Unemployment for the self-employed

Factual Questions
1

My understanding is that the self-employed don’t pay in and can’t collect. Does this vary from state to state?

What about small businesses where the owner (and sometimes family members) are included on the payroll? Can they pay in and collect if the business goes under?

2

In PA you must pay in, but you can’t collect. It seems unfair. I don’t mind them saying you can’t collect, I mind that you must pay even though you can’t collect.

3

You have to pay in based on your own compensation … or just your employees??

4

You pay for everyone who is paid.

5

Do you mean the owner’s family can’t connect, or just the owner? Couldn’t the owner just work for free, and take consulting fees or dividends or other loopholes? The old $1 salary? Assuming he’s savvy enough to incorporate.

6

You’ll have to investigate ways around the law for yourself.

7

I pay into Nevada unemployment, but since I don’t live in the US, I don’t think I can ever collect. At least this year they finally lowered my rates.

Even if I hire a foreigner who is not a US citizen and does not have a US visa of any kind, and works in his own country, Nevada said I’d have to pay into unemployment for him too… and of course he could never collect.

It’s a big scam.

8

I’m not asking about investigating around laws. I’m asking if family members can collect unemployment, or if the restriction was only for the owner of record. Then I asked about ways to avoid the owner paying useless fees, which isn’t at all “ways around the law” but ways of using the law to avoid paying useless fees. That’s what laws are for, to be used.

9

I think I see. Based on that, here is a phone number where you should be able to get your answers: 1-888-313-7284

10

Simple Google search example for the State of Oregon:

Source: http://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/about_benefits.shtml

You need to contact your state’s unemployment office to see if you are eligible.

11

Dude, remember, you brought it up:

This was a partial answer to the same basic question. I’m just trying to find out for everyone’s benefit the rest of your incomplete answer (“You pay for everyone who is paid.”). Being a snarky little bitch isn’t in the spirit the boards. Just say you don’t know if you don’t know, for crying out loud.

12

C’mon now. You know that being a snarky little bitch isn’t in the spirit of the boards, but not that calling someone one violates the rules of this forum?

Gfactor
General Questions Moderator

13

In NJ if you own a business and treat yourself as an employee and pay into Unemployment. in many cases you can collect if you have to close the business due to it not being profitable

14

I have nothing to contribute, except the thread title and username combo is hilarious.

15

All I can say is that I’m glad the Australian system has (by comparison) no strings attached; if you’re unemployed, you get money from the Government until you get a job. (If you’re unemployed for too long they make you do community service to earn it, FWIW.)