Can I refile for unemployment when it runs out - Washington ESD benefit year question
My unemployment benefits are about to run out next month and I'm still looking for work. I've been getting regular UI for almost a year now through Washington ESD. Can I just refile when my benefit year ends or do I have to wait? I'm confused about the whole benefit year thing and whether I qualify to start a new claim. Has anyone been through this process recently? I don't want to mess anything up or have a gap in benefits if I can avoid it.
47 comments


Rosie Harper
Yes you can refile! When your benefit year ends you're eligible to file a new initial claim if you have enough work history and wages from the past 18 months. The key is timing - you should file your new claim the week after your benefit year expires so there's no gap in benefits.
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Darren Brooks
•Thank you! Do I need to have worked during my current claim period or can I use wages from before I started collecting?
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Rosie Harper
•Washington ESD looks at your base period wages which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So it could include wages from before your current claim depending on when you file.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
I just went through this last month. Filed my new claim right after my benefit year ended and it was approved within a week. Make sure you have all your employer information ready because they'll ask for details about any work you did during your previous claim period.
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Darren Brooks
•That's encouraging to hear! Did your weekly benefit amount stay the same or did it change?
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•Mine actually went up a little because I had some higher wage quarters in my new base period. But it depends on your specific work history.
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Demi Hall
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to ask about refiling. Kept getting busy signals and getting hung up on. Finally used Claimyr to get connected to an actual agent who walked me through the whole process. Way easier than trying to call on your own. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Mateusius Townsend
•Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it legit or some kind of scam?
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Demi Hall
•It's totally legit. They just help you get through to Washington ESD faster instead of dealing with the busy phone system. I was skeptical too but it actually worked.
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Kara Yoshida
wait i thought you could only get unemployment once?? this is confusing
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Rosie Harper
•No, you can file multiple claims as long as you meet the eligibility requirements each time. Each benefit year is separate.
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Kara Yoshida
•oh ok that makes sense i guess. thanks for explaining
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Philip Cowan
The Washington ESD system is so confusing about this stuff. I tried to refile last year and ended up in adjudication for weeks because I didn't understand what information they needed about my work search activities during my previous claim.
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Darren Brooks
•Oh no, what happened with the adjudication? I want to make sure I don't run into that issue.
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Philip Cowan
•They wanted documentation of all my job search activities from my previous claim period. Make sure you keep good records of your WorkSourceWA job contacts and any applications you submit.
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Caesar Grant
Just a heads up - if you worked any temp jobs or gig work while on your current claim, make sure you report all of that accurately when you refile. Washington ESD will cross-reference everything and any discrepancies can delay your new claim approval.
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Darren Brooks
•Good point. I did some freelance work that I reported on my weekly claims. Should I mention that specifically when I refile?
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Caesar Grant
•Definitely yes. Be completely transparent about any work you did, even if you already reported it on your weekly claims. Better to over-report than under-report.
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Lena Schultz
ugh the whole washington esd system is such a nightmare. why cant they just make this stuff easier to understand
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•I agree it's frustrating but once you understand the process it's not too bad. The key is just staying organized and following their rules exactly.
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Rosie Harper
Also make sure you file your new claim during the correct week. If you file too early before your benefit year actually ends, it can cause problems with your claim processing.
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Darren Brooks
•How do I know exactly when my benefit year ends? Is it on my Washington ESD account somewhere?
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Rosie Harper
•Yes, log into your SecureAccess Washington account and check your claim details. It should show your benefit year begin and end dates clearly.
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Mateusius Townsend
I'm in a similar situation but I'm worried I won't qualify for a new claim because I haven't worked enough during this benefit year. Anyone know what the minimum requirements are?
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Rosie Harper
•You need sufficient wages in your base period, not necessarily during your current benefit year. Check Washington ESD's monetary eligibility requirements on their website.
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Mateusius Townsend
•Thanks, I'll look that up. Hopefully my wages from before this claim will be enough.
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Demi Hall
For anyone struggling to get answers from Washington ESD directly, I really recommend trying Claimyr. I used it twice now when I needed to talk to someone about claim issues and it saved me hours of trying to call. Much less stressful than dealing with busy signals all day.
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Philip Cowan
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money because of unemployment.
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Demi Hall
•It's worth checking out their site for current info. For me the peace of mind was worth it instead of spending entire days trying to get through on the phone.
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Darren Brooks
This has been really helpful everyone. Sounds like as long as I file at the right time and have my documentation ready, it should be straightforward. I'll make sure to keep track of exactly when my benefit year ends.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•You've got this! Just take it step by step and don't stress too much about it. The process is pretty routine once you know what to expect.
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Rosie Harper
•Feel free to ask if you run into any issues during the refiling process. This community is pretty good about helping each other out with Washington ESD stuff.
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Kara Yoshida
so if i understand this right you can basically keep refiling as long as you keep looking for work?
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Rosie Harper
•Not exactly. You need to meet the wage requirements each time you file, and there are limits on how long you can collect benefits. It's not unlimited.
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Kara Yoshida
•oh ok that makes more sense. so you cant just stay on unemployment forever
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Caesar Grant
One more tip - if your new claim gets approved, your waiting week requirement might be waived since you were already on an active claim. But don't quote me on that, Washington ESD changes their rules sometimes.
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Darren Brooks
•Interesting, I hadn't thought about the waiting week. I'll ask about that when I file my new claim.
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Philip Cowan
Make sure your WorkSourceWA account is up to date too. They sometimes ask about your job search activities when you refile and having everything current makes the process smoother.
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Darren Brooks
•Good reminder. I should probably update my resume on there while I'm at it.
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Philip Cowan
•Definitely. And make sure you're logging your job contacts properly. Washington ESD takes the work search requirements seriously.
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Lena Schultz
honestly i gave up trying to call washington esd months ago. if i need help ill probably try that claimyr thing people keep mentioning
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Demi Hall
•It really does make a difference. I was amazed how quickly I got connected to an actual person who could help with my questions.
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Mateusius Townsend
Thanks for all the info everyone. This thread has been way more helpful than the Washington ESD website honestly.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•That's what this community is for! We've all been through the confusion of dealing with unemployment stuff.
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Darren Brooks
Update for anyone following this - I checked my account and my benefit year ends in 3 weeks. Going to start preparing all my documentation now so I'm ready to file my new claim right away. Thanks again for all the advice!
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Rosie Harper
•Smart planning! Having everything ready ahead of time will make the process much smoother.
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Caesar Grant
•Good luck with your new claim! Hope it goes through quickly for you.
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