Unemployment Insurance Benefits. The Employment Security Department administers Washington State's unemployment insurance program. An unemployed individual is eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits (UI benefits) if the individual:
A claimant must be unemployed for a one-week waiting period before being eligible for UI benefits.
Certain benefit payments are not charged to the experience rating accounts of employers paying contributions to the unemployment insurance program (contributing paying employers).
Disqualification from Unemployment Insurance Benefits During Strike or Lockout. An individual is disqualified from UI benefits when the individual's unemployment is:
The disqualification does not apply if:
The disqualification ends when the strike or lockout is terminated.
The provision that disqualifies employees in a multi-employer bargaining unit from UI benefits when the employees have been locked out following a strike against the employers in the bargaining unit is deleted.
Disqualification for striking workers ends at the earlier of the Sunday following:
The individual is subject to the one week waiting period.
Contribution paying employers experience rating accounts are not charged for UI benefits paid where the individual's unemployment is due to a strike at the separating employer's premises where the individual is or was last employed.