Featured news
Posted on Feb. 18, 2026
The Employment Security Department will continue its adjusted unemployment benefits call center hours after a 90-day pilot showed promising results of paying customers more quickly and answering more phone calls.
Posted on Jan. 28, 2026
The Employment Security Department was awarded a $1 million disaster recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to help workers living in Washington who were affected by December’s severe weather and record flooding.
Learn about Paid Family & Medical Leave
In Washington state, the Paid Family & Medical Leave (Paid Leave) program provides eligible workers with the opportunity to take paid time off for various family and personal medical reasons. This includes bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or spend time with a family member preparing for military service overseas. Read more about the paid leave program.
Check out the updated unemployed worker's handbook
This guide to applying for benefits is now available in many languages.