The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) hosted a webinar for REALTORS® on April 23rd. The webinar recording and slides, plus an FAQ document put together after the webinar, are now available.
The ESD – REALTORS® webinar covered the online application process, how and when to file for PUA, eligibility issues, and documentation needs. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a federal program that allows self-employed people, independent contractors, part-time workers, and many people affected by COVID-19 to apply for unemployment, even though they normally aren’t eligible. The law requires everyone to apply for regular unemployment first, and be denied, before applying for PUA.
Please review the FAQs that Washington REALTORS® and the ESD have put together before applying. There are a few critical steps on the application and if you make a mistake that can't be corrected in your SAW account, you will have to call the ESD helpline. Due to extremely high call volumes, it is very difficult to get through at this time. Please review the materials thoroughly, gather your documentation, and then apply.
