Resuming ESD unemployment after temporary work - do I restart my claim or just file weekly again?

You'll need to reactivate your claim when you become unemployed again. Since it's only been 3 weeks, you won't have to file a completely new claim - just log into your eServices account, click on 'Restart my claim' (it should be on your dashboard), and answer the questions. Make sure to do this during the first week you're laid off again. After that, you'll start filing weekly claims like before. As for getting paid right away, there is no waiting week if you're reactivating an existing claim within the same benefit year. You should receive payment after your first weekly claim is processed, assuming no issues come up.

i did this last year, just hit restart claim button when ur laid off again, super easy, but DONT DO IT until ur actually not working again or ESD will be mad lol

Be careful when you restart! My coworker messed up answering one of those questions when she reactivated and ended up having to call in to fix it which took FOREVER. Make sure you read each question carefully!

I was in almost EXACTLY your situation in January!!! The restart claim process asks about your work history since you last filed, so have your dates ready and the employer info. You'll answer why you're unemployed again (temporary layoff) and give the expected return date if you have one. One thing that tripped me up - they asked about all earnings during those weeks you worked, so dig up your pay stubs if possible. I guessed on mine and ended up with a messssss where they thought I was trying to claim for weeks I actually worked!! Took WEEKS to straighten out. BTW if your claim is older than 4 weeks inactive you might need to do a full restart vs. just resuming weekly claims, the system will tell you which path to take.

Frustrating going back and forth between working and not working, isn't it? Washington state makes this process more complicated than it needs to be. When you restart your claim, you'll also need to re-register with WorkSource and start doing your job search activities again (3 per week). And just so you know - if you have ANY trouble getting through to ESD when restarting your claim (many people do), I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at ESD in about 20 minutes when I was stuck in restart limbo. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Totally worth it when you're stuck and can't get answers.

I work in HR and see this situation frequently with seasonal workers. Your claim remains active for one benefit year from when you first filed. Since you're still within that year and only stopped claiming for 3 weeks, you'll use the "restart claim" option rather than filing a new claim. Here's what happens: 1. Wait until your first day of being laid off again 2. Log in to eServices and select "restart claim" 3. You'll need to report all work and earnings since your last weekly claim 4. Answer questions about your current separation reason (temporary layoff) 5. Once approved (usually within 48 hours), start filing weekly claims The first payment should process in the normal timeframe after your first weekly claim - typically 2-3 business days after filing if you use direct deposit. No new waiting week is required within the same benefit year.

Anybody know if this affects how much money u get? Like if they recalculate yr benefit amount after u work again? Or do u just get same weekly amount as before?

Don't forget you'll need to do the job search requirements again once you restart! 3 activities every week. Such a pain especially when you know you're going back to your job soon. 🙄

Thank you all for the incredible advice! I'm feeling much more prepared now. I'll definitely wait until I'm actually laid off before restarting my claim, and I'll have all my earnings and dates ready to go. I'll also ask my employer about the possibility of getting standby status since we do have a tentative return date. That would be amazing if I could avoid the job search requirements for this short period. I'll update this thread once I go through the process in case it helps someone else in the future!

Hey Fatima! Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you restart your claim, make sure your direct deposit info is still current in your eServices account. Sometimes the system glitches and removes banking info during inactive periods. I learned this the hard way when my first payment got delayed because my bank account info had mysteriously disappeared! Also, if your employer gives you any kind of separation notice or layoff letter, keep a copy. Sometimes ESD asks for documentation during the restart process, especially if there are any questions about your eligibility. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Good luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this cycle a few times with seasonal work! All the advice here is spot on. One small thing I'd add - when you restart your claim, the system will ask you to verify your identity again sometimes, especially if it's been a while since you last logged in. Have your Social Security card or driver's license handy just in case. Also, don't panic if your first weekly claim after restarting shows as "pending" for a day or two longer than usual. ESD sometimes does a quick review when people restart claims to make sure everything matches up. As long as you reported your work period accurately, it should process normally. The back-and-forth between work and unemployment is exhausting, but at least Washington's system makes it relatively straightforward once you know the steps. Hang in there!

One more tip that might save you some headache - when you restart your claim, make sure to file your first weekly claim within the same week you become unemployed again. I made the mistake of waiting until the following Sunday to file my first weekly claim after restarting, and it created confusion about which week I was claiming for. ESD had to manually adjust it and it delayed my payment by almost a week. Also, if you're getting unemployment texts/emails, you might stop receiving them while your claim is inactive. Don't worry if they don't resume immediately when you restart - sometimes it takes a few days for the notifications to kick back in. But definitely keep checking your eServices account regularly those first few days after restarting to make sure everything is processing correctly!

This thread is gold! I'm bookmarking it because I'm in a similar situation with seasonal layoffs. One thing I wanted to add - if you're worried about missing any steps during the restart process, ESD actually has a pretty decent checklist on their website under "Reactivate Your Claim." I found it super helpful when I had to restart mine earlier this year. Also, for anyone reading this who might be in a union - check with your union rep before restarting. Sometimes they have specific procedures or paperwork they want you to follow, especially if the layoff is part of a collective bargaining agreement. My union actually helped me get the standby status letter from my employer which saved me weeks of job search activities. Hope your restart goes smoothly when the time comes!

Quick heads up - I just went through this exact process last month! One thing nobody mentioned yet is that when you restart your claim, ESD might ask you to complete a "work search review" during your first week back on benefits. It's basically just confirming that you understand the job search requirements again (or if you qualify for standby status). Don't stress if you see this pop up in your account - it's totally normal and just takes a few minutes to complete online. They just want to make sure you're aware of what's required now that you're back on unemployment. Also, pro tip: screenshot your "claim restarted successfully" confirmation page when you complete the process. I've heard of people having issues later where the system didn't show their restart went through properly, and having that screenshot saved them from having to prove they did everything correctly. Better safe than sorry!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - seasonal construction worker who gets laid off every winter and called back in spring. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you report your EXACT last day of work when restarting your claim. I was off by one day (reported Friday when I actually worked until Thursday) and it messed up my first weekly claim calculation. Had to call in to get it fixed. Also, if you have any vacation pay or severance from your temporary work period, make sure to report that accurately too. ESD will ask about ALL compensation received during the weeks you weren't claiming, not just regular wages. I forgot about a small vacation payout and it caused a minor delay. One last thing - if you're doing this restart process on a Monday (which is usually the busiest day for ESD's system), try logging in early morning or later in the evening. The system can be really slow during peak hours and sometimes times out in the middle of the restart process. Good luck!

Wow, this thread is absolutely incredible - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice! As someone who's never had to deal with the restart process before, I was honestly pretty anxious about potentially messing something up, but reading through all these real experiences has made me feel so much more confident. I'm definitely going to create a little checklist for myself based on all your tips: wait until actually laid off, gather all pay stubs and exact dates, check direct deposit info, screenshot confirmation pages, be precise about last work day, and have ID documents ready. The standby status option sounds amazing if I can get my employer to provide that letter. One quick question - for those of you who've done this multiple times, how long does the actual restart process typically take to complete? Like once I log in and click "restart claim," am I looking at 10 minutes or more like 30-45 minutes to get through all the questions? Just trying to plan when to sit down and do it so I'm not rushed. This community is seriously the best resource I've found for navigating ESD. You've all turned what seemed like a confusing process into something totally manageable. Thank you!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now - was on unemployment, got called back for temporary work about a month ago, and just found out I'll be laid off again next week. I was honestly pretty stressed about how to handle the restart process, but reading through everyone's experiences has been like having a personal guide. I especially appreciate all the specific details people have shared - like screenshotting the confirmation page, checking direct deposit info, and being precise about work dates. These are exactly the kind of real-world tips you can't find in the official ESD documentation. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with the restart process if you worked for a different employer during your temporary period? My callback was actually with a different company than my original layoff. I'm wondering if that complicates things at all or if the process is basically the same. I have all my paperwork ready either way, but just want to know if I should expect any extra questions or verification steps. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is absolutely amazing for navigating these tricky ESD situations!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I've been reading through all the advice and taking notes! I'm actually in a very similar situation as the original poster, except I've been off work for about 5 weeks now. I'm getting a bit worried that I might have waited too long and will need to file a completely new claim instead of just restarting. Does anyone know what the cutoff is for being able to restart vs. having to file fresh? I remember seeing someone mention 4 weeks earlier in the thread, but I want to make sure before I attempt the restart process. My original claim still shows as active in eServices with a remaining balance, but I'm not sure if that means anything after 5 weeks of inactivity. Also, for those who've restarted after a longer gap - did you run into any additional verification requirements or delays? I have all my documentation ready thanks to everyone's amazing tips, but I want to set realistic expectations for how long it might take to get payments flowing again. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding these processes that ESD doesn't explain very clearly on their website!