Washington Announces $550 Pandemic Relief Payments For Unemployed

OLYMPIA, WA — Nearly 100,000 Washingtonians will receive one-time, $550 pandemic relief payments from the state to offset a lapse in federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday.

The governor's office said Inslee authorized the $54 million in state dollars after President Donald Trump's delayed signing a federal spending bill that includes a $900 billion pandemic relief package. Those eligible include more than 94,000 people whose PUA benefits were active as of Nov. 21.

"We are providing a bridge for some Washingtonians until the federal government finally acts," Inslee said Sunday. "It is extremely unfortunate that the president has missed the deadline and allowed much-needed unemployment benefits to lapse for struggling workers and families."

Just hours after Inslee's announcement, Trump signed the federal spending plan, following previous threats to veto the legislation over smaller stimulus checks. The governor said Sunday night that the state's direct payments would continue as planned since the delay lasted long enough for two unemployment programs to briefly lapse.

In a news release, the state said the emergency payments would be issued by the Washington State Employment Security Department later this week. Beginning next week, the extended federal payments will provide PUA recipients $300 weekly — down from $600 authorized under the federal CARES Act — through March 14, 2021.

Learn more about Washington's pandemic relief payments on the Employment Security Department's website.