(Updated 8/4/20)
Info on unemployment for dancers whose club has been shut down
As an independent contractor, you will likely be eligible for new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Read on to learn more, and then visit the ESD website to apply.
Basics on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance / “extended unemployment”
This program is specifically designed for workers who can’t usually access unemployment, including independent contractors like dancers.
PUA is designed for people who have lost work due to the crisis. This includes those whose workplace has been shut down by quarantine orders, so dancers whose clubs have been closed should be covered. If your club re-opens, there are other circumstances in which you may be able to continue getting PUA — like needing to care for kids whose schools are shut down, needing to quarantine due to being immunocompromised, and other factors. (Lower income due to lack of demand may qualify you for PUA too, but the guidance on this is less clear so far.)
PUA was created by a federal bill, but it is being administered at the state level like regular unemployment, through WA’s Economic Security Department (ESD).
As of Sunday 4/19, the PUA application is available — but you need to submit an application for regular unemployment first, get denied, and then you will be able to apply for PUA.
Benefit eligibility, calculation, & duration
Your PUA benefit will be retroactive to the date your club closed. (PUA is available from February through the end of the year.)
You can get PUA for up to 39 weeks.
Your benefit amount will be calculated based on your income during 2019.
The minimum amount will be $235/week and the maximum will be $790/week — but in addition to that, you will receive an extra $600/week for the period from March 29 to July 31 (also paid retroactively). AUGUST UPDATE: The US Senate failed to pass an extension of the additional $600/week, despite the continued impact of the pandemic on workers.
That means your initial benefit should be in the range of $835 - $1390/week.
How to apply
Once the system is set up, you will need to apply at ESD’s website. Make sure to read the instructions for self-employed workers here.
Being rejected for regular unemployment is a prerequisite of being accepted for PUA.
That means you will need to first file a claim for regular unemployment & get rejected, and then you will get access to the application for PUA.
When you apply for regular unemployment, you should fill out the form according to the guide for self-employed workers. When the system asks whether you worked for a WA employer, you should select “no.” The application gives you the option to search for missing employers, but you should not search for clubs to enter as your employers — doing so may hold up your application.
If you have already applied to unemployment and been denied, that does NOT mean you won’t be eligible for PUA. You should log into your account and see if you have the option to apply to PUA.
What you will need to apply for pua/expanded unemployment
A rejection on file in your account from your application for regular unemployment.
Proof of income over the past 18 months — ESD has said they will accept 1099s or tax filings, but they may be able to accept other forms of documentation too. We will push to make sure the system is as accessible as possible for dancers & other workers who may not have tax documents or pay stubs.
One note on this: ESD says that once your application is accepted, they will start giving you the minimum benefit ($835/week) right away, even if they haven’t gone through the process of verifying your income yet.
Your employers for last 18 months & their addresses.
The dates you worked for all employers in the past 18 months (best estimates OK).
Persistence — this is a brand-new system and there may be issues that come up with accessing it. Do not give up if your application is rejected. You should qualify for unemployment & we can work together to make sure the system works for everyone.
Once you have applied:
Please fill out this form to report what happened with your unemployment claim. (If you’ve already applied for regular unemployment, even if you haven’t applied for PUA yet, you can fill it out now.) This will help us understand gaps in the system & how to navigate it, so we can provide the best info to dancers & advocate for any needed changes to make the system accessible.
Other assistance
stimulus payments
The federal bill also authorized Economic Impact Payments for most people – a one-time stimulus payment of up to $1200 from the federal government.
If you filed 2018 or 2019 taxes, you should receive a payment of up to $1200 — but since many dancers do not file taxes, getting this payment may be challenging.
If you did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, you may still be able to get a stimulus payment. Visit this IRS page for more information on the Economic Impact Payment program and how to receive a check if you do not file taxes.
rent & bills
WA has placed a temporary moratorium on evictions due to unpaid rent through June 4.
As of 4/17, this moratorium also applies to transitional housing like hotels/motels, Airbnb rentals, mobile homes, and campgrounds.
Landlords are also barred from charging late fees during this period, and they cannot raise rent for tenants.
Most utilities across the state have also stopped shutting off utilities for unpaid bills.
