'We Can't Take Your Call': Uber Drivers, Other Gig Workers Struggle For Unemployment

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The CARES Act extended unemployment benefits to gig workers — but many apps like Uber and Lyft don't pay into unemployment insurance. Now states are scrambling to create systems to process the claims, leaving gig workers without financial assistance.

— like driving for Uber or renting rooms on Airbnb — now have a lifeline. They are temporarily eligible for unemployment benefits, thanks to the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which became law in March."I've been applying every week," O'Dell said."Every single week I get denied regular unemployment."

That's because Lyft and Uber don't consider themselves to be his employer. The companies say their millions of drivers areMany apps operate this way, from the ride-hailing companies to grocery delivery services DoorDash and Instacart. That decision has big consequences for workers.

Because the apps do not do this, gig workers have to show proof of their earnings, so the state knows how much to give them in unemployment benefits. In turn, states have to set up systems to process those claims — which Shambaugh describes as"the big holdup."

 

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Many of you act like you care for these drivers, yet LOADS of y'all don't even bother leaving them a decent tip. hypocrites

Proud to say, not 1 cent given to Uber or Lyft. Did those 6000+ layed off employees from Uber get benefits? They don't pay in to system, so they shouldn't get it, but Was awesome to see the government trying to help them out. Uber ships on people to make money. Big biz

This is why they created AB5. No one should be left out of the safety net.

Aren't they *supposed to* but they're suing to retain their current status? So the workers can't have it both ways,. Be a gig worker who's a contractor, AND get unemployment, which is what I suspect UBER's problem is with it. (Uber sucks!)

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