The controversial WA Paid Family Medical Leave program began taking money from workers (mandatory) in 2019, and applicants began to utilize it in 2020. Now, due to threats of insolvency, the rates are rising again.

Rate to increase in 2026

The WA State Employment Security Department says so far in 2025, 218,000 persons have utilized the program, which pays up to 90 percent of your monthly wages for up to 12 weeks, longer if certain conditions are met.

Now, Employment Security says the rate taken from businesses and workers is going from .92 percent of their pay, to 1.13 percent beginning January of 2026. Businesses pay just over 72 percent, workers the other roughly 29. The tax is taken from gross pay.

For the average workers who makes, for example, $1,000 per week, they will go fr

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