(1) When an employee has an existing claim year and more than four consecutive weeks have passed since the employee filed a weekly claim for benefits, or the employee experiences a new qualifying event, the employee must reopen the claim in order to receive benefit payments.

(2) If the duration of leave for a qualifying event has not expired:

(a) The employee can reopen the claim and file weekly claims as necessary.

(b) If the employee requests to claim the weeks prior to the date the claim is reopened, the employee must have good cause as defined in WAC 192-610-040 to claim prior weeks.

(3) If the duration of leave for the qualifying event has expired or the reason for leave is not the same as the previous qualifying event, the employee must reopen the claim by updating the application as required under WAC 192-610-010 before benefits will be paid.