I'm 60 and was in your exact situation about 6 months ago - laid off from my supervisor position at a packaging company and terrified that unemployment would mess up my retirement plans. I spent weeks researching this and even called AARP's helpline to get clarification. The answer is definitively NO - unemployment benefits will not reduce your Social Security retirement benefits in any way. They're completely separate programs with different funding sources. Social Security is calculated from your highest 35 years of earnings where you paid SS taxes, and unemployment doesn't count as earnings for this calculation. What helped me most was actually creating the my Social Security account online and seeing that my projected benefits stayed exactly the same throughout my 5 months on EDD. With your 40 years of work history, a few months of unemployment won't even be a blip in your Social Security calculation. The only real impact is the temporary pause in retirement savings contributions, but that's manageable. Don't let this worry steal your peace of mind - you've got enough stress with job hunting. Your retirement security is intact!

I'm 57 and went through this exact same fear when I got laid off from my office job about 4 months ago! I was convinced that collecting EDD benefits would somehow reduce my Social Security payments when I retire. After losing sleep over it for weeks, I finally did what several others here mentioned - I created a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and looked at my actual projected benefits. Even after being on unemployment for months, my estimated retirement benefits were exactly the same as before I lost my job. It really drove home what everyone's saying - these are completely separate systems that don't affect each other at all. The Social Security calculation is based on your lifetime earnings where you paid SS taxes, not on whether you collected unemployment at some point. With decades of work history like you have, a temporary period of unemployment is basically invisible in the calculation. The only real impact is missing out on 401k contributions while you're between jobs, but that's not permanent damage. Don't waste your energy worrying about this like I did - put it all into your job search instead. Your retirement benefits are safe!

Just an additional tip: keep VERY careful records of exactly which days you work and how much you earn each day. If your contract spans across different certification weeks, you'll need to calculate exactly how much to report for each week. EDD goes by Sunday-Saturday weeks. For example, if you work Thursday, Friday, Saturday of one week ($2,600) and then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the next week ($2,600), you need to split up the $5,200 accordingly when you certify. I learned this the hard way and had to deal with an overpayment notice because I didn't calculate it correctly!

Just wanted to add - definitely take that contract! That's an amazing rate. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to save some of that contract income for taxes since it won't have the same withholdings as regular employment. Also, make sure you get a 1099 from the company at the end of the year for tax purposes. The unemployment system is actually designed to encourage people to take temporary work like this. It's a win-win - you get great pay for two weeks, and EDD doesn't have to pay you benefits during that time. Your claim will be there waiting for you when the contract ends. Good luck with the gig! Sounds like it could be a great networking opportunity too even if it's just two weeks.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD identity verification process is absolutely broken and you're definitely not alone. I went through something similar last year where they questioned my identity despite having filed with them multiple times before. A few things that might help while you're waiting on the assembly member response: 1) Keep calling that appeals number (800-300-5616) that Brady mentioned - sometimes you can catch them during less busy hours (try early morning around 8 AM) 2) Document every single interaction like Miguel suggested - dates, names, reference numbers, what was said. This becomes crucial evidence if you need to escalate further 3) If your husband does land that job today (fingers crossed!), definitely don't abandon the appeal. You're entitled to those back benefits for the weeks he was unemployed and eligible The fact that they're questioning citizenship for someone born in Michigan is just mind-boggling. The whole system seems designed to exhaust people into giving up. Stay strong and keep fighting - from what I've seen in this community, persistence eventually pays off, especially with the assembly member's help. Rooting for you both!

I'm going through this exact same identity verification nightmare right now! EDD flagged my account three weeks ago claiming they couldn't verify my identity, even though I was born in California and have been filing with them on and off for years. It's like they just randomly flag accounts now and then put the burden on us to prove we exist. What's really frustrating is how each department gives you different information. The regular customer service reps say one thing, the eligibility interviewers say another, and then appeals is in its own separate world. No one seems to communicate with each other! I've also submitted the DE 1000M form and I'm waiting to hear from my assembly member's office. Reading through these comments gives me some hope that there are actually ways to get through this bureaucratic maze. The suggestion about the One-Stop Career Centers having EDD liaisons is something I hadn't heard before - definitely going to look into that. Hope your husband's job interview went well today! Even if he gets the position, definitely keep pushing on the appeal for those back benefits. They owe you that money for all the weeks you've been waiting around for them to do their job. This whole system is such a mess but it sounds like you're taking all the right steps to fight it.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful advice! I've started my UI claim online and am documenting everything carefully. I'm going to speak with my union rep tomorrow about the possible discrimination aspect too. Quick follow-up question: once I start receiving partial benefits, if my employer increases my hours back to full-time, do I just stop certifying? Or do I need to formally close my claim? I'm worried they might temporarily give me more hours just to get me off benefits and then cut them again after a few weeks.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this during your pregnancy! This sounds incredibly stressful. I went through something similar (though not pregnancy-related) and can share what I learned about partial UI. Make sure when you file your claim that you have your pay stubs from before the hour reduction - EDD will need to see your previous earnings to calculate your benefit amount properly. Also, keep a detailed log of your schedule changes with dates. This will be helpful both for your UI claim and if you decide to pursue the discrimination angle. One thing that really helped me was setting up direct deposit for UI payments right away during the application process. It cuts down on delays once your claim is approved. Also wanted to mention - if you're in a union, definitely loop them in ASAP. They often have experience with these exact situations and can advocate for you with your employer. Sometimes just having union representation involved can get employers to back down from sketchy practices. Wishing you the best with your claim and congratulations on your pregnancy! 💕

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and I totally get why you're nervous! The anticipation is honestly the worst part. Here's what I wish someone had told me beforehand: bring a glass of water and have it nearby during the call. I got so anxious that my mouth went completely dry halfway through and I started stumbling over my words. The interviewer actually paused and asked if I needed a moment, which was really kind. Also, if you don't understand a question or need clarification, it's totally okay to ask them to repeat it or explain what they're looking for. I did this once when they asked about "work separation circumstances" and I wasn't sure if they meant the reason I left or something else. The interviewer was super helpful and rephrased it. Your situation with the job posting actually works in your favor because it shows your employer genuinely didn't have work available for YOU at the time of separation, even if they later decided to fill the role differently (maybe at lower pay, different hours, etc.). Just stick to what you were told when you were let go. The interview is really just about confirming you didn't quit voluntarily and that you're genuinely looking for work. Sounds like you clearly meet both criteria! You're going to do fine tomorrow. 👍

Hey William! I can totally relate to the pre-interview jitters - I had mine about 2 months ago and was convinced they were going to find some reason to deny me. Turns out it was way more straightforward than I expected! A few practical tips that really helped me: - Clear your schedule for at least 2 hours around the appointment time (mine was supposed to be at 1pm but they called at 2:45pm) - Have a pen and paper ready to jot down the interviewer's name and any important points - If you get disconnected (happened to my friend), don't panic - just wait by your phone, they'll usually call back within 10-15 minutes The thing about your boss posting the job afterward is actually pretty common unfortunately. When they ask about your separation, just stick to exactly what you were told: "laid off due to lack of work." If the job posting comes up, you can simply say you weren't aware of any available positions when you were separated. Most importantly - remember that the vast majority of these interviews result in approval! The EDD is required to do these calls for certain types of claims, but it doesn't mean they're suspicious of you specifically. You're going to do great tomorrow! Let us know how it goes! 🙌