What is Washington Unemployment Insurance?
Unemployment insurance benefits provide temporary financial assistance to workers unemployed through no fault of their own that meet Washington's e...
Who is eligible for Washington Unemployment Insurance?
To be eligible for this benefit program, you must a resident of Washington and meet all of the following: Unemployed, and Worked in Washington duri...
How can I contact someone?
In order to establish your unemployment claim, please visit the How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits page. If you have questions, please call the...
How to calculate unemployment benefits?
Q. How are unemployment benefits calculated? What are the highest, lowest and average benefit amounts?#N#A. Unemployment benefits are calculated based on earnings. To calculate the benefit amount: 1 Add the total wages for the two highest quarters in the past year*. 2 Divide the total by two. 3 Multiply by 0.0385.
How long can you collect unemployment?
This is the weekly benefit amount, up to a maximum that is established in state law. A person can collect regular unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks. * Benefits are calculated based on wages from an individual's base year, not the calendar year. The base year is the first four of the last five calendar quarters.
How long do you have to be disqualified for unemployment?
An individual who is disqualified for benefits for the first time also is disqualified for an additional 26 weeks. An individual disqualified for benefits a second time is disqualified for an additional 52 weeks of benefits and must pay a penalty equaling 25 percent of the amount overpaid. An individual disqualified for benefits a third and any time after is disqualified for 104 weeks and must pay a penalty equal to 50 percent of the amount overpaid.
How to report unemployment fraud?
A. Suspected unemployment benefit or tax fraud can be reported by calling (toll-free) 866-266-1987 or online . Also, people can use the suspectfraud.com website to report fraud against the Employment Security Department, the Department of Revenue and/or the Department of Labor & Industries. Q.
Why do people file unemployment claims online?
Telephone and the Internet are the primary options for filing unemployment claims because they allow us to provide higher-quality and generally faster customer service. When we used to provide this service at local offices, customers often had to wait in lines for several hours.
How long do you have to pay back unemployment if you don't collect?
Those who are caught collecting benefits they shouldn’t receive must pay back the money, with interest, and will be denied benefits for 26 weeks. State law also imposes a monetary fine for repeat offenders and disqualification periods of one to two years.
What is the purpose of Employment Security?
A. Employment Security has an aggressive fraud-detection program to prevent people from collecting benefits to which they are not entitled. The agency uses a variety of techniques to catch people, including cross-matching records with the Social Security Administration and the state Department of Labor & Industries.
How many hours do you have to work to get unemployment?
To determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits we examine: 1. Whether you worked enough hours in your base year: You must have worked at least 680 hours in your base year.
Do you have to have earned wages in Washington State?
At least some wages must have been earned in Washington, unless you recently left the military and are currently located in Washington state.
Is unemployment based on financial need?
( en español) Unemployment benefits partially replace your regular earnings and help you meet expenses while you look for another job. It is not based on financial need.
New to unemployment?
Unemployment benefits may be available if you have recently lost your job.
Federal pandemic unemployment benefits ended
The CARES Act and other federal programs that expanded and extended unemployment benefits expired the week ending Sept. 4, 2021. Visit the COVID-19 info page to learn more.
Employers: We can help
We have adopted changes to reduce the burden on employers during the crisis.
Overpayments
Did you receive an overpayment notice and need more information? Go to the Overpayments page to learn about next steps.
Imposter fraud
Do you suspect someone has filed for unemployment benefits using your information?
Returning to work
As the economy reopens in phases during the COVID-19 crisis, we and our workforce partners offer continued unemployment and re-employment services.
How to get help
We’re here to help. But with 20,000 calls coming into our phone center each day, wait times are very long, and many of you are struggling to reach us.
