When can I reapply for unemployment benefits after my Washington ESD claim ended?

Thanks! Do I use the same login or create a new account?

Same login through SecureAccess Washington. Just file a new initial claim application.

That's helpful to know! Was the process pretty straightforward for you?

yeah mostly, though it took about 2 weeks to get my first payment. make sure you have all your employer info ready

Same here! I've called like 20 times and either get busy signal or get disconnected after being on hold for an hour.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They handle the calling for you - check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Worked great for me when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Interesting, never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle all the calling frustration and connect you with an actual Washington ESD rep. Way better than spending hours trying to get through yourself.

There's no minimum time requirement - what matters is that you earned enough wages during your base period to qualify for benefits. Even 3 weeks of work could help establish a new claim.

Oh okay good. I was worried I'd have to wait longer or something.

Yikes, what happened when you tried to reopen instead of filing new?

It showed my old benefit amounts from 2 years ago instead of calculating new ones based on recent work. Took forever to fix.

This is exactly why you want to file a completely new claim if you worked between benefit years. Reopening is only for claims that are still active in the same benefit year.

Yes, your weekly benefit amount should be higher if you were earning more in your recent job. Washington ESD calculates benefits based on your highest earning quarter during the base period.

That's what happened to me - my weekly amount went up by like $80 because of the better paying job I had between claims.

No, there's no limit on how many times you can file for unemployment as long as you're eligible each time. People file new claims whenever they lose jobs and meet the requirements.

I've filed like 4 claims over the past 5 years due to layoffs in my industry. Never had any issues as long as I was legitimately unemployed each time.

Good point! I'll make sure to have all my employment info ready when I apply.

yes this is important - they use this info to calculate your new base period and benefit amounts

That's encouraging! I was worried it might take forever to get approved.

As long as your case doesn't go into adjudication, it should be pretty quick. Just make sure all your info is accurate when you file.

Thanks for the reminder. How many job applications do I need to do per week in Washington?

It's 3 job search activities per week minimum. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. Keep good records!

Which brings us back to the calling problem! Still haven't been able to reach anyone there.

I had luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Paid for itself just in the time it saved me not having to keep calling. Worth looking into if you're stuck.

Lack of work is typically considered an involuntary separation, which is good for unemployment eligibility. You should be fine as long as you weren't fired for misconduct.

Definitely not misconduct - they just didn't have enough hours for everyone. Thanks!

Washington ESD looks at a specific base period for calculating benefits - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. So yes, it could include wages from multiple jobs depending on when you worked them.

That makes sense. I'll probably need to gather pay stubs from both jobs then.

I've heard this too - something about the system being less overloaded on weekdays maybe?

Not sure if it's true but can't hurt to try! Plus if you run into issues you might have better luck reaching someone for help during business hours.

Correct - no penalty for multiple legitimate claims. The unemployment system is designed for people who experience job loss through no fault of their own, regardless of how often it happens.

Good to know! Sometimes feel like I'm being judged for needing benefits multiple times but it's not like I chose to get laid off.

Don't feel bad about it - that's exactly what the system is for! I work in a seasonal industry and file every winter. Totally normal.

You should report all employment, even short-term work. Washington ESD needs a complete picture of your work history to properly calculate your benefits and base period.

Ok I'll gather info for all of them. Some were just a few days of temp work but I guess better to be thorough.

Good advice! I'll make sure to have all that info organized before I start the application.

Yeah definitely get your employer contact info, start/end dates, and gross wages ready beforehand. Makes the whole process much smoother.

I did get a small severance payment. Should I wait to file until after that period is over?

No, file right away. Washington ESD will calculate how the severance affects your benefits. Better to get the process started than to wait.

Exactly - they'll handle the severance calculation. Just be honest about it when you file.

Same here! This thread was super helpful. Going to file tomorrow and make sure I have all my employment details ready.

Good luck! The process really isn't as complicated as it seems once you get started.