Washington Gig Worker Paid Sick Leave 2026–2027: Free Calculator, Rules & Rights
Washington gig worker paid sick leave runs on two separate rules. Uber and Lyft drivers statewide can earn paid sick time under the state rideshare law. Covered app-based delivery workers in Seattle follow a city ordinance. What you get depends on your platform and where you work.
Washington State vs. Seattle Gig Worker Paid Sick Leave Summary (2026–2027)
This summary table compares the Washington State Rideshare Law (HB 2076) for Uber and Lyft drivers with the local Seattle app-based worker ordinance for DoorDash and Instacart couriers for 2026–2027, based on the rules in effect in October 2026.
| Rules & Eligibility | Washington State Rideshare Law (Uber and Lyft) | Seattle App-Based Worker Ordinance (DoorDash, Instacart, and others) |
|---|---|---|
| Enactment & Scope | Effective January 1, 2023, under HB 2076. It covers passenger rideshare drivers in every Washington city. | A Seattle ordinance for app-based workers of covered network companies. City materials set the size threshold at about 250 app-based workers worldwide, so confirm your company with the Office of Labor Standards. |
| Accrual Rate | At least 1 hour per 40 hours of passenger platform time. Waiting for a ride request earns nothing. | 1 day for every 30 days with at least one work-related stop in Seattle, such as a delivery or store pickup. |
| Eligibility to Use | 90 hours of passenger platform time recorded, plus passenger platform time within the 90 calendar days before your request. | At least one work-related stop in Seattle within the past 90 days. |
| Usage Limits | Request 4 or more hours at a time, up to 8 hours per day. A company may allow shorter blocks. | Time is used in 24-hour increments. |
| Pay Basis | Average hourly compensation over the past 365 days, tips excluded. Payment is due within 14 days or by the next regular pay date. | Average daily compensation over the past 12 months, counting pay in and outside Seattle on covered days, tips excluded. |
| Carryover & Account Rules | Up to 40 unused hours carry into the next calendar year. Your balance stays available if the gap between passenger trips is under 365 days. | Terms vary by company. Check your monthly notice and the city fact sheet. |
| Boundary Rules | The same rule applies in every Washington city. The state rideshare law does not cover delivery drivers. | Driving through Seattle, or delivering outside the city without a work-related Seattle stop, does not count toward accrual. |
| Washington Sick Pay Eligibility Checker | |
| Step 1 of 2: choose your platform and where you work. | |
| Your platform | |
| Where you work | |
Table of Contents
| Washington Sick Leave Accrual Calculator | |
| Passenger platform hours worked | |
Washington State Rideshare Law vs. Seattle App-Based Worker Ordinance
Valid reasons and verification rules
Washington rideshare rules. Drivers can use sick time for their own illness, injury, or medical care, and to care for a family member. Other uses include a health-related school closure, Domestic Violence Leave Act absences, and immigration proceedings. L&I’s page lists each one. For absences lasting more than three consecutive calendar days, a company may require verification only under a written policy, and you get at least 10 calendar days to respond. It cannot request verification during an eligible deactivation or other status that keeps you from driving.
Seattle app-based worker rules. Workers can also use time when the company suspends operations for health or safety reasons, or for reasons tied to domestic violence, assault, or stalking. For absences longer than three consecutive days, a company may ask for reasonable verification.
| Washington Rideshare Sick Pay Calculator | |
| Compensation during passenger time, past 365 days, no tips ($) | |
| Passenger platform hours, same period | |
| Sick hours you want to use | |
Washington Rideshare Sick Leave Calculation Formula with Hypothetical Example
- Find earned hours. Divide passenger platform hours by 40.
- Find your hourly rate. Divide your compensation during passenger time over the past 365 days by your passenger hours on that company’s platform. Tips and gratuities do not count.
- Multiply. Hours used times your rate gives your sick pay.
| Driver Type | Passenger Hours | Sick Hours Earned | Average Hourly Rate | Hours Used | Sick Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (Tacoma) | 1,750 | 43.75 | $30.00 | 8 | $240.00 |
| Part-time (Spokane) | 600 | 15.00 | $22.00 | 4 | $88.00 |
Practical Examples
Example-1: The new driver. A Bellevue Uber driver has logged 85 hours. She has earned about 2.13 sick hours. She cannot use them until she reaches 90. Even then she holds only about 2.25 hours, so a 4-hour block stays out of reach unless her company allows shorter requests.
Example-2: The returning driver. A Vancouver, WA Lyft driver holds 600 hours but took four months off. Her break lasted under 365 days, so her 15 earned hours stay available. She logs a passenger trip first, so L&I’s 90-day rule is met, then requests a 4-hour block.
Example-3: The Seattle courier. A DoorDash courier worked in Seattle on 120 days. His total compensation on those days, in Seattle and outside it, comes to $9,600. That gives 4 accrued days and an $80 daily rate. He asks for 5 days. Only 4 count, so he collects $320.
Washington Sick Hours Earned Chart
Seattle DoorDash Sick Pay Ordinance: How the Calculation Works for App-Based Workers
Seattle pays your average daily compensation. For each covered day, the calculation counts your earnings in Seattle and outside it. A covered day is any day you worked, even partly, in Seattle during the past 12 months. The city recalculates the rate monthly. Your daily rate is your total pay on covered days divided by the number of covered days (excluding tips).
| Seattle App-Based Worker Sick Leave Calculator | |
| Covered days (worked in Seattle), past 12 months | |
| Total compensation on those days, no tips ($) | |
| Sick days you want to use | |
| Example: 60 covered days and $4,200 total pay on those days (Seattle and outside, no tips) equals $70 per day. This calculator estimates days earned from covered Seattle days in the past 12 months. It does not subtract leave you already used or verify eligibility. Your monthly company notice shows your official balance and pay rate. | |
How to Claim Gig Worker Sick Pay in Washington: Uber, Lyft, and Seattle Delivery Apps
| Platform | Rule That Applies | How You Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Uber (rides) | State rideshare law | Driver app or help center |
| Lyft | State rideshare law | Driver app or help center |
| DoorDash and other Seattle delivery apps | Seattle ordinance, if the company is covered | Dasher app, Account tab, Redeem |
Uber and Lyft Sick Pay Claims in Washington State
Each company must send a monthly notice showing what you accrued, used, and can still use. Menu names change, so search the driver app’s help section for “sick time” and submit your request there. Uber also posts a Washington driver information page with its Notice of Driver Rights. Some companies fold the notice into your pay statement, so check your weekly earnings summary.
Seattle DoorDash Paid Sick Time: How to Check Your Balance
Your monthly notice lists accrued, used, and available days plus your daily rate. The city’s fact sheet says companies must approve or deny a request within 48 hours. Seattle’s ordinance sets your rights, and each app sets its own request steps. DoorDash’s U.S. help article (Spanish version) puts the balance under Paid Sick & Safe Time in the Account tab. Menu names may change, so check its current instructions. The article says DoorDash may withhold pay for a day you claimed but still worked, and that you lose accrued days after more than 12 months inactive on its platform.
Uber Eats and Instacart workers follow the same city ordinance when they make Seattle stops. Look for their monthly notice.
Washington L&I Trip Records Request for Rideshare Drivers
Since July 1, 2026, rideshare companies must give drivers a downloadable record of per-trip receipts from the previous 24 months, within three business days of a request. Use that file to check your passenger hours and compensation before you question a sick pay figure.
Example (Hypothetical): A Tacoma Driver Claims Sick Time
A Tacoma Uber driver has 1,200 passenger platform hours and $27,600 in compensation over the past year, tips excluded. She has earned 30 hours. Her average rate is $23 per hour. She drove last week, so the 90-day condition holds. She gets the flu, requests 8 hours in the app, and screenshots the confirmation. Her next notice shows 22 hours still available, and $184 arrives within 14 days.
What to Do When Your Balance Looks Wrong
Say a driver counts 95 passenger hours, but the app shows 84. She downloads her trip receipts, adds up the passenger platform hours, and emails the company both totals with a request for its written calculation. If that fails, she uses the support channels listed below.
Records worth keeping
- Monthly sick time notices
- Earnings summaries showing passenger hours or covered days
- Your downloaded trip-receipt file with trip dates, compensation, and tips
- Screenshots of every request and reply
The IRS generally advises keeping tax records for at least three years.
Tax Implications: Is Gig Sick Pay Taxable on Schedule C?
Gig income is generally taxable. The platform pays you as an independent contractor, so this money is not employee wages. The IRS says gig income is taxable whether or not you receive a Form 1099. The linked IRS guidance does not name platform sick-time payments. Many preparers report them on Schedule C with other gig income, so confirm with a tax professional.
Self-Employment Tax on 1099 Sick Pay
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Self-employment tax runs 15.3% on most net earnings. The estimator below applies it to 92.35% of the net profit you enter, about 14.13%, then adds your bracket. It ignores other income, deductions, and the Social Security wage cap.
Your company may report the payment on Form 1099-NEC or another form. Forms miss things, so log each sick payment as its own line in your records.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes for 1099 Gig Workers
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The IRS’s general rule is to pay quarterly if you expect to owe $1,000 or more. Sick pay adds to that bill, so count it when you set each quarterly payment.
Schedule C Gig Income Tax Deduction: What Counts
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Schedule C lets you subtract ordinary and necessary business expenses from gig income. Drivers commonly track mileage or vehicle costs, tolls, and the business share of a phone plan. Keep a mileage log from day one, and confirm the result with a tax professional.
Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
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You may deduct health insurance premiums on Form 7206, but only up to your net business profit, and not for months you could join an employer-subsidized plan. If you also claim a premium tax credit, the two interact, so ask your preparer to run both. Our 1099 health insurance guide covers the basics.
| Self-Employment Tax & Quarterly Tax Estimator | |
| Expected net profit this year, sick pay included ($) | |
| Your federal income tax bracket (%) | |
| This is an illustrative estimate, not a tax calculation or filing recommendation. It ignores your other income, deductions, the half of self-employment tax you may deduct, and the Social Security wage cap. Zero inputs do not mean you owe no tax. Confirm real figures with a qualified tax professional. | |
Sick Pay Is Not Health Insurance: Self-Employed Health Insurance Options in Washington
Sick pay replaces income. It does not pay a hospital bill. Our guide to the best health insurance for Uber, DoorDash, and Lyft drivers compares your options. Open enrollment comes once a year. Compare Washington health insurance plans for 2027 before it opens, because affordable health insurance in Washington state depends on your county, your carrier, and your subsidy.
Washington Healthplanfinder Subsidy Rules and the ACA Premium Tax Credit
Washington Healthplanfinder is the state-run marketplace where most self-employed drivers and other independent contractors shop for ACA Marketplace plans. Your subsidy depends on your estimated yearly income and household size. For 2026 tax rules, households generally cannot claim the premium tax credit above 400% of the federal poverty line. Washington also offers state-funded help called Cascade Care Savings. Update your income estimate whenever your earnings change.
Supplemental Insurance for Gig Drivers
Cash benefits can help while you recover. See our supplemental insurance for gig drivers guide first. These plans pay fixed amounts and do not replace major medical coverage. Our Massachusetts rideshare stipend, California DoorDash stipend, and Illinois 1099 guides show how other states handle benefits. Our New York, Florida, and Texas gig worker guides compare coverage costs in those states. Washington also lets self-employed workers opt into Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Common Reasons Washington Gig Worker Sick Time Claims Get Denied
| Reason | Why It Happens | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 90 passenger platform hours | Not yet eligible. | Request again after you pass 90 hours. |
| No passenger time in the prior 90 calendar days | L&I requires recent passenger time. | Log a trip, then request. |
| Request under 4 hours or over 8 hours in a day | Standard blocks run 4 to 8 hours. | Adjust the request, or ask about shorter blocks. |
| Delivery hours counted toward the state rule | Only passenger platform time counts. | Check Seattle’s rule if you made Seattle stops. |
| No recent Seattle work, or an uncovered company | Seattle sets work and company conditions. | Ask the Office of Labor Standards. |
| Request above your balance, or an unlisted reason | Your balance or reason does not fit. | Read your monthly notice and L&I’s reason list. |
Direct Support Channels: Washington L&I Rideshare Driver Rights and Other Help
| Problem | Where to Go | How |
|---|---|---|
| Rideshare sick time unpaid, wrong, or retaliated against | Washington L&I Driver Rights Complaint | File online, or use the Driver Rights Complaint Form (F700-219-000). |
| Seattle app-based worker problem | Seattle Office of Labor Standards | Call (206) 256-5297, file online, or visit 810 Third Avenue, Suite 375. Call first to confirm hours. |
| Missing trip receipts | L&I compensation requirements | Ask the company in writing, then contact L&I. |
| Health insurance claim denied | Office of the Insurance Commissioner | Call 1-800-562-6900. |
| Healthplanfinder or subsidy trouble | Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support | Call 1-855-923-4633 (TTY/TDD 1-855-627-9604). |
| Tax reporting of sick pay | IRS Gig Economy Tax Center | Read the guidance, then ask a tax professional. |
Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bellevue, and Vancouver: Where to Get Local Help
| City | Passenger Rideshare | Delivery Work | Where to Get Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | State rule | Seattle ordinance, if the company is covered | Rideshare: L&I. Delivery: Seattle Office of Labor Standards. |
| Tacoma, Spokane, Bellevue, Vancouver (WA) | State rule | No state rideshare rule applies; other employment or local rules may apply, so check company policy | L&I Driver Rights Complaint. I found no city-specific rideshare sick leave rule for these cities, so ask L&I if you suspect one. |
| Statewide driver support | State rule | Not covered by the state rule | Drivers Union, Tukwila: 206-812-0829, support@driversunionwa.org, 14675 Interurban Ave. South, Suite 201 (contact details). It supports rideshare drivers but does not replace an L&I complaint. L&I’s 2022 contract with it was renewable year to year, so confirm services before you visit. |
If you also work at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, check the airport’s current pickup and drop-off rules separately. Those rules are not part of paid sick leave.
How to Request Sick Leave
- Gather your paperwork. Download your trip receipts and keep your latest monthly notice handy.
- Check the math. Use the calculators for your balance and pay estimate.
- Send the request. Submit it in the app and screenshot the confirmation.
- Watch the deposit. Rideshare companies must pay within 14 days or by the next regular pay date.
- Plan for tax and coverage. Set money aside for taxes, and update your Marketplace income estimate if your earnings shift.
Print the one-page checklist and keep it with your tax records. Download the Washington Gig Worker Paid Sick Leave Checklist (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many hours do I need to drive to get sick leave in Washington?
Show answer
One hour per 40 passenger platform hours, usable once you reach 90 hours.
Does Uber Eats or DoorDash time count toward Washington state rideshare sick pay?
Show answer
No. Only passenger platform time counts. Seattle delivery work may earn time under the city ordinance.
How is my sick pay rate calculated as an Uber or Lyft driver in WA?
Show answer
Your compensation (no tips) over the past 365 days, divided by your passenger hours for that period.
Do tips count toward my average hourly compensation for sick leave?
Show answer
No. L&I excludes tips and gratuities, and Seattle’s daily rate excludes them too.
How fast do companies have to pay sick leave after a claim?
Show answer
Within 14 days or by the next regular pay date.
How do I claim paid sick time in the Uber or Lyft driver app?
Show answer
Menu names change. Search the app’s help section for “sick time,” then screenshot the confirmation.
Can I use sick leave for multiple rideshare apps at the same time?
Show answer
Yes. Each company tracks its own balance, so do not combine hours or balances across companies.
What happens to my unused sick leave at the end of the year?
Show answer
Up to 40 unused hours carry into the next calendar year.
Are 1099 sick-time payments taxable by the IRS?
Show answer
Gig income is generally taxable. Ask a tax professional how to report this particular payment.
Does gig sick pay affect my ACA health insurance premium tax credit?
Show answer
It may, if the payment counts in your household income. Check HealthCare.gov for 2027 rules and update your Healthplanfinder income estimate.
Can a company punish me for using sick time?
Show answer
No. Washington law and Seattle’s ordinance bar retaliation. Use the support channels above.
Washington Health Insurance Carriers: 2026 Data and 2027 Update
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner approved fourteen insurers for the 2026 individual market. The table shows ten of them, listed alphabetically, with figures taken from the Commissioner’s 2026 approvals. It is a selection, not the full list, and not a quality ranking, because the state does not rate carriers.
Selected Washington Individual-Market Carriers (2026 Data)
| Carrier | People Affected (2026 Rate Filing) | Approved Avg Rate Change |
|---|---|---|
| Asuris Northwest Health | 964 | 13.2% |
| BridgeSpan Health Company | 376 | 10.0% |
| Community Health Plan of Washington | 34,463 | 21.1% |
| Coordinated Care Corporation | 107,649 | 26.9% |
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest | 7,000 | 6.1% |
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington | 40,266 | 9.8% |
| LifeWise Health Plan of Washington | 23,346 | 12.1% |
| Molina Healthcare of Washington | 43,346 | 28.3% |
| Premera Blue Cross | 9,460 | 14.7% |
| Providence Health Plan | 254 | 10.5% |
Coordinated Care, Molina, Community Health Plan, LifeWise, Premera, and BridgeSpan sell on the Exchange only. Both Kaiser plans sell on and off it. Asuris and Providence sell only off it. A premium tax credit applies only to Exchange plans. Regence BlueShield and UnitedHealthcare of Oregon also appear among Washington insurers, and Wellpoint Washington is new for 2026.
2027 Update: Washington Health Insurance Premiums and Plans
The Insurance Commissioner approved an average 22.2% rate increase for 2027 Exchange plans and approved twelve insurers to sell them. That figure is a market-wide average, not the change your own premium will see. Providence Health Plan, which had 254 people in its 2026 filing, will not offer individual coverage in 2027. Open enrollment begins November 1 and ends January 15. A Premera notice says to enroll by December 31 for January 1 coverage, so confirm your cutoff on Healthplanfinder.
About The Author
Researched and written by Nurul Islam Chowdhury, an Associate Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), Membership No. A-1607. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chittagong, with an extensive background in corporate financial planning, insurance and policy analysis.
How We Verified This Guide
We checked each rule against Washington Labor & Industries, the Seattle Office of Labor Standards, the IRS, and HealthCare.gov. Company help pages confirmed how apps handle claims. Laws change, so verify the linked sources before you file.
Disclaimer: This article is general education. Consult a licensed professional about your situation.
Hi, I’m Nurul Islam Chowdhury (Imran) — the person behind HospitalInfo.
Associate Member, Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB – Associate Member No: A-1607)
Nurul Islam Chowdhury (Imran) holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chittagong. As a qualified Cost and Management Accountant (CMA), he specializes in financial analysis, cost management, and tax structures. Every piece of tax and financial data in this article has been personally reviewed and fact-checked by him to ensure technical and calculation accuracy based on standard IRS guidelines and 2026 regulations.
My background is in finance and cost management, but for the past few years my real focus has been something more personal: helping everyday Americans make sense of health insurance and hospital bills.
Here’s the thing about healthcare costs in the US — they’re confusing on purpose, or at least it feels that way. A single ER visit can turn into a stack of paperwork nobody explains clearly. That’s the gap I try to fill on this site. I dig into how PIP and MedPay actually work, what happens when health insurance and auto insurance both claim to cover the same bill, how to negotiate a hospital statement instead of just paying it, and how coverage options change year to year.
I’m not a doctor, and I don’t pretend to be. What I bring is a finance-and-numbers lens — reading policy documents, tracking CMS and state-level rules, and translating them into something you can actually use before you’re stuck on the phone with an insurance rep. Every guide here starts from a real question people are Googling at 11 PM with a bill in front of them, and that’s still how I decide what to write next.