Can you get unemployment after a temporary job ends in NY?
My temp assignment at a warehouse ended last week after working there for 6 months. The staffing agency said they don't have anything else available right now. I've never filed for unemployment before - am I eligible if my temporary job just ended? I wasn't fired or anything, the assignment just finished. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time or can I apply right away? Really confused about how this works with temp work.
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Amelia Dietrich
Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment when a temporary assignment ends! The NYS Department of Labor treats temp work ending as a valid reason for filing. You should apply as soon as possible since there's a waiting week. You'll need your staffing agency's information and pay stubs from the assignment.
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KhalilStar
AuthorThat's a relief! Do I put down the staffing agency as my employer or the actual warehouse where I worked?
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Kaiya Rivera
Put down the staffing agency as your employer since they're the ones who paid you. The warehouse was just your work location. Make sure you have their federal tax ID number ready when you file online.
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Katherine Ziminski
This is correct. Also keep checking with the staffing agency for new assignments while you're collecting - you'll need to document your job search activities for your weekly claims.
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Noah Irving
ugh the whole system is so confusing especially for temp workers!! i worked temp jobs for like 2 years and every time an assignment ended i had to figure out unemployment all over again
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KhalilStar
AuthorDid you ever have trouble getting approved? I'm worried they might deny me since it was temporary work.
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Vanessa Chang
Had this exact situation last year. The key thing is to file immediately and be honest about why the assignment ended. NYS Department of Labor understands temp work - it's not considered quitting if your assignment just finished. Just make sure you're actively looking for work and documenting it.
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Madison King
How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I've been hearing adjudication is taking forever right now.
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Vanessa Chang
Mine took about 3 weeks but that was before the current delays. If you need to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your claim status, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Katherine Ziminski
Interesting, never heard of that before. Might be worth checking out if the usual phone number keeps giving busy signals.
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Julian Paolo
temp work is the worst for this stuff... companies use it to avoid giving real benefits then you have to deal with unemployment bureaucracy when assignments end. at least NY is better than some states for temp workers i guess
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Olivia Martinez
@Julian Paolo You re'right that temp work can be frustrating, but at least in NY the unemployment system does recognize that temp assignments ending isn t'the worker s'fault. @KhalilStar - don t'let the bureaucracy intimidate you. Your situation is totally normal and you have every right to file. The key is just being thorough with your documentation and applying quickly.
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Chloe Robinson
Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! You're definitely eligible - temp assignment endings are considered "lack of work" which qualifies you for benefits. Don't stress about it being temporary work, that's actually super common. Make sure you apply online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since there's a waiting week before payments start. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and all your pay information from the staffing agency. The whole process was easier than I expected once I got started.
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Omar Hassan
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear. I was worried they might make it complicated since it's temp work but it sounds like the system actually handles this pretty well. Did you have any issues with the weekly certifications or job search requirements while you were looking for your next assignment?
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Ravi Patel
@Omar Hassan The weekly certifications were actually pretty straightforward! You just have to report any work you did that week and confirm you re'actively looking for jobs. For the job search requirement, I kept a simple log of where I applied - online job boards, reaching out to other staffing agencies, etc. The system accepts a variety of job search activities, so even things like updating your resume or attending virtual job fairs count. Just make sure to keep good records in case they ever ask for details.
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CyberSiren
@Omar Hassan The weekly certifications were pretty straightforward - you just have to report any work you did that week and confirm you re'actively looking for employment. For job search requirements, I counted applying through the staffing agency for new assignments as part of my job search activities, plus I applied to some direct-hire positions too. The system lets you log your job search contacts online, which made it easy to track. Just make sure you re'documenting everything - dates, company names, how you applied, etc. The requirements aren t'too burdensome as long as you stay on top of it.
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Zara Malik
@Omar Hassan The weekly certifications were pretty straightforward - you just have to report any work you did that week and confirm you re'still looking for employment. For job search requirements, I kept checking in with my staffing agency regularly and also applied to other companies directly. NYS accepts contacts with staffing agencies as valid job search activities, so reaching out to multiple temp agencies counts toward your requirement. Just keep good records of who you contacted and when. The system is designed to work with people in temp situations, so don t'overthink it!
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AstroExplorer
Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely eligible for unemployment when a temp assignment ends! I went through this same situation about 8 months ago when my temp job at a logistics company ended after 4 months. The process was actually much smoother than I expected. Make sure you have all your pay stubs from the staffing agency and apply online at labor.ny.gov right away. The waiting week starts from when you file, not when you lost work, so don't delay. Also, keep in touch with your staffing agency while collecting benefits - they might have new assignments pop up and you'll need to document those contacts for your weekly job search requirements anyway. The NY unemployment system really does understand temp work situations, so don't stress too much about it!
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NeonNova
@AstroExplorer Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing recently. Your point about the waiting week starting from when you file is so important - I definitely don't want to delay and lose out on a week of benefits. I'm planning to apply this weekend and have been gathering all my pay stubs from the staffing agency. It's such a relief to see how many people here have successfully navigated this process with temp work. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their knowledge!
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