When can I refile for unemployment benefits after my claim ended?

That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to wait. Do I file online through the Washington ESD website like before?

Yes, go to esd.wa.gov and file your new initial claim. Make sure to report all your wages from the recent job when you file.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm hoping it's faster than my first claim which took forever.

took about a week for mine to show up in my account, but I had to call them to verify some employment dates

Is that legitimate? I've never heard of it before but I remember how impossible it was to reach anyone at Washington ESD last time.

Yeah it's real, they basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

I used them too when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Worked great and saved me so much time and frustration.

There's no waiting period between claims. You can file a new claim as soon as you become unemployed again, as long as you have qualifying wages.

Good to know, thanks! I was stressing about this for no reason.

Oh shoot, I should probably file today then. My last day was Friday. Thanks for the heads up!

Yeah definitely file ASAP. I waited two weeks thinking I needed to 'cool off' or something and lost those benefits.

Always hard to reach them. Try calling right at 8am when they open, sometimes you can get through faster.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr - they handle all the calling and waiting for you. Much less stressful than trying to get through yourself.

Might have to check that out. This is ridiculous that we need a service just to talk to them.

Will it be based on my old job or the new one I just got laid off from?

It depends on which job paid more and when you worked. They look at the past 18 months of work history to find your highest earning quarter.

That's not correct. You can file a new claim even if you didn't exhaust your previous claim, as long as you have new qualifying wages from recent work.

Oh okay, I must have been thinking of something else. Thanks for clarifying!

They'll ask about your separation reason when you file. Just be honest - layoffs due to budget cuts are a qualifying reason for unemployment benefits.

Good to know. I have my layoff letter from HR so I can prove it if needed.

I still have my old paperwork from when I filed before. Is it the same process?

Pretty much the same, just make sure to update it with your recent job information.

Same here. The wait times are awful and half the time they hang up on you anyway.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. They actually get you connected to a real person who can help instead of dealing with the runaround.

Your WorkSource registration should still be active, but you'll need to update your resume and job search activities. They require active job searching for most claims.

Thanks! I'll log in and update everything before I file.

That's encouraging! I was worried it would take forever like my first claim did.

It's usually faster for subsequent claims if you have all your info ready. Just don't wait to file.

What causes adjudication? I want to avoid that if possible.

Usually happens when there's a question about your separation reason or if there's conflicting information. Just be thorough and honest when you file.

Totally agree. Other states have much better systems. Washington is way behind.

At least we can file online now. Remember when you had to mail in paper forms? That was even worse.

Correct, no waiting period. You can file a new claim immediately after becoming unemployed again, as long as you have qualifying wages from recent work.

Perfect, thanks for confirming. I'll file today then.

It's hit or miss. Some people get approved quickly, others wait weeks. Depends on if your claim gets flagged for review.

If you do run into delays, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to someone. Much better than trying to call on your own.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now.

Glad we could help! Come back and update us on how it goes.

Great advice! I learned that lesson the hard way with my first claim. Documentation is key with these government agencies.

Absolutely. I keep a folder with all my unemployment stuff - claim numbers, correspondence, job search logs, everything. Saved me multiple times when they asked for proof of something.

Thanks for all the support and advice everyone. I'm going to file my claim right now and hopefully it goes through without any issues this time.