Title 50 — Title 50 UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
25 chapters · 395 sections in this title.
RCW 50.20.010 Benefit eligibility conditions.
8.1K chars
(1) An unemployed individual shall be eligible to receive waiting period credits or benefits with respect to any week in his or her eligibility period only if the commissioner finds that:(a) The individual has registered for work at, and thereafter has continued to report at, an …
RCW 50.20.011 Profiling system to identify individuals likely to exhaust benefits—Confidentiality of information—Penalty.
2.3K chars
(1) The commissioner shall establish and use a profiling system for new claimants for regular compensation under this title that identifies permanently separated workers who are likely to exhaust regular compensation and will need job search assistance services to make a successf…
RCW 50.20.012 Rules—1995 c 381.
0.7K chars
The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement the 1995 c 381 §§ 1 and *3 amendments to RCW 50.20.010 and 50.20.043 and 50.20.011, including but not limited to definitions, eligibility standards, program review criteria and procedures, and provisions necessary to comp…
RCW 50.20.020 Waiting period credit limitation.
0.6K chars
(1) No week shall be counted as a waiting period week if benefits have been paid for that week, the individual was otherwise eligible for benefits, and it occurs within the benefit year which includes the week with respect to which the individual claims payment of benefits.(2) If…
RCW 50.20.041 Health care professionals who have contracted hepatitis C—Training.
0.9K chars
(1) Credentialed health care professionals listed in RCW 18.130.040 shall be deemed to be dislocated workers for the purpose of commissioner approval of training under RCW 50.20.043 if they are unemployed as a result of contracting hepatitis C in the course of employment and are …
RCW 50.20.042 Unemployed aerospace workers—Training.
0.3K chars
Aerospace workers unemployed as the result of downsizing and restructuring of the aerospace industry will be deemed to be dislocated workers for the purpose of commissioner approval of training under RCW 50.20.043.[ 1993 c 226 s 7.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—Severab…
RCW 50.20.043 Training provision.
2.3K chars
No otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because the individual is in training with the approval of the commissioner, nor shall such individual be denied benefits with respect to any week in which the individual is satisfactorily progressing in a tra…
RCW 50.20.044 Ineligibility for benefits for failure to attend job search workshop or training course.
0.5K chars
If an otherwise eligible individual fails without good cause, as determined by the commissioner under rules prescribed by the commissioner, to attend a job search workshop or a training or retraining course when directed by the department and such workshop or course is available …
RCW 50.20.050 Disqualification for leaving work voluntarily without good cause.
14.7K chars
(1) With respect to separations that occur on or after September 6, 2009, and for separations that occur before April 4, 2021:(a) A claimant shall be disqualified from benefits beginning with the first day of the calendar week in which the claimant left work voluntarily without g…
RCW 50.20.060 Disqualification from benefits due to misconduct.
1.8K chars
With respect to claims that have an effective date before January 4, 2004, an individual shall be disqualified from benefits beginning with the first day of the calendar week in which he or she has been discharged or suspended for misconduct connected with his or her work and the…
RCW 50.20.065 Cancellation of hourly wage credits due to felony or gross misdemeanor.
1.5K chars
With respect to claims that have an effective date before January 4, 2004:(1) An individual who has been discharged from his or her work because of a felony or gross misdemeanor of which he or she has been convicted, or has admitted committing to a competent authority, and that i…
RCW 50.20.066 Disqualification from benefits due to misconduct—Cancellation of hourly wage credits due to gross misconduct.
1.8K chars
With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2004:(1) An individual shall be disqualified from benefits beginning with the first day of the calendar week in which he or she has been discharged or suspended for misconduct connected with his or her work…
RCW 50.20.070 Disqualification for misrepresentation—Penalties.
3.2K chars
(1) With respect to determinations delivered or mailed before January 1, 2008, an individual is disqualified for benefits for any week he or she has knowingly made a false statement or representation involving a material fact or knowingly failed to report a material fact and, as …
RCW 50.20.080 Disqualification for refusal to work.
1.3K chars
An individual is disqualified for benefits, if the commissioner finds that the individual has failed without good cause, either to apply for available, suitable work when so directed by the employment office or the commissioner, or to accept suitable work when offered the individ…
RCW 50.20.085 Disqualification for receipt of industrial insurance disability benefits.
0.3K chars
An individual is disqualified from benefits with respect to any day or days for which he or she is receiving, has received, or will receive compensation under RCW 51.32.060 or 51.32.090.[ 1991 c 117 s 2; 1986 c 75 s 1.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effecti…
RCW 50.20.090 Strike or lockout disqualification—When inapplicable.
15.9K chars
(1) An individual shall be disqualified for benefits for any week with respect to which the commissioner finds that the individual's unemployment is:(a) Due to a strike at the factory, establishment, or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed; or(b) Due to …
RCW 50.20.092 Retroactive wages—Overpayment assessment.
0.7K chars
*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6134.SL) ***(1) If an individual receives benefits under this title while being unemployed due to a strike at the separating employer's factory, establishment, or other premises and the individual subsequently receives retroactive wages from the separa…
RCW 50.20.093 Report on impact of strikes on unemployment insurance trust fund.
1.5K chars
(1) By December 31, 2026, and continuing annually each year through 2035, the department must submit a report to the legislature on the prevalence of strikes occurring within Washington and the impact of strikes on the unemployment insurance trust fund. The report must include, a…
RCW 50.20.095 Disqualification for attending school or institution of higher education.
1.7K chars
Any individual registered at an established school in a course of study providing scholastic instruction of twelve or more hours per week, or the equivalent thereof, shall be disqualified from receiving benefits or waiting period credit for any week during the school term commenc…
RCW 50.20.098 Services performed by alien.
1.6K chars
(1) Benefits shall not be paid on the basis of services performed by an alien unless the alien is an individual who was lawfully admitted for permanent residence, was lawfully present for purposes of performing such services, or otherwise was permanently residing in the United St…
RCW 50.20.099 Training benefits—Eligibility to work in the United States.
1.8K chars
(1) To ensure that unemployment insurance benefits are paid in accordance with RCW 50.20.098, the employment security department shall verify that an individual is eligible to work in the United States before the individual receives training benefits under RCW 50.22.150 or 50.22.…
RCW 50.20.100 Suitable work factors.
2.8K chars
(1) Suitable work for an individual is employment in an occupation in keeping with the individual's prior work experience, education, or training and if the individual has no prior work experience, special education, or training for employment available in the general area, then …
RCW 50.20.110 Suitable work exceptions.
0.8K chars
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no work shall be deemed to be suitable and benefits shall not be denied under this title to any otherwise eligible individual for refusing to accept new work under any of the following conditions:(1) If the position offered is v…
RCW 50.20.113 Unemployment of sport or athletic event participant during period between sport seasons.
0.6K chars
Benefits shall not be paid to any individual on the basis of any services, substantially all of which consist of participating in sports or athletic events or training or preparing to so participate, for any week which commences during the period between two successive sport seas…
RCW 50.20.115 Unemployment due to vacation.
0.9K chars
When an unemployed individual is qualified for receipt of unemployment compensation benefits by the specific provisions of RCW 50.20.010, 50.20.120 and 50.20.130, and such individual is not specifically disqualified from receiving such benefits by reason of the provisions of RCW …
RCW 50.20.117 Jury service.
0.6K chars
No otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because he or she is serving as a prospective or impaneled juror in any court of this state. Compensation received for service as a juror shall not be considered wages subject to contributions under this title…
RCW 50.20.118 Unemployment while in approved training.
1.3K chars
(1) For purposes of this section, "adversely affected worker," "approved training," "on-the-job training," and "suitable employment" have the same definition as in 20 C.F.R. Part 618.(2) An adversely affected worker may not be denied benefits because:(a) Such worker is enrolled i…
RCW 50.20.119 Part-time workers.
1.2K chars
(1) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 2, 2005, an otherwise eligible individual may not be denied benefits for any week because the individual is a part-time worker and is available for, seeks, applies for, or accepts only work of seventeen or…
RCW 50.20.120 Amount of benefits.
10.5K chars
(1) Benefits shall be payable to any eligible individual during the individual's benefit year in a maximum amount equal to the lesser of twenty-six times the weekly benefit amount, as determined in subsection (2) of this section, or one-third of the individual's base year wages u…
RCW 50.20.130 Deduction from weekly benefit amount.
1.7K chars
(1) If an eligible individual is available for work for less than a full week, he or she shall be paid his or her weekly benefit amount reduced by one-seventh of such amount for each day that he or she is unavailable for work: PROVIDED, That if he or she is unavailable for work f…
RCW 50.20.140 Filing applications and claims—Definitions.
4.7K chars
(1) An application for initial determination, a claim for waiting period, or a claim for benefits shall be filed in accordance with such rules as the commissioner may prescribe. An application for an initial determination may be made by any individual whether unemployed or not. E…
RCW 50.20.150 Notice of application or claim.
1.3K chars
The applicant for initial determination, his or her most recent employing unit as stated by the applicant, and any other interested party which the commissioner by regulation prescribes, shall, if not previously notified within the same continuous period of unemployment, be given…
RCW 50.20.160 Redetermination.
9.4K chars
(1) A determination of amount of benefits potentially payable issued pursuant to the provisions of RCW 50.20.120 and 50.20.140 shall not serve as a basis for appeal but shall be subject to request by the claimant for reconsideration and/or for redetermination by the commissioner …
RCW 50.20.170 Payment of benefits.
0.8K chars
An individual who has received an initial determination finding that he or she is potentially entitled to receive waiting period credit or benefits shall, during the benefit year, be given waiting period credit or be paid benefits in accordance with such initial determination for…
RCW 50.20.180 Denial of benefits.
1.2K chars
If waiting period credit or the payment of benefits shall be denied to any claimant for any week or weeks, the claimant and such other interested party as the commissioner by regulation prescribes shall be promptly issued written notice of the denial and the reasons therefor. In …
RCW 50.20.190 Recovery of benefit payments.
12.0K chars
(1) An individual who is paid any amount as benefits under this title to which they are not entitled shall, unless otherwise relieved pursuant to this section, be liable for repayment of the amount overpaid. The department shall issue an overpayment assessment setting forth the r…
RCW 50.20.191 Authority to compromise benefit overpayments.
0.0K chars
See RCW 50.24.020.
RCW 50.20.192 Collection of benefit overpayments, limitation of actions.
0.0K chars
See RCW 50.24.190.
RCW 50.20.193 Chargeoff of uncollectible benefit overpayments.
0.0K chars
See RCW 50.24.200.
RCW 50.20.195 Assessed interest—Use.
0.3K chars
All receipts from interest assessed against unemployment insurance claimants shall be deposited in the administrative contingency fund and shall be used for the purpose of RCW 50.20.190(6).[ 1993 c 483 s 14.]Notes:Effective dates, applicability—Conflict with federal requirements—…
RCW 50.20.200 Nonliability of state.
0.4K chars
Benefits shall be deemed to be due and payable under this title only to the extent provided in this title and to the extent that moneys are available therefor to the credit of the unemployment compensation fund, and neither the state nor the commissioner shall be liable for any a…
RCW 50.20.210 Notification of availability of basic health plan.
0.8K chars
The commissioner shall notify any person filing a claim under this chapter who resides in a local area served by the Washington basic health plan of the availability of basic health care coverage to qualified enrollees in the Washington basic health plan under chapter 70.47 RCW, …
RCW 50.20.220 Federal income tax deduction and withholding—Notice—Rules.
3.2K chars
(1) An individual filing a new claim for unemployment insurance must, at the time of filing such claim, be advised that:(a) Unemployment insurance is subject to federal income tax;(b) Requirements exist pertaining to estimated tax payments;(c) The individual may elect to have fed…
RCW 50.20.230 Electronic labor exchange system.
0.8K chars
The employment security department will ensure that within a reasonably short period of time after the initiation of benefits, all unemployment insurance claimants, except those with employer attachment, union referral, individuals complying with an electrical apprenticeship trai…
RCW 50.20.240 Job search monitoring.
4.9K chars
(1)(a) To ensure that following the initial application for benefits, an individual is actively engaged in searching for work, the employment security department shall implement job search monitoring. The employment security department shall contract with employment security agen…
RCW 50.20.245 Job search monitoring—Report to legislature.
0.6K chars
By July 1, 2024, and every two years thereafter, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the employment security department in consultation with the advisory committee referenced in RCW 50.20.240(1)(c) must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature that detai…
RCW 50.20.250 Self-employment assistance program—Finding—Department provides information to eligible individuals—Rules.
4.1K chars
(1) The legislature finds that the establishment of a self-employment assistance program would assist unemployed individuals and create new businesses and job opportunities in Washington state. The department must inform all individuals eligible under the terms of RCW 50.20.010 o…