Can you get unemployment if you own your own business in Washington?

That's what I was afraid of. Are there any other programs that might help?

You might want to look into other assistance programs, but unemployment is typically for people who lose jobs where they were paying into the system.

I was just taking money out as needed, not paying myself a formal salary. Sounds like I'm out of luck then.

Yeah, if you weren't paying into the system as an employee, Washington ESD won't have any record of covered wages for you. You'd need to have been paying unemployment taxes on your own wages.

Wait, I thought during the pandemic self-employed people could get benefits? What happened to that?

Oh man, I was hoping that was still a thing. That would have been perfect for my situation.

I had to use Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD to confirm this exact thing last month. The wait times are insane but their service at claimyr.com got me connected to an actual person who explained all the eligibility requirements. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

You might qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP or emergency assistance, but those aren't through Washington ESD. You could also look into whether you qualify for any business relief programs.

Have you considered taking on part-time work while you rebuild your client base? That might be the most realistic option right now.

That's really frustrating. The system seems to leave self-employed people out in the cold.

It is frustrating, but the logic is that the system is funded by employers and employees paying into it. Self-employed people have the option to set aside their own emergency funds since they're not contributing to the system.

Easy to say when you're not the one struggling to pay rent! The system should be more flexible for situations like this.

Actually, I did some contract work for a company that treated me as an employee for about 6 months last year. They took taxes out of my paychecks.

That could change everything! If they were paying unemployment taxes on your wages, you might have enough covered wages to qualify for benefits. You should definitely file a claim and see what happens.

Exactly! Washington ESD will look at all your covered wages in the base period. Even if you're currently self-employed, you can still claim benefits based on previous covered employment.

If you received a W-2 form, they were probably paying unemployment taxes. The easiest way to find out is to file a claim - Washington ESD will tell you if you have any covered wages on record.

I actually used Claimyr again to get clarification on this exact question. Their service made it so much easier to reach someone at Washington ESD who could look up my wage history and explain what qualified.

Good point. I guess I'd have to be careful about how I handle any new clients while collecting benefits.

Right, you'd need to report any income from your business when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD has specific rules about self-employment while collecting benefits.

And you'd need to show that you're genuinely looking for employee positions, not just trying to find more clients for your business.

I understand the frustration, but unemployment insurance is designed as a safety net for people who lose jobs through no fault of their own. It's funded by employer and employee contributions.

Still doesn't make it right that self-employed people get left out. We pay plenty of other taxes.

Agree 100%. The system needs to be updated for the modern economy where more people are freelancers and gig workers.

Definitely worth a shot. The worst they can say is no, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Good plan. Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, wages, and reason for separation.

And remember, you can always call Washington ESD if you have questions about your claim. Though getting through can be challenging.

I might have to try that if I run into issues with my claim. Thanks for the tip!

Is it expensive? I'm already strapped for cash.

It's definitely worth it when you consider how much time and frustration it saves. Check out their demo video to see if it's right for your situation.

Just remember it only works if you've had covered employment recently. Pure self-employment without any W-2 wages won't qualify you for regular benefits.

Makes sense. I should probably keep better track of my employment history just in case.

Yeah, I definitely don't want to get in trouble for not reporting income. Is there a threshold where small amounts don't need to be reported?

You need to report ALL income, no matter how small. Washington ESD has specific rules about how self-employment income affects your weekly benefit amount.

Exactly. It's better to over-report than under-report. They can adjust your benefits accordingly, but failing to report income can result in overpayment issues.

Glad it helped! I'm feeling more optimistic about my options now.

Good luck to both of you. The job market is tough right now but there are resources available if you know where to look.

That's a great point. I hadn't thought about job training programs. Maybe I could learn some new skills while I figure things out.

Exactly! Sometimes a career pivot is exactly what you need when your business isn't working out.