Situation

In 2005, due to a law change, the state of Washington changed the way they determined the amount of unemployment benefits claimants were eligible to collect; however, they did not change the way the benefits were charged to each employer. These are the benefit charges used in the employer’s rate calculation. As a result, employers may not have been charged for the full amount of the benefits collected by former employees. It has been determined that this practice is not in conformity with federal unemployment law.

What Employers Need to Know

To make the state benefit charging practices conform to federal law they have made adjustments to benefit charges going back to 2005 that will be used in your 2010 rate calculation. You will be receiving a statement titled "Change in Benefit Charges Summary" detailing the changes made to your specific account.

What You Can Expect

These adjusted benefit charges will only be used in rate calculations for the 2010 rate year and beyond. No amended rate calculations will be made for prior years.

Tammy Mullin