Collecting if you're a freelancer/self-employed (collect, file, apply, claim)

[apples22]

I was going to file but would my freelance employees know I am collecting? We're not in the same state, they might have future work though I wouldn't want them to see I'm collecting it and not send me more work.

[Tuck91NYG]

Yes you can collect but you report it as earnings and not self employment. If you report it as self employment in some states they will stop your claim until they review your claim. You report hours worked and money made along with who paid you.

[myrc60]

most freelancers are not eligible for UE; unless your client's paid into the UE system for you you will be denied benefits.

[Tuck91NYG]

She means, while collecting UI

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by apples22

I was going to file but would my freelance employees know I am collecting? We're not in the same state, they might have future work though I wouldn't want them to see I'm collecting it and not send me more work.

My situation is similar, excep mine is passive income from residuals that come to me from previous work.

[apples22]

does the company you worked for know you tried to apply to collect? They might not like it
Thanks for the tip, I should apply for earnings sounds like

[myrc60]

yes, they will know and they can deny it too

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by wehotex

My situation is similar, excep mine is passive income from residuals that come to me from previous work.

Originally Posted by apples22

does the company you worked for know you tried to apply to collect? They might not like it
Thanks for the tip, I should apply for earnings sounds like

If you have been paid on 1099 - not W-2 with SS and taxes withheld and a UI tax paid by the employer - none of your freelance earnings will qualify you for unemployment benefits.

If your freelance employers have paid you on W-2, those earnings might qualify you for benefits, and, of course, they will know about it if you file for benefits.

If you were collecting benefits from another employer and stopped collecting because of this freelance work, your current freelance employers will be contacted to verify you are no longer working for them before you can resume your old claim.

So, unless you have an old claim on which you can resume collecting, or the freelance work was paid on W-2 with the employer paying UI tax on those earnings and those earnings were substantial enough to qualify for a claim, there is no point in applying for unemployment and possibly alienating your freelance clients.

Check the state website for the freelance employers for the earnings requirements in that state. Any benefits you collect from that freelance work would be paid by that state and you would have to apply for benefits from that state, not the state in which you live, unless by some remote chance they paid the UI tax on your earnings to your state, in which case you might be able to file in your resident state.