Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 51.32.045 (2026)

Direct deposit or electronic payment of benefits

✓ current as of May 2026

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Any worker or other recipient of benefits under this title may elect to have any payments due paid by debit card or other electronic means or transferred to such person's account in a financial institution for either: (1) Credit to the recipient's account in such financial institution; or (2) immediate transfer therefrom to the recipient's account in any other financial institution. The debit card or other electronic means payment option is available at the discretion of the department or self-insured employer, and the recipient must request in writing on a department-approved form or other department-approved method that the recipient's payments be made through this payment option.

A single payment may be drawn in favor of such financial institution, for the total amount due the recipients involved, and written directions provided to such financial institution of the amount to be credited to the account of a recipient or to be transferred to an account in another financial institution for such recipient. The issuance and delivery by the disbursing officer of a payment in accordance with the procedure set forth in this section and proper indorsement thereof by the financial institution shall have the same legal effect as payment directly to the recipient.

For the purposes of this section, "financial institution" shall have the meaning given in RCW 41.04.240 as now or hereafter amended.

[ 2013 c 125 s 7; 1982 c 109 s 11.]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: Willoughby v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 147 Wash. 2d 725 (Wash. 2002).

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Willoughby v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 147 Wash. 2d 725 (Wash. 2002). “Subsection (1) provides, with limited exceptions, that no money payable under Title 51 RCW shall, prior to issuance of the check or warrant, go to any other person unless the transfer is to a financial institution at the request of a beneficiary or worker in accord with RCW…”

In Re the Marriage of Dugan-Gaunt, 915 P.2d 541 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996). “260, no money paid or payable under this title shall, before issuance and delivery of the check or warrant, be assigned, charged, or taken in execution, attached, garnished, or pass or be paid to any other person by operation of law, any form of voluntary assignment, or power of…”

Willoughby v. Dept. of Labor & Indus., 57 P.3d 611 (Wash. 2002). “Subsection (1) provides, with limited exceptions, that no money payable under Title 51 RCW shall, prior to issuance of the check or warrant, go to any other person unless the transfer is to a financial institution at the request of a beneficiary or worker in accord with RCW…”

Off. Careers, V State Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “, RCW 51.32.045 (stating, “[a]ny worker or other recipient of benefits under this title .”

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