February 2022 | Issue 16
WA Cares Fund: Immediate updates to WA Cares law
Program implementation delayed by 18 months
On Jan. 27, Gov. Inslee signed a bill that delays parts of WA Cares implementation by 18 months. Most immediately, premium collection for WA Cares won’t begin until July 2023. The Employment Security Department (ESD) won’t accept any WA Cares premium payments for the first quarter of 2022.
Newly updated information and guidance is available on the WA Cares website. We will announce any new website updates via our employer newsletter.
For now, employers should:
Questions about exemptions?
ESD is continuing to monitor legislation that could affect exemptions. We will communicate any changes as soon as we can.
Paid Leave: Do you know how to check Paid Leave wage report statuses?
You can review your reports in your account
Your Paid Leave employer account shows the status of all wage reports you or your TPA have filed.
Check your account for rejected reports, and make sure a report is submitted and successfully processed for each quarter you had payroll.
How to check your wage report statuses
Log in, view your “Wage Submission History” and review your quarter wage reports.
What the status means
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"Processed": You've successfully reported for that quarter.
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“Rejected”: Click “Record Errors” to review the file errors. Correct the errors in your file and resubmit.
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Don’t see a report? If you had payroll but do not have a report filed, upload any missing wage files and submit.
The status will change to "Processed" within 48 hours if the report is successfully submitted. If you have trouble filing or correcting a rejected report, call our Customer Care Team.
New to reporting? Learn more and create an employer account.
Unemployment Insurance: Voluntary Contribution Program could help reduce your tax rate
Did you receive an application?
If so, that means you’re qualified to take advantage of the program. It allows you to reimburse the unemployment insurance trust fund for unemployment benefits in exchange for subtracting those benefit charges from your experience rating account.
If you did not get an application for voluntary contributions, you aren't eligible for the program.
How it works
You make a one-time payment – for either part or all of the unemployment benefits paid to former (or current) employees during the past two fiscal years. We subtract those benefit charges from your account, which reduces your tax rate for the current tax period.
Recent legislation may make the program more appealing
The Voluntary Contribution Program has been available since 1995, but ESSB 5061 may increase its benefit to your company’s bottom line in 2022.
How can your business benefit?
- You no longer need to pay the 10% surcharge fee that we normally charge to use the program.
- The program is open to employers who are moving eight rate classes or more rather than 12 or more.
- Employers can buy down a minimum of two rate classes instead of four.
How to participate
If you qualify, we sent you an application in early February with a due date for response. Return it by the due date with your payment for the exact amount shown in "Benefit charge contribution."
We will then mail you a tax-rate notice confirming your new tax rate. You can view your tax rate online in Employer Account Management Services (EAMS).
For more information, visit esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/voluntary-contribution.
National HIRE Vets Medallion award program is now accepting applications
Apply by April 30, 2022
Did you know that employers of all sizes can receive an award from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for their efforts to recruit, employ, and retain America’s Veterans?
- The HIRE Vets Medallion Program (HVMP) award highlights companies and organizations committed to hiring and retaining America’s veterans in good, family-sustaining careers
- The HVMP award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes employers.
- Award recipients will receive a certificate and digital images of the medallion for use as part of their marketing and promotional activities.
- The application deadline is April 30, 2022.
Visit the HIREVets.gov website to learn more about the national HVMP award program, the award criteria, the application process and fees.
The HVMP program is similar to our statewide YesVets program which recognizes Washington state employers committed to hiring Veterans. We encourage YesVets employers to apply for the national HVMP award and vice versa, Washington state HVMP winners are encouraged to sign up for the no-cost YesVets initiative.
For more information about both the HVMP and YesVets programs, email Hannah Schoepp.
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