Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot

Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot

Check back frequently for updates!

A pilot for rideshare drivers

Starting July 1, 2024, there’s a new way for rideshare drivers to participate in Paid Leave: They can opt in to the TNC Pilot.

If you drive passengers for a TNC, sometimes called a ridesharing company, you can opt in to the pilot. This means your earnings can be used to establish eligibility for taking Paid Leave benefits in the future. When you opt in, you must report your earnings and pay premiums every quarter. Rideshare drivers participating in this pilot will have their premiums reimbursed by their TNC.

Who can join?

If you are a rideshare driver you can opt in. A TNC is a company that uses a digital network to connect passengers with rideshare drivers to provide prearranged rides.

Examples of TNCs in Washington state:

  • CiRide
  • Curb Mobility
  • Hop Skip Drive
  • Lyft
  • Moovn
  • Uber
  • Via
  • Wingz

Are you a rideshare driver? Check your eligibility:

  • Do you drive your own vehicle in WA State?
  • Do you use a website or phone app to find passengers/people?
  • Is the ride prearranged?

If you answered yes to all these questions, you’re likely a rideshare driver.

Note: Food and goods are not considered passengers, and earnings from transporting these items will not count. The law that applies is RCW 48.177.005.

Example: If you prearrange a trip in your vehicle to drive people to food, you may be a rideshare driver for that trip. If you prearrange a trip in your vehicle to drive food to people, you are not a rideshare driver for that trip.

Two ways to opt in as a rideshare driver:

Option 1: Self-enrollment

  • Create or log in to your SAW account. (Watch our video on creating a SAW account)
  • Add Paid Family and Medical Leave to your services.
  • Create or log in to your elective coverage account, and
  • Opt in as a Driver and provide the necessary enrollment information.

Opt in as a driver

Option 2: Enroll through Drivers Union

Drivers Union can help with enrollment, wage reporting and premium payments. Contact them for more information.

After you opt in

After you opt in, your elective coverage starts the first day of the following quarter.

Example: If you opt in anytime from July 1 to Sept. 30, then your coverage becomes effective on Oct. 1, the first day of the next quarter.

Quarterly reporting: Each quarter, you or your third party administrator will file wage reports and pay premiums. More information on wage reporting and premium payment is coming soon!

Using Paid Leave

When you opt in, we calculate your hours worked by dividing the amount you made by the state minimum wage. The 2024 Washington state minimum wage is $16.28.

Example: If you made $6,512 as a TNC driver from Oct. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024, the calculation would be $6,512 divided by $16.28, which equals 400 hours.

After you complete your first quarter of coverage, you’ll be eligible to receive benefits if you:

  • Have at least 820 hours worked through any combination of employment and elective coverage in your qualifying period, and
  • Experience a qualifying event.

For more details, see our Benefit Guide.

Benefit Guide