Can self-employed freelancers qualify for EDD unemployment after losing clients?

The short answer is: it depends on your specific situation. Regular UI benefits typically require W-2 wages, meaning you would have needed to work as an employee (not contractor) where an employer paid into the UI system on your behalf. As a pure freelancer with only 1099 income, you wouldn't normally qualify for traditional unemployment. However, there are exceptions: 1. If you worked some W-2 jobs during your base period (roughly the 12-15 months before you apply), you might qualify based on those earnings 2. If you set up your freelance business as an S-Corporation and paid yourself a salary with appropriate payroll taxes, you might qualify 3. If you were misclassified as an independent contractor when you should have been an employee I'd recommend applying anyway - the worst they can say is no. When applying, be honest about your self-employment and any other work history. EDD will determine if you have enough qualifying wages in your base period.

sorry ur dealing with this! i was in a similar spot last yr after i lost my main design clients. UI denied me cuz self-employed. but try 2 apply anyway cuz sometimes they find old w2 work u forgot about! thats what happend with my roomate last year

Have you considered Disability Insurance (SDI) instead? As a self-employed person, you would've had to opt in to CA's Disability Elective Coverage (DEC) program previously to be eligible. If you didn't specifically elect to pay into SDI, you likely won't qualify for that either. California does have some other programs worth looking into: - CalFresh (food assistance) - CalWORKs (if you have dependent children) - General Assistance/General Relief Also, have you formed an LLC or corporation for your freelance work, or are you operating as a sole proprietor? This can affect your options.

I went through this exact situation in 2025 when I lost my main web development clients. Here's what I learned after many frustrating calls with EDD: 1. Apply for regular UI online through UI Online. Be 100% honest about being self-employed. 2. You'll likely get denied, but this creates a record in their system. 3. Once denied, you might want to file an appeal if you think there's ANY chance you were misclassified as a contractor when you should have been an employee. 4. Meanwhile, look into PUA... oh wait, that was only during COVID and is gone now. I literally called EDD 47 times before getting through to someone who could actually help me understand my options. The most frustrating part was getting disconnected after waiting for hours! After all that, I found out I had enough W-2 wages from a part-time job I had 18 months prior, which qualified me for minimal benefits. Worth checking if you had ANY W-2 work in the past 18 months.

dont bother with edd there all scammers anyway. i paid taxes for 12 years and when i needed help they said i didnt qualify. system is rigged against real workers

hey did u ever do any side jobs as an employee while freelancing? even part time? cuz that could help ur case!

One thing I forgot to mention - make sure you're applying for all potential client work right now and documenting those efforts. If by some chance you do qualify for any benefits, you'll need to show you're looking for work. Also, there are some freelancer communities that sometimes share job leads during tough times. What kind of graphic design do you specialize in? Some fields are still hiring freelancers despite the general slowdown.

Based on everything in this thread, it sounds like traditional UI will be difficult to qualify for in your situation. I'd recommend: 1. Apply for UI anyway (you have nothing to lose) 2. While waiting for that determination, apply for other assistance programs mentioned above 3. Focus on rebuilding your client base 4. Consider diversifying your income with some W-2 work, even part-time For future protection, you might want to look into private income protection insurance policies designed for freelancers. They're not cheap, but they can provide some security in situations like this. Let us know how things go with your application!