Can I reapply for Washington ESD unemployment after my benefit year ends?

Yes, you can file a new claim after your benefit year ends, but there are some requirements you need to meet. You'll need to have worked and earned enough wages since your last claim started to qualify for a new benefit year. Washington ESD will look at your work history from the past 18 months to determine if you're eligible.

I went through this exact same thing last year. The process is pretty straightforward - you just file a new initial claim online through your SecureAccess Washington account. BUT you need to make sure you actually qualify first or you'll get denied and have to appeal.

Actually, if you haven't worked enough to qualify for a new benefit year, you might be able to file what's called an 'extension' instead of a new claim. But I think most of the federal extensions ended a while ago. You should call Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation.

be careful about timing when you file the new claim! if you file too early before your benefit year actually ends, it can mess things up. wait until your benefit year is completely over

This whole system is so confusing. I don't understand why they make it so complicated. If you're unemployed you should just get benefits, period. All these requirements and hoops to jump through are ridiculous.

Just went through this myself. Had to file a new claim because my benefit year ended in December. The key thing is making sure you have enough work history. I had worked part time for about 6 months while collecting UI and it was enough to qualify for a new benefit year, but my weekly benefit amount went down because I hadn't made as much money.

Another option if you don't qualify for a new regular UI claim is to look into other programs. Washington has WorkFirst and other assistance programs that might help bridge the gap while you're job searching.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims until your benefit year actually ends! I made the mistake of stopping too early thinking I was done and it caused problems with my final payments.

Just want to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used it again last week to get through to ESD about my job search requirements and it worked perfectly. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. Definitely worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim situation.

I'm in almost the exact same situation. My benefit year ends next month and I've only worked sporadically. This is so stressful. Has anyone here actually been successful getting a new claim approved without much work history?

Pro tip: if you do file a new claim and it gets denied, you can still appeal the decision. I had to do this because ESD initially said I didn't have enough work history, but after I provided more detailed wage information, they approved my claim.

whatever you do, don't wait until the last minute to figure this out. start the process now so you know where you stand. the worst thing is finding out you don't qualify when your benefits are already cut off

I had to reapply twice over the past few years. The second time was much easier because I knew what to expect. Make sure you have all your employer information ready - names, addresses, dates of employment, and how much you earned. It speeds up the process a lot.

Quick question - if I do qualify for a new benefit year, will my weekly benefit amount be the same as before? I'm trying to budget and need to know what to expect.

One more thing to consider - if you don't qualify for a new regular UI claim, you might want to look into job training programs. Washington has several programs that provide financial support while you're learning new skills.

This thread has been really helpful. I'm in a similar situation and didn't know about some of these options. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Final reminder for anyone in this situation - make sure you're still actively job searching and keeping your job search log updated. Washington ESD requires ongoing job search activities even when you're transitioning between benefit years.