Delivering food on DoorDash can generate an excellent income, but if you don’t find any deliveries for many days, you may want to get your hands on those unemployment benefits to meet all your needs.
So this article will answer all your questions regarding unemployment benefits while working as a DoorDash delivery driver, so you know what to do to earn some handsome amount.
Does DoorDash Report To Unemployment?
Not all DoorDash payments are reported to the official unemployment office, but a 1099 is given to all drivers, so they will become aware at the end of the tax year. In most cases, DoorDash drivers can do deliveries part-time and still be on unemployment, however you can be asked to return unemployment payments once you file your taxes.
If you want to learn more about unemployment and making deliveries with DoorDash, keep reading…

What Is 1099?
A 1099 is a form given by an employer stating how much money you have earned working for the company.
The employer sends out 1099 forms, typically in February, to both you and the IRS.
Freelancers and independent contractors (like DoorDash drivers) all receive 1099 forms.
Once you receive your 1099 and are filing your taxes, you report the exact number as your total earnings to the IRS when filing your taxes.
Can You Collect Unemployment While Doing DoorDash?
Technically yes, you can work as a DoorDash delivery driver part-time and collect unemployment benefits.
You do need to report all the money you are making with DoorDash to unemployment, and depending on the amount, they’ll adjust your unemployment benefits.
Will Doing DoorDash Affect My Unemployment?
If you have lost your main job recently, even if you are working part-time to earn some income, you will be able to collect some payment, all thanks to the US unemployment benefits program.
Officials will keep an eye on your part-time income and cut the amount you earned from the original unemployment benefit payment.
How To Claim Unemployment On DoorDash?
Most states in America allow you to work on a part-time job and collect your unemployment benefits because you have lost your source of income. But this varies state-to-state.
Make sure to double check the unemployment laws where you live.
The government has created a bill to give benefits to those who don’t fall in the category to get the unemployment benefits in the normal condition.
The PUA by the government states that self-employed people, those who are seeking self-employment, those who don’t have a work history at all, and those who don’t qualify for the usual benefits are all eligible for unemployment benefits.
You can report your previous income, and the benefit amount will be equal to that amount.
What Are The Requirements To Apply For Unemployment Benefits?
You can apply for a regular unemployment benefit payment if you have recently lost your job, your primary source of income.
If your health conditions led to leaving your job or because someone in your household is at the immediate risk of a severe health condition.
If everything goes according to the plan, you will receive a weekly payment based on your gross income instead of your net income for more benefit.
How Many Hours Can I Work And Still Claim Unemployment Benefits?
This varies state-to-state, but normally it isn’t the amount of hours but the income earned.
If you’re dashing part-time and earning a quarter of what you made at your full-time job, you’ll likely still receive unemployment benefits to match the amount missing.
Can You Get Charged With Unemployment Fraud?
Yes. If you fail to disclose your income or how much you’re making with DoorDash while collecting unemployment you can be charged with unemployment fraud.
The most likely scenario is they’ll ask you to pay back some or all of the unemployment benefits.
However, people fo get charged for failing to report their income, and you will never receive any unemployment benefits in the future, no matter what happens.
Some states will even suspend your driving license and registration of your vehicle. This will require more money than you have saved by fraud. Overall, just don’t do it!
Can You Go To Jail For Collecting Unemployment Benefits When Dashing?
In the rarest of the cases of unemployment benefit frauds, some fraudulent may serve some prison time.
This situation occurs if a person is involved in such frauds for an extended period or has defrauded the state for a significant amount in terms of benefit payment. The jail term in an unemployment benefits case may vary based on the severity of the crime.
Are Taxes Taken Out Of Your DoorDash Paycheck?
No taxes are taken out from the money you make by delivering orders through DoorDash. Since you aren’t an employee but a independent contractor you are responsible for your own taxes at the end of the year.
You should file your taxes after taking out all your expenses as you are a self-employed delivery driver instead of an official DoorDash employer.
Can DoorDash Be Used As Proof Of Income?
Usually, DoorDash sends a 1099 form to its delivery drivers to help them keep a record of their earnings in the IRS. If they don’t send you 1099, you should immediately report your income to show it as proof of payment later.
In most cases, DoorDash manages 1099 of all the delivery drivers and sends it to them regularly, but those who haven’t received it can apply for it. You can keep track of your income as soon as you accept the invite to create a payable account automatically.
Want to learn more about DoorDash? Read these articles to learn how to DoorDash for the first time without a red card and what is DoorDash red card.
Conclusion…
Even though DoorDash will probably not report your income to the official unemployment office, when you file your taxes at the end of the fiscal year you will most likely have to pay back the unemployment benefits.
Due to this, we always recommend informing the unemployment office of how much money you are making with DoorDash so they can adjust your benefits accordingly and avoid any possible accusations of fraud.