As someone who went through a similar situation, I'd strongly recommend filing your claim sooner rather than later, even if you don't immediately start collecting benefits. Here's why: 1. You can establish your claim and benefit amount now, then choose when to start your weekly certifications 2. The job market can be unpredictable - what looks like a few months of searching could easily turn into 6+ months 3. Your severance might actually work in your favor timing-wise. If ESD allocates it over 12 weeks as you calculated, you could file now and potentially start collecting benefits right when that period ends I made the mistake of waiting because I was confident I'd find work quickly. Eight months later, I was kicking myself for those lost benefit weeks. Even if you're financially stable now, unemployment benefits are insurance you've already paid for through your taxes. Consider this: you can always stop collecting benefits if you find work, but you can't go back and claim those weeks you didn't file for. The peace of mind alone is worth it!

I went through something very similar last year - laid off with severance and thought I'd take some time off before filing. Here's what I wish someone had told me: Even if you don't plan to collect benefits right away, file your initial claim NOW. Here's why this strategy worked for me: 1. You lock in your benefit calculation based on your current base year 2. You can delay starting your weekly certifications until you actually need the money 3. If your job search takes longer than expected (mine did!), you're already in the system Regarding your severance - since it sounds like about 12 weeks worth, you could file your initial claim now, then start your weekly certifications in mid-November when the severance period ESD calculates would end. This way you're not losing any benefit weeks but still get your break. The key thing is: filing your initial claim doesn't mean you have to start collecting immediately. But once those weeks pass by unclaimed, they're gone forever. Given how unpredictable the job market is right now, having that safety net established could save you a lot of stress later. Trust me, future you will thank present you for filing sooner rather than later!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've gone ahead and logged it as a WorkSource activity with "WorkSourceWA.com" as the location. I'll also be attending their orientation workshop tomorrow which will count as my second activity. For my third activity, I've applied for a job I found on Indeed. Hopefully my claim goes through without any issues!

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just a tip for future weeks - you can also count things like updating your resume on WorkSource, using their job matching tools, or taking any of their online skills assessments as separate WorkSource activities. I've found their career exploration tools really helpful too and they all count toward your requirements. Good luck with your claim!

Adding to what everyone else has shared - I just went through this exact process with StaffPro in January. My 10-month IT support contract ended and I was also getting the runaround about "keeping me in their system." Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: 1. Screenshot/save ANY communication from the agency saying they don't have work available - even text messages count as documentation 2. When you file, the system will ask for your "reason for separation" - select "lack of work" not "end of contract" 3. Keep a detailed log of every interaction with the agency moving forward (dates, times, who you spoke with, what was discussed) I got approved in about a week with zero pushback from the agency. The ESD rep I eventually spoke to said temp assignments ending is one of the most straightforward unemployment cases they handle - it's clearly "lack of work" which is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for. Don't let them string you along while your bills pile up. You paid into this system and you're entitled to use it when you need it. File now and start getting the benefits you've earned!

I went through this exact situation with Apex Staffing about 6 months ago. My contract ended on a Friday and I was honestly scared to file because I kept reading conflicting info online, but I'm so glad I did it right away. Here's what worked for me: The key is being super clear that your ASSIGNMENT ended, not that you left the agency. I used the exact wording "My temporary assignment ended on [date] due to completion of the project. The staffing agency has no other suitable positions available at this time." Got approved in about 8 days with no issues. The agency did call me once about a position that was completely different (customer service vs my IT background) and way less pay, but I documented why it wasn't suitable and had no problems. One tip that saved me stress - I set up direct deposit right when I filed so I wouldn't have to worry about mail delays. Also, make sure you're doing your weekly claims on the same day each week - it makes tracking everything easier. You've got this! Don't let financial stress keep you from claiming benefits you've already earned through your work.

Bottom line for OP: you probably qualify based on what you described. File online as soon as you're unemployed, and don't worry too much about the complex qualification rules until you actually get a determination from Washington ESD.

Just to add one more helpful tip - if you're still working part-time when you file, you can still potentially collect partial unemployment benefits as long as your weekly earnings are below a certain threshold. Washington ESD will reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn, but you don't have to be completely unemployed to qualify. This might be relevant if you're worried about getting laid off from one of your part-time jobs but still have hours at another.

One more thing - if you're getting close to exhausting your benefits and still haven't found work, look into other assistance programs like SNAP or local food banks. Don't wait until your benefits run out completely.

I'm in a similar situation - lost my manufacturing job after 6 years and just filed for unemployment. Reading through all these responses is really helpful but also kind of scary knowing there's a hard 26 week cutoff. I'm planning to be aggressive with my job search from day one. Has anyone here had success finding work in manufacturing after being on unemployment? I'm wondering if I should also look into other industries or stick with what I know. The job market seems pretty competitive right now.