WA SB5548

Increases permanent total disability benefits for unmarried workers with children, effective July 1, 2026: unmarried workers with one child receive 65% of wages (up from 62%), scaling up to 75% for six or more children (up from 70% for five or more)

Establishes that persons with legal custody of a worker's child receive 2% of the worker's wages directly, with the worker's or surviving spouse's benefits reduced by that amount for claims on or after July 1, 2026

Creates a unified benefit structure for claims on or after July 1, 2026 that treats married workers without children the same as unmarried workers with one child (both at 65%)

Updates minimum benefit calculations to allow up to six children for unmarried workers and five children for married workers when determining benefit floors

Takes effect July 1, 2026 and applies only to claims with injury or disease manifestation dates on or after that date