Can I get unemployment again after previous Washington ESD claim ended?

That's a relief! Do you know how many hours I need to have worked? I've been doing about 25 hours a week for the past 8 months.

You need 680 hours of work in your base period to qualify. With 25 hours a week for 32 weeks, you should have around 800 hours, so you're good!

Good to know! Did you have to do the whole job search requirement thing again?

Yeah, you'll need to do 3 job search activities per week and log them in WorkSourceWA just like before.

That's actually perfect since I'm still working some hours. Do you know what the formula is for partial benefits?

They let you earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $395 and still get your full benefit.

Wait, I thought it was different than that? I've been getting partial benefits and they seem to take out more than just the overage.

I've never heard of that. Is it legit? I'm always worried about scams when it comes to unemployment stuff.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They just help you get through the phone system to reach an actual Washington ESD agent. Really saved me hours of waiting on hold.

I'm skeptical of any service that charges for something that should be free, but I guess if it works...

What do you mean by the right week? I thought you just file when you become unemployed or have reduced hours.

You need to file for the week that your hours were actually reduced. So if your hours got cut this past Sunday, that's the week you should claim benefits for. Don't file for future weeks.

Hopefully it won't be too different since I was making decent money before my hours got cut.

Mine actually went up when I filed my second claim because I had worked more hours at a higher wage. It all depends on your work history.

The rules are actually pretty consistent - it's just that everyone's situation is different. As long as you've worked enough hours since your last claim, you can file a new one.

Maybe I should try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned. Getting answers from Washington ESD directly would be nice for once.

You'll need to file a completely new claim since your benefit year ended. You can't reopen an expired claim.

Got it, thanks! That makes sense.

That's encouraging! Did you have to do the ID verification stuff again?

Nope, since I had already verified my identity with Washington ESD before, I didn't have to do it again. Just filed the claim and started getting benefits within a week.

Good point! I should gather all that info before I start the application. Thanks for the reminder.

And keep copies of everything! Washington ESD loves to ask for documentation later.

Definitely worth trying! I was in the same boat with the endless hold times. Claimyr got me connected within minutes and I was able to get all my questions answered.

Okay you've convinced me. I'll check out their website and that demo video.

That makes sense. I definitely want to find something full-time anyway since the part-time hours aren't cutting it.

Exactly! And document everything in WorkSourceWA. Washington ESD takes those job search logs seriously.

What kind of different questions? Anything I should be prepared for?

More detailed questions about why my hours were reduced and whether I tried to get more hours from my current employer first. Nothing too complicated though.

Yep! Contract work counts toward your work history just like regular employment. Make sure you have all your 1099s or pay records ready when you file.

Perfect, thanks! I've been keeping good records so that shouldn't be a problem.

Good point! I was thinking of waiting a few more weeks to see if my hours pick up, but maybe I should just file now.

Definitely file now if you qualify. You can always stop claiming benefits if your hours increase, but you can't backdate claims very far.

They can contest it, but if your hours were genuinely reduced through no fault of your own, you should be fine. Just be honest about everything when you file.

Thanks! Yeah, it's definitely not my fault - they cut everyone's hours due to slow business.

That's reassuring! I'll make sure to check my account regularly for any requests.

Yes! And sign up for text alerts if you haven't already. Washington ESD sends notifications about important updates to your claim.

That's what I'm worried about - getting stuck on hold for hours trying to reach someone.

That's exactly why I recommend Claimyr! Saves so much time and frustration when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

I might have to look into that too. The hold times are just ridiculous these days.

Good luck! You should be all set based on what you've described. Just remember to file your weekly claims on time once you get approved.

Definitely! Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is so helpful.