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• Determining your tax rates

  Determining your tax rates   Washington's Unemployment Insurance program is an experience-based system. In general, your tax rate depends on how much your former workers collect in unemployment benefits and the size of your payroll. There are two major components of state unemployment taxes, an experience-rating tax based on an average of the employer's layoff history over the past four fiscal years and a shared-cost (social) tax based on costs from...

• ESD Layoff Assistance - Employees

  Layoff assistance for employees The Employment Security Department (ESD) can help employees and employers facing major layoffs or temporary hard times.  (Go back to ESD layoff assistance homepage)   The information included here is intended to assist employees and job seekers.  Information for employers can be found on our Layoff assistance for employers page.  WorkSource - Although ESD is no longer the &quot...

• Home

  New to unemployment? Unemployment benefits may be available if you have recently lost your job.     Start here Need help with your job search?  WorkSource reemployment specialists offer in-person and virtual services throughout the state.    Visit the WorkSource site For employers:  Required reporting of SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes started with reporting for fourth quarter of 2022. Learn more about...

• Strikes and labor disputes

  Strikes and labor disputes A labor dispute is a strike or lockout. Striking workers generally are not eligible for unemployment benefits. Workers locked out by their employers are generally eligible for unemployment benefits. We determine eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case-by-case basis for workers in a labor dispute. Apply for unemployment benefits, and keep filing your weekly claims while you are waiting for our decision. You may be considered on strike if: Your union is on...

• WOTC application deadlines

  Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) application deadlines In Washington state, employers must receive certification from the Employment Security Department in order to deduct the credit on their annual tax returns. To be considered eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers and authorized representatives must submit applications within 28 days of the day the job applicant starts work. If the 28-day deadline is approaching and you: Don’t have the required documentation, you may...

• Military discharge

  Military discharge If you were discharged from active military duty within the past 18 months, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington state if you: Are physically in the state of Washington, and your terminal leave is over when you apply for benefits; Completed your first, full term of active duty, or you were discharged for disability, hardship, reduction in force, etc.; Received an honorable, entry-level, uncharacterized or general discharge; Received a release...

• Temporary layoffs and furloughs

  Temporary layoffs, standby and partial unemployment Workers may qualify for benefits with different requirements when they are affected by temporary layoffs or partial unemployment. This depends on whether the worker is eligible for standby or their employer participates in SharedWork. Standby: Waives the job search requirements for benefits during a temporary layoff. Workers can apply in eServices within four weeks of their return-to-work date....

• Employer taxes forms and publications

  Unemployment taxes forms and publications   Unemployment tax, payment and refund forms Amended tax and wage report (PDF, 138K)  Payment coupon (PDF, 30KB) Refund request form (Claim for refund) EMS 5227 (PDF, 26KB) Request TAX method payment (PDF, 137 KB) Request a tax penalty waiver form (online form) Voluntary election (PDF, 37 KB) Work Opportunity Tax Credit prescreen form 8850 (PDF, 248KB) Work Opportunity...

• Unemployment benefits application tips

  Unemployment benefits application tips We suggest applying for unemployment within two weeks of losing your job. You can request to backdate your claim, which would make it start earlier than the date you apply. Keep in mind, if you waited too long before applying, we’re required to find out why. We may need to ask more questions before deciding if we can approve benefits for the backdated weeks.If you haven’t applied for unemployment recently, watch the tutorial video...

• COVID-19 Frequently asked questions - Workers

  COVID-19 information for workers Q&As on this page: • Expired federal benefit programs  • I have been exposed to COVID-19  • My work has changed because of COVID-19  • My existing claim has been impacted • School closures  • I lost my job and I’m enrolled in college or career school Expired federal benefit programs Pandemic Unemployment Assistance  Pandemic Emergency...