Starting a business on unemployment in Nevada

Self-Employment Assistance in Nevada

No. Nevada doesn’t run Self-Employment Assistance, so unemployment is for people looking for work.

How self-employment affects your benefit

Nevada law says you are not 'unemployed' in any week in which you are self-employed (NRS 612.185(3)(a)), so a week spent running or starting a business generally cannot be paid; any side earnings must be reported on the weekly claim.

If you work part-time (DETR says under 32 hours a week), your benefit is your weekly benefit minus 66 2/3% of your gross earnings (so one-third of earnings is disregarded), and you stop being 'unemployed' once pay reaches 1.5x your weekly benefit (NRS 612.350, 612.185).

Your weekly job search

You must contact several different employers each week (no fixed number is published) using methods customary for your occupation, keep a written Work Search Record (form NUCS-4482) of every contact because DETR may ask for it, and confirm your job search on each weekly certification.

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

Other help in Nevada

• Nevada Vocational Rehabilitation (DETR Rehabilitation Division, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation): VR policy manual Section 15 treats self-employment as a valid outcome: participant must own 51%+, write a business plan within a year, contribute cash or materials, and ventures meant only to supplement SSI/SSDI are capped at $3,000 VR funding.
• Medicaid: Nevada expanded Medicaid, so the new work requirement applies to expansion adults: 80 hours or $580 net a month, and hours on your business count. Planned start: 1 January 2027.
• 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