Can freelancers get unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

That's what I was afraid of. I did have some part-time W-2 work last year though - would that count for anything?

Yes! If you had W-2 employment within the base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters), you might qualify. You'd need to meet the minimum wage requirements though.

ugh tell me about it, I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my adjudication

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it through a YouTube demo (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in under 30 minutes. Way better than the endless hold times. Check out claimyr.com - totally worth it when you need to talk to someone about complex employment situations.

Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than the regular phone nightmare

I worked part-time at a marketing agency for about 8 months last year. Made around $18,000 from that job. Would that be enough?

That might work! Washington requires at least $1,000 in wages in your base period, plus wages in at least two quarters. You'd need to file a claim to see if you meet all requirements.

That's not great advice. Filing a claim you don't qualify for can create issues later. Better to understand the requirements first.

fair enough but the rules are so confusing anyway

Did you ever find any other assistance programs for freelancers?

Not really. There are some local small business resources but nothing like unemployment insurance. The gig economy really needs better safety nets.

How long did it take to get someone on the phone?

That's the thing - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got through in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 3+ hour wait times. Totally worth it for complex questions like this.

I understand the frustration, but the system is based on employer/employee contributions. Freelancers haven't been paying into the unemployment insurance fund.

Then they should create a system where we CAN pay in if we want to!

Some states are exploring portable benefits for gig workers, but Washington doesn't have that yet.

Good luck! Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file.

If you run into any issues during the filing process, that Claimyr service can help you reach Washington ESD agents quickly. Really useful for getting questions answered in real time.

What do you do when work is slow? Any other resources?

Emergency assistance programs, food banks, sometimes family help. Not great options but better than nothing.

That gives me hope! I'm going to file tomorrow and see what happens.

This is exactly right. Also remember that if you're approved, you'll still need to do job searches and be available for suitable work.

The job search requirement is tricky for freelancers. Do they expect you to look for traditional employment or can you look for freelance clients?

Generally you need to look for suitable employment similar to your past work. If your base period wages were from traditional employment, you'd typically need to search for similar positions.

What kind of other programs?

SNAP, TANF, emergency rental assistance, utility help. Each has different requirements but worth checking into.

You can request your wage history from Washington ESD to see exactly what's been reported. That's the best way to know if you'd qualify.

If you need help interpreting your wage history or filing a claim, using Claimyr to talk to a Washington ESD agent can really clarify things. Much easier than trying to figure it out from the website alone.

PUA was supposed to help but that's long gone now. Back to the same old problems.

PUA was a temporary federal program. The regular state UI system hasn't changed much for independent contractors.

Hope it goes smoothly! The adjudication process can take a few weeks but sounds like you have a good chance.

Keep checking your account regularly and respond quickly to any requests for information. That helps speed up the process.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out - would be helpful for other freelancers in similar situations.

That's awesome news! I'm in a similar boat - mostly freelance but had some contract work last year. Your experience gives me hope that it might be worth applying. Did you have to provide any special documentation about your freelance work, or did they only care about the W-2 wages from the marketing agency?

They only asked about the W-2 wages! I didn't need to provide any documentation about my freelance income at all. They just verified my employment at the marketing agency and the wages that were reported to Washington ESD. The freelance work was completely separate from the eligibility determination. Definitely worth applying if you had any traditional employment in your base period!