Can I collect unemployment if I am self employed in Washington?

I had a part-time job at a marketing agency for about 6 months last year while building my freelance business. Does that count?

Yes, that could make you eligible! Washington ESD looks at your base period earnings from W-2 employment. You'll need to have earned enough wages during your base period to qualify.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found them when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD. They have this service that helps you get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but I'll check it out. I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point!

You might be thinking of the Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), but that's for people who are already receiving regular UI benefits and want to start a business. You have to qualify for regular unemployment first.

Oh that makes sense. So you still need the W-2 employment history to get started.

That's not entirely true. If you had W-2 employment within the past 18 months, you might still qualify based on those wages. The key is having enough earnings during your base period.

I haven't had W-2 employment in years though. All my income has been 1099 or direct client payments.

Same here. Pure 1099 contractor for 3 years. No UI eligibility at all.

How do I know what my base period wages were? I don't have all my old pay stubs.

You don't need to provide that upfront. Washington ESD has access to your wage records from employers. When you file your claim, they'll calculate it automatically.

What counts as a job search activity? Can I apply for freelance gigs or does it have to be traditional employment?

It has to be work that would be covered by unemployment insurance, so generally W-2 employment. Freelance work typically wouldn't count toward your job search requirements.

That's a good point. You might end up in a situation where you're required to look for traditional employment even though you want to continue being self-employed.

How long did it take to get approved? I'm worried about the adjudication process.

Mine took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. No adjudication issues since my employment history was clear. The trickiest part was just getting through to them when I had questions.

What if I just do a small project here and there? Do I really need to report like $100?

Yes, you have to report ALL income. Even $100 needs to be reported on your weekly claim. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this.

And they can find out about unreported income through tax records later, so it's not worth the risk of an overpayment.

Good luck getting through to them! I've been trying for months. The phone lines are constantly busy.

That's where Claimyr comes in handy. I used them last month when I couldn't get through the regular way. They basically keep calling until they get you connected to an agent. Worth every penny when you're stressed about your claim.

That's fine with me at this point. Any income is better than nothing while I try to rebuild my client base.

Exactly! And you can still work on rebuilding your business as long as you're meeting the job search requirements for traditional employment.

I haven't looked into WorkSource yet. Do they help with unemployment claims too?

They don't handle claims directly, but they can help you with job search strategies and connecting with employers. Plus using their services counts toward your job search requirements if you get approved for UI.

What kind of documentation do you mean? I'm not sure what I still have from that part-time job.

Pay stubs, W-2 forms, any employment verification letters. If you don't have everything, you can usually get copies from your former employer or the IRS.

How detailed do the records need to be?

Date, employer name, position applied for, method of contact. I keep a spreadsheet with all this info for each week.

You're right. I think I'll go ahead and file the claim. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

Good luck! Hope it works out for you. The freelance life can be tough when clients disappear.

Absolutely agree - filing is the way to go! I was in a similar situation with freelance writing work that dried up, and I was surprised to learn I qualified based on a retail job I'd had months earlier. The application process itself is pretty straightforward online, and even if there are questions about your claim, it's better to get the ball rolling. @Anastasia Romanov - make sure to file as soon as possible since there s'usually a waiting period before benefits start anyway.