COVID-19 information

Subscribe for updates about our response to COVID-19.

We’re all in this together.

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented demand for our services—especially unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave.

Building capacity. We’re working to increase our capacity by hiring more people and expanding our hours.

Updating technology. Between unprecedented demand and rapid changes, we’re mobilizing our people and updating technology to implement new emergency rules and programs. But unfortunately, technology updates take a few weeks.

Thank you for your patience while we work to serve you better. We know that things are even more frustrating when our systems don’t work the way they should. If you’re having a hard time getting through on the phones, use our web services. If you have a problem that can only be fixed over the phone, please keep trying. Our dedicated experts are here for you, even if they’re hard to reach right now.

Returning to work

(Updated: July 2, 2020)

As the economy reopens in phases during the COVID-19 crisis, we and our workforce partners offer continued unemployment and re-employment services. Please visit the Return to work page for a range of resources for workers and employers, including information on situations where an employee may decline an offer to return to work. Sign up for COVID-19 action alerts, to stay up to date.

CARES ACT - Federal stimulus

(Updated: April 12, 2020)

COVID-19 action alerts: Subscribe for email updates about our response to COVID-19 and CARES Act implementation

Regular Unemployment

Regular weekly unemployment benefits provide you with temporary income when you lose your job through no fault of your own. The money partly replaces your lost earnings and helps you pay expenses while looking for new work.

Federal CARES Act: Expanded unemployment benefits programs:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Separate benefit program to cover many people who do not qualify for regular unemployment, including:

Self-employed people
Indepenent contractors
Part-time workers (with fewer than 680 hours)
Available Feb. 2 - Dec. 26, 2020

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

Extension of regular unemployment benefits of up to 13 weeks.

Available March 29 - Dec. 26, 2020. (Total of 39 weeks of benefits.)

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Extra $600 per week from March 29 - July 25, 2020.

Available for everyone on regular unemployment or PUA, except those on training benefits.

CARES Act Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Information for workers

For questions about how unemployment, standby, the waiting week, and more have been affected by COVID-19, please see our Q&A for workers.

Workers Q&A

Information for employers

For businesses looking for updates on how COVID-19 has impacted unemployment insurance, quarterly reporting, and more, please see our Q&A for businesses.

Business Q&A

COVID-19 rulemaking

COVID-19 rulemaking: This page provides links to current emergency rules and rulemaking documents, and will host future information about new or amended rules, public hearings, responses to public comments, and supporting documents for all the Department’s COVID-19 related rulemaking.

Action alerts

COVID-19 action alerts: Subscribe for updates about our response to COVID-19.

June 23, 2020: Temporary changes to incoming calls
June 8, 2020: Fighting fraud
April 24: We expect nearly 1 million weekly claims to be filed
April 14: COVID action alert - When to apply + $600 info
April 6: COVID action alert - SAW login fix
March 31: COVID action alert - Updated FAQs

Get the most recent updates from Governor Inslee.

One-stop website for COVID-19 information in Washington state: coronavirus.wa.gov

COVID-19 information

Need other support to cope during COVID-19?

Get the latest information and learn about other resources that may be available to you at Washington State’s COVID-19 website. Visit coronavirus.wa.gov.

To quote the state Department of Health, “Sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is one of the best things we can do to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading.”

The Washington State Department of Health’s website is the place to go for the best local information about COVID-19 in Washington state.
If you have questions or concerns related to your health, call the state Department of Health at 800-525-0127, and press #.
The CDC website is an excellent source of information, including guidelines for businesses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has a mythbusters website with advice for the public.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) website has information about community programs and eligibility.
The Washington Department of Financial Institutions has a list of financial resources for consumers impacted by COVID-19.
A comprehensive list of state resources is available on the governor's coronavirus page.