One last tip - if Washington ESD asks for additional documentation after you file, respond quickly! They usually give you a deadline, and missing it can delay or deny your claim. Stay on top of any requests they send you.

Also remember that you can appeal if Washington ESD denies your claim initially! Don't give up if they say you don't qualify - sometimes they make mistakes or need additional clarification about your situation. The appeals process exists for a reason, and many people successfully overturn initial denials. Just make sure you file your appeal within the deadline they give you (usually 30 days).

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other people will end up in similar situations and your experience might help them.

I went through this exact situation with Adecco last year. You're absolutely right to file for unemployment - the temp agency is your employer, and "no available assignments" is a legitimate layoff reason. One thing I'd add is to keep checking in with Staffmark periodically while you're collecting benefits. They might get new assignments, and Washington ESD expects you to maintain contact with your former employer. Also, when you file your weekly claims, make sure to report any days you might work if Staffmark does call you back with short-term assignments. You can still collect partial benefits on weeks when you work reduced hours.

Just remembered - if you do end up calling ESD and they tell you that you might qualify, make sure to get the agent's name and reference number for your call. That documentation could be helpful if there are any issues with your claim later.

I'm in a similar boat with my retail job cutting my hours from 35 to about 12 per week over the last month. Reading through all this advice, it sounds like partial unemployment might be the way to go while documenting everything. Has anyone here actually applied for partial benefits in Washington? I'm curious about how the process works and if it's worth the hassle.

One more tip for anyone dealing with this - if you're applying for rental assistance through a nonprofit organization, they're usually more flexible with documentation than government programs. I've seen them accept email confirmations or even screenshots from your SAW account when people couldn't print. But definitely start with the official payment history first since that's what most places prefer.

Just to add another perspective - I work as a case manager for rental assistance programs in Washington state. The payment history from your SAW account is definitely the gold standard and what we see most often. One thing I always tell clients is to make sure the document shows the state seal/logo and your full name clearly. Also, if you've had any breaks in your benefits or payment issues, it's helpful to include a brief note explaining any gaps in the payment history. Most programs understand that Washington ESD has had processing delays, so don't worry if there are some irregular dates - just be prepared to explain if asked.

i almost forgot to file last week lol but the esd site was down for maintenance when i tried sunday night so i had to do it monday morning. got my payment a day late but no big deal. just dont wait til the very last minute on saturday night or you might have technical problems

For anyone else reading this thread - I just want to emphasize how important it is to understand the ESD filing schedule! I've been on unemployment for 8 months now and I see so many people get confused about this. The key thing to remember is: each benefit week runs Sunday through Saturday, and you can file for that completed week starting the NEXT Sunday. You then have a full week (until the following Saturday at 11:59 PM) to submit your claim. So there's actually a lot of flexibility in when you file - you don't have to rush to do it on Sunday morning like some people think. Just make sure you don't wait until the very last minute in case there are technical issues with the website!