Can temps get unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, temp workers can absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington! The key is whether you're available for work and your assignment ended through no fault of your own. Since your assignment ended and the agency doesn't have replacement work, you should be eligible to file a claim with Washington ESD.

I work at a temp agency and deal with this all the time. You're absolutely eligible as long as you meet the work history requirements. The temp agency is your employer for UI purposes, so they'll be the ones responding to Washington ESD about your claim. Make sure you report that you're available for work when you file your weekly claims.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my temp work situation and keep getting busy signals. Anyone else having trouble getting through to them? I need to verify some details about my claim but can't reach a human.

I was in the exact same situation last year! Filed for unemployment when my temp assignment ended and had no issues. The process was pretty straightforward once I got my claim approved. Just make sure you keep track of any work you do for the agency while collecting benefits.

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They basically navigate the phone system for you and call you back when they get an agent on the line. Found it at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration!

temp work is the worst for this stuff... you never know when your assignment will end and then you have to deal with all the unemployment paperwork. at least washington esd usually approves temp claims pretty easily compared to other types of job endings

One important thing to remember - when you file your weekly claims, you need to report any work you do, even if it's just a one-day assignment from the temp agency. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits for that week, but you won't lose your claim entirely. It's better to report everything than to get caught not reporting work.

Been working temp for 3 years and this comes up constantly. The main thing is that temp agencies are required to pay into the unemployment insurance system just like any other employer. So you've been paying into it with every paycheck and you're entitled to benefits when you're out of work.

I remember when I first started doing temp work, I was so confused about the unemployment stuff. But honestly, it's one of the few benefits of temp work - you can usually get unemployment pretty easily between assignments. Just be honest about your situation when you file.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'laid off' and 'fired' when you file your claim. If your temp assignment just ended because the client didn't need you anymore, that's essentially a layoff and you should qualify. If you were terminated for cause, that's different.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about temp workers and unemployment benefits. It's actually pretty clear once you read through it. The main requirement is that you have to be available for work and actively seeking employment.

WASHINGTON ESD IS SO SLOW WITH EVERYTHING! I filed 3 weeks ago and my claim is still pending. Called so many times but cant get through. This is ridiculous when people need money to live!

For what it's worth, I've been temp for 5 years and filed for unemployment probably 6 times. Never been denied. The process is usually pretty smooth once you get past the initial application. Just keep filing your weekly claims and be patient.

Don't forget about WorkSourceWA registration! You need to register there and do job search activities. It's a pain but it's required to keep your benefits. They have workshops and stuff that count toward your job search requirements.

I had an issue where the temp agency reported that I quit instead of being laid off. Had to appeal the decision but eventually got it sorted out. Make sure the agency reports the separation correctly to Washington ESD.

temp agencies usually don't fight unemployment claims because they know the assignments are temporary by nature. it's built into their business model. just be honest about your situation and you should be fine

I used Claimyr too when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD. Took about 20 minutes and they called me back when they had an agent on the line. Definitely worth it when you're stuck in the phone system loop.

The bottom line is that temp workers pay into unemployment insurance just like everyone else, so you're entitled to benefits when you're out of work. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. File your claim, be honest about your situation, and follow the rules for maintaining benefits.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my temp assignment at a warehouse ended suddenly. Filed with Washington ESD and got approved within 2 weeks. The key thing I learned is to make sure you're actively looking for work - not just waiting for the temp agency to call. I registered with multiple agencies and applied to permanent jobs too, which helped me meet the job search requirements. Also keep all your paystubs from the temp work as proof of employment history. The whole process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood that temp workers have the same rights to unemployment benefits as regular employees.