Can I apply for unemployment if I'm self employed - Washington ESD eligibility?

Unfortunately, traditional unemployment benefits in Washington require you to have been an employee who paid into the UI system through payroll deductions. Self-employed individuals typically aren't eligible for regular UI benefits because they haven't been paying into the system as employees.

I was in a similar situation last year - I had been doing gig work and freelancing but no regular W-2 employment. Washington ESD told me I wasn't eligible for regular UI because I hadn't earned wages as an employee. It's frustrating because we pay taxes too but apparently that doesn't count.

Actually, you might want to call Washington ESD directly to ask about your specific situation. Sometimes there are edge cases or recent changes that aren't well publicized. I've heard getting through can be tough though - there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people actually reach ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

There might be some confusion here. During the pandemic there were special programs for self-employed people but those ended. For regular Washington ESD unemployment, you need to have been laid off or had your hours reduced as an employee. The system is based on employer contributions and employee wages.

wait i thought anyone could get unemployment? ive never had a real job either just do doordash and stuff

I'm going through something similar - been doing consulting work for 3 years and now clients are cutting budgets. The whole system seems designed for traditional employees only. Have you looked into any small business assistance programs?

The only way self-employed people can get regular UI in Washington is if they previously had W-2 employment and are still within their benefit year. If you've been self-employed for 2 years straight with no employee wages, you won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits.

This is exactly why I hate the gig economy - no safety net when things go bad. Companies get all the benefits of our work but none of the responsibilities of actual employment.

Have you considered filing anyway just to see what happens? Sometimes the system might have information about previous employment that you forgot about or didn't realize counted.

I tried using Claimyr when I needed to talk to ESD about my claim issues and it actually worked pretty well. Saved me from spending hours on hold. Might be worth it if you decide to apply and need to talk to someone about your situation.

Don't give up hope completely - there might be other state programs for people in your situation. DSHS has some assistance programs that don't require employment history like UI does.

just apply online and see what happens. worst case they say no but maybe you have some old job that qualifies you that you forgot about

The whole unemployment system is such a joke. They make it so hard to qualify and then even harder to actually get benefits. I hope you find something that works for you.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add that even if you can't get UI, there are food assistance programs and other help available. Don't be too proud to use resources that are there to help people in tough times.

Good luck with everything! Keep us posted on what you find out. I'm sure there are other freelancers in similar situations who could benefit from knowing what options are available.