Are you a gig worker for DoorDash who doesn’t have solid employment with even a minimum wage?
If so, you may wonder if you can get DoorDash unemployment benefits.
After all, those benefits would supplement your weekly earnings.
Do you want to get regular unemployment benefits as one of the many Dashers?
We’ll outline whether you can get regular unemployment funds as an employee.
Gig workers like Dashers received pandemic unemployment help during the beginning of COVID-19.
So, DoorDash delivery drivers needing unemployment insurance gained benefits to increase their earnings.
Find out more about DoorDash unemployment by reading the information below.
Table Of Contents
Can You Get Unemployment as a DoorDash Dasher?
You can get a benefit payment through unemployment insurance.
All you have to do is work part-time as a DoorDash delivery driver.
But, you need to report your entire income or gross earnings to the unemployment agency.
Then, the agency will adjust your weekly benefit amount.
They make the calculation based on the total money you make as a DoorDash food delivery driver.
You will still get unemployment benefits if you lost your main job.
But you should only have used DoorDash as a part-time gig.
Why Don’t You Qualify for Unemployment Through DoorDash?
Sometimes, you may not qualify for unemployment benefits through DoorDash.
You might earn more money as a DoorDash driver than unemployment covers.
That means you will not qualify to get benefits while working as a Dasher.
Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid getting charged with unemployment fraud.
Such an issue may occur if you fail to report your earnings from DoorDash to the unemployment agency.
You must do that action while receiving insurance.
Doing so may even cause you to lose your benefits forever regardless of what happens in your future.
Independent Contractor Status
Some people might work as a DoorDash food delivery driver and as any other type of gig worker.
They still usually receive an independent contractor status.
Unemployed gig workers or independent contractors can’t qualify for unemployment benefits.
Congress passed laws during the pandemic for contractors to qualify for unemployment benefits.
If the pandemic quarantine reduced your hours, you may qualify for unemployment payments.
Unemployment Eligibility for Gig Workers Under the CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act put $2 trillion toward managing the effects of the pandemic.
Also, the CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance to more workers the pandemic affected.
Independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and freelancers, now qualify for unemployment insurance coverage.
In 2020, unemployed workers received $600 per week.
They also got the general unemployment insurance payment.
How the CARES Act Works
The CARES Act provided unemployed people an extra $600 through Sept. 6, 2021.
It supplied the stimulus payment for unemployment insurance for an extra 13 weeks.
That happened along with the average 26 weeks of unemployment help nationwide.
Unemployed people could get payments for more than nine months.
They got money through unemployment insurance due to the CARES Act.
Some individuals face unemployment benefits coming to an end.
Those people can apply to gain the extra months of payments.
Who Is Eligible for Unemployment
Unemployment eligibility differs depending on your state.
For example, in Massachusetts, unemployment eligibility includes:
- Earning at least $5,700 over the last four calendar quarters
- Previously earning 30 times more than the weekly benefit payment you would collect
- Have legal authorization to work in the United States
- Be unemployed or have much fewer hours to work than before
- Have the ability to start working without delay when given a job offer
When Did COVID Relief Stop?
The CARES Act ended the week of Sept. 6, 2021.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program ended on that day too.
The PUA program provided unemployed people with 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.
The extra 13 weeks of unemployment insurance from the CARES Act will run out.
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program is temporary too.
Those still unemployed can apply for benefits through the PUA program.
Will Doing DoorDash Affect Your Unemployment?
You might still work for DoorDash as a part-time contract worker.
That means you’ll need to report all your earnings to the unemployment office.
Once you do so, the unemployment benefits you receive will drop based on your income.
DoorDash won’t submit your earnings to the unemployment agency.
You’ll need to report your earnings to avoid facing any fraudulent charges.
Your unemployment office will adjust your benefits based on your DoorDash earnings.
Do You Need to Report Your DoorDash Income to Unemployment?
You do need to report your DoorDash income to the local unemployment office.
If not, you can face penalties.
Government workers might charge you with unemployment fraud for not reporting earnings.
You must repay the government the extra, illegal payments you received.
You may lose your right to unemployment benefits for the rest of your life.
The government might take away your license and car registration.
They can even order legal charges in extreme cases.
How to Report DoorDash Income to Unemployment
The unemployment office provides every claimant with an online platform.
Those individuals have to report all earnings through a part-time job there.
They also need to report any changes in employment status.
When you gain a full-time job, you must stop requesting any weekly benefits.
Wrapping Up
The CARES Act allowed gig workers to apply for unemployment benefits through Sept. 6, 2021.
It also gave provisions for part-time and gig workers too.
The law went into effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s financial impact.
The CARES Act has stopped.
DoorDash delivery drivers can still apply for unemployment insurance.
But, Dashers need to report their earnings to the unemployment office.
Do you have any questions about DoorDash employment?
Let us know in the comments below!
