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July 31, 2019
2019-1388

Washington SUI taxable wage base to increase for 2020

The Washington Employment Security Department announced that due to a 5.5% increase in the average annual wage for 2018, the state unemployment insurance (SUI) taxable wage base will increase to $52,700 for calendar year 2020, up from $49,800 for 2019.

The Department also announced that effective with new claims filed on or after July 1, 2019, the minimum weekly unemployment benefit amount, calculated at 15% of the average weekly wage for 2018, will increase by $10 to $188, and the maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount, calculated at the greater of $496 or 63% of the 2018 average weekly wage, will increase by $41 to $790.

Ernst & Young LLP insights

Washington's SUI wage base and unemployment benefits are indexed to the state's average annual wage.

Washington's average annual wage increased by 5.5% to $65,301 for 2018, the largest percentage increase since 2006.

The average weekly wage for 2018 rose to $1,255, up from $1,190 in 2017. Total earnings grew by nearly $15.8 billion in 2018, an 8.0% increase.

The average weekly wage figures include only those wages that are covered by unemployment insurance. Much of the increase was driven by an 8.0% increase in total earnings, which grew by nearly $15.8 billion in 2018. Overall, the average number of workers in Washington covered by unemployment insurance grew by just over 75,840 in 2018.

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Workforce Advisory Services - Employment Tax Advisory Services
   • Kenneth Hausser (kenneth.hausser@ey.com)
   • Debera Salam (debera.salam@ey.com)

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