Can I claim my final ESD week after benefit year ends on November 9?
So my benefit year officially ends on November 9, 2025 (which falls on a Sunday). I've been filing my weekly claims every Sunday night for the past 6 months, but I'm confused about this last week. Can I still file on Sunday night (the 10th) to claim for that final week ending on the 9th? Or does my ability to file literally expire at midnight on the 9th? I don't want to lose that last week of benefits because I usually file Sunday evenings! The ESD website isn't clear about this specific scenario. Has anyone dealt with this before? I've tried calling but you know how that goes...
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Yara Campbell
Yes, you can absolutely file for that final week! Your benefit year ending date refers to the last week you can CLAIM FOR, not the last day you can FILE. The standard weekly claim period in WA runs Sunday through Saturday, so your final eligible week would be Nov 3-9. You typically have 7 days after a claim week ends to file for that week, so you can file anytime from Nov 10-16 for your final week.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Oh that's such a relief!! Thank you for explaining. I was worried I'd have to change my routine just for that last week.
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Isaac Wright
I think your actually wrong. When my benefits ended last yr the website wouldnt even let me login after midnight on my end date. it was like my account got frozen or something. Maybe they changed it but just warning you!!!
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Yara Campbell
•That sounds like a different situation - possibly your SAW access issue rather than a benefit year end issue. The ESD system explicitly allows for claiming the final week after the benefit year ends. See WAC 192-140-005 which gives you the standard claim window.
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Maya Diaz
I was in this EXACT situation back in February! My benefit year ended on a Saturday but I always filed on Sunday nights. I was able to file that last week no problem the next day. Just make sure you don't wait too long after the 10th - I think there's like a week or so grace period for filing, but don't push it. Also worth noting: you'll need to file a new claim if you want to continue receiving benefits after your benefit year ends. That's a whole separate process with new paperwork and verification. Don't wait until the last minute for that either!
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I needed to hear. About filing a new claim - I actually have a new job starting Nov 15, so thankfully I won't need to deal with that whole process again.
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Tami Morgan
omg i remember panicking about this 2! Ur totally fine filing next day. ESD doesn't shut down ur account right at midnight like cinderella lol
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Rami Samuels
If you're having trouble getting through to ESD to confirm this, I'd recommend using Claimyr to connect with an agent faster. It helped me get through when I had a similar end-of-benefits question that had me stressed. Their service connects you directly to an ESD agent without the usual wait times. Website is claimyr.com and they have a demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Was totally worth it when I was dealing with my benefit year transition issues.
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Haley Bennett
•Has anyone actually used this service? Seems weird to pay just to talk to ESD when it's supposed to be a free government service? No offense but feels sketchy to me.
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Douglas Foster
•I've used it twice when I was stuck in adjudication hell. It's legit - they basically navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when they get an agent. Saved me hours of frustration. But totally get the concern!
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Maya Diaz
Quick heads up - make sure all your job search activities for that final week are entered correctly. ESD seems to scrutinize final weeks more closely. When my benefits ended, they flagged my last week for a job search review even though I'd never been audited before that!
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Ella rollingthunder87
•That's good to know! I've been keeping detailed records of my job search activities all along, but I'll double-check everything for this final week. Don't want any surprises after I think I'm done with the system.
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Tami Morgan
my friend waited too long to file her last week and lost it completely so def do it right away on sunday!
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Yara Campbell
One additional note: if you're starting a new job soon after your benefit year ends, remember to report any earnings properly for that final week if applicable. If your new job starts during that Nov 3-9 week, you need to report those earnings when you file, even if you haven't been paid yet. Earnings are reported for the week the work was performed, not when you get paid.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Thankfully my new job starts after that final week, so I won't have overlapping earnings to report. But that's helpful information for others in similar situations!
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