More than $1.4 billion in unemployment benefits paid

OLYMPIA — More than $1.4 billion in unemployment benefits have been paid out in Washington since business closures and layoffs related to the coronavirus pandemic started mid-March, and state officials said Thursday they are preparing for up to 1 million claims to be filed by Sunday.

More than 605,000 claims for unemployment benefits — with some of that number reflecting people who filed multiple claims seeking retroactive payments — were filed for the week of April 12-18, with 82,435 of those claims being filed for the first time.

Of the total amount paid out so far, $900 million has been paid out since last Saturday night, after the state updated its system so that previously ineligible employees — like independent contractors and part-time employees who work fewer than 680 hours — could start applying for benefits under the expansion of unemployment benefits passed by Congress.

The updated system also added two other elements from the federal economic rescue package: an additional $600 a week in jobless aid, on top of what recipients receive from the state, and an additional 13 weeks of benefits beyond the 26 weeks offered in Washington state. The maximum weekly benefit in the state is $790 a week, and the additional $600 will be paid retroactive back to March 29.

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