$2.1 billion in unemployment benefits paid in Washington
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — More than $2.1 billion has been paid out to people seeking unemployment benefits in Washington state during the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 1.4 million claims filed since early March.
Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine said Thursday that of the 810,538 people who have filed for benefits since March 7, more than 545,000 who have filed an initial claim have been paid.
Of the approximately 265,000 who have not yet received benefits, most — about 187,000 — are those who have filed an initial application but not a weekly claim, or those who were previously rejected and haven’t applied since a federal package made them eligible. An additional 57,000 have one or more issues with their application that the agency is is looking into, and about 21,000 are not eligible.
LeVine said the agency is contacting those who just simply need to file a weekly claims, but she said those whose cases are officially in adjudication may taken longer “especially while we detect and protect against increasing fraud.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/dollar21-billion-in-unemployment-benefits-paid-in-washington/ar-BB13KHQ8