Can 1099 employees collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

That's what I was afraid of. I paid self-employment taxes but I guess that's different from UI contributions.

Yeah the self-employment tax goes to Social Security and Medicare, not state unemployment insurance.

How would I know if I was misclassified? They gave me a lot of control over my work schedule and I used my own equipment.

It's not just about schedule and equipment. If they controlled HOW you did the work, provided training, or you worked exclusively for them, you might have been misclassified. Washington ESD has specific criteria they use.

Did they tell you if contractor work could qualify for unemployment?

In my case, they determined I was properly classified as a contractor so no UI benefits. But they explained the whole process and what would need to change for me to qualify in the future.

How much does that Claimyr service cost? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim.

I feel you. Been there myself. The bureaucracy is overwhelming when you're already stressed about money.

I understand the frustration, but the rules exist to prevent fraud and ensure benefits go to eligible workers. The system isn't perfect but there are reasons for the requirements.

What kind of other programs? I haven't heard of anything for contractors.

Check with DSHS for food assistance, housing programs, utility assistance, etc. Also look into Small Business Administration programs if you're registered as a business.

You're thinking of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). That was a temporary federal program that ended in 2021. It's no longer available.

Oh man, that sucks. So we're back to the old rules where contractors get nothing?

Correct. The pandemic programs were temporary federal assistance. Regular state UI rules are back in effect.

Which states have those programs? Maybe I should consider relocating if the work situation doesn't improve.

I think California has some provisions, but you'd need to research the specific requirements. Plus you usually need work history in that state to qualify.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to prioritize W-2 jobs in my search now. The flexibility of contractor work isn't worth the lack of benefits.

That's a smart approach. Even part-time W-2 work can help you build up UI eligibility while you maintain contractor clients.

Someone mentioned misclassification earlier. How do I report that to Washington ESD if I think that happened?

You can file a worker classification request with Washington ESD. They'll investigate and determine if you were properly classified. If not, the employer might owe back taxes and you could become eligible for benefits.

Exactly why it's important to understand the criteria. It's not just about what the employer calls you - it's about the actual working relationship.

Right, and most people don't realize they can challenge the classification after the fact.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - saved me hours of trying to get through on my own. Worth it just for the time savings.

I might have to try that. Getting a straight answer shouldn't be this difficult.

Thanks for the confirmation. Guess I need to focus on finding W-2 work and other assistance programs for now.

Yeah, that's what they told me too. They did mention I could apply if I had ANY W-2 wages in the base period, even if most of my income was 1099.

I did some freelance work through a temp agency about a year ago. Would that count as W-2 wages?

If the temp agency issued you a W-2 and paid unemployment taxes on those wages, then yes! You should definitely file a claim and let Washington ESD determine your eligibility.

Good point. The key is whether UI taxes were paid on any of your wages during the base period. Mix of 1099 and W-2 work is actually pretty common.

Glad it's useful for others too. Wish this info was easier to find on the Washington ESD website.

What kind of documentation do they need for 1099 work if I'm filing based on W-2 wages?

Mainly for the work search requirements - they want to know your full employment history and skills. Plus if your 1099 income affects your weekly benefit calculation.

Good point. I still have a couple small clients that might send occasional work.

Yeah, any income from work needs to be reported in the week you earn it, not when you get paid. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that.

Same here! I'm going to look for that temp agency paperwork. Even if it's not much, it might be enough to qualify for something.

Good luck! Remember you need wages in at least two quarters of your base period to qualify, and there are minimum wage requirements too.

That's awesome! Gives me hope that my temp work might qualify too. How long did the application take?

The online application was pretty quick, maybe 30 minutes. Now I'm in the waiting period to see if it gets approved and what the benefit amount will be.

I think I'm going to try that service too. This is all more complicated than I expected and I want to make sure I do everything right.

Yeah, it's worth it for the peace of mind. They can walk you through the whole process and make sure you're not missing anything.

This is really helpful information! I'm going to check my records for that base period you mentioned. Quick question - do you know if there's a minimum amount of W-2 wages needed to qualify? I might have had some small amounts from odd jobs but not sure if it would be enough to meet Washington ESD's requirements.