Can you file for unemployment if you are self employed - Washington ESD eligibility?

I did have a part-time W-2 job last year but quit to focus on my business. Would that count?

Possibly! Washington ESD looks at your base period earnings. If you had sufficient W-2 wages in your base period, you might qualify. You'd need to check your earnings history on your SecureAccess Washington account.

Yeah those pandemic benefits were a lifesaver for freelancers but they're long gone now. Back to the old rules unfortunately.

That's what I was afraid of. The pandemic programs would have been perfect for my situation.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but keep getting the busy signal. I'll check out that service.

Never heard of Claimyr but honestly anything that helps you actually talk to someone at Washington ESD sounds worth trying. The phone system is impossible.

How do I figure out what my base period is? I'm not sure which quarters they'll look at.

Your base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now in 2025, they'd look at your wages from Q1 2024 through Q4 2024.

That's correct. And you need wages in at least two quarters of your base period to qualify, plus meet the minimum wage requirements.

Right? It's so stressful trying to navigate all these rules when you're already worried about money.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you're dealing with a complex situation like mixed employment types, talking to an actual Washington ESD agent who can look at your specific case is invaluable.

That's really helpful, thank you! The 'actively seeking work' part is interesting - does that mean I'd have to stop trying to get consulting clients?

Not necessarily. You can continue self-employment activities while on unemployment, but you must report any earnings and they'll be deducted from your weekly benefit amount. You also need to be available for suitable W-2 employment.

That's disappointing but good to know. Did you find any other resources or assistance programs?

I looked into some local small business assistance programs and food banks. Not much else available unfortunately.

Well, self-employed people don't pay unemployment taxes though. That's specifically what funds the UI system.

True but we pay plenty of other taxes and get less safety net support when things go bad.

I'll definitely check that out. Where do I find the benefit calculator on their site?

It should be on the main Washington ESD homepage under 'Calculate Your Benefits' or something similar. You'll need your wage information handy.

How long did the whole process take? I'm worried about waiting months for an answer.

took about 6 weeks from filing to getting the denial letter. probably would have been faster if I could have talked to someone

Only W-2 wages count toward unemployment eligibility. 1099 income is considered self-employment income and doesn't qualify you for benefits.

Ugh, I was hoping my DoorDash work might count but that's all 1099 income.

That's a good point. I should probably just bite the bullet and apply to see what happens.

Before you apply, I'd really recommend using Claimyr to talk to an agent first. They can look at your specific wage history and tell you if you're likely to qualify. Saves you the hassle of applying and waiting if you don't meet the requirements.

Washington State doesn't currently have a voluntary unemployment insurance program for self-employed individuals. Some other states do, but not Washington.

Darn, that would have been perfect. Maybe they'll add that option in the future.

Same here! I wish someone had explained this stuff when I was starting my business.

It's definitely worth understanding these distinctions when you're doing mixed employment. The tax implications are different too.

That's encouraging! How much did you get in weekly benefits?

I got about $180 per week, which wasn't huge but definitely helped cover some bills while I was rebuilding my client base.

Did you have to keep looking for W-2 jobs while collecting benefits, or could you focus on getting new clients?

I had to do both - keep looking for regular employment and report my job search activities, but I could still work on getting new clients as long as I reported any income.

Exactly! The pandemic showed how many people fall through the cracks with the current system.

True, but the funding mechanism would need to change too. It's not just about eligibility rules.

I'm still trying to log into my SecureAccess Washington account to check my wage history. The website keeps timing out on me.

This is another reason why Claimyr is so helpful - instead of struggling with the website, you can just talk to an agent who can pull up your information right away.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I'm going to check my wage history and probably try to talk to someone at Washington ESD to get a definitive answer about my situation.

Smart approach. Having your wage information ready when you talk to them will make the conversation much more productive.