State to help unemployed recoup benefits lost

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday that the state will pay $550 to almost 100,000 Washingtonians who will lose federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits at the end of December.

This emergency payments of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, funds totaling $54 million will be issued to all PUA claimants who:

• Submitted a PUA claim for the week ending Nov. 21, 2020, and
• Were paid for that week on or before Dec. 24.

The payment  of $550 per claimant  is equal to about two weeks of benefits for most PUA recipients. 

“We know how critical these payments are to individuals and families across the state and we’re grateful to the governor for his leadership on this,” Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine said in an announcement. “The team at ESD has been working around the clock to get this new program ready. We will issue these one-time payments this week so that eligible claimants will have the funds as they head into the New Year.”  

To learn more, go to esd.wa.gov/pandemic-relief.