Can an employer not pay unemployment benefits in Washington?

Most employers in Washington are required to pay unemployment insurance taxes, but there are some exceptions. Generally, if you work for a company with employees, they should be paying into the system. However, independent contractors and some very small businesses might not be covered.

Yeah, most employers have to pay unemployment taxes in Washington. The main exceptions are independent contractors, some agricultural workers, and employees of very small businesses. If you're a regular W-2 employee, you should be covered.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to verify my coverage. The phone lines are always busy. Someone mentioned a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to agents faster. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Might be worth trying if you can't reach them the regular way.

In Washington state, employers are required to pay unemployment insurance taxes for most employees. The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) administers this program. There are specific criteria that determine coverage, including the size of the business and type of work performed.

ugh the whole unemployment system is so confusing... why can't they just make it simple for everyone?

I work for a small family business with only 3 employees. Are we covered? My boss said something about not having to pay unemployment taxes because we're so small.

Been working in WA for 15 years and never had an issue with unemployment coverage. As long as you're getting a regular paycheck with taxes taken out, you should be fine.

What about gig workers? Like Uber drivers or DoorDash people? Are they covered?

I remember during the pandemic there were special programs for independent contractors but I think those ended. Regular unemployment is just for employees, not contractors.

If you're worried about coverage, you can always call Washington ESD to verify. Though good luck getting through - I tried calling for weeks about my claim. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got through the same day.

My understanding is that Washington has pretty broad coverage for unemployment. Most regular employees should be covered unless they're in very specific exempted categories.

Just want to add that even if your employer hasn't been paying their unemployment taxes properly, you can still file a claim. Washington ESD will investigate and you shouldn't be penalized for your employer's mistakes.

does anyone know if church employees are covered? asking for a friend...

The bottom line is that Washington state has pretty comprehensive unemployment coverage. If you're a regular employee getting a W-2, you're almost certainly covered. Don't worry too much about it.

If you do end up needing to file for unemployment, make sure you have all your employment history ready. Washington ESD will need details about your previous jobs and earnings.

One more thing - if you do have trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I can also vouch for that Claimyr service. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to get my adjudication issue resolved. Worth checking out at claimyr.com if you get stuck.

Hope this all helped clear things up for you. Washington's unemployment system has its flaws but the coverage is generally good for regular employees.