My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: Colorado.
1. I have done freelance in addition to a daytime job for the last 10 months or so. My last freelance gig was in March. Obviously, it's sporadic. I will have to pay self employment tax on that come the end of the year.
2. I was laid off from my daytime job Sept 16. I filed UI promptly.
3. Benefits are just now kicking (yay) but no new job yet (bummer). But, I've agreed to do some freelance for a few gigs that will require me to be an independent contractor. It's not fulltime or more than 32 hours a week, but it will definitely pay more than my measly $331/week UI benefit.
My concern is that the state will now consider me self employed and bump me from UI benefits once I report that I worked as a 1099 contractor while on UI. Is that the case? I was free and able to work, and since I write or research when I'm freelancing, I can do this remotely and whatever hours I want.
I've kept a log of jobs I've applied to and all contacts made (51 in 5 weeks - ouch). Obviously I plan on reporting this work when I file, but I've heard of people getting shut down because they had 1099 work.
I didn't start a new business - just carried on something I've done in the past, and I'm cool with not getting paid the weeks I work, but I am worried I'll be shut down for it.

