Can you file for unemployment after a contract job ends in Washington?

Contract work eligibility depends on how you were classified. If you were a true 1099 independent contractor, you typically can't collect regular unemployment benefits because no UI taxes were withheld from your pay. However, if you were misclassified and should have been an employee (W-2), you might have a case. Washington ESD will investigate your work arrangement during the adjudication process.

I had a similar situation last year with a marketing contract that ended early. Filed anyway and Washington ESD actually approved my claim after investigating. Turns out the company had been treating me more like an employee than a contractor - they controlled my work hours, provided training, and I worked exclusively for them. The adjudication took about 3 weeks but I got benefits backdated to when I first filed.

honestly the whole contractor vs employee thing is so confusing these days. companies love to call everyone contractors to avoid paying benefits but then want to control everything you do. if you were doing the same work as their regular employees just apply and see what happens

You should definitely apply for Washington ESD benefits. Even if you were properly classified as a contractor, it's worth letting them investigate. I struggled for weeks trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD to ask about my eligibility after my freelance work dried up. The phone lines are impossible - constant busy signals and disconnections. Finally discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real person at Washington ESD. Used it twice now and both times got connected within minutes instead of hours of calling. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The key factors Washington ESD looks at for contract work are: did you control how the work was done, did you provide your own tools/equipment, do you work for multiple clients, and do you have opportunity for profit or loss? If most answers are yes, you're probably a true contractor. But like others said, definitely still apply because the determination isn't always obvious.

APPLY ANYWAY! worst case they say no but you might be surprised. I thought I had zero chance after my consulting gig ended but Washington ESD approved me because the company had too much control over my work. don't leave money on the table!

One thing to be prepared for - if Washington ESD determines you were misclassified, they might go after your former company for unpaid unemployment taxes. This can create some tension but it's not your fault if the company classified you incorrectly.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. My contract ended in December and I'm still waiting to hear back from Washington ESD about my eligibility. The waiting is killing me financially but I keep filing my weekly claims just in case.

Quick question - did you pay estimated taxes on your contract income? If you did, that might help show you were operating as a legitimate contractor. Just another data point for Washington ESD to consider.

whatever you do don't let them discourage you from applying. I had a claims rep tell me over the phone that contract workers never qualify, but I applied online anyway and got approved after adjudication. some reps don't know all the nuances

Also keep in mind that even if you don't qualify for regular UI benefits, you might be eligible for other programs or services through WorkSource Washington. They have resources for contractors and freelancers looking for work.

The whole system is set up to discourage people from applying. File your claim online, provide all the documentation you can about your work arrangement, and be patient with the adjudication process. Don't take no for an answer unless it comes from the official determination letter.

been there! my web design contract got cut short and I was so stressed about money. turned out I qualified because they were controlling too much of how I did the work. Washington ESD really does look at the whole picture not just the 1099 vs W2 classification

Pro tip: when you apply, be very detailed about your work arrangement in the application. Don't just say 'contractor' - explain exactly how much control the company had over your work, schedule, methods, etc. The more specific you are, the better Washington ESD can evaluate your situation.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to Washington ESD in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying to call for days. The rep was able to explain exactly what documents I needed for my contractor eligibility review.

Bottom line: apply for Washington ESD benefits regardless of your classification. Let them make the determination based on all the facts. You might be surprised by the outcome, and you definitely won't get benefits if you don't apply at all.

I went through a similar situation with contract work last year and wanted to share what I learned. Even though I was technically a 1099 contractor, Washington ESD approved my claim because they found the company had too much control over my work methods and schedule. The key is in the details - document everything about your working relationship, including any training they provided, equipment you used, how your schedule was set, and whether you worked exclusively for them. Don't get discouraged by conflicting information online - the only way to know for sure is to apply and let ESD investigate. The adjudication process took about 3-4 weeks for me, but I received back pay for all the weeks I had filed. Even if you're not sure about your eligibility, it's worth applying since you have nothing to lose and potentially significant benefits to gain.

I'm in almost the exact same boat! My marketing contract ended unexpectedly last month and I've been going back and forth on whether to apply. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening - it sounds like the classification isn't always as black and white as I thought. My contract company required me to use their CRM system, attend weekly strategy meetings, and follow their brand guidelines pretty strictly, even though I was paid as a 1099. Based on what others have shared, it seems like those control factors might actually work in my favor during the adjudication process. I think I'm going to follow everyone's advice and just apply - worst case they say no, but at least I'll know for sure rather than wondering "what if." Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process!