General Assistance

If you have been or will be laid off through no fault of your own, there are state and federal programs available to assist you in finding re-employment and pursing possible training opportunities.

Your first step should be filing an Unemployment Insurance form. Your second and third steps should be visiting your local WorkSource to attend an orientation and enroll, if eligible, in the Dislocated Worker Program.

Benefits that you may be eligible for include, among others:

• one-on-one career counseling at your local WorkSource;
• a waiver of your job search requirements and/or extension of UI benefits if you enroll in a certified training program;
• limited financial support for tuition, books and supplies;
• limited financial support for relocation or transportation costs to pursue employment; and
• dislocated program eligibility if your spouse was a homemaker, dependent on your income.
  

Find general assistance at Unemployment Insurance or the Dislocated Worker Program.

Dislocated Worker Assistance

The WSLC has two labor liaisons for the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) who conduct "rapid response" activities during layoffs and plant closures to make sure that the affected workers have access to the best job retraining and re-employment program opportunities available.

Assistance is also available with applying for unemployment and other benefits available to these working families during their time of crisis. 

For more information, contact WIA Labor Liaisons Bill Messenger or Chelsea Orvella at 360-943-0608.

Do I qualify?

Does your family need help with food, cash assistance, childcare, medical benefits or long-term care?  The Trial Eligibility Calculator can help show if you are eligible for one of the assistance programs offered by the Department of Social and Health Services.

Use this Trial Eligibility Calculator to find out if you qualify.

Services for laid-off workers

At WorkSource, we know that being laid off is painful. It’s hard to pick up the pieces and look for a new job. You may not be ready today. But when you are, we’re here for you.

At WorkSource, you can search for work, identify your skills, explore new jobs and connect with local businesses. We offer:

• Job listings, referrals and hiring events.
• Assistance with your résumé and job applications.
• Special programs and workshops.
• Internet access for job searches.
• Copiers, fax machines, phones and other office equipment.

How to apply for unemployment benefits

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You can apply for benefits online https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/uia/icintro/intropage.aspx?lang=en-us
or by phone at:

    * www.esd.wa.gov (24 hours a day)
    * 800-318-6022 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
    * TTY 800-365-8969 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

What's new?

Stimulus packages
The federal government has passed a bill temporarily increasing the weekly payment by $25 for most claimants. The first payable week of this increase was the week ending February 28, 2009, but pay the increases were delayed until  the computer systems were updated. The week of May 10, 2009, those eligible will receive lump sum, retroactive payments. Please keep your address current.

The state also passed a bill temporarily increasing the weekly benefit amount by $45 for many claimants. The bill also increases the minimum weekly benefit amount. This law is effective May 3, 2009. If you qualify for these increases, you will recieve a new Statement of Wages and Hours the week of May 10, 2009.

Additional information about the stimulus information can be found here.

Extended benefits
Effective May 3, 2009, Washington has triggered into a “high” extended benefits (EB) period. This means you may be eligible for more weeks of EB. Notices will be sent to those already on EB starting May 6. If you have run out of EB, you can begin claiming for the week ending May 9 on May 10 to receive additional weeks. Please see the extended benefit information for further details here.

Help with money, food stamps and medical bills (DSHS FAQ)

Get child support for my children?
The Division of Child Support (DCS) can help the parent, relative or court-appointed caretaker that has custody of a child to establish paternity and establish or modify orders for financial and medical support.

Get help to buy food?
Food Assistance helps low-income individuals and families get a healthier diet by supplementing their income with benefits to buy food.

Get money to help pay my bills?
There are a number of assistance programs available to help disabled persons, families or pregnant women meet their day-to-day financial needs.

Get information on what help I can get?
Information about cash, medical and food benefits is available in the Guide for Accessing Services.

This guide explains some of the program rules and how to make applications. You can even make applications on-line here. fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/onlinecso/applying.asp

Apply for help with child care bills?
The childcare program for working families is called Working Connections Child Care.

You can apply online here; or in person at your local Community Service Office (CSO).

There are a few special programs for children getting child welfare or protective services though DSHS. Families interested in these services should call 1-800-446-1114.

What is 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number (211) that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community.

•  2-1-1 reaches approximately 234 million people (over 78% of the total U.S. population) in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Yet, millions of Americans still need to be connected.
•  America needs 2-1-1 to be accessible nationwide. As the number of organizations providing specialized services is on the rise, people find it frustrating and confusing to access community services. 2-1-1 provides a one-stop service for vital information.

While services that are offered through 2-1-1 vary from community to community, 2-1-1 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. For example, 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services:

• Basic Human Needs Resource: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.
• Physical and Mental Health Resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.
• Employment Support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.
• Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, and homemaker services.
• Support for Children, Youth and Families: Quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.

• Volunteer opportunities and donations.

2-1-1 US

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember three-digit phone number that brings people and services together.

And 2-1-1 US is the entity that brings together the rich diversity of the national 2-1-1 movement.

The mission of 2-1-1 US is to ensure that 2-1-1 is Excellent, Everywhere and Always. The rapid growth of 2-1-1 during the first decade of development has transformed access to human services and this achievement needs to be both enhanced and sustained.

The essence of 2-1-1 is in its simplicity:

• 2-1-1 is for everyone and can be remembered by everyone.
• 2-1-1 is free and confidential.
• 2-1-1 makes the entire human services sector at every level of government work more efficiently.
• 2-1-1 has proven itself time after time as an invaluable resource in the aftermath of a disaster.
• 2-1-1 is the number to call to give help and to get help.

 RESOURCES:

• Layoff FAQ - Know your contract rights:  |  GG FAQ  |  HE FAQ