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Independent Contractor Unemployment Insurance - Federal CARES Act

July 07, 2020 03:54PM
Generally income for this work is reported on Schedule C. There is no need to actually have a 1099. Companies are not required to send one out if you earned less than $600 from them. So you do not need one,but as you evidently know you still need to report the income. Use your own records to figure out how much you earned in fees and bonuses, your reimbursements, your expenses etc for each msc you did work for.

@hksh1 wrote:

If I earned less than $600 so the mystery shopping company did not send me a 1099, which form do I use to report the income if I am using 1040 file income tax? Do I fill out the 1099 myself?
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July 08, 2020 03:52AM
I live in New York and never got around to applying for unemployment. I'm retired and am not a heavy shopper but do $100 in a good week. I guess I should apply retroactively? Like many here, other than USPS shops the jobs haven't come back for me yet.
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July 11, 2020 02:34AM
I am also retired. My application was approved very quickly. I think it was like 3 or 4 days tops. I don't believe there is minimum income limit in NY for PUA. From what I have read, it appears possible one just needs to start looking for work but was stopped because of Covid. I am very grateful that I got it but can't get the feeling that I don't really deserve it out of my mind. Compared to my pittance of income from my mystery shopping, the PUA 'payout' is rather astronomical. I completely understand how they're going to tweak the formula after this month if there is more help coming.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2020 02:35AM by hksh1.
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July 11, 2020 02:54AM
Thanks. And does looking for work just have to involve looking o shops online? I'm guessing they aren't enforcing going on interviews at this point. And yes, the $600/week bonus was definitely overly generous. There are people making more not working than they were when they worked, and I'm talking about people will full time jobs.
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July 11, 2020 03:06AM
They're not enforcing looking for work requirement in NY for PUA and UI. I think all that mattered is Covid made people stay home. My sense is they're pushing all buttons at NY DoL to approve everyone. Also, they backtracked all the payment to the first day of 'job loss.' I put down my last mystery shop which was mid March and they sent me all the payments after they made me sign electronic document back certification.
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July 11, 2020 02:56PM
They're not enforcing looking for work in FL at the moment either. That requirement for us, is waived until August 1st. They are mainly concerned with did you make any money and are you still unemployed directly due to COVID 19.
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July 14, 2020 03:15PM
I'm Utah. I applied for IC relief, citing about $8300 income from last year. I received $1k.

I also applied for a loan and received $3200 @ 3.25% with a 30-year payout and 1 year deferred payments. I have to document those expenditures, and will probably pay it off in 5 or 6 years at the very most.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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July 14, 2020 03:58PM
They're not enforcing the "must look for work" mandate here for PUA, either. This week they finally added an item to the list of reasons why you can't work due to the pandemic. It specifically pertains to ICs and "gig workers," so there's now an official box I can tick off, instead of having to choose the closest W-2 employee reason.

I had thought they were going to allow us to file to backdate our claims to the first week of income loss, but so far I haven't seen that option on the site. My big freelance client notified me on April 5 of the project being delayed or potentially canceled, but I didn't file until about 2 weeks later. I'd love to have that extra $$, but I'll take what I can get!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2020 08:17PM by BirdyC.
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July 14, 2020 08:11PM
I'm in TX and had the same experience as CoolMusic. I have regular full time job at which I'm still working. Mystery shopping is part time, but I averaged 900.00 a month before COVID. I applied under the PUA, I received 449.00 and the option to apply for the same type loan. I am leaning towards not applying because I think I can squeeze by. Mystery shopping finally picked up with bonuses this month. I'm not even close to my old average, but things are progressing in that direction.
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July 18, 2020 05:46PM
If you can get it while you are working that is OK but if you are drawing Social Security unless you over 70 you can de in hot water. I draw SSI and I can make up to $800 extra a month. If I go over that I lose a dollar for a dollar over that. And for too long I might just lose the SSI payments.
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July 28, 2020 06:50PM
The extra $600 per week ended last week, and with disbursements taking place over a week it will be until 31 July until everyone is finished receiving it.

Right now The Senate is talking about extending it, but at $200 per week instead of the $600 proposed by The House.

What a world.
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July 28, 2020 10:00PM
I will take the $200/wk at this point. $600/wk was something I never expected so I am still happy. I actually didn't think they were gonna extend it at all.
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July 31, 2020 08:22PM
Today is the last day. I hear that the House decided to forego their August recess to work until an acceptable bill is passed. I dont know about the Senate.
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July 31, 2020 09:48PM
@2stepps wrote:

If you can get it while you are working that is OK but if you are drawing Social Security unless you over 70 you can de in hot water. I draw SSI and I can make up to $800 extra a month. If I go over that I lose a dollar for a dollar over that. And for too long I might just lose the SSI payments.

Are you sure about the "monthly" income limit? The Social Security Website indicates a limit of $18,240 (under full retirement age) and $48,600 (full retirement age) annually. There is no mention of monthly income limits.
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July 31, 2020 10:28PM
Isn't SSI different from regular SS? I think SSI is for recipients UNDER 65 who have some type of disability? Is that not right?
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August 01, 2020 08:19AM
I am on SSDI. Social security isn't counting unemployment as income towards trial work period. I am drawing in Texas. If you have SSI they offset each other
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August 01, 2020 08:21AM
ssi is income based, ssdi is disability and is just like retirement but for people who are disabled under 65
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August 01, 2020 08:29AM
if you read the first page on TWC website it says do not send any paperwork unless you made more than 21,800 last year. I had everything ready to send and then saw that and called and was told not to send anything and was approved 3 days later.
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August 01, 2020 10:47AM
What do you mean if you have SSI they offset each other? Also, what is "trial period work?"
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August 03, 2020 10:28PM
Social Security work rules for disabled people on SSI and/or SSDI are complicated.

Disabled people on Social Security's disability programs are encouraged to try working, under a trial work period. The complications involve the amounts one can earn, how to calculate earnings for self-employed, the number of hours allowed, the minimum and maximum amount one can earn, and when the trial work period begins and ends. All of this is separate from IRS rules on taxable income, where some work earnings allow all or part of the Social Security benefit to be subject to federal income taxes.
[www.ssa.gov]
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August 03, 2020 11:41PM
Complicated and confusing.... One piece of information says one thing, and another piece of information appears to say something completely different. I called SSA today, and the genius that I spoke to indicated that you could earn $18,240 annually or $1500 per month. He also indicated the unemployment benefits will not affect SSI payments. This information seems to be at odds with what 2stepps said above.
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August 04, 2020 07:15PM
I find when calling someone for information it is good to make clear to them what your situation is and then if what they say does not seem accurate I emphasize and again what my situation is to make sure they are looking at the correct schedule. For instance I might say, is that true for SSDI if you are xxx years old? Then I call a second time if it still sounds wrong and find someone else to see if they concur. I also always look up the rules on the website of whoever it is...make sure it says .gov (dot gov) as searching generally gives you many, many non official sites that sound official before actually listing the site you are looking for.
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August 04, 2020 11:35PM
I will give then another call.
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August 05, 2020 06:22AM
@Aprice37 wrote:

if you read the first page on TWC website it says do not send any paperwork

What is "TWC?"
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August 05, 2020 07:33PM
So I called SSA again, and got the same information. Unemployment does not affect regular SSI benefits. However, if your benefits is based on a disability, they will be impacted. I was also told you can earn $18,200 before full retirement age, and no limit after full retirement age. I will go with that info, but I don't want anyone here making decisions based upon what you read on my post..... Please, do your own research.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2020 03:30AM by 1forum1.
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August 10, 2020 12:59AM
See. Its complicated.
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August 12, 2020 06:42PM
Question.... My sister works for the school district, but also has a part time job. She lost the part time job, a job she works a lot more in the summer, because of Covid. She filed and was accepted. However, a notice she received a letter, "Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed," and it mentioned last employer is the part time job..... Well, yes and no. She still maintains her job with the school district. She wants to know if she should call them and tell them that she has two jobs, but lost the part time job. By the way, all that information was provided including all earnings when she filed. It was also summarized on the Notice OF Unemployment Award letter. That letter summarized the income from both places of employment.

Anyway, the whole "last place of employment" thing is confusing. The question is should she call and tell them that it is her last place of employment, but not really because she had two jobs and lost that one. By the way, she has worked at the part time job for the last 6 years. Feedback????
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August 18, 2020 05:58PM
Just to keep people posted, it appears those of us getting PUA through self-employment route won't be getting the $300 extension. It will be only for people who get regular UI of at least $100. I don't know what Pelosi is negotiating with Munchin and whether that will change anything.

[www.businessinsider.com]
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August 18, 2020 11:16PM
Hey there, I think you may have made a typo. I read the article you posted and it says that guidance from the government says that the people receiving PUA qualifies for the $300.

I think what they were trying to say is that it hurts the people who are trying to go back to work and are working a little bit. If you make enough that you don't qualify for at least $100 in state benefits that week, then you won't qualify for the extra federal $300.

@hksh1 wrote:

Just to keep people posted, it appears those of us getting PUA through self-employment route won't be getting the $300 extension. It will be only for people who get regular UI of at least $100. I don't know what Pelosi is negotiating with Munchin and whether that will change anything.

[www.businessinsider.com]
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August 19, 2020 01:22AM
I added the wrong article. This one says workers receiving less than $100 in state UI benefits will be excluded which includes people like me who only got it through PUA. I won't be eligible for anything under traditional UI.

[www.marketwatch.com]
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