Regional News

Unemployment benefits manual no longer being mailed to all applicants

Mar 28, 2014

Internet access is now so available in Washington that the Employment Security Department expects to use it to deliver key benefit information that until now automatically went out by mail.

Employment Security will stop routinely mailing its Handbook for Unemployed Workers to everyone who applies for unemployment benefits.

The 45-page manual spells out eligibility requirements and what individuals must do to continue receiving unemployment benefits. Budget reductions prompted the decision to cease automatic mailings. Last year, Employment Security spent about $325,000 to print and mail the manual to everyone who applied for benefits.

Starting today, new applicants will receive an email message instructing them to download the handbook from the department’s website. Anyone who doesn’t provide an email address will receive an inexpensive flyer in the mail with the same information.

Printed copies also are available at local WorkSource job centers or by calling Employment Security claims centers (800-318-6022).