Unemployment Benefits for Gig Workers Have Ended. Here’s How to Replace that Income.
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The unemployment benefits that some gig workers received during the pandemic ended on Monday, September 6. Included in these temporary benefits were those that added an extra $300 per week and lengthened the amount of time you could receive benefits.
While pandemic-related benefits have been extended in the past, most experts agree that an extension is unlikely this time around—in fact, many states had already ended them ahead of the Labor Day deadline. That means many independent and traditional workers who may have been depending on those benefits will need to find other income.
Finding new sources of income can be an exhausting effort, so we’ve rounded up a list of flexible work opportunities you may want to explore.
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As more people want the convenience of having groceries delivered to their doorstep, becoming an Instacart Shopper can help you earn more.
As an Instacart Shopper, you can:
Earn extra money shopping for others
Keep your schedule flexible and work as much or as little as you want.
Help people in your community safely get the groceries they need
Rideshare and delivery driving
If you have a reliable car, a smartphone, and a license, you could put your driving skills to work. Mask up and carry passengers to their destinations or deliver goods to people’s doorsteps without any contact at all. Whatever you feel comfortable with.
Rideshare opportunities
Delivery driving opportunities
Pet care
If you love furry, scaley, or feathery friends, you could earn money helping people take care of their animal family members. From daily walks to training to pet sitting and boarding, choose the tasks that fit your schedule and needs.
Other household services
If you don’t mind taking on a few more chores, consider offering laundry services, helping a neighbor build their Ikea furniture, or other tasks. With these apps, you could make money just being helpful around the house.
Task rabbit (various services)
Dolly (furniture moving)
SudShare (laundry service)
We’re here to help.
Losing unemployment benefits is hard, but the good news is, there have never been more options to earn income through flexible work platforms that fit your work style.
Once you’ve started doing flexible work, you’re going to want to track important things like your miles, expenses, how much money you should set aside for taxes. You should also make sure you have all of the important coverage you need like health and dental insurance. Download the free Stride app to easily do it all.
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About the author
Kathryn Casna, Personal Finance Writer at Stride
Kathryn Casna helps independent workers of all kinds build a better life by wrangling topics like taxes, insurance, and banking into easy-to-understand articles. A former freelance writer with a pet-sitting side hustle, she’s also a licensed insurance agent and personal finance specialist who has appeared on websites such as The Simple Dollar, Best Company, and Baby Boomers. In her free time, Kathryn nerds out on budget-tracking spreadsheets and tries to coax her leash-trained cat to join her on outdoor adventures.