Can you collect unemployment if you're self-employed in Washington state?

That's what I was afraid of. I never paid unemployment taxes since I was 1099. Are there any other programs that might help?

You might want to look into other assistance programs through DSHS or local workforce development, but for unemployment specifically, you'd need to have been an employee with reported wages.

Actually yes! I did some part-time contract work through a temp agency last year where they took out taxes. Would that count?

If they were taking out unemployment taxes and reporting wages to Washington ESD, then yes, that could potentially qualify you. You'd need to check if you have enough wages in your base period.

This is exactly the kind of situation where you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. The eligibility requirements can be complex when you have mixed employment types.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally got my questions answered after months of trying!

Is that legit? I'm so desperate at this point I'll try anything to get through to someone who can actually help.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Way better than the frustration of getting disconnected constantly.

I get the frustration but unemployment insurance is specifically funded by employer payroll taxes. If you're self-employed, you technically are the employer and employee, but the system wasn't designed for that.

Well maybe the system needs to change then! Small business owners and freelancers are part of the economy too.

Thank you, this is really helpful. I'll gather my tax documents and see what wages were actually reported to Washington ESD.

Also make sure to apply quickly if you think you might qualify. There are time limits on when you can file after becoming unemployed.

That was PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) which ended in 2021. Those special pandemic programs are no longer available.

oh okay that makes sense. too bad cause it really helped him out

Each state has its own unemployment system, but most follow similar federal guidelines. The key is always whether you paid into the system as an employee.

Some states are experimenting with portable benefits for gig workers, but Washington hasn't implemented anything like that yet as far as I know.

That's not a bad idea for multiple reasons. Having employees also gives you more credibility with bigger clients.

True, plus then I'd be paying into unemployment insurance and would actually be eligible if I needed it.

That's really helpful context. So even if I made good money as a consultant, if it was all 1099 income, it doesn't matter for unemployment purposes?

Correct. 1099 income doesn't generate UI eligibility because no unemployment taxes were paid on it. You need W-2 wages where the employer paid UI taxes to Washington ESD.

This is why I always recommend people keep some part-time W-2 work even when freelancing full-time. Gives you that safety net.

That's rough. Did you ever consider setting up your business as an LLC and paying yourself as an employee? I've heard some people do that.

I looked into it but the paperwork and costs seemed complicated. Plus I wasn't making enough to justify all the extra overhead.

How do I figure out what my base period is? This is getting more complicated than I expected.

The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at October 2023 through September 2024. You can find this info on the Washington ESD website.

That's exactly right. The worst they can say is no, and if you do have qualifying wages, you'll be glad you applied sooner rather than later.

Plus if you get denied, you can always appeal if you think they made a mistake. The appeals process exists for a reason.

Good to know that service actually works. I might try that if I can't figure out my eligibility on my own.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke so if it's expensive I can't afford it.

It's worth checking their website at claimyr.com - they focus on getting you through to the right person rather than charging a lot. Way less frustrating than trying to call yourself.

Great! Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply, including the exact dates and employer details.

Keep us posted on how it goes. I'm sure others in similar situations would want to know the outcome.

Will do! Hopefully this works out because the bills aren't going to pay themselves.

Best of luck with your application! It's encouraging to see someone actually found qualifying wages. For others reading this - it's really worth digging through old tax documents and pay stubs. Sometimes we forget about shorter-term jobs that might still count toward eligibility.

This gives me hope! I'm in a similar situation where I've been mostly self-employed but did some contract work through an agency last year. I never really thought about whether they were taking out unemployment taxes or not. Definitely going to go through my old paperwork this weekend and see what I can find.

That's awesome! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation as the original poster - been freelancing for a couple years and things have really slowed down. I completely forgot about some part-time work I did through a staffing agency about 8 months ago. They definitely took taxes out of my paychecks so there's a good chance unemployment taxes were included. Thanks for sharing your update - it's given me the motivation to actually dig through all my paperwork and see if I might qualify too. Fingers crossed for both of us!

This is really encouraging to hear! I'm in a similar boat - been doing freelance graphic design for about 18 months but had completely forgotten about a short stint I did at a marketing firm through a temp agency earlier this year. They definitely treated me as a W-2 employee for those few months. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful in understanding how the system actually works. I had no idea that even a relatively small amount of W-2 wages could potentially make you eligible. Definitely going to apply this week and see what happens. Thanks for keeping us updated!

This is such great news! Your update gives me real hope. I'm actually the original poster (Lucas) and I'm definitely going to follow your lead and dig through all my old records this weekend. I completely forgot that temp agencies usually do treat you as a W-2 employee even for short-term work. It's amazing how these details can slip your mind when you're mainly focused on building your consulting business. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's exactly the kind of real-world outcome that helps the rest of us know this process can actually work out!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - been doing freelance web development for about 2 years but had some part-time work at a tech startup last year where I was definitely getting W-2 treatment. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize I should stop assuming I don't qualify and actually look into it. Going to gather all my employment records this weekend and apply next week. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - it's exactly what those of us in the gig economy need to hear!

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been freelancing as a writer for the past year and completely forgot about a 3-month contract I had with a local nonprofit where they put me on their payroll as a temporary employee. I was so focused on thinking of myself as "self-employed" that I didn't even consider those W-2 wages might count. Going to pull out my tax documents tonight and see if I have enough qualifying wages. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate the ESD website alone!