I know nothing about unemployment. What if there's no mystery shopping after businesses reopen? Whether for a week, a month, or longer? Will mystery shopping ICs have a leg to stand on?

I just checked the status of my claim. It says my "earnings" did not qualify me for unemployment. There wasn't any way at all to put in my application my self-employment income. There just wasn't any way at all to tell them, yes, I did make enough money to qualify. Nebraska wants you to earn at least $3,000 a quarter for at least 3 of the prior 4 quarters.

I clicked on "live chat", and it tells me there are 178 in line ahead of me, wait time is estimated to be 4,070 minutes, stay on the line, please.

How many days is that? ROTFLMFAO.

@ceasesmith at least you made enough, I did not. But mine is still pending. I'm just waiting for the denial.

@Mert wrote:

I know nothing about unemployment. What if there's no mystery shopping after businesses reopen? Whether for a week, a month, or longer? Will mystery shopping ICs have a leg to stand on?

The federal government has agreed to cover $600 per week until the end of July. They will also add 13(?) weeks to the standard state unemployment. However, unemployment requires that you are actively looking for work any normal week. Most states aren’t requiring people to currently be looking for work since they are shut downZ With states like GA gearing up to open this weekend, I could definitely see them actively enforcing this rule in a few weeks, especially if the demand for grocery and package delivery continue, given that big companies in this sector are continuing to hire in the thousands.

Applied in PA on Saturday on the newly opened PUA website for the self employed and independent contractors. It went relatively well during the application but it did come to one page asking about employment history and salary and such. And that was after confirming that I was an independent contractor and uploading tax forms. I haven't filed my 2019 taxes yet, so I just submitted my five highest grossing 1099 forms. I was feeling pretty good until coming to that page regarding employment history and salary. It was definitely geared towards a W2 employee. I'm interested to see what comes of it. Certainly trying to keep my hopes down and anticipate a denial letter in the mail.

I got a letter today from Idaho telling me I didn't make enough, then further down in the letter it says if it is for the "CARES" then I qualify, but it will be another 2-3 weeks before it is finalized.

Were you able to get unemployment in Michigan??

since, I too, am in Michigan, I'd like to hear if anyone has qualified.

Not making enough would seem to fall under the category of "otherwise ineligible" This is from the FAQ:

Q: Are any benefits available if I’m out of work due to COVID-19 and I’m self-employed?A: File an application online to determine the possibility of receiving Reemployment Assistance benefits. Because of the CARES Act, individuals who are self-employed, independent contractors and those that are otherwise ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits and those that have exhausted state and federal benefits may be eligible.

Also, note this, which seems to say that you apply, get denied, the system prompts you to fill out PUA application, and you must also fill out another application to get the benefits extended:

8Q: Do I need to complete a separate Reemployment Assistance benefits application because I have been financially impacted by Florida’s mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19?A:No, the standard Reemployment Assistance benefits application will be used for individuals impacted by efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. An application can be filed online at Floridajobs.org/COVID-19. You will be notified if there is additional paperwork or information needed for the Reemployment Assistance team to completely review and process your application.However, you will need to complete a subsequent application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The CONNECT system will prompt you to fill out a PUA application once you are determined ineligible for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits. An additional application will need to be filled out for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, as provided under the CARES Act, and the Department will provide more information on this process in the near future.

@cybersst wrote:

@ceasesmith at least you made enough, I did not. But mine is still pending. I'm just waiting for the denial.

@panama18 wrote:

Not making enough would seem to fall under the category of "otherwise ineligible" This is from the FAQ:

Q: Are any benefits available if I’m out of work due to COVID-19 and I’m self-employed?A: File an application online to determine the possibility of receiving Reemployment Assistance benefits. Because of the CARES Act, individuals who are self-employed, independent contractors and those that are otherwise ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits and those that have exhausted state and federal benefits may be eligible.

Also, note this, which seems to say that you apply, get denied, the system prompts you to fill out PUA application, and you must also fill out another application to get the benefits extended:

8Q: Do I need to complete a separate Reemployment Assistance benefits application because I have been financially impacted by Florida’s mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19?A:No, the standard Reemployment Assistance benefits application will be used for individuals impacted by efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. An application can be filed online at Floridajobs.org/COVID-19. You will be notified if there is additional paperwork or information needed for the Reemployment Assistance team to completely review and process your application.However, you will need to complete a subsequent application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The CONNECT system will prompt you to fill out a PUA application once you are determined ineligible for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits. An additional application will need to be filled out for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, as provided under the CARES Act, and the Department will provide more information on this process in the near future.

@cybersst wrote:

@ceasesmith at least you made enough, I did not. But mine is still pending. I'm just waiting for the denial.

Thanks. At least that seems promising.

It seems like the default answer from the unemployment office is DENIED until proven otherwise.

Having never collected unemployment before, one thing I worry about is the MSCs ability to respond to 50 different states contacting them to verify earnings for 1000s of different shoppers. Especially when many of the smaller MSCs are probably shut down themselves. This alone could cause a bottleneck for receiving approval for benefits.

They are not going to the MSCs. they are relying on line 31 of our Schedule C.

What if you didn't submit a Schedule C? I haven't yet filed my 2019 taxes so I submitted my 1099 forms instead. As far as I saw, it didn't state that tax returns were a requirement.

You can file an amended tax form, 1040-X, and explain that you should have filed Schedule C.

Texas finally issued guidance for self-employed workers, according to the Houston Chronicle.

[www.houstonchronicle.com]

If you already applied, do nothing, and they will review your application and contact you. If you haven't applied, apply now and select reduced hours and Covid-19 as the reason.

You will need to provide your 2019 Schedule C or Schedule SE as proof of self-employment income. You have until Dec. 26 to send in this documentation. Presumably, they will take your word for now, even if you haven't yet filed this year's taxes, and then require you to pay the money back if it turns out you didn't really make a profit last year.

md JUST PUBLISHED THE LIST OF INFO AND DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN icS/GIG WORKERS BEGIN TO FILE TOMORROW. tHEY WANT COPIES OF 1099S BUT NOT OTHER TAX FORMS, ACCORDING TO THAT LIST.

eeeek ! Sorry for caps lock above.

I have tried for days now to reach someone in Michigan, with no luck. Any suggestions???

I don't do my own taxes, my spouse handles ours, so I don't even know what any of this is, other than what a 1099 is. I didn't even make enough to get a 1099 last year, I did in 2018. So since my income was so low that is why after reading many posts I thought I didn't stand a chance. It never asked for this information for me. I filed in FL. It just asked you put in what your total income was over a certain time period. Still waiting on my verdict.

From Texas. They opened the 1099 form to file on 4/13, so I did. The application was submitted successfully and I got a reference number. They said it could take 3 or 4 weeks to find out if it is approved. The good news is that if it is approved, the payments will be retoactive back to the last date I worked. I have a direct deposit for that date (mid-March) if they ask for it. (Or if I have to appeal) Long wait, but fingers crossed!!!

Long wait, indeed. I filed last week, and Monday received some rather complicated paperwork via snail mail. I copied my 1099s for 2019 and sent them back with the paperwork.

I'm sincerely rather hoping that by the time it's approved and dollars on the way, I'll be back to work and no longer qualifying. There's nothing on NE website to indicate that payments will be retroactive to last day worked. For me, that would be March 18.

Even one week of W-2 income (which is what unemployment is) will qualify me to do income tax shops next spring!

PUA is only retroactive to when the CARES Act was signed I believe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I absolutely could be

Unemployment is 1099, not W-2.

The states are all different. It is up to how each governor set it up. It was stated on the Texas info that it would be retro back to the date last worked. Our system has been so backed up throughout this entire time, that it was not possible to even finish filling out an application for the first few weeks (making a call was even worse). Apparently, our system is still mainly on the set-up from the 80s when it first went on line. I think that is why they said it would be retro.

Also, if mystery shops do start in may or so, and the MSC does not pay until the end of June, does it still count as being unemployed since a shopper would not actually be receiving any compensation until the next month or thereafter? I didn't really need to know but I was just wondering...

UI is based on when you work, not when you get paid.

In my state I've read that businesses operating at a loss or with insufficient income to qualify for benefits would receive a minimum amount of $231 per week, plus the $600 extra. I can only hope the reviewers are reading the same info.

BG, UI for ICs under the Cares act is subject to each state's rules. In MD, the site clearly state that payments will be retroactive to the last day worked. Each state is different. Some have several weeks of waiting period AFTER you are approved. MD does not have a waiting period, either.

W-2 in Nebraska.

They deduct federal and state income taxes.

@bgriffin wrote:

PUA is only retroactive to when the CARES Act was signed I believe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I absolutely could be

Unemployment is 1099, not W-2.

@bgriffin wrote:

UI is based on when you work, not when you get paid.

Good to know. Some might not find it feasible to start mystery shopping, wait 2 months to get paid and have no UI income while waiting.

At least in Nebraska, you must certify each week any monies earned, whether yet paid or to be paid in the future. Those "earnings" will immediately impact the amount of benefit (but not, if I interpret correctly, the $600 weekly Federal benefit).