Can i collect unemployment if....?

Question

can i collect unemployment if for the last year or so ive been self-employed?

Answer 1

Usually no per link below. Exception is if you were incorporated and paid yourself a salary and paid unemployment tax to your state.

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/unemployment/a/unemployment.htm

Answer 2

Each state may differ, but since you were self-employed you are not allowed to receive a paycheck. Now you may have withdrawn money from the business, but not in the form of a paycheck.

Since you did not receive a paycheck, you have no actual wages. No actual wages should equate into no contributions made by you into an unemployment fund to your state or federal government.

Therefore, no unemployment may be avaialable to you. The only recourse if any is if you had an insuranc policy in place should a "lapse" in business occur. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Most places, no, but you could call the unemployment bureau and ask. Were you paying into an unemployment fund while you were self-employed? If not, then it would be rare if you can collect.

Answer 4

Usually not. Most of the people I know (including my father) are self-employed and they all say that you can't

Answer 5

If you paid unemployment taxes that all employers are required to pay then maybe. Can you lay yourself off?

Answer 6

I don't think so but you should contact your local office and ask.