Can I receive unemployment benefits if I am self-employed?

No, self-employed individuals typically do not qualify for unemployment benefits in Nebraska. Unemployment insurance is primarily designed to support employees who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. Since self-employed workers are not considered employees, they are not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits. However, if you are self-employed and your business experiences reduced income or is forced to close due to specific reasons such as a natural disaster or public health emergency, you may be eligible for assistance through federal programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. PUA provides benefits to self-employed individuals, independent contractors, gig workers, and others who are not usually eligible for unemployment benefits but have been affected by an eligible circumstance. It is essential to review the eligibility criteria and guidelines provided by Nebraska Workforce Development and the Department of Labor for specific details.