Can seasonal self-employed people collect unemployment?
ByNina Kaufman•
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
We work in the outdoor amusement industry and travel with a carnival. We have our own concession stand, but book through the carnival. When it is closed for the season we are out of work. Can we file for unemployment?Generally, self-employed people cannot collect unemployment. Unemployment is available to those employees who are fired from their jobs. Seasonal work is akin to project work -- you were only needed for a particular period of time...so technically, you weren't fired. Your assignment merely came to an end.
However, there may be some room to play if the carnival pays you as a W-2 employee, or if you are an employee (as well as owner) of the corporation that books the concession stand. Speak to your accountant to determine your options.
