outstanding balances first.