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.