Good luck with your claim! The process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not too bad once you get started. Most people get through it just fine.

I just went through this process myself a few months ago after being laid off. The most important thing is to not delay - file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. I'd recommend gathering all your employment info for the past 18 months before you start (employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and wages if you have them). The online application at esd.wa.gov took me about 45 minutes once I had everything ready. Also, make sure to set up direct deposit during the application - it's much faster than waiting for checks. The hardest part for me was just getting started, but once you submit that initial application, you're on your way. Don't stress too much about making minor mistakes - you can usually correct them later if needed.

Update: I called ESD this morning and finally got through after trying for 2 hours. The agent confirmed what everyone here said - I should keep filing weekly claims during the temporary work and report all earnings. She said my claim will stay active, I'll just get $0 for the weeks I work full-time, and then payments will resume automatically if/when my hours decrease again. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation where I might get some temporary work soon and was completely unsure about the process. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that continuing to file weekly claims is the way to go. I had no idea that stopping claims could cause so many issues with reactivation. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate the ESD website alone!

One more important detail - when you file this Sunday, make sure you answer "yes" to the question about whether you worked during the week. Then report the exact dates you worked and the gross earnings (before taxes) of $1,800. Don't round up or down - report the exact amount. And as others mentioned, don't forget to still complete your 3 job search activities for the week.

Just wanted to add - make sure you keep records of that construction work too! Save your pay stubs, timesheets, or any documentation showing the dates and amounts you earned. If ESD ever audits your claim or has questions about that week, you'll want proof that you reported everything accurately. I learned this the hard way when they asked me to verify earnings from 6 months earlier and I had to scramble to find documentation.

final update: got through to washington esd using that claimyr thing and confirmed I can file a new claim too. thanks to whoever mentioned it first

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits expired in October 2024 and I've been doing gig work since then but just had my hours cut drastically. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's reassuring to know that as long as you've worked and earned qualifying wages since your last claim, you can file a new application without any waiting period. I had no idea about services like Claimyr either - might have to give that a try if I run into issues reaching Washington ESD directly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Update us on what happens! This is such an unusual situation that it would be helpful to know how Washington ESD handles it for anyone else who might face something similar.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Carmen. This is such a difficult situation to navigate on top of grieving. Based on what you've described - they controlled your schedule, you used their software systems, and they represented 80% of your income for 18 months - you actually have a pretty strong case for employee misclassification. The IRS has a 20-factor test for this, and it sounds like several factors would point toward you being an employee rather than a true independent contractor. I'd definitely recommend filing that unemployment claim ASAP and gathering all your documentation now before any business accounts get closed. Even if it takes months to resolve, you'll be glad you started the process early. Have you considered reaching out to the family to let them know you'll need access to work records for the unemployment claim? They might be more cooperative now than later when they're dealing with estate settlement.