How many times can I apply for unemployment benefits in Washington?

There's no lifetime limit on how many times you can apply for unemployment benefits in Washington. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements each time (earned enough wages, lost job through no fault of your own, etc.), you can file multiple claims. The key is that you need to have worked and earned sufficient wages since your last claim to establish a new benefit year.

I'm in a similar situation - this is my fourth time filing for unemployment over the past 6 years. Construction work is just like that unfortunately. Each time I've been approved as long as I worked enough between claims.

Actually had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I filed my third claim last year. Kept getting busy signals for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.

wait so there's really no limit?? i've been putting off filing because i thought i already used up my 'chances' or whatever. this is good news

The Washington ESD system is designed to help people who are genuinely unemployed through no fault of their own. Seasonal workers, people in cyclical industries, and those who experience multiple layoffs can all benefit from the system multiple times. The important thing is meeting the wage requirements and work search obligations each time you claim.

Been filing unemployment on and off for 15 years in various states. Washington is actually pretty reasonable about multiple claims compared to some other places I've lived. Never had an issue here.

Just to add - make sure you report all your work history accurately when you file. Since you've had multiple claims, they'll have records of your previous employment. Being consistent is important.

I work retail and get laid off every January after the holidays. This will be my 5th time filing since 2020. Never had any issues with Washington ESD about multiple claims. It's actually pretty common in my industry.

One thing to keep in mind - if you're filing frequently, make sure you're not turning down suitable work offers. Washington ESD can review your claim history and work search activities if there's a pattern of frequent claims.

Had a similar worry when I filed my fourth claim. Called Washington ESD to ask about it and the agent told me there's no limit. She said they see people with 10+ claims over many years and it's not unusual for certain industries.

For what it's worth, I've been a union electrician for 20 years and I've probably filed for unemployment 12-15 times over the years. Between projects, seasonal slowdowns, and economic downturns, it's just part of the construction industry. Never had Washington ESD question why I was filing again.

Just make sure you wait until you're actually unemployed to file. Some people think they can file while still working part-time without reporting the wages, but that can cause problems with future claims.

The only time multiple claims might be an issue is if there's a pattern that suggests you're not genuinely looking for work or you're voluntarily leaving jobs. But legitimate layoffs in seasonal industries are totally normal.

I tried calling Washington ESD last week about reactivating an old claim and couldn't get through after trying for 3 days. Finally used Claimyr and got connected to an agent within an hour. Worth every penny when you need to actually talk to someone.

File as soon as you're eligible! Don't worry about how many times you've filed before. The worst thing you can do is wait and miss out on benefits you're entitled to.