Gig Worker Unemployment Payments - available yet?

[Yonnie3]

The Virginia Employment Commission's web portal says:

"For those who are self-employed, independent contractors, nonprofit employees, and gig-economy workers, or are requesting an extension of benefits, please check back with this page for the latest information. We will update our website when we have received more information from the Federal Government."

Do my fellow DUers know if any other states are even taking applications for this benefit?

[Turbineguy]

1. Washington State

I applied on Tuesday and got paid today. trump-humpers are gonna really hate this kind of efficiency and service.

[Yonnie3]

2. Were you an employee rather than gig worker?

because the website for Washington state says

"If you were not eligible for unemployment before the federal stimulus package was passed, we are asking you to wait to file for unemployment because our system is not set up to accept your application. We expect those changes to be complete by mid-April, and the team is working around the clock to get them in place as quickly as possible."

[Turbineguy]

5. I am a gig worker

But I've been working for the same organization nearly full-time for over three years. They had all my working hours in their database. I got the base amount and have to wait for the $600 extra in the stimulus. I think I checked all the right boxes (I hope I did!). There was also no one week waiting period.

[Yonnie3]

9. Ah, I see.

I don't know any gig workers here whose hours get tracked and reported to the Virginia Employment Commission.

Do you get 1099s or W2s from the gig work?

[Turbineguy]

11. 1099's

I pay est and self-employment taxes quarterly.

[BamaRefugee]

3. In Cali, nobody seems to know what to do. I've been an independent contractor for 15 years, then

they passed this unbelievably stupid California Assembly Bill 5, which basically outlawed independent contractors, and we all had to BECOME BUSINESSES or just stop working.
So, if they hadn't done that, I could have (finally) gotten unemployment. But now, I'm a business...so,what, I have to go beg for Mnuchin's small business loan??? Oh wait, that's to protect payroll so you can keep paying your employees...but I HAVE NO EMPLOYEES.

I'll keep searching for answers, I am at zero income, also quarantined by doctor's orders for at least 30 days, but the last 3 days before I quarantined, I made a grand total of $40.

So if anybody is located in California and knows anything about how I can proceed, I'd appreciate hearing from you!

Good luck to everyone, stay safe!

[MoonlitKnight]

4. Wouldn't you be considered the employee?

Hopefully they take care of you somehow soon.

[BamaRefugee]

7. That's the question of the hour! Can an owner be an employee? I have a sole proprietorship, and that

phrase was used specifically a little while ago by Mnuchin and "that woman" sorry i didn't catch her name, but they never directly addressed it. They said if the entire loan is used for employee retention, it would not have to be repaid, and I fully intend to RETAIN MYSELF but who knows what's really going to happen?

I would much prefer to get the enhanced unemployment, which apparently in the Congressional bill WILL INCLUDE independent contractors, however, in California, now, by law, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN IC?!?!?!?

[Yonnie3]

6. Family Business here in Virginia - Sole Proprietor - not incorporated

No employees, only subs. We had over $100,000 of gigs booked in March, April and May and all of them cancelled. The SBA loans are supposedly available for Self-Employed, but can't be forgiven if no employees. Also if they aren't secured with assets they have a fairly low limit.

We are at a total impasse here. Hope you find a solution.

[BamaRefugee]

10. I may just get whatever loan I can get, then stash it for emergency money, if it turns out I didn't

need or use it, or only partially, then I'll just use the same money to pay it back...but it would be good just to have it in the bank for unknown things ahead.

[customerserviceguy]

8. This all came about

way too quickly for antiquated state UC systems to handle, I'm not surprised that it's taking some time.