Chapter 192-560 WAC

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

WAC Sections

HTML PDF	192-560-010	Which businesses are eligible for small business assistance grants?
HTML PDF	192-560-020	What is the application process for a small business assistance grant?
HTML PDF	192-560-030	What are significant additional wage-related costs for the purposes of small business assistance grants?

Disposition of sections formerly codified in this title


192-560-011	What small business grants are available under pandemic leave assistance? [Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.060, 50A.25.030, 50A.05.010 and 2021 c 109 § 5. WSR 21-16-062, § 192-560-011, filed 7/29/21, effective 8/1/21.] Repealed by WSR 26-01-027, filed 12/5/25, effective 1/1/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.060.

PDF192-560-010

Which businesses are eligible for small business assistance grants?

(1) An employer determined to have 150 or fewer employees in the state that is assessed the employer share of the premiums is eligible to apply for small business assistance grants as provided in chapter 50A.24 RCW.

(2) An employer determined to have fewer than 50 employees is only eligible for a small business assistance grant if the employer opts to pay the employer share of the premiums.

(a) The employer will be assessed the employer share of the premiums for a minimum of 12 consecutive calendar quarters beginning with the first calendar quarter after the most recent grant is approved.

(b) The employer may provide notice at any time after the approval of the grant to opt out of paying the employer share of the premiums.

(i) If the 12th consecutive quarter following approval of the grant has ended, the opt-out will become effective on the first day of the following quarter.

(ii) If the 12th consecutive quarter following approval of the grant has not ended, the opt-out will become effective on the first day of the 13th quarter following approval of the grant.

(3) An employer is not eligible for a small business assistance grant if, at the time of application, the employer has outstanding and delinquent reports, outstanding and delinquent payments, or due and owing penalties or interest under Title 50A RCW.

(4) An employer may request only one grant per year for each employee who takes paid family or medical leave under this title. Submissions under (a) and (b) of this subsection do not qualify as grant applications and therefore do not count against the employer's limit of 10 applications per year.

(a) An employer that qualifies for a grant under RCW 50A.24.010 for an amount that is less than $1,000 may submit documentation of significant additional wage-related costs incurred after filing the initial grant application in an attempt to qualify for additional grant funds.

(b) An employer may submit a revised application for a grant under RCW 50A.24.010 in an attempt to qualify for additional grant funds.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.060. WSR 26-01-027, s 192-560-010, filed 12/5/25, effective 1/1/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.060 and 50A.25.030. WSR 21-11-009, § 192-560-010, filed 5/7/21, effective 6/7/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.04.215. WSR 19-23-090, § 192-560-010, filed 11/19/19, effective 12/20/19; WSR 18-22-080, § 192-560-010, filed 11/2/18, effective 12/3/18.]

PDF192-560-020

What is the application process for a small business assistance grant?

(1) Applications for small business assistance grants must be submitted online or in another format approved by the department. To be approved, an application must contain:

(a) The name and Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number of the employee taking leave;

(b) The amount and type of grant being requested; and

(i) Fewer than 50 employees, a written statement attesting that the employer hired a temporary worker or incurred other significant wage-related costs due to an employee's use of family or medical leave.

(ii) Between 50 and 150 employees, written documentation including, but not limited to, personnel records related to the hiring of a new temporary employee, wage reports, and signed statements, showing the temporary worker hired or significant additional wage-related costs incurred are due to an employee's use of paid family or medical leave.

(d) The department may require additional information as necessary to verify an employer's eligibility for a small business grant.

(2) Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will not count against an employer's limit of 10 applications per year under RCW 50A.24.010.

(3) The department will deny the application for reasons including, but not limited to, the employer's failure to demonstrate that:

(a) It hired a temporary worker or incurred any significant additional wage-related costs; or

(b) The temporary worker hired or significant additional wage-related cost incurred was not due to an employee's use of family or medical leave.

(4) The denial of a grant application is appealable.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.060. WSR 26-01-027, s 192-560-020, filed 12/5/25, effective 1/1/26; WSR 21-04-067, § 192-560-020, filed 1/29/21, effective 3/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.05.60 [ 50A.05.060] and 50A.25.030. WSR 20-01-087, § 192-560-020, filed 12/12/19, effective 1/12/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.04.215. WSR 18-22-080, § 192-560-020, filed 11/2/18, effective 12/3/18.]

PDF192-560-030

What are significant additional wage-related costs for the purposes of small business assistance grants?

Significant additional wage-related costs are added expenses incurred by the small business due to an employee's use of leave and include:

(1) Paying additional wages to an existing employee;

(2) Outsourcing costs;

(3) Certification;

(4) Equipment purchases; or

(5) Other costs that the department, in its discretion, determines are appropriate.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 50A.04.215. WSR 18-22-080, § 192-560-030, filed 11/2/18, effective 12/3/18.]