Washington ESD unemployment eligibility for 1099 contractors - am I covered?

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

You could check with DSHS for other assistance programs, but for unemployment specifically, you'd need to have been an employee with wages reported to Washington ESD.

That was the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, but that ended in 2021. It's not available anymore.

Oh dang, I didn't realize that program was temporary. That sucks for independent contractors.

I've been trying to call them but can never get through. The phone lines are always busy.

I had the same problem trying to reach Washington ESD. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I feel you. We're in this weird limbo where we're not employees but also not traditional business owners with employees.

The tradeoff is that contractors typically charge higher rates to account for not having benefits. But I agree it's tough when work dries up.

I worked at a marketing agency until about 2 years ago before going freelance. Would that count?

It depends on when exactly you left and how much you earned. Washington ESD looks at your wages from the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. You'd need to check if you have enough qualifying wages from that W-2 job.

This is actually a good point. If you left your W-2 job in early 2023, you might still have qualifying wages in your base period. You should definitely apply and see what happens.

Exactly. Washington ESD doesn't care what you're doing now - they only look at your wage history during the base period to determine eligibility.

But you'd also need to meet the ongoing requirements like being able and available for work, actively job searching, etc. And you'd need to be looking for W-2 employment, not more 1099 work.

Definitely worth applying. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised.

Yeah, I think I'm going to try to apply online and see what happens with my wage history.

How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth it if you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

I've been thinking the same thing. The flexibility isn't worth the stress when clients disappear.

It's definitely a trade-off. Some people do well with the contractor lifestyle, but having that safety net is valuable.

Good luck! Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply.

Let us know how it goes. Your situation might help other contractors in similar positions.

Yes, you have to report all income, including 1099 work. It might reduce your weekly benefit amount depending on how much you earn.

The earnings deduction rules apply to all types of work income, not just W-2 wages.

Totally agree. Maybe someday they'll create a program specifically for contractors.

Some states have looked into portable benefits for gig workers, but nothing concrete yet.

You should list your most recent W-2 employer. The system will pull your wage history automatically to determine eligibility.

Don't worry about your current 1099 status during the application. Focus on your W-2 employment history.

Wow, you got through! That gives me hope. Did they say anything about the time limits for W-2 wages?

They said it depends on your base period quarters. You really need to apply to see if you have enough qualifying wages.

That's encouraging! How long did it take to get approved?

About 3 weeks. I had to do a phone interview to explain my work situation, but it worked out fine.

Yes, I used it twice. Both times I got through to Washington ESD within 15 minutes. Way better than the regular phone system.

I was skeptical at first but it really works. Saved me hours of waiting on hold.

This is the clearest explanation I've seen. Thank you!

Exactly right. The system looks backward at your earnings, not forward at your plans.

Good point. That might actually help me transition back to regular employment.

The job search requirements are pretty specific about what types of work activities qualify.

Awesome! Hope it works out for you. Keep us posted on the results.

Fingers crossed! Your experience will definitely help other contractors who find this thread.

Good luck! The waiting is the hardest part, but hopefully you'll get good news soon.