Washington ESD - how many times can you file for unemployment claims?

That's a relief! So as long as I worked enough hours between my last claim and now, I should be okay to file again?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at your wages from the last 15 months to determine if you qualify. If you worked full-time between claims, you should have enough wage credits.

How long do you usually have to wait between claims? I thought there was some kind of waiting period.

No waiting period between claims, but there's still that one-week waiting period at the start of each new claim where you don't get paid.

Actually they eliminated the waiting week in Washington during COVID and it's still gone. You get paid for your first week now.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. How does it work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of trying to get through during peak times.

Seems too good to be true. What's the catch?

So if I worked full-time for 8 months since my last claim ended, that should be enough?

Most likely yes, especially if you were earning decent wages. Washington requires wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period and total wages of at least $2,200.

Yeah I'm definitely more familiar with it now than I was the first time. Still stressful though!

The worst part is always wondering if you'll get approved or if something will go wrong

What kind of additional review? Like an interview or something?

Could be an eligibility interview or they might request documentation from your employers. Just part of their fraud prevention measures.

This happened to me on my third claim. Had to do a phone interview but it was pretty straightforward - just explaining why I was laid off again.

That's good to know from the employer side too. I was worried my company might get penalized for having another employee file.

Employers pay unemployment taxes based on their claim history, but legitimate layoffs are just part of doing business. Nothing wrong with filing if you truly qualify.

Do you have to use the same login from previous claims or create a new account each time?

Same SecureAccess Washington account. Your previous claim info is still there, which actually makes filing easier since some information carries over.

Good point. Are the requirements the same as they were a couple years ago or have they changed?

Most requirements are the same but they did update some of the job search requirements recently. Make sure you're familiar with the current WorkSource registration rules.

Yeah, I'd definitely recommend it. The phone lines are brutal especially at the beginning of the month when everyone's filing.

What's the deal with Claimyr though? Do they actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they don't ask for your personal info or login details. They just handle the calling part and patch you through when they reach an agent.

Did they ever ask you about why you were filing so frequently?

Not really. They care more about whether your job separation was for a qualifying reason (layoff, lack of work, etc.) than how many times you've filed before.

How do you know if you have enough wages before filing?

Check your pay stubs from the last 15 months. You need wages in at least 2 quarters and a minimum total amount. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website.

The benefit calculator is really helpful for estimating both eligibility and benefit amount before you file.

That sounds intimidating. Were you able to provide all that information?

Yeah, just took some digging through old emails and documents. They're just being thorough - nothing to worry about if your separations were legitimate.

What kind of documentation do they typically want?

Layoff notices, final pay stubs, any written communication about your separation. Basically anything that proves you were laid off through no fault of your own.

I still have my layoff letter from my last job, so that should help if I need to file again.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel much better about potentially having to file again.

Good luck with your situation. Hope you don't need to file but at least now you know it's an option if you do.

Yeah I think some of the confusion comes from people mixing up regular unemployment with the pandemic programs that had different rules.

Exactly! Those pandemic programs like PUA had different eligibility and limits, but regular state unemployment has always worked the same way.

Good to hear another positive review. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I run into phone issues.

How long did it take them to get you connected to an agent?

Was connected within about 20 minutes instead of the hours I'd been spending on hold trying to call myself.

That makes sense. So if I was making more money at my recent job, my weekly benefit amount might be higher this time?

Potentially yes, if your wages in the base period are higher than they were for your previous claim. The benefit calculation uses your highest quarter wages.

My last claim ended over a year ago, so I'd definitely be filing a new one. But good point for others to consider.

Yeah this trips people up sometimes. If your benefit year is still active, you reopen. If it's expired, you file new.