Can real estate agents get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Unfortunately, independent contractors typically don't qualify for regular unemployment insurance in Washington. Real estate agents are usually classified as 1099 contractors, not W-2 employees, which means you haven't been paying into the UI system.

I'm in the same boat! Been a realtor for 4 years and never qualified for unemployment. It's one of the downsides of being self-employed.

Actually, you should call Washington ESD directly to discuss your specific situation. Sometimes there are nuances that aren't obvious. I had trouble getting through their phone lines though - super busy all the time. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

The general rule is that if you haven't been paying into unemployment insurance through payroll deductions, you can't collect benefits. Real estate commissions don't count as wages for UI purposes in Washington state.

have you looked into other assistance programs? food stamps, rental assistance, etc? might be easier to qualify for than unemployment

One thing to clarify - did you have ANY W-2 employment in the past 18 months? Even part-time work? Washington ESD looks at all your wages during the base period to determine eligibility.

Wait, I'm confused. If he's still working as a real estate agent, wouldn't he fail the able and available requirement? You have to be available for full-time work to get unemployment.

Definitely call Washington ESD to discuss your retail job from 2023. They can tell you exactly what wages qualify and what your weekly benefit amount would be. Like I mentioned before, I used Claimyr to get through to an agent when I had questions about my claim eligibility.

The system is so confusing! I'm also self-employed and have been trying to figure out if I qualify for anything. Might have to give up my business and get a regular job just to have some security.

For anyone reading this thread - here's the key info: Washington unemployment benefits are based on W-2 wages only. Independent contractor income doesn't count. However, if you had ANY W-2 employment in your base period (roughly the past 12-18 months), you might qualify for benefits based on those wages.

This is why I tell people to keep at least some part-time W-2 work even when doing real estate. Gives you that safety net for situations like this.

ugh the whole system is set up against freelancers and gig workers. we pay taxes but get none of the benefits

OP, based on what you said about retail work in 2023, I'd strongly recommend filing a claim. Even if the benefit amount is small, it's better than nothing. You can always supplement with part-time work while looking for something more stable.

Good luck! Hope it works out for you. The real estate market has been rough lately.

Keep us posted on how it goes with your claim!

Just wanted to mention that if you do qualify, you'll need to do the weekly job search requirements. Make sure you understand what Washington ESD expects for your job search log.

Also remember you have to report any real estate income you do get while collecting benefits. They'll reduce your weekly payment if you earn too much.

One more time for anyone who needs to talk to Washington ESD directly - Claimyr really does help get you through to an agent faster. Worth checking out at claimyr.com if you're having trouble with the phone lines.

Hope this thread helps other real estate agents who might be in similar situations. It's good to know there might be options even for us contractors.

Good luck with everything OP. The market will turn around eventually.

I'm in a similar situation as a freelance graphic designer - been struggling with inconsistent income and wondering about my options. This thread has been really eye-opening about the W-2 wage requirements. I had a part-time marketing job last year that I totally forgot about. Going to look into filing a claim too. It's frustrating how the system works against independent contractors, but at least there might be some hope if you've had traditional employment recently. Thanks for asking this question OP - you've helped more people than just yourself!

This whole conversation has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a freelancer (photographer) and had no idea that previous W-2 wages could still count toward unemployment eligibility. I worked at a coffee shop for about 8 months in early 2023 before going full-time with my photography business. The creative industries have been hit hard lately and I've been barely scraping by. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that I might actually qualify for some benefits. It's really frustrating that the system doesn't recognize our self-employment income, but at least knowing about the W-2 wage option is something. Going to gather my old pay stubs and file a claim this week!