How to fill out unemployment application correctly when you're self-employed in NYS

Yes, self-employed individuals can file for regular UI benefits in New York! For the employer section, you'll put your business name (or your own name if you operated as a sole proprietorship). For wages, use your net self-employment income from your tax returns. The key is having proper documentation - your Schedule C from your tax return, 1099s from clients, and business records. Make sure you have at least 18 months of work history and meet the earnings requirements.

i went through this last year when my consulting work dried up. the application is confusing but doable. main thing is be consistent with what you put on your taxes. i put my LLC name as employer and used my net earnings from schedule C

The NYS Department of Labor has specific guidance for self-employed filers. You'll need to provide your Social Security number, business information, and earnings documentation. For the work search requirement, you can include looking for both employment and new clients/contracts. Keep detailed records of your job search activities including networking events, client outreach, and applications to companies. The system will calculate your benefit amount based on your reported net self-employment income.

Ugh the whole system is set up for traditional employees. I had so many issues getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when my self-employed claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. They kept asking for more documentation even though I submitted everything correctly. Finally used claimyr.com to actually reach a real person who could explain what they needed. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to get through on the phone.

Just make sure you keep really good records of everything. I learned that the hard way when they audited my claim six months later and wanted to see all my business expenses and client contracts.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when my freelance writing business took a hit. For the application, I used my business name as the employer since I operated as an LLC. The most important thing is consistency - whatever you put on your Schedule C for net earnings, use that same figure. Don't overthink the wage section, just break down your annual net income into weekly amounts. One tip: when they ask about "reason for unemployment," I put "lack of work/clients" rather than trying to explain the whole business situation. The system understood that better. Also, be prepared for them to ask for your business license or EIN documentation if you have one. Good luck!