The UI Fund balance has grown substantially in recent years, amassing revenues that could fund a significant benefit increase. Unemployment has dropped to levels that were at one time unimaginable. These low levels of unemployment could help mitigate the effect on employers of increased benefit payments because the UI Fund will be paying out fewer jobless checks, permitting reserves to build and cushioning against the next increase. In the meantime, workers who do lose their jobs would find it easier to pay the rent or mortgage and put food on the table as living costs continue to rise. Washington state permits a maximum of 30 weeks of UI payments.
Federal law establishes a broad framework for the system.
States must operate within this system to quality for federal grants to administer their UI programs. This was the unemployment rate in January 1993. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides this composite industrial wage standard. Based upon dividing the monthly amount for TANF by 4.29 weeks. Based upon the Employment Development Department May 2000 Unemployment Insurance Fund Forecast.