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I'm in a similar situation! I've been doing temp work for about 6 months and my assignment just ended too. Reading through all these responses is super helpful - I had no idea that temp workers could get unemployment benefits. I was worried I'd have to drain my savings while waiting for the next assignment. Does anyone know if there's a minimum number of hours you need to have worked to qualify? I've had some shorter assignments mixed in with longer ones.
@Cassandra Moon It s'not about minimum hours - it s'about wages earned! As long as you ve'made at least $1,320 total in your base year which (is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters ,)you should qualify. The length of individual assignments doesn t'matter as much as your total earnings. I had some really short 3-day assignments mixed with longer ones and still qualified without any issues. Definitely file - the worst they can say is no, but temp workers qualify all the time in Washington!
I've been working temp assignments for about a year now and can confirm that Washington state is pretty good about covering temp workers! One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand the difference between "lack of work" and "quitting" when your assignment ends. Always get some kind of documentation from your temp agency - even just an email saying "assignment completed, no current openings available" can be really helpful if ESD needs clarification. Also, don't forget that you can register with multiple temp agencies while collecting benefits, which actually helps show you're actively seeking work. The system recognizes that temp work is legitimate employment and the gaps between assignments are just part of how this type of work functions.
This is really solid advice! I'm actually in the same boat as everyone else here - been doing temp work for about 10 months and just had my assignment end yesterday. The documentation part is so important - I learned that the hard way when my first temp agency just told me over the phone that the assignment was done. Now I always follow up with an email asking for confirmation about why the assignment ended. It's saved me headaches later. @Zane Gray is absolutely right about registering with multiple agencies too - I m'signed up with four different ones and it really does help show you re'serious about finding work. Plus different agencies specialize in different types of assignments, so you get more opportunities overall.
I can relate to the stress you're feeling! I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it was nerve-wracking. The status changes are definitely confusing when you're not expecting them. From what I learned, the "pending" status with no dollar amount is actually a good sign - it means your payment is actively being processed through their system. The amount disappears temporarily as part of their verification process, but it should reappear when it switches to "paid" status. In my case, it took about 36 hours from when it changed to pending until I saw the money in my account. Try to hang in there - based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you're on the right track and should see your payment soon!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It really helps to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. 36 hours doesn't sound too bad - I was worried it might take weeks or something. Did you get any kind of email notification when it finally changed to paid status, or did you just have to keep checking the website? I'm trying not to refresh the page every 5 minutes but it's hard not to when you're waiting for rent money!
I've been through this exact scenario multiple times over the past year and can confirm what others are saying - this is completely normal! The status progression from "Web Processing" with an amount to "Pending" with no amount is just how their system works. I know it's terrifying when you see that dollar amount disappear, especially when you're counting on that money for rent. What I've learned from experience is that the "Pending" status actually means your payment is moving through their final approval stages. The amount gets hidden temporarily but it will reappear when it switches to "Paid." In my experience, this usually happens within 24-48 hours, though it can take up to 3 business days during busy periods. One tip: if you have the ESD mobile app, sometimes the status updates there before it shows on the website. Also, once it does switch to "Paid," if you have direct deposit it typically shows up in your bank account 1-2 business days later. Try not to stress too much - based on what you've described, everything sounds like it's processing normally!
One more thing - make sure all your contact information is up to date in your account before you file the new claim. Washington ESD will need to reach you for verification and if your info is wrong it can delay everything.
I'm a newcomer here and going through the exact same situation. My claim expires in a few weeks and I'm terrified about the gap in benefits. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful - it sounds like filing a new claim early is the key, even if you're not sure you'll qualify. The fact that so many people have had to use third-party services like Claimyr just to get through to Washington ESD shows how broken the system is. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops when we're already struggling to find work in this job market.
Thanks everyone for all the information. This has been really helpful in understanding what to expect. Sounds like I need to focus on finding work rather than counting on being able to extend benefits.
Good luck with your job search! And remember, if you need to get specific information about your situation, don't waste time trying to call Washington ESD directly - use a service like Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can help.
I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that you needed to work again to qualify for a new claim - I thought you could just reapply once your year was up. The whole system seems designed to push people off benefits rather than actually help them through tough job markets. I've been unemployed for 5 months now and the thought of having no income support while still searching for work is terrifying. Has anyone had success with the WorkSource programs that were mentioned earlier? I'm wondering if I should start exploring those options now rather than waiting until my benefits run out.
Serene Snow
Update us when you figure out what happened! I'm curious what the actual reason was for the disqualification.
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Alfredo Lugo
•Will do! Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions. I feel like I have a better plan now.
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Issac Nightingale
•Hope you get it sorted out quickly. The Washington ESD system can be such a pain to deal with.
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Talia Klein
I had a similar issue a couple months ago where I got a random disqualification week that made no sense. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like you've covered most of the common causes. Since you're sure about your earnings, job searches, and availability, this really does sound like either a system glitch or something related to that dental appointment you mentioned. The fact that you marked yourself as available but had an appointment might have confused their system somehow. I'd definitely recommend trying that Claimyr service that Danielle mentioned - I ended up having to wait 4+ hours on hold when I finally got through the regular way, and it sounds like they can save you that hassle. Keep us posted on what you find out!
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Alexis Robinson
•Thanks Talia! Yeah, the dental appointment thing is bothering me now that Daniel mentioned it. I thought marking available was correct since it was just a short appointment, but maybe the system sees any unavailable time as a red flag. I'm going to try calling one more time tomorrow morning and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely check out Claimyr. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already struggling financially. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it helps to know I'm not the only one dealing with these confusing ESD issues.
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