Can you get unemployment after a temporary job ends in Washington?

Yes, you can definitely file for unemployment when a temporary assignment ends. Washington ESD treats the end of a temp job as a layoff, not a quit. You earned wages and the work ended through no fault of your own. File your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period.

I went through this exact situation last year. Filed online at esd.wa.gov and got approved pretty quickly. Just make sure you have all your wage info from the temp agency. You'll need to keep filing weekly claims and doing job searches even if you're waiting for the agency to call you back.

One thing to watch out for - if the temp agency offers you another assignment while you're collecting benefits, you generally have to take it or risk losing your unemployment. But if they don't have anything available, you're good to collect and look for other work.

I'm dealing with something similar and have been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my specific situation. Their phone lines are absolutely insane - I've called literally hundreds of times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to talk to someone at ESD. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

temp jobs are the worst for this stuff... never know when you're gonna be working or not. at least unemployment helps bridge the gap tho

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Even though you're hoping to get called back by the temp agency, you still need to be actively looking for other work and documenting it. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week.

Been doing temp work for years and this comes up all the time. The key thing is you have to be available for work - so if the temp agency calls you for an assignment, you generally need to take it or have a really good reason not to.

File ASAP because your benefit year starts when you file, not when you became unemployed. I made the mistake of waiting a couple weeks thinking I'd get called back and ended up losing those potential benefit weeks.

The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it can still be confusing for first-timers. Take your time filling out the application and make sure all your employer information is accurate. Any mistakes can delay your claim.

I hate how complicated the unemployment system makes everything. You lose your job and then have to jump through a million hoops just to get the benefits you paid into. It's ridiculous.

One more thing - if your temp assignment was through a union, make sure to check if there are any special provisions or additional benefits available. Some unions have supplemental unemployment funds.

Also remember that if you do get adjudication on your claim for any reason, don't panic. It just means they need to review something - maybe verify your employment or earnings. It's pretty routine and usually resolves in a few weeks.

Don't forget about the one-week waiting period for new claims. You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment, but you still need to file that weekly claim to keep your claim active.

temp work is actually great for building up your unemployment eligibility because you're constantly earning wages in different quarters. Just make sure you keep track of all your different assignments and pay stubs.

Quick tip - when you file your weekly claims, be honest about any work you do, even if it's just a few hours. They can find out anyway and it's better to report it upfront than get caught later.

The whole temp industry is set up to screw workers over. They make money off of keeping you in limbo without benefits or job security.

OP, you should be fine to file. I've done this multiple times with different temp agencies. The key is being upfront about everything - that the assignment ended, that you're available for work, and that you're actively looking. Good luck!

Just want to add that if you run into any issues getting through to ESD by phone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of frustration. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things sorted out.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's worked with multiple temp agencies in Washington - you're absolutely eligible for unemployment when an assignment ends. I'd recommend filing your claim online this weekend and make sure to have your last paystub handy when you apply. The temp agency should also provide you with a separation notice or at least document that the assignment ended. Keep that for your records in case ESD needs it later. One thing I learned is to stay in regular contact with the temp agency even while collecting benefits - it helps show you're genuinely looking for work and available if something comes up.

I'm in a similar situation right now - my temp assignment ended two weeks ago and I was hesitant to file because the agency said they "might" have something soon. But reading all these responses, I realize I should have filed immediately. The uncertainty of temp work is exactly why unemployment benefits exist. For anyone else in this position, don't wait like I did - file as soon as your assignment ends even if there's a possibility of getting called back. You can always stop claiming benefits if you get work, but you can't get back those weeks you didn't file for.

As someone who's navigated the temp work maze in Washington for the past few years, I can confirm that you're definitely eligible for unemployment when your assignment ends. The most important thing is to file your claim immediately - don't wait around hoping the agency will call you back soon. I've seen too many people miss out on weeks of benefits because they thought something was "just around the corner." One tip that helped me: when you file online at esd.wa.gov, be very clear in describing your work situation. Mention that you were employed through [Agency Name] on a temporary assignment that concluded on [Date], and that the agency currently has no available positions for you. This helps ESD understand that you didn't quit - the work simply ended. Also, make sure you understand that being on the agency's callback list doesn't disqualify you from benefits, but you do need to remain available and actively seeking work. Keep applying to other jobs while you wait for potential callbacks. The job search requirements still apply even if you're hoping to return to temp work. Good luck with your claim! The system can be frustrating but you've earned these benefits through your work.

I work at a temp agency here in Washington and can confirm everything everyone's said - you're absolutely eligible for benefits when an assignment ends. We actually encourage our temps to file for unemployment between assignments because it's exactly what the system is designed for. A few practical tips from the agency side: make sure you get a copy of your final timesheet and any separation paperwork we provide. Also, when you file your weekly claims, be honest about your availability - if we call with an assignment that matches your skills and pay range, you should generally accept it or risk losing benefits. But don't stress too much about this - most people navigate temp work and unemployment just fine. The key is staying organized with your paperwork and being proactive about filing. You've got this!

I've been through this exact situation multiple times with different temp agencies in Washington. You're definitely eligible - when a temp assignment ends, it's considered a layoff, not a quit. The most important thing is to file your initial claim right away, even though there's that one-week waiting period. Don't let the agency's "we might call you back" keep you from filing immediately. I learned this the hard way when I waited three weeks thinking I'd get called back "any day" and lost out on those potential benefit weeks. Make sure you have your wage information from the temp agency ready when you file online. And remember, you can always stop claiming if they do call you back with work, but you can't recover those weeks you didn't file for. The uncertainty is exactly why unemployment exists - to bridge those gaps between assignments.

I've been doing temp work in Washington for about 3 years now and this situation comes up constantly. You're absolutely eligible for unemployment when your temp assignment ends - it's treated as a layoff, not a voluntary quit. The key things to remember: file your claim immediately (don't wait for a potential callback), have all your wage information from the temp agency ready, and be prepared to document your job search activities even while you're on their callback list. I've filed claims between assignments probably 6 or 7 times and it's always been straightforward as long as you're honest about your availability and the circumstances of the assignment ending. The hardest part is often just getting through the initial application, but once that's done the weekly claims are pretty routine. Don't let the uncertainty of temp work stress you out too much - this is exactly what unemployment benefits are designed to help with.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago when my temp assignment at a manufacturing plant ended. Filed my claim the Monday after my last day and got approved without any issues. Washington ESD was actually pretty efficient - got my first payment about 10 days after filing. The one thing I'd add that I don't see mentioned much is to keep detailed records of any communication with the temp agency. Save texts, emails, anything that shows when your assignment ended and what they told you about future work. I had to provide some of that documentation when ESD did a routine review of my claim a few weeks in. Also, don't feel guilty about filing - you paid into this system and temp work is unpredictable by nature. That's exactly what unemployment insurance is for.