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.