Do I have to serve another waiting week if I reopen my active ESD claim?

As long as your benefit year hasn't expired (which it sounds like it hasn't based on the 2026 date), you don't have to serve another waiting week when reopening the same claim. You only serve one waiting week per benefit year. Just make sure when reopening that you answer all the questions accurately about why your job ended and your availability for work.

I went through the exact same thing last year. You only serve ONE waiting week per benefit year, so you don't have to worry about that part. Just reopen your claim through eServices and you should be able to start filing weekly claims right away. Make sure you have the exact date your temp job ended handy - they'll ask for that.

my friend had to serve another waiting week when she reopened her claim last month so idk maybe the rules changed?

The ESD system is SO BROKEN!! I reopened my claim last year and they STILL made me wait THREE WEEKS before I got a payment even though there's supposed to be no additional waiting week!!! It wasn't officially called a "waiting week" but they put me under "adjudication" for some random reason that was never explained. So don't count on getting paid right away even if the rules say you shouldn't have another waiting week!!!! 😡

If you're having trouble getting through to ESD to confirm this or having any issues with your reopened claim, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was stuck in a similar situation last month and couldn't get anyone on the phone for days. Used their service and got connected to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Definitely worth it when you need immediate answers about your claim status.

To provide some additional clarification on this topic: 1. You only serve ONE waiting week per benefit year (the 12-month period that starts when you first file your claim) 2. When reopening a claim within that same benefit year, no new waiting week is required 3. However, be aware that there might be a processing delay of 1-3 days between when you reopen your claim and when you can file your first weekly claim 4. Make sure you reopen your claim during the week you want to claim, not after the week has ended 5. If your previous job separation was due to anything other than lack of work, you might face adjudication (which is different from a waiting week) Hope this helps!

I had a similar experience back in 2023 when I was working seasonal jobs. Had to reopen my claim twice and never had to do another waiting week. Just make sure all your info is up to date when you reopen. Good luck!

UPDATE: I reopened my claim yesterday and confirmed with an ESD agent (after way too many attempts calling) that I do NOT need to serve another waiting week! They said I can file my weekly claim this Sunday for this week. Thanks everyone for your help!