Washington’s improving economy will force the state to give up nine weeks of long-term unemployment benefits, or emergency unemployment compensation, the state Employment Security Department said Wednesday.
Currently, jobless workers can claim as many as 63 weeks of unemployment benefits, including 26 weeks of regular, state-paid benefits and 37 weeks of federally funded emergency unemployment compensation.
After the June rate was factored in, the three-month jobless rate average dropped below 7 percent, so the state must begin on Aug. 11 to phase out Tier 3 of the emergency jobless payments.
The Employment Security Department is using email and robocalls to alert residents about the change. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/1ec1dbC or call 877-558-8509.
