Can I reapply for unemployment when benefits run out - Washington ESD process?

You can't just reapply immediately when your benefit year ends. You have to wait until you have qualifying wages from work after your original claim started. If you haven't worked during your benefit year, you won't have new qualifying wages to establish a new claim.

I was in this exact situation last year. When my benefits ran out I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks to understand my options but could never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

The key thing to understand is the difference between benefit year end and benefit exhaustion. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you first filed. Even if you still have money left in your claim, you can't collect after the benefit year ends unless you establish a new valid claim.

Been there done that. The system is designed to make you give up honestly. Spent HOURS on hold just to be told I needed to look for work harder. Like I wasn't already doing that!

To reapply you need qualifying wages from work performed after your benefit year began. In Washington that means you need to have earned at least $1,000 in covered employment during your benefit year. If you worked even part-time and reported it properly, you might qualify.

Also worth mentioning - even if you do qualify for a new claim, your weekly benefit amount will be based on wages from your most recent base period. If you only worked sporadically, your new weekly amount could be much lower than what you're getting now.

Seriously though, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, don't waste time trying to call. I used that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier and they got me connected in like 10 minutes. So much better than sitting on hold for hours.

Same boat here. My benefits end in March and I've been looking everywhere. The job market is still pretty rough depending on your field.

One more thing - if your benefit year is ending and you haven't found work, make sure you're also looking into other assistance programs like SNAP, housing assistance, etc. Washington has several programs that can help bridge the gap.

The whole thing is just set up to make people desperate enough to take any crappy job. I swear they make it complicated on purpose.

Here's what I'd recommend - contact Washington ESD before your benefits end to discuss your options. They can tell you definitively whether you have qualifying wages for a new claim and what your weekly benefit amount would be.

Also make sure you keep filing your weekly claims until your benefit year actually ends, even if you know you won't qualify for a new claim. Don't want to accidentally disqualify yourself.

This happened to my sister last year. She ended up having to move back in with family because there was no extension available. Really tough situation.

Bottom line - if you haven't worked during your benefit year, you cannot establish a new UI claim. Your only option would be to find work (even part-time) to build up new qualifying wages, then potentially file a new claim later.

Don't forget about WorkSource too. They have job search assistance and sometimes training programs that can help. Might be worth checking out their resources.

Been following this thread. Really feel for everyone going through this. The uncertainty is the worst part.

One question - what if you move to a different state before your benefits end? Can you transfer your claim?

Just want to add - keep all your documentation from your current claim. If you do end up working and qualifying for a new claim later, having that paperwork will make the process smoother.

This whole thread is depressing but helpful. At least now I know what to expect when my benefits run out next month too.

Final thought - if anyone needs to actually speak with Washington ESD about their specific situation, seriously consider using Claimyr. I know I keep mentioning it but it's the only thing that worked for me when I needed real answers. Way better than the phone runaround.

I'm in a similar situation and just want to share what I learned from calling Washington ESD last week. If you haven't worked at all during your benefit year, you won't qualify for a new regular UI claim. However, they told me to check if I might be eligible for any federal extension programs that could still be available. Also, make sure you apply for other assistance programs like SNAP and housing help BEFORE your UI ends - don't wait until after. The application process can take weeks and you don't want a gap in support. Hang in there, this is such a stressful time but you're not alone in dealing with this.