Do self-employed business owners apply differently for TWC unemployment than regular employees?

As a self-employed business owner, you'll need to apply for regular unemployment benefits first, but the process is a bit different. You'll need to submit documentation of your business income, typically your tax returns (Schedule C if you're a sole proprietor). The TWC system will initially deny your regular UI claim since you didn't pay unemployment taxes as an employer would for employees. However, you may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance if your business loss was related to a declared disaster, or other special programs depending on your situation. When you apply, make sure to accurately report that you owned a business rather than being an employee, and be prepared to provide proof of income from the most recently completed tax year.

i applied as self employed last yr and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!! got denied 3 times befor finally getting approved. make sure u have ALL ur income docs ready and keep calling them evry single day or they wont do anything with ur claim!!!!

The process for self-employed individuals has changed significantly since the pandemic programs ended. Here's what you need to know: 1. Apply through the regular TWC system online or by phone 2. When asked about your employer, you'll indicate you were self-employed 3. You'll need to provide proof of income via tax returns, business records, 1099s, etc. 4. The system will evaluate whether your business closure was due to circumstances beyond your control 5. You'll need to meet all regular UI requirements including being able and available to work 6. You'll need to complete 3 work search activities each week once approved The key difference is that you need to clearly document why your business closed or saw significant reduction - client loss due to economic conditions can qualify, but voluntarily closing wouldn't. Unlike during the pandemic, there's no longer a special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program specifically for self-employed people, but you may still qualify under regular UI depending on your specific situation.

Just went through this exact same thing! Had my home renovation business for 5 years and everything dried up in February. Took me FOREVER to get anyone at TWC on the phone. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have a system that waits on hold for you and calls you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh But yeah, the TWC agent told me I had to apply just like a regular employee would, but I needed to mark myself as self-employed and be ready to submit all my business financials. Good luck!

Yeah it worked great for me! Only way I finally got someone on the phone after trying for 2 weeks straight. The woman I talked to at TWC was actually super helpful once I got through.

The TWC system is DESIGNED to frustrate self-employed people!!!! It's RIGGED against small business owners who actually create jobs in this economy. I ran my landscaping company for 7 years before I had to close down in 2024 and they put me through ABSOLUTE HELL trying to get benefits. Made me upload the same documents SIX TIMES and then claimed they never received them!!! The whole system is corrupt - they don't want to pay out to anybody who actually deserves it!!!!

To answer your question about client cancellations - yes, that would typically qualify as circumstances beyond your control, especially if you have documentation showing the clients specifically cited economic reasons for terminating contracts. Make sure to upload any cancellation emails or letters as supporting documents with your claim. Regarding timeline: initial processing typically takes 2-3 weeks if everything goes smoothly, but it can take longer for self-employed claims since they require additional review. If you're concerned about immediate financial needs, mention that when you speak with a TWC representative - they may be able to prioritize your claim.

hey just wondering has anyone else had problem with the work search requirement when self employed? like what are we supposed to put for that? i've been applying to regular jobs but also trying to find new clients for my graphic design work, but TWC keeps saying my work searches aren't valid when I list client pitches...am i doing something wrong?

I was self-employed as a contractor for 4 years before applying for benefits last fall. One tip that helped me: when you first apply, be super clear about having a legitimate business that experienced an involuntary reduction. I made the mistake of just checking "unemployed" without explaining my situation, and it caused weeks of delays while they tried to find employer records that didn't exist. Also, keep detailed notes of every conversation, including agent names and ID numbers. I had to reference these multiple times when information wasn't properly recorded in my file. Good luck with your claim!

Yes, I eventually got approved after about 5 weeks total. They based my benefit amount on my net profit from my Schedule C, not my gross income (which was disappointing). I think I ended up getting about 40% of what I was making before. Not great, but it helped keep the lights on while I found new work.

As someone who just went through this process as a freelance web developer, I can share what worked for me. The key is being extremely organized with your documentation from day one. Here's what I wish I'd known before starting: 1. Gather ALL your business records first - tax returns, 1099s, bank statements showing business income, client contracts, and any termination notices 2. When you apply online, there's a section where you can explain your work situation - use this to clearly state you were self-employed and why your business income stopped 3. Don't just say "lost clients" - be specific about external factors (like "clients reduced marketing budgets due to economic conditions") 4. Screenshot everything in the system and save confirmation numbers The whole process took me about 6 weeks, but I think being super detailed in my initial application helped avoid some of the back-and-forth others experienced. They did base my benefits on my net Schedule C income, so make sure you understand how that might affect your benefit amount. One last tip: start your work search activities right away, even while your claim is processing. You'll need to report them once you start receiving benefits, and having a head start helps.

I just went through this process as a self-employed photographer whose wedding bookings completely dried up. Here's what I learned that might help: The application process is the same as regular employees, but you'll need way more documentation. I had to provide: - Last 2 years of tax returns (they wanted to see income patterns) - Business bank statements for the past 6 months - Any contracts or emails showing client cancellations - Proof that my business was legitimate (business license, insurance, etc.) The tricky part is proving your income loss was "involuntary." I documented how COVID restrictions and economic uncertainty caused couples to postpone weddings - basically showing it wasn't my choice to lose business. One thing that surprised me: they calculated benefits based on my net Schedule C profit, not gross revenue. So if you had a lot of business expenses, your benefit amount might be lower than expected. Also, start your work search documentation immediately. For self-employed folks, they accept networking activities, client outreach, and business development efforts - not just traditional job applications. Just be very detailed in how you document these activities. The whole process took about 4 weeks for me, but staying organized and being proactive with documentation really helped avoid delays. Good luck!

I'm also self-employed (freelance graphic designer) and just started this process last week after losing 3 major clients in January. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying! One thing I'm still confused about - when they ask for "proof of income," do they want just the tax returns or also things like invoices and payment records? I've been keeping detailed records of all my client work but I'm not sure how much documentation is too much vs not enough. Also, has anyone had experience with the TWC representatives understanding freelance/creative work? I'm worried they won't get that my income naturally fluctuates month to month and that client cancellations really aren't within my control. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - it's making me feel less alone in this process!

As someone who went through this exact process as a freelance marketing consultant last year, I can definitely relate to your situation! The good news is that you're asking the right questions upfront. Here's what worked for me: You'll apply through the same online system as regular employees, but when it asks about your employment status, make sure to select "self-employed" and be very detailed in the explanation field about your business and why your income dropped. For documentation, gather everything now: your 2024 tax returns (especially Schedule C), any 1099s you received, bank statements showing business income, and most importantly - those client cancellation emails! Even if they just say "pausing services," that still shows the loss was beyond your control. The TWC reps I spoke with actually understood freelance work better than I expected. They see a lot of self-employed claims, especially in creative/consulting fields. The key is being super clear that you didn't choose to close your business - external economic factors caused your clients to cut services. One tip: start documenting potential work search activities now (networking, client outreach, updating your portfolio) because you'll need to report 3 activities per week once approved. And yes, the benefits are calculated on your net Schedule C income, so factor that in when planning your budget. The whole process took me about 5 weeks, but having everything organized upfront really helped. You've got this!

I went through this process as a freelance web developer about 8 months ago, so I can share some recent experience! The short answer is yes, you apply through the same system as regular employees, but there are definitely some key differences to be aware of. When you apply online, make sure to clearly indicate you were self-employed - don't just say "unemployed" because that can cause confusion and delays. In the work history section, you'll list yourself as both the employee and employer. For your situation specifically, losing 75% of your clients due to their budget cuts would likely qualify as involuntary income loss. The key is documenting this properly. Save any emails where clients mention cutting expenses, reducing marketing spend, etc. Even if they just said "pausing services," that helps show it wasn't your decision. You'll need your 2024 tax returns (Schedule C), any 1099s, bank statements showing business income, and documentation of the client losses. They calculate benefits based on your net Schedule C profit, so keep that in mind when estimating potential benefit amounts. One thing I wish I'd known: start tracking work search activities immediately, even while your claim is processing. You'll need 3 per week once approved, and activities like networking, client outreach, and business development can count - not just traditional job applications. The process took me about 6 weeks total, but being organized with documentation upfront really helped avoid the back-and-forth delays others have experienced. Good luck!

I just went through this process as a self-employed IT consultant and wanted to share what I learned! The application process is the same system as regular employees, but there are definitely some key things to know upfront. First, when you apply online, there's a section asking about your work status - make sure you select "self-employed" rather than just "unemployed." This prevents confusion later. You'll also list your business name as your "employer" in the work history section. For your specific situation with losing 75% of clients due to their budget cuts, that absolutely qualifies as involuntary income loss. Save all those cancellation emails - even vague ones about "pausing services" help demonstrate the loss was beyond your control. Documentation you'll need: - 2024 tax returns (especially Schedule C) - Any 1099s you received - Bank statements showing business income patterns - Client cancellation emails/contracts - Business license or registration (if you have it) Important heads up: benefits are calculated on your NET Schedule C income after business expenses, not your gross revenue. So if you had significant deductible expenses, your benefit amount might be lower than expected. Start documenting work search activities now, even before you're approved. You'll need 3 per week, and for self-employed folks, networking events, client outreach, and business development activities all count alongside traditional job applications. The whole process took me about 4-5 weeks. Being super organized with documentation upfront really helps avoid delays. You've got this - the system is confusing but definitely navigable with the right prep!