Starting a business on unemployment in Delaware

Self-Employment Assistance in Delaware

Delaware has a Self-Employment Assistance law, but we found no active program in 2026. Ask the unemployment agency before you rely on it.

How self-employment affects your benefit

You must tell the Division if you are or become self-employed. The handbook says Delaware courts have consistently held that self-employed people are not eligible: more than de minimis effort on a business you own counts as self-employment, whether or not it is profitable and even if you remain available for other work.

The greater of $10 or 50% of the weekly benefit is disregarded and the rest is deducted; all earnings must be reported even if under the allowance.

Your weekly job search

Make at least 1 new work search contact each week and give its date when claiming via TeleBenefits/WebBenefits. Keep a verifiable Work Search Log (in the claimant handbook) for review. Register in Delaware JobLink within 3 business days of filing, keep the registration for the whole claim, and update your resume at least every 90 days.

Pontia keeps your job-search record for you and links to Delaware JobLink, so your plan and your search run side by side.

Other help in Delaware

• Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Department of Labor: can fund a self-employment plan if you have a disability.
• Medicaid: Delaware expanded Medicaid, so the new work requirement applies to expansion adults: 80 hours or $580 net a month, and hours on your business count. DHSS says federal work and community engagement requirements start 1 Jan 2027 for the Adult Medicaid Expansion group: $580 a month in earnings or 80 hours a month, plus 6-month renewals.
• SBA Microloans of up to $50,000, and free advice from your local SBDC and SCORE mentors.
• On SSI or SSDI: PASS and the SSDI trial work period let you test a business.

Questions