Self-employed EDD eligibility confusion - can I file for unemployment at all?

Self-employed individuals generally do not qualify for regular UI benefits since you haven't paid into the unemployment insurance system through an employer. However, there are a few exceptions: 1. If you worked as a W-2 employee within the last 18 months (in addition to your self-employment), you might qualify based on those W-2 wages 2. If your business is set up as an S-Corp and you pay yourself as an employee with proper UI contributions 3. If you were misclassified as an independent contractor when you should have been an employee Did you have any W-2 employment alongside your freelancing in the past 18 months?

during the pandemic they had a special program for self employed people but that ended years ago. normal unemployment is only for w2 workers sorry

The others are correct that regular UI doesn't cover self-employed individuals unless you have qualifying W-2 wages. However, you might want to look into these alternatives: 1. State Disability Insurance (SDI) - but only if you've been paying into it AND have a qualifying medical condition 2. CalFresh (food assistance) 3. General Assistance/Relief through your county 4. California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) if applicable Also, while not unemployment related, check if you qualify for reduced healthcare premiums through Covered California if the income drop affects your coverage options.

THE EDD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY RIGGED AGAINST SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE!! We pay taxes too but get ZERO BENEFITS when times get tough. During the pandemic they finally recognized us but then just dropped us like hot potatoes afterward. It's total BS that we're treated like second-class citizens by the unemployment system!!

Just a quick question - are you absolutely certain all your work was truly independent contractor status? Sometimes companies misclassify employees as 1099 workers when they should legally be W-2 employees. If any of your clients controlled your schedule, provided equipment, directed how you performed your work, etc., you might have been misclassified. In that case, you could potentially file for UI and EDD would investigate whether those wages should count. It's a long shot, but worth considering.

I was in the same boat last year when my construction business slowed down. Spent WEEKS trying to get through to EDD to see if there were any options for self-employed people. Called like 50+ times and either got disconnected or couldn't get past the automated system. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep confirmed what others said here - no UI for self-employed folks unless you had W-2 wages. BUT they did point me to some other resources I wouldn't have known about otherwise. Might be worth connecting with someone directly to see if there's anything specific to your situation.

have u thought about doing instacart or doordash until u find more design work? thats what i did when my work dried up

One final thought - if you're experiencing this severe drop in income, make sure to apply for all benefits you might be eligible for at once. Go to BenefitsCal.com which is a single portal for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other programs. Many self-employed people don't realize they can qualify for these safety net programs during down periods. While it's not unemployment, it can help with essential needs while you rebuild your client base.