Unemployment assistance will drastically expand in Washington Sunday, allowing hundreds of thousands of residents who did not previously qualify for assistance to file claims during the coronavirus crisis.
Staff at the Employment Security Department has worked around the clock to upgrade systems since Congress passed the CARES Act in late March. During a news conference Thursday, the department’s commissioner said the new system would be complete by Saturday, and the state would be ready for a “tsunami” of new claims by Sunday morning.
“People are still in deep need and we know that there are hundreds of thousands, if not more, that will be eligible for unemployment assistance,” said Suzi LeVine, the Employment Security Department commissioner.
Under the CARES Act, relief is available for a much larger segment of the population, including contractors, the self-employed, and those who have not met the standard requirement of working at least 680 hours. Federal assistance provides an additional $600, on top of what the state pays, and benefits are available for an additional 13 weeks.
Unemployment claims have risen to levels rivaling the Great Depression in Washington and across the United States in the last four weeks, amid widespread business closures and stay-at-home orders.Subscribe
State officials said new jobless claims have risen 950 percent in Washington, with nearly 600,000 filing for unemployment since mid-March. LeVine said her department expected several hundred thousand additional claims over the next two weeks as newly eligible workers seek assistance.
During Thursday’s news conference, the commissioner outlined several ways workers can prepare to file claims on Sunday.
FOUR KEY STEPS
- Visit the Employment Security Department website and sign up for action alerts.
- Use the eligibility checker to determine what kind of assistance you are entitled to receive.
- Follow the application checklist to make sure you have the proper information and documentation available.
- Sign up for an account and begin the process.
LeVine said her team has worked around the clock to implement the changes, and hundreds of workers were hired to man the phones and help verify wage information. By Sunday, at least 500 people will be assigned to customer service, and that number is expected to double over the next week.
Since the outbreak began, call volume has increased by 1000 percent and the state has paid out nearly $250 million to those left jobless by the outbreak.
The commissioner said the minimum, combined benefit available to approved recipients, before wage documentation is verified, is $835 per week and will be paid retroactive to March 29, when the CARES Act was enacted. Any difference will be paid retroactively after wages are confirmed.
According to LeVine, direct deposits are sent within 24 to 48 hours of approval, and checks typically arrive within one week.
Levine said new filers should expect a “barebones” website Sunday and be aware that the system will first flag their claim as rejected. The commissioner said federal rules require the state first to determine who does not qualify for standard assistance before applying for the expanded benefits. Those who are marked ineligible will receive a second link to file for assistance.
Those who have previously applied for unemployment, and had their claims rejected, will be sent a reminder note on Saturday to re-apply. Claims must be filed on a weekly basis to maintain payments.
Learn more about expanded unemployment assistance in Washington here.
