If I was self employed in CA. since 2004 and then accepted a job for four months and was then laid off am I eligible for benefits?

by David Cook
(Brentwood Ca. USA)

I was gainfully self employed as a contractor in California for the last five years but accepted a position offered by a company on 6/1/09 and was then laid off due to lack of work on 9/25/09 am I eligable for UI benefits.


Hi David,

There is nothing to stop you from applying, your layoff would be a qualifying separation .. but

Your employment of four months may be qualifying as far as sufficient wages (1300 in your high quarter or 900 in your HQ with an additional amount earned outside your HQ which brings your base period wages to at least 1125).

Those are the minimum wages needed to get the minimum benefit amount of $40.

The problem is how California determines your base period which is the period of time wages are looked at to determine your WBA.

Presently, that is the first four of the last five completed quarters, but California will be adding an alternative base period in 2011

If you waited until 10/1/09 your base period would be 7/1/08 through 6/30/09. The base period truncates your earning in July, August, and September.

In order to have those wages considered, you would have to wait until 1/1/10 to file your claim.

Chris