ESD unemployment application stuck on freelance work question - can't proceed!

You need to list yourself as the employer for your freelance work. In the employer name field, put your own name or your business name (even if it's not formally registered). For the address, use your home address. This is standard procedure for reporting self-employment on unemployment claims. The system is designed primarily for W2 employment but does accommodate self-employment if you enter it correctly. For the "employer" phone number, use your own phone number. For dates, enter the whole period you did freelance work or break it into specific project periods if they were distinct.

this happened to me 2!! the system is total garbage for freelancers, they make it IMPOSSIBLE for gig workers. i put my name in the employer field and then they asked for an address and i put my home address but then they wanted an EIN or ssn and i had to put my own ssn and it felt so WEIRD

The ESD system is actually designed to handle self-employment, but it's not intuitive. When you list yourself as the employer, make sure to check the "self-employed" box if it appears in the form. You'll need to report all earnings from freelance work for each week claimed. Keep documentation of all payments received (screenshots of payment confirmations, bank deposits, etc.). Also important: unemployment benefits are reduced based on earnings. For every $3 you earn in freelance work, your weekly benefit decreases by about $1. If you earn 75% or more of your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive no benefits for that week, but your claim remains active. You'll need to report the following for each freelance job: - When the work was performed (dates) - How many hours you worked - Total earnings before expenses Expect your application to be flagged for adjudication so an ESD specialist can review your specific situation.

I had the exact same issue!!! The ESD website is NOT designed for the modern economy at all. So frustrating! I ended up having to call them to resolve it.

After struggling with the same issue last year, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get through to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with walked me through exactly how to enter my freelance work properly. Turns out you need to select "self-employed" from a dropdown menu that only appears after entering certain information in a specific order. The agent stayed on the line while I completed the application and made sure it went through correctly. Definitely worth it because my claim would have been rejected otherwise.

I work as a web developer and had to deal with this exact scenario in 2024 when I lost my main job but had some sporadic freelance projects. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Where it asks if you worked since opening your claim, select YES 2. When it asks for employer, enter YOUR OWN NAME followed by "Self-Employed" (e.g., "Jane Smith - Self-Employed") 3. Use your home address for the business address 4. For business phone, use your own phone 5. For Federal ID number (EIN), you can use your SSN if you don't have an EIN 6. For job title, put "Freelancer" or your specific role (e.g., "Freelance Graphic Designer") 7. For separation reason, select "Still Working Part-Time" if you're still doing occasional freelance work If the system still won't let you proceed, try a different browser or clear your cache and cookies. The ESD system has weird technical glitches sometimes.

anyone know how long adjudication is taking these days??? i been waiting 7 weeks already

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! Here's what worked for me in case anyone else is stuck in the same situation: 1. I used the instructions from @ProfileUser4 above and listed myself as the employer with "Self-Employed" after my name 2. The system initially still got stuck, so I cleared my browser cache and tried again with Microsoft Edge instead of Chrome 3. I got through the application but as predicted, my claim went to adjudication 4. I used the Claimyr service that was recommended here to reach an ESD agent (it took about 30 mins but ACTUALLY WORKED!) 5. The agent was able to update some details on my claim and told me exactly what documentation to upload for my freelance work My claim is still in adjudication but at least I'm confident everything is submitted correctly now. The agent said to expect 6-8 weeks for review but to keep filing my weekly claims in the meantime. Thanks everyone for your help with this frustrating situation!