Have you tried reaching out to your local assembly member's office? They can sometimes help push things through with EDD.

Call 1-800-300-5616 - Answer No (2) to all answers. You'll get a live person, give them the address you have on file for EDD. Then tell them you need to reset your password - they will email you a link that gets you in. Took me 25 minutes after a week of failed attempts calling the other number.

I'm a retired teacher who just found this thread and wow, what a wealth of helpful information! I've been collecting my CalSTRS pension for about 20 months and just got laid off from a retail management position I'd held for 16 months. I was really anxious about applying for unemployment because I wasn't sure how my pension would affect things. Reading through all these success stories from other retired teachers in nearly identical situations has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the crucial factor is that since I worked at the retail job for over a year, my teaching employment won't be included in the base period that EDD uses to calculate benefits. I'm going to apply online tomorrow and be completely transparent about my CalSTRS pension and employment dates like everyone has recommended. The consistency of positive outcomes in this thread for retired teachers working in non-education fields really gives me confidence that I'll receive full benefits without any pension offset. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that's impossible to find on official websites. I'll definitely come back to update with my results to hopefully add another success story for future retired teachers navigating this confusing process!

I'm a retired teacher who just discovered this thread while researching my own situation - what an incredibly helpful discussion! I've been receiving my CalSTRS pension for 14 months and just got laid off from a customer service job at a tech company where I worked for 15 months. Like many of you, I was really confused about whether my pension would disqualify me or reduce my unemployment benefits. Reading through all these success stories from retired teachers in almost identical situations has been so encouraging! It's clear that the key factor is whether your teaching job falls within the base period, and since I worked at the tech company for over a year, my teaching employment shouldn't be included. What really stands out to me is how consistent the positive outcomes have been for everyone who worked in non-education fields after retirement. From @Nia Davis to @Chloe Taylor and all the recent success stories, it seems like EDD is properly applying the base period rules when the pension comes from a different employer than the one in your claim. I'm going to apply online this week and be completely transparent about my CalSTRS pension and employment timeline like everyone has suggested. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this thread is a treasure trove of practical advice that you just can't find anywhere else! I'll definitely update with my results to hopefully add another positive outcome for future retired teachers.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing someone you've been caring for is heartbreaking, and dealing with the practical concerns while grieving makes everything so much harder. I haven't been through this exact situation myself, but I've been reading through all the responses here and I'm amazed by how much helpful information this community has shared. It's really clear that you absolutely do qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS provider - everyone who's been through this seems to confirm that IHSS providers are considered employees of the county/Public Authority for unemployment purposes, even when caring for family members. The advice about applying online immediately, listing your county's IHSS Public Authority as the employer (not your stepdad), and having your provider ID number and paystubs ready seems to be the consistent theme from people who've successfully navigated this process. It's also good to know that some EDD representatives might not understand IHSS employment status, so being prepared to ask for a supervisor if needed could save you time and frustration. What strikes me most about this thread is how many people have taken the time to share their personal experiences during what were obviously difficult periods in their own lives. The level of detail and practical advice here is incredible - from work search documentation to certification questions to potential processing delays. You're clearly taking all the right steps by applying quickly and being prepared with your documentation. I hope your claim process goes smoothly, and thank you for sharing your situation - it's helping educate others in the community about IHSS unemployment benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this situation myself right now - my grandmother passed away last month after I was her IHSS provider for over two years. The grief combined with sudden loss of income is overwhelming. I want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely DO qualify for unemployment benefits! I just got approved last week. Here's what worked for me: - Applied online immediately (within days of her passing) - Listed my county's IHSS Public Authority as employer, NOT my grandmother - Put "lack of work due to recipient passing away" as separation reason - Had my IHSS provider ID and recent paystubs ready - Made sure to indicate I'm able and available for full-time work The hardest part emotionally was checking that "able and available" box when you're still processing the loss, but it's required. I started my work search by applying to other IHSS cases and senior care facilities - it felt like honoring the caregiving work while meeting requirements. One thing I learned - if your claim gets stuck in "pending" status, don't wait. Call EDD right away. Mine was flagged for manual review (apparently common for IHSS cases) but got resolved quickly once I spoke to someone who understood the employment relationship. You've been paying into the system and deserve these benefits. Don't let anyone tell you family caregivers don't qualify - that's completely wrong. This community has your back if you run into any issues. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

One final important note: If your DoorDash earnings reduce your weekly benefit amount, that's actually a good thing in the long run. Each week you receive partial benefits extends your claim duration, effectively stretching your maximum benefit amount over a longer period of time. Many people don't realize this advantage of reporting partial earnings properly.

Just wanted to add something that helped me a lot when I started gig work while on UI - download a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Everlance. Even though you can't deduct expenses on your EDD certification, you'll still need those records for tax time when you file your 1099. DoorDash only tracks your "online" miles, not the miles you drive TO your first pickup or back home after your last delivery. Those extra miles add up and can save you hundreds on taxes. I wish someone had told me this when I first started!

one other thing - when u do apply make sure u say ur job ended due to "lack of work" if thats wat happened. don't say u were fired or laid off or anything else. the wording matters ALOT for getting approved quick

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! You're making the right call waiting until February. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you do apply, make sure you have your separation letter and any other employment documents easily accessible because EDD might ask for them during the application process or later. Also, if your company uses a third-party service to verify employment (like The Work Number), it can sometimes take a few days for them to update your employment end date, so don't panic if there's a small delay in processing. The paid notice leave thing is more common than you'd think, especially in corporate layoffs, so EDD agents are familiar with it.