Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 50.20 - Benefits and Claims.
50.20.120 - Amount of benefits.

RCW 50.20.120
Amount of benefits.

(1) Benefits shall be payable to any eligible individual during the individual's benefit year in a maximum amount equal to the lesser of twenty-six times the weekly benefit amount, as determined in subsection (2) of this section, or one-third of the individual's base year wages under this title.
(2) An individual's weekly benefit amount shall be an amount equal to three and eighty-five one-hundredths percent of the average quarterly wages of the individual's total wages during the two quarters of the individual's base year in which such total wages were highest.
(3) The maximum and minimum amounts payable weekly shall be determined as of each June 30th to apply to benefit years beginning in the twelve-month period immediately following such June 30th.
(a) The maximum amount payable weekly shall be either four hundred ninety-six dollars or sixty-three percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th, whichever is greater.
(b)(i) For claims with an effective date of June 30, 2021, or before, the minimum amount payable weekly shall be fifteen percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th.
(ii) For claims with an effective date of July 1, 2021, or after, the minimum amount payable weekly shall be 20 percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of (a) and (b) of this subsection, an individual may not receive a weekly benefit amount that exceeds the individual's weekly wage. For purposes of this subsection, the "individual's weekly wage" means the individual's annualized total wages divided by 52. For purposes of this subsection, the "individual's annualized total wages" means the average quarterly wages of the individual's total wages during the two quarters of the individual's base year in which such total wages were highest, multiplied by four. This subsection applies to claims with an effective date on or after January 2, 2022, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule to continue eligibility of claimants in this state for federal unemployment benefits or receipt of federal funds under the coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security act (P.L. 116-136), the continued assistance for unemployed workers act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260), or other act extending such benefits or funds.
(4) If any weekly benefit, maximum benefit, or minimum benefit amount computed herein is not a multiple of one dollar, it shall be reduced to the next lower multiple of one dollar.

[ 2021 c 2 § 13; 2011 c 4 § 2; 2009 c 3 § 3; 2006 c 13 § 1; 2005 c 133 § 3; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 11; 2002 c 149 § 4; 1993 c 483 § 12; 1984 c 205 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 23 § 11; 1981 c 35 § 5; 1980 c 74 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 33 § 7; 1970 ex.s. c 2 § 5; 1959 c 321 § 2; 1955 c 209 § 1; 1951 c 265 § 11; 1949 c 214 § 16; 1945 c 35 § 80; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 9998-218. Prior: 1943 c 127 § 1; 1941 c 253 § 1; 1939 c 214 § 1; 1937 c 162 § 3.]
NOTES:

Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2021 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.323.

Effective date—2011 c 4 §§ 1-6 and 16-21: "Sections 1 through 6 and 16 through 21 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [February 11, 2011]." [ 2011 c 4 § 26.]

Conflict with federal requirements—2011 c 4: See note following RCW 50.29.021.

Short title—2009 c 3: "This act may be known and cited as the economic security act of 2009." [ 2009 c 3 § 1.]

Effective date—2009 c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect April 5, 2009." [ 2009 c 3 § 15.]

Conflict with federal requirements—2009 c 3: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 2009 c 3 § 16.]

Part headings not law—2006 c 13: "Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law." [ 2006 c 13 § 25.]

Severability—2006 c 13: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2006 c 13 § 27.]

Conflict with federal requirements—2006 c 13: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 2006 c 13 § 28.]

Findings—Intent—2005 c 133: "The legislature finds that the unemployment insurance system was created to set aside unemployment reserves to be used for the benefit of persons who are unemployed through no fault of their own and to maintain purchasing power and limit the social consequences of unemployment. The legislature further finds that the system is falling short of these goals by failing to recognize the importance of applying liberal construction for the purpose of reducing involuntary unemployment, and the suffering caused by it, to the minimum, and by failing to provide equitable benefits to unemployed workers. The legislature also recognizes the desirability of managing the system to take into account the goal of reducing costs to foster a competitive business climate. The legislature intends to adjust the balance between these goals by reinstating the requirement for liberal construction and making other adjustments in the system that will allow reasonable improvements in benefit equity, including reinstating a weekly benefit calculation based on the wages in the two quarters of the claimant's base year in which wages were the highest. The legislature finds that these adjustments are critical to the health and welfare of unemployed workers, and to the purchasing power essential to the economic health and welfare of communities and the state, and should be implemented as soon as feasible." [ 2005 c 133 § 1.]

Conflict with federal requirements—2005 c 133: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 2005 c 133 § 11.]

Effective date—2005 c 133: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 22, 2005]." [ 2005 c 133 § 12.]

Additional employees authorized—2005 c 133: See note following RCW 50.01.010.

Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010.

Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—2002 c 149: See notes following RCW 50.22.140.

Effective dates, applicability—Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1993 c 483: See notes following RCW 50.04.293.

Conflict with federal requirements—1984 c 205: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements which are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 1984 c 205 § 11.]

Severability—1984 c 205: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1984 c 205 § 12.]

Effective dates—1984 c 205: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [March 21, 1984], except as follows:
(1) Sections 6 and 13 of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1985;
(2) Section 7 of this act shall be effective for compensable weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 6, 1985; and
(3) Section 9 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 1985." [ 1984 c 205 § 14.]

Conflict with federal requirements—Effective dates—Construction—1983 1st ex.s. c 23: See notes following RCW 50.04.073.

Construction—Effective dates—Severability—1981 c 35: See notes following RCW 50.22.030.

Severability—Effective dates—1980 c 74: See notes following RCW 50.04.323.

Effective dates—Construction—1977 ex.s. c 33: See notes following RCW 50.04.030.

Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 2: See note following RCW 50.04.020.

Effective date—1959 c 321: See note following RCW 50.20.080.

Severability—1951 c 265: See note following RCW 50.98.070.