Can you file unemployment if you are self employed Washington ESD benefits

That's what I was afraid of. So there's literally no safety net for self-employed people when business is slow?

There used to be Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) during COVID that covered self-employed folks, but that program ended in 2021.

No, unemployment insurance is specifically for people who were employees and had UI taxes deducted from their paychecks. Self-employed individuals, contractors, and business owners typically aren't covered.

oh wow that sucks. so if ur business fails ur just screwed?

I've been trying to call ESD too but keep getting disconnected. How does that Claimyr thing work exactly?

It basically handles the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever. You submit your info and they call ESD on your behalf, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than the endless busy signals.

Never heard of that service but might be worth trying. I gave up calling ESD months ago because it was such a nightmare.

I did some part-time work at Home Depot last spring, maybe 3 months worth. Would that count?

Potentially! If you earned enough wages and worked enough hours during your base period, you might qualify. You'd need to check your wage history with Washington ESD to see if you meet the minimum requirements.

I understand the frustration, but unemployment insurance is funded by employer and employee contributions. Self-employed individuals haven't been paying into that system, so they're not eligible for benefits from it.

Then they should create a system for us! Other states have better programs for independent contractors.

That's awesome! Shows how important it is to actually talk to someone at ESD rather than just guessing about eligibility.

wow so even if ur mostly self employed u might still qualify if u had some regular job too?

Exactly! The agent said as long as you have enough qualifying wages in your base period, it doesn't matter if you also have self-employment income.

Uber drivers are typically classified as independent contractors, so those wages wouldn't count for UI eligibility. But if you have any W-2 employment, that could qualify you.

I did some contract work through a staffing agency last year that was W-2. Might be worth checking into.

Good point. The agent mentioned I'd need to report any income from my landscaping business, even if it's just a small job here and there.

Right, and you still have to meet the job search requirements even if you're also self-employed. The system treats your business income as earnings that reduce your weekly benefit amount.

Etsy income would be self-employment income, so that alone wouldn't qualify you. But if you had any regular employment alongside your Etsy business, you might have been eligible based on those wages.

This is exactly what the ESD agent explained to me. My current self-employment status didn't disqualify me because I had enough W-2 wages from my part-time job.

That's really helpful to know. I always assumed you had to be a regular employee to qualify.

How much does that service cost? Seems like it might be expensive.

It's way cheaper than losing weeks of potential benefits while trying to figure things out on your own. Plus you get to talk to an actual ESD agent who can look up your specific situation.

In my case it's just seasonal slowdown in landscaping, not a medical issue. But good to know there are other programs out there.

Chair rental situations can be tricky. You'd need to look at whether you're classified as an independent contractor or employee. Some salons do issue W-2s even for chair renters.

I get a 1099 from the salon, so probably not eligible. But I did work at a chain salon for a few months last year that was W-2.

Exactly! I almost didn't even try because I figured self-employed people couldn't get benefits. Glad I looked into it further.

This whole thread should be required reading for anyone who does any kind of freelance or contract work alongside regular employment.

The ESD agent went over this with me. You have to report gross income from self-employment, not just profit. Pretty important distinction.

Yep, and they'll ask about hours worked too, not just income. The whole able and available requirement still applies even if you're also running a business.

Definitely worth checking! The seasonal nature of both our businesses makes it even more important to know all your options.

Wedding industry is tough in winter. Hope you can get some benefits to help tide you over until spring.

A lot of people have multiple income streams these days - gig work, part-time jobs, small businesses. The unemployment system tries to account for that complexity, but it's not always clear how it works.

The key is talking to someone at ESD who can look at your specific situation. Every case is different based on your work history and wages.