Can you file for unemployment if self employed in Washington state?

Self-employed people generally can't get regular UI benefits in Washington unless they've been paying into the system as both employer and employee. Did you pay unemployment taxes on your business income?

I was in the same boat last year. Self-employed folks typically don't qualify for traditional unemployment benefits because we haven't been paying into the UI system.

Actually, there might be some options. If you had any W-2 employment in the past 18 months alongside your self-employment, you could potentially qualify based on those wages. Also, Washington ESD sometimes has special programs during economic downturns.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to discuss your specific situation with someone at Washington ESD.

just to be clear - if you were ONLY self employed with no w2 wages, you def can't get regular UI benefits. but like others said if you had some w2 work mixed in there might be hope

The key thing is Washington ESD looks at your base year wages - that's typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. If you had enough W-2 wages during that period, you might qualify even if you're currently self-employed.

Even if you qualify based on W-2 wages, you'll need to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment. Being self-employed might complicate that requirement.

The phone situation with Washington ESD is absolutely ridiculous. I've been trying to get answers about my mixed earnings situation for weeks. The automated system just hangs up on you.

This whole system is set up for traditional employees. Those of us who work for ourselves get screwed when things go bad. It's not fair that we pay all these taxes but can't get unemployment help.

You might also want to look into other assistance programs while you figure out the UI situation. Food assistance, emergency rent help, stuff like that. Every little bit helps when income disappears.

If you do end up qualifying for UI benefits, you'll still need to do your weekly claims reporting any self-employment income you might earn. Even small amounts can affect your benefits, so keep detailed records.

Bottom line - gather all your wage records from the past 18 months and apply. Worst they can say is no, and at least you'll know for sure where you stand.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used them again last week to get clarification on reporting requirements and it was super straightforward. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person at Washington ESD to get proper answers.

I'm in a similar situation but with Doordash and Uber. Been driving for 2 years and now car broke down. Guess I'm SOL too?

Make sure you understand the difference between being self-employed and being an independent contractor. The rules might be slightly different depending on your situation.

Don't forget about the job search requirements if you do qualify. You'll need to log your work search activities every week, and with your background in consulting that might include networking events and client outreach.

One more thing - if you're considering going back to traditional employment, make sure you're being realistic about available positions and willing to accept suitable work. Washington ESD can be picky about job refusals.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Going to gather up my old pay stubs and W-2s and see if I can make this work. Even if it's a long shot, worth trying.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Had been freelancing for about 18 months when my biggest client dropped me suddenly. The good news is that if you had ANY W-2 wages in your base year (which sounds like you did with that 3-month part-time job), you might qualify. I had worked a temp job for just 6 weeks about a year before I filed and it was enough to get benefits. The tricky part is proving you're available for full-time work while still doing some freelance stuff. Washington ESD will want to see that you're genuinely looking for regular employment, not just trying to supplement your consulting income. Make sure you document every job application and networking contact - they're pretty strict about the work search requirements. Also, be prepared for them to ask detailed questions about your business activities during your eligibility interview.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! I had been freelancing as a graphic designer for almost 3 years when my main clients all cut their budgets at once. Like you, I hadn't paid unemployment taxes as a self-employed person, so I thought I was out of luck. But it turns out I had worked a retail job for about 4 months two years earlier, and those W-2 wages were just enough to qualify me for benefits. The application process was pretty straightforward online, but getting through to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD was a nightmare until I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - definitely worth it if you need clarification on your specific situation. The key thing they care about is that you're genuinely available for full-time work and not just trying to supplement your consulting income. I had to show I was actively applying for regular jobs, not just looking for more freelance clients. It took about 3 weeks to get my first payment, but having that safety net made all the difference while I transitioned back to traditional employment.

I'm currently in a similar situation - been freelancing as a web developer for about 3 years and my contract pipeline has completely dried up. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful! I actually did have a W-2 job about 14 months ago where I worked for a tech startup for about 5 months before going back to freelancing. Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like those wages might be my lifeline. The confusing part for me is figuring out exactly which quarters count for the base year calculation. Does anyone know if there's a tool on the Washington ESD website to help calculate whether you meet the minimum wage requirements? I'd rather know before I spend time gathering all my documentation if it's not going to be enough. Also really appreciate the heads up about Claimyr - the regular phone system has been absolutely useless when I've tried calling about other questions in the past.