COVID-19 Add $600 Pmts Go Out in WA St Next Week

WA State Governor Inslee held a press conference this afternoon on COVID-19 during which he was joined by Suzi LeVine, commissioner for the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD). Ms. LeVine gave a preview of how changes to Washington State’s unemployment benefit processing systems will roll out beginning this Saturday, April 18th, 2020. The changes will update ESD’s systems to process the expanded unemployment benefits authorized under the CARES act, including benefits now available to self-employed, independent contractors, part-time workers and others who previously did not qualify for unemployment.

Ms. LeVine announced expanded unemployment payments, which begin going out next week, will include the $600 per week additional unemployment benefits authorized by the CARES act plus WA State benefit amounts. Ms. LeVine clarified those people who are now eligible for expanded unemployment benefits but haven’t previously reported earnings to ESD, ex: self-employed and independent contractors, will receive the additional $600 per week unemployment benefit plus a minimum weekly benefit amount for a total of $835 per week. ESD will then verify wages and pay any difference.

Expanded benefit payments will be backdated to the date expanded eligibility took effect.