Can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits if I own a small business?

I spend maybe 10-15 hours a week on it, mostly evenings. Does that make a difference?

That might help your case, but you'll need to report any business income on your weekly claims and show you're actively seeking other employment.

Wait, so if I make $100 from my business one week, they subtract $95 from my unemployment check?

Exactly. And if your business income exceeds your weekly benefit amount, you get $0 for that week.

That seems harsh but I guess it makes sense. Better than nothing when business is slow.

Six weeks for adjudication?? I can't wait that long to find out if I qualify.

I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD faster. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made a huge difference in getting my questions answered.

Oh no, I didn't think about that. It was over a year ago though, does that matter?

If it's been over a year and you've had other qualifying employment since then, it might not be an issue. What work history do you have since starting the business?

I did some contract work for about 8 months this year, paying into unemployment. Would that help?

What's a base period? This unemployment stuff is so confusing.

Base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your weekly benefit amount and determine if you have enough wages to qualify.

45 minutes isn't bad! I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my own claim.

That's where Claimyr really helped me. Instead of spending hours trying to get through, they handle the calling for you and get you connected when an agent is available.

Is that expensive though? I'm already strapped for cash.

It's worth it when you need answers fast. Check their website for current pricing, but it saved me so much time and stress.

The key is showing you're available for other work. If you're treating your business as part-time while actively job searching, you might qualify. Document everything though.

Good to know. I spend maybe 20 hours a week on it but could easily reduce that if I got a regular job.

I'm not trying to game anything. My business is failing and I need help paying bills while looking for stable work.

There's nothing wrong with following the rules as they're written. If someone qualifies under Washington ESD guidelines, they're entitled to benefits.

whatever. still seems unfair to those of us who got laid off

They typically want profit/loss statements, client payment records, tax documents, and a detailed breakdown of hours worked. Better to provide too much documentation than too little.

Thanks, I'll gather everything. This process is more involved than I expected.

Good luck! My adjudication took forever but eventually got approved. Just be completely honest about everything.

Thanks, fingers crossed. The waiting is stressful but at least the process is moving forward.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Can be applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records.

Good reminder. I've been applying to jobs anyway but need to start tracking everything properly.

Wait, really? That seems like it would make most business owners ineligible if they have any expenses.

That's exactly why many self-employed people can't collect unemployment. The system wasn't really designed for business owners.

Actually, Washington ESD does allow for some business expense deductions in certain cases. It's complicated though and varies by situation.

If you start a business while collecting benefits, you need to report it immediately. Failing to disclose could result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back with penalties.

Yeah, definitely not worth the risk. I'll stick to job searching for now.

Congrats! That's great news. How much did they reduce your weekly amount?

My weekly benefit would normally be $650 but with my average business income it's more like $400-500 depending on the week. Still makes a huge difference.

That's actually not too bad considering you get to keep running your business too.

Good luck! Just be prepared for lots of paperwork and questions. But it's definitely worth it if you qualify.

If you run into trouble reaching Washington ESD agents during the process, definitely consider using Claimyr. Saved me so much hassle.

Good point. I'm being super careful about reporting everything, even small amounts. Not worth the risk.

Overpayment issues can be a nightmare to resolve. Always better to over-report than under-report.

Really? Even if you're self-employed?

yeah if youre collecting unemployment benefits you have to do all the same requirements as everyone else

Great summary! Bookmarking this thread for future reference.

And don't forget - if you need to talk to Washington ESD during the process, Claimyr can save you hours of phone tag. Worth checking out if you're struggling to get through.

Absolutely. Getting through to an actual person when you have questions is half the battle with Washington ESD.