2023 Revised Code of Washington › Title 50 - Unemployment Compensation › Chapter 50.20 - Benefits and Claims. › 50.20.010 - Benefit eligibility conditions.

RCW 50.20.010
Benefit eligibility conditions.
(1) An unemployed individual shall be eligible to receive waiting period credits or benefits with respect to any week in his or her eligibility period only if the commissioner finds that:
(a) The individual has registered for work at, and thereafter has continued to report at, an employment office in accordance with such regulation as the commissioner may prescribe, except that the commissioner may by regulation waive or alter either or both of the requirements of this subdivision as to individuals attached to regular jobs and as to such other types of cases or situations with respect to which the commissioner finds that the compliance with such requirements would be oppressive, or would be inconsistent with the purposes of this title;
(b) The individual has filed an application for an initial determination and made a claim for waiting period credit or for benefits in accordance with the provisions of this title;
(c) The individual is able to work, and is available for work in any trade, occupation, profession, or business for which the individual is reasonably fitted.
(i) To be available for work, an individual must be ready, able, and willing, immediately to accept any suitable work which may be offered to him or her and must be actively seeking work pursuant to customary trade practices and through other methods when so directed by the commissioner or the commissioner's agents. If a labor agreement or dispatch rules apply, customary trade practices must be in accordance with the applicable agreement or rules.
(ii) Until June 30, 2021, an individual under quarantine or isolation, as defined by the department of health, as directed by a public health official during the novel coronavirus outbreak pursuant to the gubernatorial declaration of emergency of February 29, 2020, will meet the requirements of this subsection (1)(c) if the individual is able to perform, available to perform, and actively seeking work which can be performed while under quarantine or isolation.
(iii) For the purposes of this subsection, "customary trade practices" includes compliance with an electrical apprenticeship training program that includes a recognized referral system under apprenticeship program standards approved by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council;
(d) The individual has been unemployed for a waiting period of one week;
(e) The individual participates in reemployment services if the individual has been referred to reemployment services pursuant to the profiling system established by the commissioner under RCW 50.20.011, unless the commissioner determines that:
(i) The individual has completed such services; or
(ii) There is justifiable cause for the claimant's failure to participate in such services; and
(f) As to weeks which fall within an extended benefit period as defined in RCW 50.22.010, the individual meets the terms and conditions of RCW 50.22.020 with respect to benefits claimed in excess of twenty-six times the individual's weekly benefit amount.
(2) An individual's eligibility period for regular benefits shall be coincident to his or her established benefit year. An individual's eligibility period for additional or extended benefits shall be the periods prescribed elsewhere in this title for such benefits.
(3)(a) For any weeks of unemployment insurance benefits when the one week waiting period is fully paid or fully reimbursed by the federal government, subsection (1)(d) of this section is waived.
(b) For any weeks of unemployment insurance benefits when the one week waiting period is partially paid or partially reimbursed by the federal government, the department may, by rule, elect to waive subsection (1)(d) of this section.
(4) During the weeks of a public health emergency, an unemployed individual may also meet the requirements of subsection (1)(c) of this section if:
(a) The unemployed individual is able to perform, available to perform, and actively seeking suitable work which can be performed for an employer from the individual's home; and
(b) The unemployed individual or another individual residing with the unemployed individual is at higher risk of severe illness or death from the disease that is the subject of the public health emergency because the higher risk individual:
(i) Was in an age category that is defined as high risk for the disease that is the subject of the public health emergency by:
(A) The federal centers for disease control and prevention;
(B) The department of health; or
(C) The equivalent agency in the state where the individual resides; or
(ii) Has an underlying health condition, verified as required by the department by rule, that is identified as a risk factor for the disease that is the subject of the public health emergency by:
(A) The federal centers for disease control and prevention;
(B) The department of health; or
(C) The equivalent agency in the state where the individual resides.
(5)(a) During the weeks of a public health emergency, an unemployed health care worker may also meet the requirements of subsection (1)(c) of this section if the unemployed health care worker described in RCW 50.20.050(3) and 50.29.021(1)(c)(iii) is able to perform, available to perform, and actively seeking suitable work which will commence after quarantine or which can be performed for an employer from the individual's home.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, "health care worker" means an individual who worked at a health care facility as defined in RCW 9A.50.010, and was directly involved in the delivery of health services.
[ 2021 c 251 § 2; 2021 c 2 § 8; 2020 c 7 § 8; 2019 c 50 § 1; 2006 c 13 § 10. Prior: 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 3; 1995 c 381 § 1; 1981 c 35 § 3; 1973 c 73 § 6; 1970 ex.s. c 2 § 4; 1959 c 266 § 3; 1953 ex.s. c 8 § 7; 1951 c 265 § 9; 1951 c 215 § 11; 1949 c 214 § 9; 1945 c 35 § 68; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 9998-206; prior: 1943 c 127 § 2; 1941 c 253 §§ 1, 2; 1939 c 214 § 2; 1937 c 162 § 4.]
NOTES:
Conflict with federal requirements—2021 c 251 §§ 1-4: See note following RCW 50.04.294.
Effective date—2021 c 251: See note following RCW 50.04.294.
Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2021 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.323.
Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2020 c 7: See notes following RCW 50.16.100.
Applicability—2019 c 50 §§ 1-3: "Sections 1 through 3 of this act apply to claimed weeks of unemployment on or after July 5, 2020." [ 2019 c 50 § 4.]
Retroactive application—2006 c 13 §§ 8-22: See note following RCW 50.04.293.
Conflict with federal requirements—Part headings not law—Severability—2006 c 13: See notes following RCW 50.20.120.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010.
Conflict with federal requirements—1995 c 381: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 1995 c 381 § 5.]
Effective date—1995 c 381: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [May 16, 1995]." [ 1995 c 381 § 6.]
Construction—Effective dates—Severability—1981 c 35: See notes following RCW 50.22.030.
Effective dates—1973 c 73: See note following RCW 50.04.030.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 2: See note following RCW 50.04.020.
Severability—1951 c 265: See note following RCW 50.98.070.
Government or retirement pension plan payments as remuneration or wages—Recovery of excess over benefits allowable, limitations: RCW 50.04.323.