< Back to Washington Unemployment

Yuki Sato

ESD error 'effective date cannot overlap with previous claim' after expired claim - how to fix?

I'm so frustrated right now. My previous unemployment claim expired last week, and when I tried to open a new claim yesterday, I got this weird error message saying 'effective date cannot overlap with previous claim.' But how can it overlap if my previous claim is already expired?? I double-checked my account and the end date on my old claim definitely passed. Called ESD about 17 times today and couldn't get through to anyone. Has anyone else run into this glitch? Do I need to wait a certain number of days after expiration before filing a new claim? My rent is due in 2 weeks and I'm starting to panic.

Carmen Flores

•

This actually happened to me back in January! The system has a weird lag time between when your claim officially expires and when it registers as completely closed in their database. You need to wait exactly 7 calendar days after your previous claim's end date before filing a new one. It's super annoying but it's just how their system works. If you try before the 7 days are up, you'll keep getting that error message.

0 coins

Yuki Sato

•

Seriously??? Nowhere on the ESD website does it mention waiting 7 days! I wish they'd make this clear in their instructions instead of making us figure it out through trial and error. Thank you for the info though - I'll wait until next Monday to try again.

0 coins

Andre Dubois

•

The previous commenter is partially correct about waiting, but the actual policy is more nuanced. ESD operates on benefit year end (BYE) dates, and the system requires one full business day (not 7 days) after your benefit year ends to process the closure in their mainframe. This overlap error happens because their system is checking if you have available weeks on your previous claim before allowing a new application. Additionally, verify these three things: 1. Your previous claim is truly exhausted (zero remaining balance) 2. Your benefit year end date has definitely passed 3. You're not accidentally trying to backdate your new claim to a date that overlaps with your previous claim's period If you're sure about all three points, call the technical support line at 855-682-0785 rather than the regular claims line. They can manually override this error.

0 coins

CyberSamurai

•

Just to clarify something important - the waiting period can vary depending on when your claim ended. If your claim ended because you reached your BYE (benefit year end), you might only need to wait 1-2 business days. But if your claim ended because you exhausted benefits before reaching your BYE date, then you generally can't file a new regular claim until you reach that BYE date plus one business day. The system is actually checking multiple factors: whether your benefit year has ended, whether you've exhausted benefits, and whether you have established new work and wages since opening your previous claim. This makes the exact waiting period different for everyone.

0 coins

i had the exact same problem last month!! ESD system is garbage seriously. kept getting error messages 4 like 2 weeks. the problem isnt just with the waiting period, sometimes their system has a GLITCH where it thinks ur old claim is still active even when its not!!!!! finally i gave up trying online and got through to someone on the phone who fixed it in 5 minutes. so frustrating

0 coins

Yuki Sato

•

How did you actually get through to someone?? I've been calling non-stop and all I get is 'due to high call volume' and then it hangs up on me!

0 coins

Jamal Carter

•

I ran into this issue twice in the past few years. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an ESD agent. I wasted DAYS trying to call on my own before discovering it. The service connects you with an ESD representative so you don't have to keep redialing and hoping to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I actually got an agent on the phone, they explained that the system sometimes has these phantom overlaps because of how weekly claim periods work versus benefit year dates. It's a technical glitch they need to manually fix in your account. Took the agent about 3 minutes to resolve once I explained the error message.

0 coins

claimyr worked for me too!! their website is claimyr.com if anyone needs it. only way i could actually talk to a human at esd

0 coins

Mei Liu

•

Wait so do you even QUALIFY for a new claim? Have you worked since filing your last claim? You need enough work hours in your base year to qualify for a new claim period. Just because your old claim expired doesn't automatically mean you get a new one.

0 coins

Yuki Sato

•

Yes, I worked full-time for 7 months between claims. I know I have enough hours to qualify - that's not the issue. The system is just giving me this overlap error when I try to file online.

0 coins

guys the REAL reason this happens is because esd has multiple systems that dont talk to each other properly. the claims system and the payment system are completely separate and sometimes they get out of sync. the claims system might think your old claim is closed but the payment system doesnt. or vice versa. its so stupid. theyve been promising to upgrade their technology since like 2018 but nothing ever changes lol

0 coins

Andre Dubois

•

This is actually correct. ESD runs on a combination of modern web interfaces connected to legacy mainframe systems from the 1990s. The data synchronization between these systems happens in batches, not real-time, which causes exactly these types of errors. Their modernization project has been underway for years but has faced repeated delays and budget issues.

0 coins

CyberSamurai

•

After reading through this thread, I want to summarize the most accurate solution: 1. For most people, you need to wait 1-2 business days after your Benefit Year End (BYE) date before applying for a new claim. 2. If you're still getting the overlap error after waiting, it's likely a synchronization issue in ESD's system that requires manual intervention. 3. In this case, you need to speak with an ESD representative who can access both systems and fix the discrepancy. 4. For immediate rent concerns, consider applying for the Bridge Assistance Program through DSHS while waiting for your unemployment issue to be resolved. They can provide emergency rental assistance if you qualify. Keep documentation of all your attempts to resolve this issue - screenshots of the error messages and notes about your calls. This documentation helps if there are any delays in your claim processing.

0 coins

Yuki Sato

•

Thank you so much for this detailed information! I'll definitely look into the Bridge Assistance Program while I'm sorting this out. I'm going to try calling ESD again tomorrow morning right when they open, and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Will update here if I get it resolved!

0 coins

Carmen Flores

•

Any update? Were you able to get this fixed? I'm going to be in the same situation next month when my claim expires so I want to know what actually works!

0 coins

Yuki Sato

•

Yes! Finally got it resolved yesterday. I ended up using that Claimyr service to get through to an ESD agent (worth it after wasting so much time trying to call directly). The agent said there was a 'system flag' on my account that was causing the overlap error. She removed it and I was able to file my new claim immediately while still on the phone with her. The whole process took maybe 15 minutes once I actually got to speak with someone. Such a relief!

0 coins

Zara Perez

•

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This thread is incredibly helpful - I've been dealing with the same error for the past week and was getting nowhere with the regular phone line. It's ridiculous that ESD's system has these glitches but at least there are workarounds. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow morning. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Wait at least 1-2 business days after your BYE date, 2) If you still get the overlap error, it's likely a system sync issue that needs manual fixing, and 3) Use a callback service like Claimyr if you can't get through by calling directly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when ESD's support is so hard to reach!

0 coins

Anthony Young

•

This is such a great summary of all the helpful advice in this thread! I'm bookmarking this post because I know I'll probably need it in the future - ESD's system seems to have these issues pretty regularly. It's frustrating that we have to rely on third-party services like Claimyr to actually get help from our own state agency, but I'm grateful people share these solutions here. Quick question for anyone who's used Claimyr - do they charge a fee for the callback service, or is it free? Want to know what to expect before I try it.

0 coins

Washington Unemployment AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,095 users helped today