Apply for an Exemption

Use your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account

Like most Washington state agencies, we use SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to manage access to customer accounts. You will need an active SAW account to log in to Paid Family and Medical Leave and establish a WA Cares Exemption account.

If you don’t have a SAW account, you will need to create one

SAW is an online portal used to access Washington state services. Only one SAW account is necessary to access services for many agencies, such as the Department of Licensing and Department of Fish and Wildlife.

To create an account, go to secureaccess.wa.gov. For detailed instructions, including screenshots, download our SAW User Guide.

If your SAW account does not have access to Paid Leave, you will need to add it to your SAW services

Access to your SAW account at secureaccess.wa.gov to begin, then:

  1. On your SAW account homepage, select "Add Service."
  2. Select "Add by Agency."
  3. Scroll through the list of agencies and select "Employment Security Department."
  4. From the list of available services, select "Paid Family and Medical Leave."
  5. On the confirmation screen, select "My Services" to return to your SAW account homepage.

For more detailed instructions, including screenshots, download our SAW User Guide.

Apply for an exemption

Access your Paid Leave portal to apply for a WA Cares exemption

Once you’ve logged in and selected "Paid Family and Medical Leave" from your list of services in SAW, select "Apply for WA Cares Exemption."

Note: We need to verify certain documents when you submit your exemption application. Make sure you are prepared by reviewing the required documentation.

Apply through SecureAccess WA

Next steps

ESD will review your application and notify you if you’re eligible for an exemption from WA Cares coverage.

If your application is approved

  1. ESD will mail you a copy of your exemption approval letter, which will indicate the date your exemption takes effect (the first day of the quarter after your application is approved).
  2. You will need to provide a copy of your exemption approval letter to all your current and future employer(s). Once you provide your approval letter to your employer(s) and your exemption has taken effect (as indicated on your approval letter), they must stop withholding premiums. If your employer(s) continue to withhold premiums, they must return them to you.

    Note: If you fail to provide your approval letter to your employer(s), any premiums collected after your exemption takes effect will not count toward benefit eligibility and your employer(s) have no responsibility to return those premiums to you.

    Download detailed instructions.