Unemployment claims roll in from laid-off feds in Washington state

More than 1,600 federal workers in Washington state have filed for unemployment benefits since the government shutdown began at the start of October.

Of the 1,625 claims the state Employment Security Department had received by Tuesday, 411 had been paid. The rest were pending.

The state’s goal is no more than 21 days from getting an unemployment insurance application to the applicant receiving benefits.

“Our No. 1 goal is to get people paid as quickly as possible,” Employment Security Commissioner Cami Feek said. “We understand the stress involved in being furloughed or laid off.”

The agency is receiving dozens more claims each day . This tracks with what the state saw during the last shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019. The current shutdown was in its 23rd day on Thursday and is n