Can I reapply for unemployment in Washington - previous claim exhausted last year

Yes you can definitely reapply! Since you worked and earned wages after your previous claim ended, you should be eligible to file a new claim. You'll need to have earned enough wages in your new base period to qualify though.

I was in the same situation last year. You file a brand new claim, not a reopened one. The process is exactly the same as your first time applying.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my reapplication but can never reach anyone on the phone. The wait times are insane and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to contact them?

Wait there's no waiting period at all?? I thought you had to wait like a year between claims or something

Just apply online through the Washington ESD website. It's pretty straightforward once you get started. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your bank info for direct deposit.

ugh the Washington ESD system is so confusing. why cant they just make it simple to understand if you can reapply or not

For anyone having trouble reaching Washington ESD about reapplying, I seriously recommend trying Claimyr. I used it last month when I had questions about my new claim and got through to someone immediately. Way better than spending all day redialing their main number.

I reapplied in December after my benefits expired and got approved within a week. The key thing is making sure you report all your work history accurately, including that part-time job you mentioned.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to apply online today. Feeling much more confident about the process now.

One thing to watch out for - if you quit your part-time job instead of being laid off, that could affect your eligibility. Make sure you're clear about the reason for separation when you apply.

Update: I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to Washington ESD! The agent confirmed I can reapply since I worked between my claims. Really wish I had known about this service months ago.

The Washington ESD website actually has a benefit calculator tool that can help you estimate what your new weekly benefit amount might be based on your recent earnings. Might be worth checking out before you apply.

same boat here, benefits ran out last fall and just lost my temp job. at least now I know I can reapply without waiting

Just wanted to add - when you reapply, you'll get a new claim number and everything starts fresh. Don't try to use your old claim information or login if you still have it saved.

The whole system would be so much easier if they just sent you a notification when you're eligible to reapply instead of making everyone guess

For anyone still struggling to get answers from Washington ESD about reapplying, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ really shows how much easier it makes the whole process of reaching them.

Applied for my second claim last week and already got my first payment deposited. The process was actually faster than my original application back in 2023.

Quick question - do they use the same job search requirements for a new claim? I remember having to apply to 3 jobs per week on my last claim.

Good luck with your application! It's nice to see helpful people on here actually answering questions instead of just complaining about Washington ESD all the time.

final update: got through to washington esd using that claimyr thing and confirmed I can file a new claim too. thanks to whoever mentioned it first

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits expired in October 2024 and I've been doing gig work since then but just had my hours cut drastically. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's reassuring to know that as long as you've worked and earned qualifying wages since your last claim, you can file a new application without any waiting period. I had no idea about services like Claimyr either - might have to give that a try if I run into issues reaching Washington ESD directly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!