Resources for Washington workforce development professionals

Updated Nov. 17, 2025

Please note the following resources for Washington workforce development professionals. Local workforce development area staff and partners are encouraged to check this page for updates. Please contact Communications Manager Andrew Lenderman with questions.

Food banks and SNAP

• Please click here for the latest updates on SNAP from the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.
• Individuals looking for additional help, or to share resources, should reach out to their local food bank. More help locating food resources is available from the Washington Department of Agriculture online, or by phone at 360-725-5640. Washington 211 is a free, confidential service that helps connect people with resources.
• This Washington 211 map also lists food pantries.

WA Department of Social and Health Services benefits

• Update: Congress passed and the president signed spending legislation to reopen the government on Nov. 12, 2025. DSHS is issuing full November food and cash benefits to people in Washington state on their usual dates. In addition, we are processing new applications for benefits that were submitted after Oct. 16, 2025, as quickly as possible.
• To confirm benefits have been loaded to EBT cards, we  encourage households to use the ebtEDGE or MyWABenefits apps or call the phone number on the back of their EBT cards. For questions about the amount of food benefits received or if benefits aren’t loading onto EBT cards by their usual issuance dates, contact your local DSHS office or our Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233.
• People should keep applying, renewing and reporting any changes that might affect their benefits, which will help make sure they get the benefits they are eligible for as soon as possible.

Employment Security Department

• The Employment Security Department, as part of a 90-day pilot, is adjusting unemployment benefits call center hours to focus on processing the growing number of claims and get customers paid more quickly.
• Learn more about resources for impacted workers.

Department of Financial Institutions

• Financial resources for federal workers
• Guidance for consumers, financial institutions and federal workers

Office of Financial Management

• This web page from the state Office of Financial Management provides information from across the executive branch: Federal shutdown impacts on Washington state government – Office of Financial Management

WA State Office of Equity

• These community, nonprofit and other resources for food assistance and services have been assembled by the Washington State Office of Equity.