Why do I have to reopen my unemployment claim with Washington ESD?

You have to reopen because Washington ESD considers your claim inactive after you stop filing for more than a certain period. Since you stopped in October and it's now been over 8 weeks, the system automatically puts your claim in inactive status. You don't have to file a brand new claim though - reopening is much simpler.

I had the same thing happen to me last year. The reopening process is pretty straightforward - you just need to go through the initial questions again about your availability and job search. Took me maybe 10 minutes online.

The 8-week rule is frustrating but it's designed to prevent people from keeping claims open indefinitely when they're working. When you reopen, you'll need to confirm you're still able and available for work and that you're actively job searching again.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about reopening, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually connect with an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way better than trying to call for hours.

ugh this happened to me too but my claim went into some weird adjudication status when I tried to reopen. Now I've been waiting 3 weeks to hear anything. The system is so broken.

Pro tip: when you reopen make sure your temporary employer didn't contest your claim. Sometimes short-term employers will challenge unemployment claims even if the job was clearly temporary.

Just to clarify the process - when you reopen online, you'll answer questions about your work separation, confirm your contact info, and verify you're ready to start job searching again. It's not as complicated as the initial application.

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're eligible to reopen. If your temporary job paid enough wages, it might affect your weekly benefit amount or create a new base period.

I'm curious about that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier. Has anyone else actually used it successfully?

Update: I was able to reopen my claim online this morning. Took about 15 minutes and asked me about my work separation and current availability. No issues so far - fingers crossed it processes smoothly!

For anyone else reading this - I reopened my claim last month after a 3-month gap and had no problems. The key is being honest about your work separation and making sure you meet the ongoing eligibility requirements.

For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD about reopening issues, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Worth checking out if you're stuck in phone limbo.

Just want to add that if your reopening gets stuck in adjudication like some people mentioned, it's usually because of questions about your work separation or availability. Don't panic - it just means they need to review your case.

been there, done that. Reopened mine twice in the past two years due to temp work situations. It's just part of how the system works - annoying but not a big deal once you know what to expect.

This thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was dreading having to figure out the reopening process. Sounds much simpler than I thought.

One last tip - make sure you reopen as soon as you become unemployed again. Every week you wait is a potential week of benefits you're missing out on, and you can't get back pay for weeks you didn't file.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The 8-week inactive rule caught me off guard too. Just wanted to add that when you reopen, double-check that your direct deposit info is still current - mine had somehow gotten cleared out during the inactive period and I had to wait for a paper check the first week. Also, if you worked even part-time during those two months, make sure you have your pay stubs handy when reopening since they'll ask about any wages earned. The whole process really is much easier than the initial application though!