Can a 1099 contractor get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

That's what I was afraid of. Is there any way to appeal this or prove that I should have been classified as an employee instead of contractor?

You could potentially challenge the classification if you believe you were misclassified, but that's a complex process involving the Department of Labor.

That was the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, but it ended in 2021. Regular Washington ESD unemployment is back to traditional eligibility requirements.

Oh darn, I didn't realize those programs were temporary. Thanks for clarifying.

How much did that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

It was worth it to get a definitive answer instead of guessing. Way better than spending days trying to call on my own.

Interesting, never heard of that service before. Might be useful for other Washington ESD questions too.

I did have a part-time W-2 job about 10 months ago that I worked for 3 months. Would that count?

Potentially yes! You'd need to check if those wages fall within your base period when you file. Washington ESD looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters.

I understand the frustration, but the system is designed around traditional employer-employee relationships where both parties pay into the UI fund.

still doesnt make it less frustrating when you need help and cant get it

Should I mention the 1099 work at all in the application, or just focus on the W-2 employment?

Be honest about all work. The 1099 income might affect your weekly benefit amount but won't disqualify you if you have sufficient W-2 wages.

This is exactly what happened to me last year. Had 1099 work but qualified based on previous W-2 job.

Good point, I should probably explore all options. Do you know where to find information about those programs?

Washington state has a benefits finder tool on their main website that can help identify what programs you might qualify for.

That gives me hope! How long did the approval process take?

About 3 weeks total. Had to provide some additional documentation about my previous W-2 job but nothing too complicated.

Did you have to do job search activities while freelancing? How does that work?

Yes, still had to log job search activities. I counted applying to agencies and networking as valid job search activities.

47 times?! That's insane. The phone system definitely needs fixing.

Yeah it was ridiculous. The Claimyr thing was a game changer though - actually got my questions answered instead of just getting hung up on.

What's a self-employment plan? Can I keep doing freelance work while collecting benefits?

It's a special program where you can start a business while on unemployment, but you have to get approved first and meet specific requirements.

I looked into that self-employment program but it seemed really complicated with lots of paperwork and requirements.

I can definitely work normal business hours. The flexibility was just a perk of the freelance work, not a requirement.

That's good. Some people get tripped up on the availability requirements, especially if they were used to very flexible schedules.

Good to know. What's the threshold where you lose benefits completely?

It depends on your weekly benefit amount, but generally if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive any benefits that week.

And don't forget to report gross earnings, not net. A lot of people make that mistake and get overpayment notices later.

You're right, I should just apply and see what happens. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Good luck! Hope it works out for you. The job market for freelancers has been tough lately.

Thanks! I'll update this thread once I hear back from Washington ESD about my application.