Washington Employment Security Department

Starting in January, the Paid Family and Medical Leave program's premium rate will go up as the increasingly popular state program remains under financial pressure.

The Employment Security Department anticipates 35% growth for the program over the next two years, as average call wait times have stretched to nearly 29 minutes.

The Legislature pumped $200 million into it last year. But projections show looming deficit risks as the number of people tapping the benefit grows.

Washington state's paid family leave program is projected to hit a deficit by the end of the year. A report by a consulting firm is recommending an increase in the premiums on workers' wages that fund the program to keep the program solvent moving forward.

Washington state’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program could hit a deficit as early as March, and there are concerns about long-term solvency following a significant increase in demand for the benefit that launched in 2020.

Opponents of a mandatory payroll tax to fund Washington state’s new long-term care program have filed a class action lawsuit in federal court seeking to stop the January start of the payroll premium for most employees in the state. The suit was filed on behalf of three businesses in the state and six individuals.

Gov. Jay Inslee named Cami Feek as commissioner of the state’s Employment Security Department on Wednesday. The department has been under scrutiny since…

A Nigerian man suspected in Washington state’s $650 million unemployment fraud was arrested Friday at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport by…

The amount of fraudulent payments of unemployment benefits distributed in Washington state during the height of the coronavirus pandemic was likely higher…

About 55,000 Washingtonians might have to pay back thousands of dollars in jobless benefits.The Seattle Times reports Cami Feek, the state Employment…