(Updated 8/4/20)
Losing gigs and income due to the crisis?
As an independent contractor, you will likely be eligible for new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – new unemployment benefit created through federal stimulus bills designed for workers who cannot access traditional unemployment. Read on to learn more, and then visit the ESD website to apply.
PUA BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY, CALCULATION, & DURATION
Your PUA benefit will be retroactive to the date you lost work or had hours reduced. (PUA is available from February through 12/31/2020.)
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.
Federal rules bar undocumented immigrants from receiving any unemployment assistance. The combined public health and economic crises of this pandemic are hitting immigrant communities and communities of color harder than everyone else in Washington, and our emergency response programs are failing them. Join us in calling for cash assistance for ALL people in WA, regardless of immigration status.
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
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 workers who may not have tax documents or pay stubs. Note: 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.
Info on the companies you worked for in the last 18 months, for example:
Uber (or UberEats): 1455 Market St #400, San Francisco, CA 94103
Lyft: 185 Berry St #5000, San Francisco, CA 94107
Postmates: 425 Market Street Suite 8, San Francisco, CA, 94105
DoorDash/Caviar: 303 2nd St Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94107
Instacart: 50 Beale St #600, San Francisco, CA 94105
The dates you worked for all companies 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.
Sick or caring for sick family?
If you are sick with Covid-19 or caring for a sick family member and unable to work, you can apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). See info above and in the PUA section on our main resources page.
For undocumented workers or others who are ineligible for PUA, Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program provides partial income replacement for up to 12-16 weeks of leave for people who are seriously ill or caring for seriously ill family members.
To access paid family & medical leave benefits, independent contracts must first opt in. There is a waiting period between when you opt in and when you are allowed to make a claim. Note: there is a 10+ week delay on benefits, so apply as soon as you are eligible.
Feeling unsafe while doing gigs?
Essential businesses, like grocery stores and restaurants, must ensure social distancing for their workers and customers, frequent and adequate hand-washing, and that sick workers stay home.
If you witness businesses violating these safety precautions and/or feel like your or a worker’s health is threatened due to suspected violations, you can file a safety complaint with the WA Department of Safety & Health within 30 days.
Other Assistance
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.
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.
The federal government began sending out stimulus checks on April 10, but has not sent them to all eligible people yet, and many people it did send them to are experiencing delays due to a variety of glitches in the system. Check the status or your stimulus check and learn more about Economic Impact Payments here.
We are calling on our local, state, and federal elected officials to ensure essential workers, like gig workers, have essential protections. We’re calling for: comprehensive paid leave, hazard pay of $5 per delivery, safety supplies like gloves and sanitizer, and compensation for lost income for all workers, including immigrant workers. Join us in calling for essential supplies for essential workers.
There is currently a temporary moratorium on evictions due to unpaid rent. Landlords are also temporarily prohibited from raising rent or imposing late fees. Most utilities across the state have also stopped shutting off utilities for unpaid bills.
