Can I re apply for unemployment benefits after my Washington ESD claim ended?

Thanks! Do you know how much I need to have earned to qualify again?

You need at least $3,850 in your base period, with earnings in at least two quarters. Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.

That's reassuring! Did you have to do the whole WorkSource registration thing again?

Yeah you have to register with WorkSource WA again and do the job search requirements, but it's pretty straightforward.

How do you check if you have enough qualifying wages?

You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate before you apply.

Perfect, I'll check the wage calculator first then file if I qualify. Thanks for the help!

I didn't quit, my hours just got cut way back. Would that be considered good cause?

Yeah, having your hours reduced significantly usually qualifies. Washington ESD considers that a qualifying separation.

The phone situation is brutal. I spent hours trying to get through last month.

I actually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an agent. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid sitting on hold for hours.

No waiting period in Washington. You can file a new claim as soon as you meet the wage requirements from working after your last claim.

Oh good to know! I was misinformed then.

It really is! The hardest part is just making sure you have enough qualifying wages from your recent work.

Your weekly benefit amount is recalculated based on your wages during the new base period. So it could be higher, lower, or the same depending on what you earned.

Makes sense. I guess I'll find out when I apply!

Awesome! Hope it goes smooth for you.

Great news! Make sure to file your weekly claims on time once you get approved.

Yes, you still need to make 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. You can do it through WorkSource WA or keep your own record.

Ugh, that part is such a pain. But I guess it's worth it for the benefits.

I tried it after seeing it mentioned here and it worked great! Definitely worth it when you need to actually talk to someone.

How much does it cost though?

I don't want to get into pricing details but for me it was worth not wasting half my day on hold. Check their site for current rates.

Might be in adjudication if there's any question about your separation from work or wages. You should try calling to check on the status.

Yeah I'll try calling but getting through is nearly impossible.

This is exactly when something like Claimyr comes in handy. You really need to talk to an agent to find out what's holding up your claim.

Good to hear from someone with multiple experiences! Any tips for the application process?

Just make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates, wages, reason for separation. And be patient, it can take a couple weeks to process.

Yeah the questions can be confusing. Just answer honestly about when your last claim ended and why you're filing a new one.

Thanks, I'll give it another shot with that in mind.

Nope! As long as you work enough to establish new qualifying wages, you can file again.

Yeah I'm only working about 15 hours a week now, which definitely qualifies as underemployed.

Perfect, you should be good then. Just report those part-time wages on your weekly claims.

That's what these forums are for! Happy to help people navigate the Washington ESD system.

Smart to wait until you have all your wage info. Makes the application process much smoother.

Same here! This community is really helpful for navigating unemployment stuff.

Glad we could help! Best of luck with your reapplication.