Beginning September 21st, Employment Security Department will begin processing payments of an additional $300 per week to the state base weekly unemployment benefit approved under the Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payment.
Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) has approved five weeks of payments, for weeks August 1st – September 5th*. The duration of the benefit is undefined (contingent on weekly federal approval) and recipients receive the payments retroactively for eligible weeks.
*As of September 14th, 2020, the payments were approved on a weekly basis for that time.
The Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payments is not countable for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) eligibility but is countable for tax credit and cost-sharing reductions. You should not include the $300 Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payment in your weekly unemployment income amount reported to the Washington Healthplanfinder application.
You may choose to adjust your Qualified Health Plan tax credits by adjusting the amount of tax credits applied to your premium in Washington Healthplanfinder.
If you require assistance, or have any questions, give us a call at 206-258-6820.