Can I file for Washington ESD unemployment if I'm self employed - confused about eligibility

That's what I was afraid of. So there's literally no safety net for people like us?

There might be some exceptions depending on how your business was set up. Did you ever pay yourself as an employee or just take distributions?

I did some contract work for a company last year where they treated me as a 1099 contractor. Would that count as covered employment?

1099 contract work is generally not considered covered employment for UI purposes since no unemployment taxes were withheld. You'd need W-2 employment where your employer paid into the UI system.

Wait, I'm confused about this too. I've been freelancing but also had a part-time job at a retail store. Does that change anything?

Thanks for the tip! I've been dreading trying to call them. Did they give you a clear answer about your eligibility?

Yeah, the agent was able to look at my wage history and explain exactly why I didn't qualify. At least I knew for sure instead of wondering.

I know right? Self-employed people pay taxes too but get no protection when business goes bad.

The UI system is funded by employer contributions, which is why it's limited to traditional employment relationships. Self-employed individuals don't pay into the system.

Good point. I did have a regular job about 18 months ago before I went full-time self-employed. Would that be too old?

It might be right on the edge. Washington ESD looks at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters for your base period. You'd need to check exactly when you worked and how much you earned.

how do you check your wage history? is that on the secure access washington site?

That's a good point. You have to be able and available for suitable work, which could conflict with running a business depending on your situation.

I hadn't even thought about that aspect. This is getting more complicated than I expected.

That's actually a more straightforward case since you have covered W-2 employment. The freelance income would need to be reported if you file a claim, but it shouldn't prevent eligibility.

Oh really? I thought any self-employment would disqualify you completely.

Not necessarily. You can have self-employment income while collecting UI, but it gets deducted from your weekly benefit amount based on specific formulas.

EXACTLY! The rules were written decades ago when everyone had one full-time job their whole career.

There have been some discussions about expanding UI coverage, but currently Washington state follows the traditional model of employer-funded benefits for covered employment.

Did they give you a specific reason in the denial letter?

something about no covered wages in the base period. basically said I was only self employed so no benefits

I think I'm going to have to do that. Better to know for sure than keep wondering.

never heard of claimyr before but might check it out. tired of getting disconnected when calling washington esd

This is really helpful. I'm going to dig through my paperwork tonight and see what I can find.

good advice. i always forget about that old job i had before going freelance

That timeframe actually covers when I was still working my regular job! I might have a chance after all.

wait so they don't look at your current employment status, just that specific time period?

Correct. The base period wages determine your eligibility and benefit amount. Your current employment status affects your ongoing eligibility while collecting benefits.

It's definitely not well publicized. A lot of people assume self-employment automatically disqualifies you without looking at their full work history.

At this point I'd take whatever I can get. Something is better than nothing.

Washington ESD benefits replace roughly 50% of your average wages, up to the maximum weekly benefit amount. For 2025 that maximum is around $999 per week.

Uber drivers are typically classified as independent contractors, so that wouldn't be covered employment for UI purposes.

ugh, figures. thanks for the info

is there a cost for using that service?

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to get real answers instead of guessing about my eligibility.

That should be enough to establish a valid claim if it falls within your base period. Good luck with the application!

Awesome! Remember to report any self-employment income you're still earning when you file your weekly claims.

hope it works out for you. let us know how it goes

That's great news! $15k should definitely be enough to establish eligibility. Just make sure when you file that you're prepared to answer questions about your current self-employment activities - they'll want to know if you're still actively running your consulting business or if you've put it on hold to focus on job searching.

Glad it helped! I almost didn't bother looking into it at all.

Yeah I saw that on the Washington ESD website. Three job contacts per week I think?

that's right. and they actually check sometimes so keep good records

Thanks! Definitely feeling more hopeful than when I started this thread.

This is really good to know! I was wondering about that since I might still get the occasional small consulting project even while looking for regular employment. Do you know what those thresholds are, or is that something I'd need to ask Washington ESD about when I file?

The thresholds can be pretty complex and they change based on your weekly benefit amount. Generally, Washington ESD allows you to earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. But there are different rules for wages versus self-employment income, so it's definitely worth getting the specifics from them when you file. The key is just being completely transparent about any income you receive while collecting benefits.