ESD Begins Adding $300 Pandemic Relief To Unemployment Benefits

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State's Employment Security Department says they have begun processing Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, meaning that unemployment recipients should begin seeing an extra $300 on their weekly benefits.

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments come as part of the federal stimulus package finalized in late December. It provides an extra $300 to unemployment benefits for up to 11 weeks. The ESD says that includes payments covering the weeks ending Jan. and Jan 9. and that applicants who did receive benefits for those weeks should see back payments added to their account shortly.

The news comes in addition to a recent extension of benefits from the state. As the federal government finished their stimulus plans, Gov. Jay Inslee also authorized the use of Washington's remaining CARES act funds to extend benefits for applicants who previously qualified for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, but lost it when it expired on Dec. 26. Inslee's payments gave each qualifying applicant an additional $550.

“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,” said ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine. “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.”

According to the latest unemployment update from the ESD, 515,561 Washingtonians applied for unemployment benefits for the week ending Jan. 9. Of those, the ESD paid $146.8 million to 310,021 claimants.