Washington ESD unemployment benefits for self-employed workers - can you claim unemployment if you are self employed?

I think I have been paying in through my business tax filings but I'm not 100% sure. How do I verify if I've been contributing to the unemployment system?

You can check your contribution history by logging into your SecureAccess Washington account or calling Washington ESD directly to verify your eligibility status.

What kind of documentation did they require from you? I have all my 1099s and business records but wasn't sure what Washington ESD specifically needs.

Tax returns, 1099s, business licenses, and detailed records of your attempts to find work. They scrutinize self-employed claims much more closely than regular unemployment claims.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my self-employment situation.

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an actual Washington ESD rep on the line. Saved me hours of frustration trying to navigate their phone system.

Washington state has had provisions for self-employed workers for several years now, but it requires voluntary participation in the unemployment insurance program. Many people don't know about it.

oh man i wish i knew about this when my business failed in 2023

What are the minimum earnings requirements? I made good money in 2023 and early 2024 but this year has been terrible.

You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period quarters and your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. The calculations can get complex for self-employed income.

I get the frustration but the requirements exist because self-employed income is harder to verify and the potential for abuse is higher. It's not perfect but there are legitimate reasons for the extra scrutiny.

Maybe but when your business dies through no fault of your own you shouldnt have to prove your worthiness to get help

I'm an LLC but I think sole proprietors can also qualify as long as they've been paying into the system. The business structure might affect how you report income though.

The business structure doesn't matter as much as whether you've been making voluntary contributions and how you've been reporting your income to Washington ESD.

This is making me nervous because I probably under-reported some cash payments early in my business. Will that disqualify me completely?

It won't necessarily disqualify you but it could affect your benefit amount. You should report all income accurately when you apply and be prepared to explain any discrepancies.

How long did the whole process take from application to first payment?

About 8 weeks for me, but that included some back and forth about documentation. Regular employees usually get processed much faster.

Is there a cost for using that service? I'm already struggling financially.

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it for me to avoid weeks of frustration trying to get through on my own. The time saved was valuable.

Wait, so I can't just document that I'm looking for new consulting clients? I have to look for regular employment too?

You need to show that you're available for work generally, not just trying to revive your business. This might include looking for part-time employment or contract work with other companies.

That's what I'm starting to think too but the job market in my field isn't great right now either.

Don't give up too easily. If you've been paying into the system and qualify, these benefits can provide crucial support while you transition or rebuild your business.

That makes sense. I can document exactly when my contracts ended and show that I've been actively trying to find new work.

Perfect. That kind of documentation will be really helpful for your case. Keep records of all your job search and client outreach efforts too.

It's complicated but not impossible. If you really need the support and you've been paying in, it's worth pursuing.

Good to know. I might have to look into this if things don't turn around soon.

So if I get approved, I can't take on any consulting work at all? What if it's just small projects to keep food on the table?

You have to report any income and it might affect your benefits. The rules about working while on unemployment apply to self-employed people too.

That sounds really helpful. I think I'm going to need expert guidance to navigate this process correctly.

I used them too for my self-employment claim and it made a huge difference. The regular phone lines just couldn't answer my specific questions.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to start putting together my paperwork and see if I can get through to Washington ESD to verify my eligibility.

Good luck! The process isn't easy but if you qualify it can provide important financial support during a difficult transition.

Glad it was useful! The eligibility requirements are specific but it's definitely an option worth exploring if your self-employment income has disappeared.

Definitely going to look into whether I've been paying into the system through my business taxes.

Same here! I learned more from this discussion than from hours of trying to navigate the Washington ESD website.

That's why these forums are so valuable. Real experiences from people who've actually been through the process.

That's great news! Having those contributions on record will make your application much stronger.

Awesome! Make sure you have all your documentation organized before you start the online application. It makes the process much smoother.

Thanks for the update! This gives me hope that I might qualify too. Good luck with your application process.

That's a really important point about the base period! I hadn't realized they look that far back. My business was doing really well 5 quarters ago but tanked this year, so that might actually work in my favor for benefit calculations. Do you know if there's any way to use more recent quarters if your older earnings were lower?