Can you reapply for unemployment benefits after your claim expires in Washington?

Thanks! Do you know if the gig work I've been doing counts toward the base period earnings? I've been driving for rideshare apps mostly.

Gig work usually doesn't count toward UI eligibility unless you were paying into the system as self-employed, which most rideshare drivers don't do. But any W-2 work you had during the base period would count.

That's what I'm worried about. Did you eventually get through to talk to someone?

Eventually, but it took forever. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Just the gig work mainly. I had one part-time job for about 3 months but got laid off again.

That part-time work might be enough if it was recent. Washington ESD needs you to have earned at least $5,265 in your base period to qualify for benefits.

Wait, is that number current? I thought it was higher now with all the changes they've made.

Good point. I'll probably file this week then. Better to get the process started.

Smart move. And remember you still have to do the job search requirements even if you're doing gig work on the side.

Ugh, really? That seems so inefficient.

Tell me about it. Washington ESD doesn't make anything easy. But you gotta do what you gotta do to get benefits.

I don't think I had any overpayments, but how would I check to make sure?

You can log into your SecureAccess Washington account and check your payment history. Any overpayments would show up there.

This is good advice. I had a small overpayment from 2 years ago that I forgot about and it held up my new claim for weeks.

Yes, you can still file in Washington if that's where your wages were earned, even if you moved. You file in the state where you worked, not where you live.

That's a relief. I was worried I'd lose eligibility because I moved to Oregon.

I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip!

Yeah that tool is helpful, though sometimes it's still confusing. When in doubt, just call... if you can get through lol

I tried that strategy for weeks and still couldn't get through. The phone system is just overwhelmed.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Saved me so much time and frustration trying to reach them on my own.

How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you?

That makes sense. Hopefully it won't be too much lower since I didn't work as much between claims.

The calculation is based on your highest quarter of earnings, so even if you worked less overall, if you had one good quarter it could help your benefit amount.

3 weeks isn't too bad compared to some of the horror stories I've heard. Did you have any issues during processing?

Nothing major, just had to verify some employment dates. Make sure you have accurate information for all your employers from the base period.

How many job contacts do you need per week in Washington?

It's 3 job search activities per week, but they can be different things like applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, etc. Not just applications.

Make sure you keep good records of your job search. They can audit you at any time and ask for documentation.

Any specific mistakes to watch out for when filling out the application?

Make sure your Social Security number is correct, double-check employer names and addresses, and be accurate with your separation dates. Small mistakes can cause big delays.

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you, but Washington ESD will review the circumstances. If it was for misconduct, that could affect your eligibility.

It wasn't misconduct, just budget cuts and they said I was the newest employee. Should be okay then?

That sounds like a layoff due to lack of work, which typically doesn't disqualify you from benefits. You should be fine to reapply.

So even though I served a waiting week on my previous claim, I need to do it again?

Unfortunately yes, each new benefit year requires its own waiting week. It's one of the more annoying aspects of reapplying.

Seems like a few people have mentioned them. Might be worth looking into if I run into problems.

I was skeptical at first but it really works. Beats spending hours on hold every day trying to reach someone.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about reapplying now.

You got this! Just remember to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved - that's super important.

This is really good advice about keeping records! I've been tracking my rideshare earnings in a spreadsheet but wasn't sure if I needed to report them. Better to be transparent about everything. And yeah, the ESD website definitely has its quirks - I've had to refresh and try again multiple times just browsing around.