ESD benefits after short job contract - can I reapply when my current position ends?
I'm in a weird spot with unemployment and need advice! I started claiming ESD benefits in June 2023, then managed to get hired on a contract job in October 2023. My contract is going to end next month (after about 7 months of work), and I'm not sure how to handle my unemployment situation. Can I just reapply for benefits after this contract ends? Do I reopen my old claim? Does my benefit year need to be over before I can file again? I'm stressing because I don't have another job lined up yet and rent keeps going up. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Admin_Masters
You don't need to wait until your benefit year is over. You can reopen your existing claim if your benefit year hasn't expired yet. Your benefit year lasts for 12 months from when you first filed (so until June 2024 in your case). Just log into your eServices account and look for the option to 'reopen claim' once your contract ends. Make sure to restart your weekly claims immediately after your last day of work.
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Charlotte White
•Thank you! That's a relief. So I don't need to do a whole new application then? Just reopen the existing claim? Do you know if the weekly benefit amount stays the same as before?
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Matthew Sanchez
This is actually a very common situation! What you're looking for is reopening your existing claim, not filing a new one. Since you're still within your benefit year (which is June 2023-June 2024), you'll just reactivate the same claim. The system will recalculate if needed based on your contract work. Here's what to do: 1. On your last day of work, log into eServices 2. Select the option to reopen your claim 3. Answer all questions honestly about your contract ending 4. Start filing weekly claims right away Your weekly benefit amount might change if your contract job significantly changed your base year wages, but often it stays the same. Don't wait too long after your contract ends or you might miss weeks you could claim!
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Ella Thompson
•OMG this is EXACTLY what i was trying to figure out 2! my contract also ending soon... i was so worried id have 2 start all over with a new claim.
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JacksonHarris
I had pretty much the SAME situation last year!!! Filed in May, got a contract job in Aug, then it ended in Jan. When I tried to reopen my claim online the system kept giving me errors and putting me in an endless loop. I called ESD for THREE DAYS straight and kept getting disconnected! So frustrating i was about to give up!!! Finally someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it got me through to an actual ESD agent in like 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent fixed everything and I was able to reopen my claim. My benefit amount stayed the same. Totally worth it because I was about to miss a weekly claim deadline.
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Jeremiah Brown
•Is that a legit service? Seems kinda sketchy that you have to pay just to talk to ESD. No offense but shouldn't they just have enough staff to answer phones?
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JacksonHarris
•Oh I was skeptical too but when you've been trying to get through for days and rent is due... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It worked when nothing else did. And yeah ESD SHOULD have more staff but they dont lol
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Royal_GM_Mark
Just a heads up - I reopened my claim after a temp job and they put me in adjudication for 5 weeks because they wanted to verify why my contract ended. Make sure you get something in writing from your employer stating that your contract is ending due to the pre-arranged end date and not for any misconduct or voluntary quit reason. This will save you TONS of headache. The adjudicator told me they're being extra strict about this in 2025.
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Charlotte White
•Oh that's good to know! I'll definitely ask my boss for something in writing. Did you have to upload the document somewhere or just have it ready in case they asked?
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Royal_GM_Mark
•I had to upload it when they requested additional info during adjudication. There's a document upload section in eServices under your claim. But better to have it ready BEFORE they ask to speed things up. Also keep track of your job search activities from day one!
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Amelia Cartwright
i think u get less money the second time u apply btw
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Admin_Masters
•That's not correct. If you're reopening an existing claim within the same benefit year, your weekly benefit amount typically stays the same. The amount only changes if you file a completely new claim after your benefit year ends (which would be after June 2024 in OP's case).
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Ella Thompson
Ok but what happen if u miss a week of filing? My friend said u lose ALL ur benefits if u miss even 1 week!??
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Matthew Sanchez
•You don't lose ALL benefits if you miss a week, but you generally can't claim that specific week anymore unless you have a very good reason (like hospitalization). Each weekly claim must be filed within the week after the week you're claiming. If you miss filing for one week, you should still continue filing for the following weeks to keep your claim active.
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Royal_GM_Mark
One more tip - if your contract job paid significantly more than your previous work, it might actually be better to wait until your benefit year expires in June 2024 and then file a completely new claim. This would recalculate your benefit amount based on higher wages. You'd have to do the math to see if the higher weekly benefit amount would make up for the waiting period. Just something to consider!
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Charlotte White
•That's a really good point I hadn't considered. My contract job did pay better than my previous position. I'll have to look at the numbers and see if waiting makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Jeremiah Brown
The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose! Back in 2022 I got stuck in an endless loop of "reopen claim" vs "file new claim" buttons that kept sending me back and forth. Then they penalized ME for supposedly filing incorrectly. The ESD website is a joke and their instructions contradict themselves half the time.
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Admin_Masters
•The system can definitely be confusing, but it has improved since 2022. The main thing to remember is that you're always within a benefit year for 12 months from your initial filing date. Within that year = reopen claim. After that year ends = new claim. The online system now has clearer guidance about this.
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Amelia Cartwright
my cousin had this happen and he just called ESD directly and they helped him reopen it right then on the phone. took like 10 mins
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Charlotte White
•Your cousin got lucky! From what I've heard the phone lines are still pretty backed up. But I'll definitely try calling first before considering other options.
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