How to renew unemployment benefits when claim year expires - Washington ESD process?
My benefit year is ending next month and I'm still unemployed. I've been on Washington ESD unemployment for almost a year now and I'm not sure what happens when my claim expires. Do I need to file a new claim or does it automatically renew? I'm worried about losing my benefits if I don't do something soon. Has anyone been through this process before? The Washington ESD website isn't very clear about the renewal steps.
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ElectricDreamer
You'll need to file a new claim when your benefit year ends. Washington ESD doesn't automatically renew claims. You should file the new claim the week your benefit year expires to avoid any gaps in payments.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Thanks! Do I use the same application process as when I first applied, or is there a different form for renewals?
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ElectricDreamer
•Same process - you'll go through the regular initial claim application on the Washington ESD website. Make sure you have your work history for the past 18 months ready.
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Ava Johnson
went through this last year and it was confusing. took forever to get someone on the phone to explain what i needed to do
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Dmitry Smirnov
•How long did it take you to get through to Washington ESD? I've been trying to call for weeks with no luck.
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Ava Johnson
•probably called like 50 times over 2 weeks before getting through. super frustrating
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Miguel Diaz
I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I needed to file my new claim. They have some system that helps you reach an actual agent instead of getting the busy signal. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Is this legitimate? I'm desperate to talk to someone but don't want to get scammed.
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Miguel Diaz
•Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got through to an agent in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own.
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Zainab Ahmed
•How much does it cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford expensive services.
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Connor Byrne
IMPORTANT: When you file your new claim, make sure you report ALL your work history from the past 18 months, not just the job you were laid off from. This includes any part-time work, temp jobs, or gig work. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your new benefit amount.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•What if I had some cash jobs that weren't reported to the state? Should I include those too?
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Connor Byrne
•You should only report wages that were reported to Washington ESD through employer payroll taxes. Cash jobs typically aren't in their system anyway.
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Yara Abboud
ugh the whole system is so broken. why can't they just make it simple instead of making us jump through hoops every year
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Dmitry Smirnov
•I agree it's frustrating but I guess they need to verify we're still eligible and recalculate benefits based on recent work history.
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PixelPioneer
•at least we get benefits at all, some states are way worse
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ElectricDreamer
One thing to watch out for - if you've exhausted your regular UI benefits, you might not be eligible for a new claim even if your benefit year expires. Washington ESD requires you to have worked and earned wages during the base period to establish a new claim.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•What's the base period? I haven't worked since I was laid off 11 months ago.
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ElectricDreamer
•Base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. If you haven't worked in 11 months, you might not have enough wages to qualify for a new claim.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Oh no, so what happens if I can't qualify for a new claim? Do I just lose benefits completely?
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Miguel Diaz
If you can't establish a new regular UI claim, you might be able to continue on your current claim if you still have weeks left. But you really need to talk to Washington ESD to understand your specific situation. That's another reason why I recommend using Claimyr - these kinds of questions are exactly what you need an agent to help clarify.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•I think I do still have some weeks left on my current claim. How do I check that?
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Miguel Diaz
•Log into your Washington ESD account and look at your claim summary. It should show your remaining benefit balance and weeks available.
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Ava Johnson
also make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while you're waiting for the new claim to process. don't want to miss any payments
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Good point! So I should keep doing my weekly claims on my old claim while also filing the new one?
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ElectricDreamer
•Yes, continue with weekly claims until Washington ESD tells you otherwise. They'll transfer you to the new claim when it's processed.
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Keisha Williams
I'm in the same boat - my benefit year ends in February. This thread is really helpful, thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Glad it's helping you too! This stuff is so confusing when you're going through it alone.
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Connor Byrne
Another tip: gather all your documentation before you start the new claim application. You'll need your social security card, driver's license, and records of any work you've done since your last claim. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•What kind of work records do they want? Pay stubs, W-2s, or something else?
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Connor Byrne
•Pay stubs are best if you have them. W-2s work too, but they might not reflect your most recent work. If you don't have either, at least write down employer names, addresses, and dates of employment.
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Zainab Ahmed
Does anyone know if the job search requirements change when you file a new claim? I've been doing the 3 job searches per week but wondering if that stays the same.
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ElectricDreamer
•Job search requirements should stay the same - 3 per week unless you're on standby or have an approved training program. But confirm this when you file your new claim.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Thanks! I'll make sure to ask about that when I file.
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Yara Abboud
honestly the whole process gives me anxiety. feels like one wrong move and they'll cut you off completely
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Dmitry Smirnov
•I know exactly what you mean. The system feels like it's designed to trip you up.
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PixelPioneer
•just follow the rules and you'll be fine. they don't want to cut people off for no reason
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Miguel Diaz
For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. I used it twice now - once for my renewal and once when I had an overpayment question. Both times I got through to an agent quickly and got my issues resolved. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on.
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Ava Johnson
•ok you've convinced me, gonna try it next time i need to call
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Same here. I'll check out their website and that demo video you mentioned.
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Paolo Rizzo
Quick question - if my benefit year expires but I find a job before filing the new claim, do I still need to file or can I just stop claiming?
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ElectricDreamer
•If you find a job, you don't need to file a new claim. Just report your return to work on your final weekly claim and close out your current claim properly.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Perfect, that's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks!
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Dmitry Smirnov
Update: I checked my account and I do have 8 weeks left on my current claim. So it sounds like I should file the new claim right when my benefit year expires and Washington ESD will figure out which one to use?
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ElectricDreamer
•Exactly right. They'll automatically use whichever claim gives you the higher benefit amount. File the new claim on time and keep doing your weekly claims.
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Miguel Diaz
•And if you have any questions about the process, don't hesitate to use Claimyr to reach an agent. Better to get clarification than guess and potentially mess something up.
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Amina Sy
this is all so helpful! bookmarking this thread for when my claim expires in a few months
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Glad I could help by asking the question! I was so confused about this whole process.
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Connor Byrne
One final tip: if your new claim gets denied or you run into problems, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept a denial without understanding why. Washington ESD makes mistakes sometimes and appeals can be successful if you have the right documentation.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•How long do you have to file an appeal if something goes wrong?
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Connor Byrne
•You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait - file as soon as possible if you disagree with their decision.
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Oliver Fischer
Thanks everyone for all the info! I feel much more confident about handling my claim renewal now. This community is awesome.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Totally agree! So glad I found this forum and got all these helpful answers.
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Ava Johnson
•yeah this thread saved me a lot of stress and confusion
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PixelPioneer
good luck everyone with your renewals! remember to stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements throughout the process
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Will do! Thanks again to everyone who helped answer my questions.
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Miguel Diaz
Final reminder for anyone who needs to talk to Washington ESD about their renewal - Claimyr really is worth checking out. I know I mentioned it a few times but it genuinely made the difference between getting help and being stuck in phone hell. The demo video shows exactly how it works if you want to see before trying it.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•I'm definitely going to try it if I run into any issues with my renewal. Thanks for the recommendation!
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