EXPEDITED RULES
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amending WAC 192-110-010, applying for benefits by interstate
claimants and adopting new WAC 192-110-112 Applying for a
combined wage claim.
THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Juanita Myers, Employment Security Department, P.O. Box 9046, Olympia, WA 98507-9046 , AND RECEIVED BY June 23, 2009.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The United States Department of Labor has adopted new regulations concerning the filing of combined wage claims. The department is adopting a new rule incorporating these federal requirements into the Washington Administrative Code. The amendments to WAC 192-110-010 are made for consistency with the new federal regulations.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rule, WAC 192-110-112, adopts new federal regulations without material change. The amendments to WAC 192-110-010 are made for consistency with the new federal regulations.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 50.12.010 and 50.12.040.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 50.20.010.
Rule is necessary because of federal law, 20 C.F.R. part 616.
Name of Proponent: Employment security department, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Juanita Myers, 212 Maple Park, Olympia, (360) 902-9665; Implementation and Enforcement: Nan Thomas, 212 Maple Park, Olympia, (360) 902-9303.
April 2, 2009
Paul Trause
Deputy Commissioner
(a) You are an interstate claimant if you live ((in
Oregon)) outside of Washington and file a claim ((from Oregon
for benefits that will be paid by)) against Washington.
Washington will be the paying state on your claim.
(b) You are an interstate claimant if you live in
Washington and file a claim ((in Washington for benefits that
will be paid by Oregon)) against another state. The other
state will be the paying state on your claim.
(((c) You are NOT an interstate claimant if you live in
Oregon but file your claim for Washington benefits in
Washington; this is because your claim was filed in the same
state that will be paying your benefits.))
(2) Where can I apply for benefits? You can apply for
benefits from any state, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Canada. However, if you
served in the military ((or earned wages in more than one
state)) during the past two years, you must physically be in
the state of Washington to apply for benefits against
Washington.
(3) How do I apply for benefits?
(a) Call the unemployment claims telecenter in Washington. If you worked in any state other than Washington within the last two years, an agent will help you decide which state will pay your claim.
(i) If Washington will pay your claim, ((we)) an agent
will take your application for benefits over the telephone;
(ii) If another state will pay your claim, an agent will tell you how to file your claim with that state.
(b) If you worked only in Washington during the previous two years, you may apply for benefits on the internet.
(4) Who decides if I am eligible for benefits? Every state has its own laws which control eligibility for benefits. If you file a claim for Washington benefits, your eligibility for benefits will be decided by Washington state law even if you file from another state. If you file for benefits against another state, your eligibility for benefits will be decided under that state's laws.
(5) When can I apply for benefits? You can apply for benefits at any time, even if you are working. However, if you already have a valid claim in one state, you must continue with that claim as long as benefits are available before you can establish a new claim against another state. A "valid" claim is one that has not been denied, terminated, or the benefits exhausted (paid out).
(6) How do I file an appeal? If you wish to file an
appeal about your claim, you must file it directly with the
state that is paying your claim (((liable state))):
(a) If Washington is paying your claim, use one of the filing methods listed in WAC 192-04-060. If mailed, your appeal will be considered filed on the postmarked date.
(b) If another state is paying your claim, ((mail)) file
your appeal directly ((to)) with that state.
All appeal hearings will be conducted by the ((liable))
state that is paying your claim. The ((liable)) paying state
will notify you of the date, time, and telephone number or
location of the hearing.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 50.12.010 and 50.12.040. 07-22-055, § 192-110-010, filed 11/1/07, effective 12/2/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 50.20.010 and 50.12.040. 99-15-069, § 192-110-010, filed 7/19/99, effective 8/19/99.]
Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.
NEW SECTION
WAC 192-110-112
Applying for a combined wage claim.
(1)
What is a combined wage claim? A combined wage claim is a
claim based on wages earned in two or more states. For
purposes of this section, "state" means the fifty states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
(2) Where can I file a combined wage claim? You can file a combined wage claim against any state in which you have based period wages and qualify for benefits based on combining those wages with wages from another state(s). The state against which you file your claim will be the paying state.
(3) What is the paying state? The "paying state" is the state against which you file your combined wage claim. You must have base period employment in that state and qualify for unemployment benefits under that state's laws using combined employment and wages.
(4) Can I file a combined wage claim against Washington? Yes. To file a combined wage claim against Washington, you must have base period wages in Washington which, combined with your wages from another state(s), establish a valid Washington claim. If you file your claim against Washington, Washington will be the paying state.
(5) Do I have to reside or physically be in Washington to file a Washington combined wage claim? No. The state where you are a resident is not relevant in deciding the paying state.
(6) Who decides which state is the paying state for a combined wage claim? You are responsible for deciding which state will be the paying state. If you are potentially eligible for a combined wage claim and contact the department, an agent will provide you with:
(a) General information about the combined wage program;
(b) Your options for filing a regular or combined wage claim against Washington or another state(s); and
(c) Contact information for other state(s) in which you worked during your base period.
(7) Am I required to file a combined wage claim? No. Filing a combined wage claim is voluntary. You may choose to file a claim using only wages from a single state.
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