EDD self-employment reporting for Amazon Flex - need employer number and availability question

You don't need an employer number for self-employment income. You should report Amazon Flex as self-employment income during certification. For the employer field, just put "Amazon Flex" or "Self-employed" and leave the employer number blank or put your own SSN if it requires something. As for eligibility, you're still eligible as long as you're able and available for full-time work and actively looking. Having inconsistent gig work doesn't disqualify you - you just need to report any earnings during weeks you worked. Make sure you're keeping detailed records of your Amazon Flex income by week for when you certify.

just fyi i did door dash while on unemployment last year and i just wrote 'doordash - self employed' and left the employer # section blank. never had any issues!!

The Amazon Flex situation is tricky with EDD. I was in the same boat a few months ago. Here's what you need to know: 1. For employer number, write "Self-employed" and use your SSN if it requires a number 2. For the work availability question - this is important - you ARE still eligible as long as you're looking for full-time work. Having gig work with inconsistent availability doesn't make you ineligible 3. Make sure you're accurately reporting your gross earnings (before expenses) for each week you certify 4. Keep track of your mileage and expenses separately for tax purposes The key thing EDD cares about is that you're AVAILABLE and LOOKING for full-time work. As long as you're doing that and reporting any income you actually earn, you're following the rules.

This exact situation caused me HUGE problems with EDD!!! They flagged my account and said I was refusing work because I wasn't picking up all available gig blocks. Had to wait 6 weeks for an interview and my payments were all pending. The system is so broken for gig workers!!!!

I do instacart + i just put self employed. for the number i use my ssn. no big deal they know what to do with it

When I tried reaching EDD to ask about this exact situation with DoorDash, I could never get through to anyone for WEEKS. Kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent confirmed that gig work with variable availability doesn't make you ineligible as long as you're looking for full-time work and reporting any earnings. Saved me so much stress!

The correct way to handle this: 1. For employer information, put "Amazon Flex" or "Self-employed" - the EDD is familiar with gig workers 2. For employer number, you can leave it blank or use your SSN if the form requires an entry 3. Report your GROSS earnings (before expenses) for each week you earned money 4. You remain eligible as long as: - You're able and available for full-time work - You're actively looking for full-time employment - You're meeting the work search requirements The availability of gig work you CAN'T access (like blocks you can't get) does NOT make you ineligible. This is a common misconception. Only report earnings you actually receive. Keep detailed records of your earnings by certification week (Sunday-Saturday). If you're ever called for an eligibility interview, explain that the nature of Amazon Flex means you don't have guaranteed hours and can't rely on it for full-time income, which is why you're seeking regular employment.

btw make sure ur reporting the right amount on ur certification! its ur gross pay BEFORE amazon takes out expenses not what hits ur bank account

One more important thing - keep a mileage log for your Amazon Flex work! This won't matter for EDD reporting (you report gross income), but it will help reduce your taxable income when you file taxes next year. The self-employment tax hit can be pretty significant otherwise.

I'm in a similar situation with Uber Eats! Just wanted to add that if you do get called for an eligibility interview (which hopefully you won't), be prepared to explain your work search activities in detail. I had to show them my job applications, emails from employers, etc. to prove I was genuinely looking for full-time work and not just relying on gig income. Also, one thing that helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet with columns for: date, gig earnings, job applications submitted that week, and any interviews. Makes it super easy to reference during certification or if they ever question your eligibility. The key is showing you're treating the gig work as temporary income while actively pursuing permanent employment.

Just want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - when you're doing your bi-weekly certification, make sure you're reporting earnings for the correct certification period (Sunday to Saturday). Amazon Flex pays out on different schedules than when you actually worked, so don't go by when the money hits your account. Report based on when you actually did the deliveries. I made this mistake early on and it created confusion with my benefit amounts. Keep a simple calendar or notes app where you jot down what you earned each day you worked, then add it up by certification week. This way you're always reporting the right amounts for the right periods.

I went through this exact same situation with Amazon Flex last year! Here's what worked for me: For the employer info, I put "Amazon Flex - Independent Contractor" and left the employer number field blank. Never had any issues with this approach. The availability question was my biggest concern too, but here's the key thing I learned: EDD distinguishes between "suitable work" and gig work. Amazon Flex blocks aren't considered suitable full-time employment that would disqualify you from benefits. You're only required to accept suitable work offers that match your previous employment level and pay. What really helped me was being very clear in my work search log that I was actively applying for warehouse positions (similar to your previous job) and treating Amazon Flex as supplemental income while job hunting. I documented every job application, company contact, and interview. One tip: when you do your certification, if there's ever a question about refusing work, be specific that you're looking for full-time employment and that Amazon Flex is just temporary gig work with no guaranteed hours. The fact that blocks are competitive and you can't always get them actually supports your case that it's not reliable employment. Keep detailed records of your actual earnings by certification week, and you should be fine. The system is set up to handle gig workers - you just need to report accurately and show you're genuinely job searching.

I've been doing Amazon Flex for about 6 months now while collecting unemployment and wanted to share what's worked for me. For the employer field, I write "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" and for the employer number I just put my SSN. The most important thing I learned is to keep really detailed records. I use a simple notebook where I write down the date, how many blocks I worked, and my gross earnings for each day. This makes certification so much easier because I can quickly add up my earnings for each Sunday-Saturday period. One thing that really helped me was calling EDD early on to clarify the gig work situation. They confirmed that as long as you're actively looking for full-time work and reporting your gig earnings accurately, you're still eligible. The key is showing that Amazon Flex isn't your primary job search - it's just income while you look for permanent employment. Also, don't stress too much about weeks when blocks aren't available or you can't grab them. That's just the nature of gig work and EDD understands this. Just make sure you're documenting your job search activities really well and you should be fine!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Just started Amazon Flex after getting laid off and I was so confused about the certification process. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially knowing that I can just put "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" and use my SSN for the employer number. One thing I'm still a bit unclear on though - when reporting earnings, should I include the tips that sometimes show up from customers? Those aren't guaranteed and vary a lot, but they do add to what Amazon pays out. Also, has anyone had experience with EDD asking for documentation of their gig work income, like 1099s or earnings statements from the Amazon Flex app? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save me so much stress during certification!

I've been doing Amazon Flex while on unemployment for about 4 months now and want to add a few things that might help: 1. For the employer field, I use "Amazon Flex" and put my SSN in the employer number field - never had any issues with this approach. 2. Keep your Amazon Flex earnings statements from the app! I screenshot mine every week and save them in a folder on my phone. EDD hasn't asked for them yet, but if they ever do an audit or eligibility review, having those records will be super helpful. 3. The work availability concern is totally understandable, but remember that Amazon Flex blocks aren't considered "suitable work" that would disqualify you from benefits. You're looking for full-time permanent employment - gig work with no guaranteed hours doesn't count as refusing suitable work. 4. One thing that's helped me stay organized: I created a simple weekly tracker with columns for certification period dates, Amazon Flex earnings (including tips), and job applications submitted. Makes certification day so much easier! Don't let the gig work stress you out too much. As long as you're genuinely job searching and reporting your earnings accurately, you're following the rules. The EDD system is used to handling gig workers at this point. Just be honest and keep good records!

I'm currently in the same boat with Amazon Flex and was really stressed about how to handle the EDD certification. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Just to add my experience - I called EDD last week using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and was able to get through to an agent who confirmed a few key things: 1. For gig work like Amazon Flex, you report it as self-employment income 2. You can put "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" for employer and your SSN for the employer number 3. The agent specifically said that inconsistent availability of gig work blocks doesn't affect eligibility as long as you're actively seeking full-time employment One thing the agent emphasized that I hadn't seen mentioned yet - make sure you're reporting earnings for the actual work week (when you did the deliveries), not when Amazon processes the payment. Sometimes there's a delay between when you work and when you get paid, so keep track of earnings by the actual delivery dates. I've been keeping a simple Google doc with three columns: Date of Work, Gross Earnings (including tips), and Notes (like how many blocks I completed). This way I can easily total up earnings for each certification period. The peace of mind from having everything organized is worth the few minutes it takes each week!

I've been doing Amazon Flex while on EDD for about 8 months now and wanted to share some additional tips that have helped me avoid any issues: **For the employer information:** I write "Amazon Flex - Independent Contractor" in the employer name field and put my SSN in the employer number field. This has worked perfectly every time. **Important timing note:** Amazon Flex sometimes has weird payout schedules where you might work on a Wednesday but not get paid until the following Monday. Always report your earnings based on when you actually did the deliveries, not when the money hit your account. I learned this the hard way when my benefit calculation was off one week. **Documentation strategy:** I take a screenshot of my daily earnings right after completing blocks, then at the end of each week I add up all earnings for that certification period (Sunday-Saturday) and put it in a simple notes app. This makes certification super quick and I have proof if EDD ever asks. **The availability question:** Don't stress about this! I've had plenty of weeks where blocks were available but I couldn't grab them due to the app being so competitive. EDD understands that gig work is unpredictable and doesn't guarantee income. As long as you're genuinely looking for full-time work and documenting your job search, you're fine. One last tip - if you ever get selected for an eligibility interview, emphasize that Amazon Flex is temporary supplemental income while you search for permanent employment. The interviewer needs to understand you're not choosing gig work over full-time opportunities. Keep detailed records and you'll be totally fine! The system handles gig workers much better now than it did a few years ago.

I'm in the exact same situation and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I just got laid off from my retail job and started doing Amazon Flex while job hunting. I was completely panicking about how to handle the EDD certification, especially the employer number part. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity. I'm going to use "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" for the employer name and my SSN for the number, keep detailed daily earnings records by actual work date (not payout date), and make sure I'm documenting all my full-time job applications. The biggest relief is understanding that the competitive nature of getting blocks actually HELPS show it's not reliable full-time work. I was so worried EDD would think I was refusing available work, but now I understand they distinguish between suitable full-time employment and gig work. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - especially those who actually called EDD to confirm the policies. This community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing situations!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this thread is absolutely incredible! I'm also doing Amazon Flex after being laid off and was having the exact same confusion about the employer number and availability questions. What really stands out to me from reading all these responses is how consistent everyone's approach has been. It seems like "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" (or similar) + SSN for the employer number is the standard approach that actually works. And the key insight about EDD distinguishing between "suitable work" and gig work is huge - I was definitely overthinking the block availability issue. I'm going to implement that weekly tracking system several people mentioned with work dates, gross earnings (including tips), and job applications. Having everything organized by certification periods (Sunday-Saturday) rather than just random tracking seems like the way to go. The most reassuring part is hearing from people who've been successfully doing this for months without issues. Sometimes the EDD system seems so intimidating, but it sounds like as long as you're honest, organized, and genuinely job searching, the gig work situation is totally manageable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference when you're trying to navigate unemployment + gig work for the first time!

I'm also doing Amazon Flex while on unemployment and this thread has been such a lifesaver! I was making it way more complicated than it needs to be. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to: 1. Put "Amazon Flex - Self Employed" and use my SSN for the employer number 2. Track my daily earnings by actual work date (not payout date) in a simple spreadsheet 3. Report gross earnings including tips during certification 4. Keep screenshots of my weekly earnings from the app as backup documentation 5. Continue focusing on my full-time job search and document everything The clarification about "suitable work" vs gig work availability has removed so much anxiety for me. I was convinced EDD would penalize me for not grabbing every available block, but now I understand they know gig work isn't reliable full-time employment. One question for those who've been doing this successfully - do you mention Amazon Flex at all in your work search activities, or do you keep that completely separate from your full-time job applications when documenting your search efforts? Thanks again to everyone who shared their real experiences. This community support makes navigating these confusing systems so much easier!