Exhausted ESD benefits October 2023 - finished seasonal work - can I file again before October 2025?
Just finished my seasonal fishing job last week and I'm trying to figure out my unemployment options. I filed a claim back in October 2023 and used up all my benefits before starting this fishing season in April. Now that the season's over, I tried reopening my claim online but keep getting errors. Does anyone know if there's a 12-month waiting period before I can file again? Do I seriously have to wait until October before I can get unemployment again? Bills are piling up already and I'm stressed about making it through until the next season starts. Any advice on what I can do in the meantime?
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Mason Davis
There's some confusion about benefit years vs. qualifying wages here. Your benefit year does last for 12 months from when you first filed (so until October 2025), but the real issue is whether you have enough qualifying wages in your base year to establish a new claim. Since you worked a fishing season since exhausting benefits, you may have earned enough qualifying wages to file a new claim even before October. You'll need to have earned at least $6,700 in your base year (which would be roughly Jan-Dec 2024 for a new claim filed now in 2025). If you earned enough during your fishing season, you might be eligible sooner than you think. The system might be giving you errors because it's trying to reopen your old claim instead of starting a fresh one. Try calling and specifically asking about filing a new claim based on your recent work history.
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Sophia Miller
•Thanks for the explanation! I did make around $28,000 during the fishing season (April-August), but when I try to file online it keeps saying something about my benefit year not being over. Do I need to specifically tell them I want to file a new claim instead of reopening the old one? I've been trying to call but it's impossible to get through...
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Mia Rodriguez
I was in almost the same situation last year with seasonal construction work. The key is that you HAVE to call them directly to file a new claim within the same benefit year - you can't do it online. The online system is terrible about this specific situation and will just keep trying to reopen your exhausted claim. I wasted three weeks trying to figure this out online before I finally got through to someone. Once I explained my situation, they were able to look at my new wages and file a completely new claim for me even though my original benefit year wasn't over. With $28k in new wages, you should definitely qualify! If you're struggling to get through to ESD on the phone, I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They've got this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Worth every penny when you're desperate to get this resolved.
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Sophia Miller
•Thank you! It's such a relief to hear from someone who dealt with the same issue. I'll try calling again tomorrow and specifically mention needing to file a new claim based on my fishing season wages. If I can't get through I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service - at this point I just need to talk to an actual person who can help!
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Jacob Lewis
u dont have to wait til october, just call and tell them u need to file a new claim. i did this in 2023 after logging season. old benefit year wasnt over but had new wages. they can override the system if u call
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Amelia Martinez
Be careful about this. I tried doing what others are suggesting here and it caused a HUGE mess with my claim. The ESD agent I spoke with said I didn't have enough qualifying hours in my base period, so I ended up having to wait until my original benefit year expired anyway. Then they said I had an overpayment on my old claim and froze my account!!! Took 2 months and 3 adjudication interviews to sort out. The rules about this are super complicated and depend on exactly WHEN you earned your wages. If all your fishing income was in 2025, it might not count for your base year calculation yet. I would recommend asking specifically about the "alternate base year" option when you call - that's what eventually worked for me.
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Sophia Miller
•Wow, that sounds like a nightmare! Did you eventually get it resolved? The fishing season ran from April to August 2025, so all my wages are from this year. I really hope I don't end up with an overpayment situation - I can't afford to pay anything back right now.
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Amelia Martinez
•Yes, I eventually got it fixed but it was a hassle. Since your wages are all from 2025, definitely ask about the alternate base year when you call. That lets them use more recent quarters for calculating eligibility. And make sure you're super clear that you EXHAUSTED your previous claim (not just stopped filing) - that's a key distinction they need to understand.
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Ethan Clark
the whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose so ppl give up trying to get benefits they deserve!!! i went thru the EXACT same thing and lost my apartment bc of the wait. the govt doesnt care about seasonal workers AT ALL
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Mila Walker
•While I understand your frustration, there is actually specific guidance for seasonal workers in Washington's unemployment system. The issue here isn't about the system being designed to confuse people, but rather about the specific rules for filing a new claim when you have exhausted benefits but are still within your benefit year. To the original poster: You need to request what's called a "new benefit year override" since you have exhausted benefits from your previous claim. This requires speaking directly with an agent who can evaluate if your new wages qualify you for a new claim. They'll need to verify that: 1. You've exhausted all benefits from your prior claim 2. You have enough qualifying wages since the beginning of your prior claim 3. You meet the 680-hour work requirement in your base year This is absolutely something that can be resolved with the right assistance.
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Logan Scott
Did you try checking your eligibility on the eServices portal? Sometimes it will tell you if you have enough quarters. Thats how I found out I could file a new claim after my seasonal retail job ended last year. I dint have to call at all just filed online
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Sophia Miller
•I tried checking eServices but it just kept directing me to reopen my existing claim, which then gave me an error saying I had no more benefits available. It never gave me an option to check eligibility for a new claim. Maybe the system has changed since you did it?
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Logan Scott
•oh that sucks maybe they changed it. mine was different cuz my benefit year had ended so maybe thats why it worked for me. good luck!!
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Mason Davis
Just to follow up on this thread - the key terminology you need when calling is "new claim within the same benefit year after exhaustion of benefits." This is a specific situation addressed in ESD's regulations, but it requires agent intervention. Based on what you've shared about earning $28,000 in the fishing season this year, you should easily meet the 680-hour requirement and the minimum earnings threshold. When you connect with an agent, make sure to have: 1. Your employment dates for the fishing season 2. Approximate earnings amounts 3. Your employer's contact information 4. Your last day of work This will help speed up the process. And just to clarify for everyone, the online system isn't designed to handle this specific situation - it's not a glitch or an attempt to deny benefits, it's simply a limitation of the automated system that requires human intervention for these special cases.
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Sophia Miller
•Thank you so much for the follow-up! I finally got through to ESD this morning using the Claimyr service someone recommended. The agent knew exactly what to do when I mentioned "new claim within same benefit year after exhaustion." They took all my fishing season information and said I definitely qualify for a new claim! Benefits should start in about a week. Such a relief!
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