OLYMPIA, Wash. — Officials say on Saturday their system will be updated so previously ineligible employees – like independent contractors and part-time employees who work fewer than 680 hours – can start applying under the expansion of unemployment benefits passed by Congress.
More than 585,000 people in Washington sought unemployment benefits last week.
Of those, 143,000 were filing claims for the first time as businesses remain closed or offered reduced services.
The state Employment Security Department has paid out nearly $272 million in benefits since early March, with nearly $126 million being paid out last week to more than 265,000 unemployed workers.