Self-employed and EDD confusion - can I even file for unemployment?

Self-employed individuals CAN file for regular unemployment in certain circumstances. It depends on how your business is structured and your employment history. Here are the key points: 1. If you paid into UI through a W-2 job in the last 18 months, you might qualify based on those wages (even if you're currently self-employed) 2. If you set up your business as an S-Corp and pay yourself a salary with UI contributions, you may qualify 3. However, if you're strictly 1099/independent contractor with no UI contributions, you typically wouldn't qualify for regular unemployment The pandemic programs that covered self-employed people (PUA) ended years ago, so those aren't available anymore. I'd recommend applying anyway - the worst they can say is no. The EDD will evaluate your specific situation.

ur not totally out of luck but its complicated. i went thru this last yr. if u had ANY w2 work in the last 18 months u might qualify. also matters how ur business is setup. sole prop is diff than llc etc

In my experience, it completely depends on HOW you were self-employed. I had an S-corporation and was paying myself a salary with proper payroll taxes (including unemployment insurance) and was able to claim when my business closed. But my friend who was a 1099 contractor couldn't get anything when her gigs dried up. The pandemic had special programs but those are gone now.

The answer is actually more nuanced than a simple yes/no. Self-employed individuals typically don't qualify for regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits because they don't pay into the UI system through payroll taxes like traditional employers do for their employees. However, there are exceptions: 1. If you previously worked as a W-2 employee in your base period (typically the 12-18 months before filing) and earned enough wages there, you might qualify based on those earnings 2. If your business is set up as an S-Corporation and you pay yourself a salary with proper payroll taxes including UI contributions 3. If you worked both as self-employed AND as a regular employee during your base period I recommend applying online through UI Online and being completely honest about your work situation. The EDD will determine if you qualify based on your specific circumstances. Make sure to have documentation of any W-2 employment ready.

You should definitely call EDD directly about this. I was in a similar situation (indie contractor + part time W2) and tried figuring it out online for WEEKS! Finally got through to an actual person who explained everything clearly in 10 minutes. Honestly though, calling EDD is its own special nightmare. I wasted 3 days getting busy signals and disconnects. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get through to an agent without the endless redial game. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because the agent I spoke with was able to look at my specific situation and tell me exactly what I qualified for based on my work history.

i think everyone is missing something important here!! even if u dont qualify for regular ui there might b other programs u can get. have u looked into disability or paid family leave? not the same thing but if ur desperate for $$ dont rule them out

I went through this exact situation in 2025. Here's what you need to know: 1. Regular UI is only available if you paid into the system (either through W-2 work or if you set up your business as a corporation and pay UI taxes) 2. The base period for calculating benefits is divided into quarters, so that W-2 job from 14 months ago might still count, depending on when you apply 3. Your benefit amount would be based on your highest-earning quarter during the base period 4. If you apply and get denied, make sure you appeal within 30 days if you think they made a mistake My situation: I had W-2 work for 4 months before going fully self-employed, and I qualified for a small weekly benefit based just on those W-2 wages. Applied in February 2025 and was approved by March.

this is confusing me too! i thought there was some special program for self employed ppl now? or maybe that was just during covid? anyone know for sure???

One important thing to understand: Even if you qualify based on previous W-2 work, your benefit amount will ONLY be calculated using that W-2 income, not your self-employment earnings. This often catches people by surprise. For example, if you made $15,000 at your W-2 job over 6 months, but then made $75,000 self-employed over the next year, your benefit calculation will only use that $15,000 figure, resulting in a much lower weekly benefit than you might expect. Also, you need to be able to certify that you're available for and actively seeking full-time work each week. Being self-employed and looking for new clients can complicate this requirement. Make sure you understand what will be required of you if you do qualify.