On Dec. 27, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a one-time payment of $550 to many recipients of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Later, the President signed the bill that changes and extends federal CARES Act unemployment benefits. Employment Security is now working to deliver Washington’s Pandemic Relief Payment (PRP) program and extended federal benefits. Track developments on ESD’s website: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19.
For now, claimants should:
- Continue filing weekly claims
- Watch for updates on esd.wa.gov/covid and messages in eServices
- Do not call the unemployment claims center with questions – call volume remains high
The new federal legislation includes an extra $300 per week for eligible claimants receiving benefits from any unemployment program. The extra payment is called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). Claimants who are eligible for benefits from the week ending Jan. 2, 2021, to the week ending March. 13, 2021, will receive the extra amount.