Inspired by the "Seattle Rent Suspension Now" petition, this is a request for another issue that affects the working class, service industry workers, artists, events workers, nannies, retail workers, independent contractors, the immunocompromised -- and generally the most marginalized citizens: unemployment benefits. 

Since the shutdown of Seattle/Washington in mid-March (2020) many constituents have experienced extreme difficulties accessing aid from the Washington Employment Security Department with a large sum having not gotten any aid at all, 9 months into a pandemic. Many individuals have been unable to get through to the ESD offices with queries about their claim's status, and when they are able to get through, many have experienced conflicting counsel from ESD representatives. 

As of November 12, 2020 (the date this petition was published) we face an impending spike of COVID-19 cases. Many are predicting businesses will need to close down again. This likely influx of new applications will only further exacerbate the issue that already exist when applying for unemployment, putting further strain on the ESD office, and ultimately those who *still* have yet to access benefits. 

We applaud the rent moratorium that was put in place by Mayor Jenny Durkan, however, that was not enough. Due to ineffective and untimely unemployment assistance, many of us have either blown through the little savings we had to pay rent and living expenses or have maxed out credit cards just to survive. Many of us pay rent that is disproportionate to the unemployment we do receive, as it is not enough to cover basic necessities, rent, and bills. Those of us forced to survive off credit cards are further indebting ourselves with unnecessary interest rates. Others are indebted from past due rent. These debts will impact our credit, our future access to housing, and other opportunities. 

We the undersigned demand the following:

1. Increase staff available for calls at the Employment Security Department so that those with intricate claims, those in the adjudication process/appeals, and those who have been falsely requested of owing backpay can get their issues resolved in an efficient manner. 

2. Increase the hours that citizens can call the ESD office. (Currently, the office is only open 8 am - 12 pm. The ESD office's site states that is so claims online can be processed, however, we the undersigned feel that this is inadequate and that more time should be given so calls are not backed up.) 

3. Establish clear boundaries and expectations on when unemployment emails will be answered. (Many of us, the undersigned, have not gotten replies to our persistent emails until months after the original message was sent.) 

4. Streamline the ESD website to be more accessible to the disabled community and to all citizens. (A website that crashes on a regular basis, has an unclear user-experience, and few options for vision-impaired people is unacceptable.) 

5. Stoppage and cancellation of all punitive measures from the state, such as parking tickets and/or renewal of tabs which disproportionately impact the most vulnerable, cash-poor constituents. 

7. Financial support for those who have accrued unnecessary interest from the survival use of credit cards due to untimely or nonexistent ESD assistance. 

8. Revitalized and increased social safety-net for Seattle and Washington residents that makes access to food assistance and social housing easier and more efficient to access. 

9. Establishment of rent control city-wide.

With COVID-19 cases spiking and federal relief being stalled in Washington, D.C., there is little aid left for working-class people except for state aid. If you have a personal story about how you have been impacted by not receiving UI benefits or are still waiting to hear about the status of your claim, please share it below.