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Independent Contractor Unemployment Insurance - Federal CARES Act

May 20, 2020 09:35PM
Yes, the information on this thread was helpful. I was finally able to speak to someone after multiple attempts multiple days. Likewise, my application was submitted, weeks later I received an approval letter, but I could not proceed with the next step of "certifying my benefits" until I received a 10 digit number to access my account online. Anyway, finally spoke to someone who answered my questions, gave me my 10 digit number, and directed my next steps. I am curious how long it takes before the actual card arrives, but just knowing that it's on the way feels good.
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May 21, 2020 12:46PM
@wwin wrote:

Maybe my situation was unique, they did make other mistakes setting up my account such as wrong name, but I'm worried for others waiting that received $0.00 .
@carlsbadguy wrote:

Got my California EDD claim insurance award in the mail and it says $0.00.

I don't think your situation was unique, unfortunately. I know at least a dozen of people who got a 0$ claim award, spend days and days calling, and then found out they were tracked into the standard EDD system instead of the PUA system. I know precisely 2 people who filled out their forms in the exact same manner, were processed correctly, and immediately paid

It appears that in the haste to process claims, the EDD didn't correctly train the employees who were processing claims, thus resulting in needing even more employees to answer the slew of phone calls that created.

Good too hear that it's starting to get resolved....
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May 22, 2020 09:46AM
It's almost 2 months since everything shut down & people still can't get the funds that were intended to tide them over??? By the time the states figure it out, everything will be open, many will begin working and no longer qualify. Seems like they designed it that way. Luckily most credit, utility and loan agencies have suspended late fees because. if people needed that unemployment $ to pay their bills, they'd be up a creek.
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May 22, 2020 01:53PM
Reporting from SC. I think it was March 25 when the PUA system for ICs went live. There was very little information provided. No mention of earning requirements, or if they wanted gross or net amounts. Didn't know if I was wasting my time or not, but I applied, and uploaded my routing/account numbers, 2018 Sch C, and 1099s. I got paid yesterday, retroactive to March 15. Although my initial UI claim was denied, when I was approved for PUA, I was approved for UI, and am receiving both.

Don't know what will be taxable. I chose not to have anything withheld. I'll deal with that, if and when.
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May 23, 2020 12:13AM
I was finally able to get into the system and now I just have to show that I was working last year and this year and that I am trying. But I am sure they will hang onto the information so that they can hit me with business taxes next year at the state and city and county level.
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May 23, 2020 12:35AM
I think it is a mess in all states. In Idaho they have people that applied the week of March 23 for regular unemployment, not the PUA and they are still waiting to be confirmed to get benefits. The news said that they still have 39,000 self employed, IC, gig workers claims to process. They started out with 48,000. I did get mine on May 13.
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May 23, 2020 03:01PM
@2stepps wrote:

I was finally able to get into the system and now I just have to show that I was working last year and this year and that I am trying. But I am sure they will hang onto the information so that they can hit me with business taxes next year at the state and city and county level.

If you are up to date with paying the taxes owed by your business, there shouldn't be any surprises coming....
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May 28, 2020 12:40AM
@SteveSoCal wrote:

@MSF wrote:

Someone working 40 hours a week is not considered unemployed. I doubt that they would qualify for either federal pandemic unemployment compensation or any state's unemployment compensation. Regardless of whether they lost some of their work, they are still employed full time.

@luckygirl0100 wrote:

It's theoretically no different than having two W-2 jobs and losing one OR working 80 hours a week and being cut to 40 hours. Either of those situations would qualify you for UI.

To clear up any confusion...it's not about hours. Unemployment is based on income. You can work 20 hours, 100 or just 5 hours a week, but if there's a drop in your pay you are underemployed, and potentially able to receive some benefits. It really depends on your state, though.

I only know the CA system well so that's all I can responsibly address, but luckygirl0100 would be able to file a claim in CA based on income disparity if she was laid off due to the pandemic and her new job paid significantly less.

This is incredibly different than either of the two states I've ever filed unemployment in. In my experiences unemployment gets cut off after $x in income. So you're saying someone who lived in CA, who has 2 jobs, both making $40,000 a year, lost 1 of the 2 jobs, and would be able to get unemployment because they lost 1 of those jobs??? Maybe I'm reading it wrong or misunderstanding the situation. In both of my experiences filing unemployment each week you filled out a weekly certification stating how much you earned. You could earn a small amount, but that 2nd $40k a year job would have immediately disqualified you in both of those instances. I can't remember the limit on the first one (it was 10 years ago) and while I think I saw it somewhere in all the paperwork for this one I didn't care enough to remember what it was, but both of them were small, like maybe under $100 a week and definitely under $200.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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May 28, 2020 01:45AM
CA is the same as other states for the most part. If you earn between $26 and $99.99, $25 is deducted from your weekly benefit. If you earn $100 or more, 25% of the wages are exempt and the other 75% would go against your weekly benefit. The max weekly benefit is $450. So if the claimant makes less than $600 a week in the remaining job, they could potentially get regular UE benefits and the PUA.
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May 28, 2020 02:28AM
Not sure how it is in other states, but California is getting to roll out the "look for work" requirement in order to continue receiving unemployment. Some people were asked to list where they looked for work or why they didn't look for work when they certified on Sunday. As an IC, you would list yourself at the employer when reporting income earned. Based on what a claims specialist told someone I know, IC's will be required to look for traditional work if their IC income is not enough to get you off of unemployment.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2020 02:29AM by AnonymousGirl.
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May 28, 2020 04:26PM
In California, I received this notice last week

Notice of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Award
...
Do I need to look for work?
Given the unique economic situation and lack of available work created by the COVID-19 health crisis, you will not be required to look for work while receiving PUA benefits.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2020 04:28PM by wwin.
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May 28, 2020 04:35PM
The MD weekly update clearly states that in the first 10 week, if the pandemic is the reason that you were not available to take work, there is no requirement to look for or accept work.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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May 28, 2020 08:27PM
I am sure this waiver of the looking for work requirement will end at some time. When will be state to state. When I re certified last week I was asked where I looked for work but I was able to click no and still get my payment but the form did not say I could do that. I will see what happens in Calif on my next two week certification. From what I remember from long ago unemployment claims, you did not have to accept work if it was not in your field. So if you were a chemist you did not need to accept work as a greeter at a dept store. etc. If that is still the case I am not sure what broader field they would consider us??? Customer Service??
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May 29, 2020 12:03AM
Finally, after waiting seven weeks I got benefits! Paid for the last six weeks, totaling $3305 with PUA.
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May 29, 2020 12:27PM
I'm in UT, and I was able to apply through the state's website. It's actually pretty slick, and their online chat is surprisingly effective, though wait times can be up to 30 minutes. There were issues with my first UI claim, and it ended up being tossed. I'm within the 4-week notification period for both UI apps I've filed. Waiting to see...

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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May 31, 2020 02:51AM
NEED THE NAME OF A SUPERVISOR

I'm trying to file an unemployment claim under the Cares act. The Texas commission rejected the claim because I don't have the name of the person I worked for. I worked the Shell, Exxon, Chevron, and Valero programs. Does anyone have the name of an individual supervisor?

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2020 02:54AM by MDavisnowell.
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May 31, 2020 07:08AM
If you apply as an independent contractor, you should be filing under the PUA as opposed to the regular UI. As an independent contractor, you work for yourself, not Exxon, Shell, or any other company you have done mystery shops for. So, you are the supervisor. The company that you work for is whatever your name is. There is no need to mention any other company or supervisor if you are an independent contractor doing mystery shops and applying under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
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June 03, 2020 01:50AM
I’m in NC. Finally after seven weeks my benefits have been paid. $3305 for the past six weeks all at once.
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June 03, 2020 05:14PM
FYI..I didn’t list that I’m working for myself and I was still approved for PUA in PA. I listed one of the mystery shopping companies. Didn’t know better at the time.
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June 03, 2020 06:20PM
Question about how to fill out certification in California. As far as I can tell we still do not need to look for work in California. I filled out my form June 1 and was able to just skip the page of questions about looking for work. But I do have a question.
I received pay during my two current weeks to be certified. The instructions say to report earnings in the week they are received. This was for a small job I did 6 weeks or so ago. The earnings are inconsequential but I did want to report them. The form did not seem to have a way to report just earnings. When I clicked yes to the question about any earnings during the week it took me to the same page of questions about looking for work. There was no where to input just earnings during that week.
Has anyone reported earnings in Cal on PUA in a week where they did not look for work? If so how did you do it?

I am also wondering about the need to report a long list of other income that I did not think had any bearing on eligibility for unemployment. It asks whether you received any pension payments during that week. I do receive a small pension but does anyone know why they ask that question? Does a pension payment affect your PUA?
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June 04, 2020 02:37AM
I receive a pension, and when I certified for one of the weeks, I provided the information. It did not affect my PUA. I was very concerned that it would. I don't remember when I was asked about it, but I think it was in the section when it ask if I received any income, and "pension" was on a list of sources. I don't now why they ask that question, but also remember reporting the pension on the original application too. Like you, I received payment for a couple of small jobs. I was going to provide the information, but I kind of remember once I indicated that I received payment for work, a whole bunch of other questions and crap popped up. It seemed like the process of reporting that income was more trouble than it was worth. It was only $43, and at some juncture, probably next month, I am going to figure out how to report it, and just say I earned the income for whatever the current certifying week is.
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June 04, 2020 02:55AM
Ugh, not much info on either of these questions and still not even an opportunity to wait on hold to speak with someone. I did find info that most pensions count as income for unemployment which makes no sense to me. People can have income from many sources and I always thought the only source they were concerned with was income from actual work. They do not count investment income so why a pension? There does not seem to be a means test for unemployment other than you are no longer getting your income from working.
I guess i will keep calling to one day ask them how to report income.

@1forum1 wrote:

I receive a pension, and when I certified for one of the weeks, I provided the information. It did not affect my PUA. I was very concerned that it would. I don't remember when I was asked about it, but I think it was in the section when it ask if I received any income, and "pension" was on a list of sources. I don't now why they ask that question, but also remember reporting the pension on the original application too. Like you, I received payment for a couple of small jobs. I was going to provide the information, but I kind of remember once I indicated that I received payment for work, a whole bunch of other questions and crap popped up. It seemed like the process of reporting that income was more trouble than it was worth. It was only $43, and at some juncture, probably next month, I am going to figure out how to report it, and just say I earned the income for whatever the current certifying week is.
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June 04, 2020 07:34PM
@sandyf..... That's interesting that you learned that they count pensions as income, but apparently it does not have an impact on qualifying for PUA, and it shouldn't the way I see it. If I made $2000 a month as a contractor, and that income is eliminated because of the pandemic, that is lost income from my work. It should not matter if someone gets $2000, $3000, $5000, or any amount in terms of a pension. I still lost my income from my work, which is what unemployment insurance is supplementing. SimilarIy, If I had a billion dollars in my bank account, and lost my income from my job, it would have no impact on qualifying or receiving benefits. Anyway, I reported income from my pension whenever asked, and have had no issues. Good luck reaching someone on the phone. Keep me posted on any information you learn.
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June 04, 2020 09:23PM
1forum1...from reading on the irs site it is unclear. It is not worded clearly about the pension. So I just got a pension payment on 6/1 and my last recert was thru 5/30 so i will report it in two weeks and see what happens. The way it was worded sounded like perhaps they only counted pension payments if you were still or agaijn working for the same company as it said something about the pension getting contributions from you employer. I know there are those who are on a pension and then still work at the same employer. But in two weeks I will know or sooner if anyone answers the phone by then.
But I wholeheartedly agree that they should not single out pension payments as a counted source of income. There are so many other ways some of the new unemployed people are still making money from investments or other passive income that are not counted.
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June 04, 2020 09:59PM
Pension is generally only counted if it is from the "base period or chargeable employer." If you retired from and receive a pension from employer A, and were separated from your job with employer B (the base period or chargeable employer), your pension income will not be counted.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2020 09:59PM by MSF.
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June 04, 2020 11:55PM
Ah, so my pension is not from a UI "chargeable employer". I separated from that employer in 2017. I am applying for UI benefits from mystery shopping which I lost due to covid 19. So therefore my pension would not count?? Is that correct? No msc I work for offered me a pension...lol Hope so! Thanks for that clarification MSF.
@MSF wrote:

Pension is generally only counted if it is from the "base period or chargeable employer." If you retired from and receive a pension from employer A, and were separated from your job with employer B (the base period or chargeable employer), your pension income will not be counted.
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June 05, 2020 02:46AM
@sandyf, I'm not sure about how this will work for you since you do not have a base period or chargeable employer.
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June 05, 2020 03:24AM
Not sure what you mean by a chargeable employer than, I have the PUA version of UI and I do have a base period of earnings all from Mystery shops. The pension question is part of the PUA recertification.

@MSF wrote:

@sandyf, I'm not sure about how this will work for you since you do not have a base period or chargeable employer.
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June 05, 2020 05:52AM
Has anyone in California been able to get thru to the EDD to challenge a claim for PUA? I submitted a claim the first day you could as an independent contractor a received a $0 benefit determination 2 weeks later and have been calling every day since and can't even be on hold.
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June 05, 2020 02:02PM
@sandyf, employers pay unemployment insurance taxes. The way unemployment normally works, a claim is drawn against the tax contributions paid by the "chargeable" employer. That is the employer from which the person filing for unemployment was separated. So if you lost a job with employer A and filed for unemployment, the pot of tax money from employer A would be charged. You do not have a chargeable employer though, since you were an independent contractor rather than an employee. Prior to the CARES Act, you certainly would not have qualified for unemployment. I'm not sure how this will turn out for you. That said, it looks like @1forum1 is is the same situation as you and things worked out.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2020 02:06PM by MSF.
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