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

Thanks! I did work part-time for about 6 months during my last claim period, so hopefully that counts toward a new benefit year.

Make sure those part-time wages were reported correctly on your weekly claims, otherwise Washington ESD might not count them properly.

I had the same issue until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically automate the calling process and wait on hold for you. When they get an agent, they call you back to connect. Way better than spending hours hitting redial.

That's really specific info, thanks! Where do you find out exactly what the wage requirements are for your situation?

You can find the current wage requirements on the Washington ESD website under 'Eligibility Requirements' or they'll calculate it when you file your new claim.

I know it seems confusing but it's actually designed to help people who have worked since their last claim. The idea is if you've been working and paying into the system, you should be able to get benefits again if you lose your job.

Yeah but they make it unnecessarily complicated to navigate. Half the time you can't even get through to ask questions about your specific situation.

You need to include ALL work since your last claim began, including part-time work you did while collecting. That's actually what might make you eligible for a new claim.

Exactly - and make sure you have your wage information handy. Washington ESD will verify with employers but having your own records helps speed things up.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Did you have to provide any special documentation?

Yeah I had to get a letter from my employer confirming the layoff details. The adjudication process is just their way of double-checking eligibility for the new claim.

If you get stuck in adjudication and can't reach anyone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does help. I used it when my refile got held up and they got me through to an adjudicator the same day.

Fortunately I only worked in Washington, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good! That definitely makes the process much smoother.

Yes, typically you do have to serve a new waiting week for each new benefit year. It's basically like starting fresh with a new claim.

Ugh, I was hoping to avoid that. Thanks for the heads up though.

That's good to know. I'll try to be patient with the process.

Yeah, patience is key with Washington ESD. The system works but it's not always fast.

Will do! I remember that being important from my first claim too.

And keep track of your job search activities - the requirements are still the same for refiled claims.

Oh interesting! I hadn't thought about the benefit amount potentially changing.

Yeah, the benefit calculation is always based on your most recent qualifying wages, so it can definitely go up or down from your previous claim.

The gap itself doesn't matter as long as you meet the wage requirements for establishing a new benefit year. The timing of when you file doesn't affect eligibility.

Right, it's all about whether you have sufficient work history, not about when you file the new claim.

You can try calling Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, but honestly the easiest way might be to just file and see what happens. The online system will tell you pretty quickly if you don't meet the wage requirements.

If you can't get through by phone, definitely try that Claimyr service - claimyr.com. They can get you connected to someone who can answer your specific questions about wage eligibility.

Good luck! The process really isn't as scary as it seems once you get started.

Hope it goes smoothly for you!