ESD benefit year ending 4/20 - Do I need to file new claim after restarting old one?

Yes, you'll need to file a new claim when your benefit year ends on 4/20. ESD won't automatically roll you over or extend the existing claim - benefit years are hard cutoffs. Since you've been working up until January, you should have enough hours in your base year to qualify for a new claim. Just make sure to complete your final weekly claim on the existing benefit year, then file the new application right after. The system should guide you through it.

WATCH OUT when filing that new claim! ESD's system is NOTORIOUS for screwing up transitions between benefit years. My payments stopped for 5 WEEKS last year during the switch even though I did everything right! They put me in some stupid adjudication loop and I couldn't get anyone on the phone!!!

I had to deal with this exact situation back in February. Here's what I learned: 1. Start your new application a few days BEFORE your benefit year ends (you can do it up to a week early) 2. Continue filing weekly claims without interruption 3. Your new benefit year won't activate until the old one expires 4. Keep detailed records of your work history from your base year (all jobs from Jan-Dec 2024) 5. Have your last employer's info ready - they'll verify your reason for separation Following these steps helped me transition without any payment gaps. The key is not waiting until after expiration to start the process.

my benfit year ended last month and i just filed new claim no problem got paid next week like normal

I struggled with this same transition last year and couldn't reach anyone at ESD for weeks. The auto-system kept hanging up on me due to "high call volume." I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was honestly worth it because the agent was able to fix my claim transition issues immediately once I actually got to speak with someone.

One more important thing - when you file your new claim, your weekly benefit amount might change based on your earnings during the new base year. If you earned more in 2024 than you did in your previous base year, you might get a higher weekly amount. Conversely, if you earned less, your benefit could decrease. The ESD calculates this based on your two highest-earning quarters in the base year.

This is all really stressful. I'm worried because I worked less hours in 2024 than I did previously, so my benefit might go down. Does anyone know if they'll at least process the new claim quickly if I start it a few days before the benefit year ends like someone suggested?

make sure u check ur eservices inbox everyday!! they wont call u if theres a problem theyll just send message there and if u dont respond in like 5 days they can deny ur claim happened to my roomate