California Unemployment
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Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
How much was California EDD unemployment during COVID and what do current benefits look like now?
So I was having a conversation with a coworker who just got laid off and she was asking me about unemployment benefits. She'd heard stories about people getting really generous payments during the pandemic and wanted to know how that compared to what California EDD pays out now. I realized I actually didn't know the full picture myself even though I went through the whole process back then. Can anyone break down what unemployment actually paid during COVID versus what you'd get filing a claim today in 2025? I remember there being some kind of federal add-on but I'm fuzzy on the details. And more importantly for her situation right now - what should she expect her weekly benefit amount to be if she files a claim in California? Her last job was paying around $68,000 a year if that helps with the calculation.
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Can I get unemployment and food stamps at the same time in California?
So I got laid off from my warehouse job about six weeks ago and finally got my California EDD unemployment benefits coming in. My weekly benefit amount is decent but honestly it still doesn't cover everything especially with rent and utilities eating up most of it. Someone at my cousin's place mentioned I might be able to apply for food stamps (CalFresh) at the same time as collecting UI benefits. I wasn't sure if that was even allowed or if getting unemployment would disqualify me from CalFresh. Has anyone here actually done both at the same time? I don't want to mess up my EDD claim by applying for something I'm not supposed to.
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Also wanted to mention - if you're struggling to get answers from EDD about your specific claim situation while you're sorting out the CalFresh stuff, claimyr.com is genuinely useful for cutting through the phone wait time nightmare. I've used it twice now. It's not just for adjudication issues, any question you need answered by a live EDD agent. Check the demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 first so you know what to expect.
I ended up trying it after seeing it mentioned earlier in this thread. It worked, finally got through to someone at EDD after days of failed attempts. Not going to say more than that but it did what it said it would
okay adding this to my list of resources. edd phone access is legitimately one of the most frustrating parts of this whole process
Final summary for anyone finding this thread in a search: Yes, you can receive California EDD unemployment benefits and CalFresh food assistance at the same time. Your UI weekly benefit amount counts as income in the CalFresh eligibility calculation but does not automatically disqualify you. Apply through BenefitsCal.com, report your unemployment income honestly, and update your case when your income changes. The two programs are run by completely separate agencies and one does not affect your eligibility for the other in any disqualifying way.
Great summary. I'd also add - check out Medi-Cal at the same time if you lost employer health coverage when you got laid off. Three programs, all available simultaneously for people in this situation.
Good call on the Medi-Cal reminder. I got all three when I was laid off and it genuinely helped me stay afloat until I found a new job.
How to stop unemployment garnishment on California EDD overpayment debt
I'm in a really stressful situation and hoping someone here has dealt with something similar. A few months back I got hit with a California EDD overpayment determination from claims I filed about two years ago. Long story short, I disputed it but the appeal didn't go the way I wanted and now I have this debt sitting on my account. Last week I noticed money getting pulled from my state tax refund and I just found out through a coworker that California EDD can actually garnish wages and intercept tax refunds to collect on these overpayment balances. I had no idea how aggressive the collection process could get. I'm not trying to dodge what I owe — I genuinely want to resolve this the right way. But the garnishment is happening at a really terrible time financially and I'm trying to figure out if there's any way to pause it, set up a payment plan, or at minimum get a real human at California EDD on the phone to explain my options. I've been trying to call the EDD collections unit for two weeks straight and cannot get through. The automated system just loops me around and I've been disconnected at least a dozen times. Has anyone successfully stopped or paused a California EDD garnishment? Can you set up a repayment plan that would stop the automatic collection? Do I need a specific form for this? Any help would be really appreciated because I'm honestly at my wit's end trying to figure this out.
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does anyone know how long it takes after setting up the repayment plan for the tax intercept to actually stop? like is it immediate or does it take multiple months? I'm expecting a refund and I'm terrified it's going to get grabbed
Yeah it's definitely not same-day. The bureaucratic communication between EDD and FTB takes time. If your refund is being filed soon and you haven't set up a plan yet, I'd move fast.
ugh okay. already filed my return so I'm racing against the clock here. appreciate the info even if it's not what I wanted to hear
UPDATE for anyone following this: I took the advice in this thread and logged into UI Online first — my case type apparently wasn't eligible for the online repayment request (already at FTB referral stage) so I needed to call. Used Claimyr like someone suggested and honestly it worked — got connected to an actual EDD collections agent after about 35 minutes of not having to sit on hold myself. Agent confirmed I have a non-fraud overpayment and set up a $175/month installment plan. She also submitted a notification to FTB that should pause future intercept activity within 4-6 weeks. I have a confirmation number and everything. Thank you all so much — this thread genuinely helped me understand what I was dealing with and figure out the path forward.
Really glad Claimyr worked out for you! That's exactly the kind of situation it's built for — when you genuinely need a human and the normal call process is just not working. Hope everything continues to go smoothly from here.
love a resolution post in this sub. congrats and good luck with the payments. you handled this really well.
What does disqualification week mean for California EDD unemployment?
So I got a letter from California EDD last week and it mentioned something about a 'disqualification week' on my claim and I honestly have no idea what that means. I've been filing my weekly certifications like normal and nothing seems wrong on my UI Online account but now I'm scared I did something wrong. I lost my job at a logistics company about two months ago - they said it was a layoff but then I heard HR told EDD something different which might be why this is happening? The letter wasn't super clear about what a disqualification week actually means in terms of my benefits. Does it mean I lose benefits for just that one week? Does it affect future payments too? I've never filed for unemployment before so all this terminology is completely foreign to me. Any help would be appreciated because I'm really stressed about this.
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For anyone reading this thread later who's trying to figure out their own disqualification week situation, here's kind of a summary checklist of what to do: 1) Find and read your DE 1080CZ notice carefully, note the specific reason and dates. 2) Check UI Online payment history for the specific week and look for any codes. 3) If you disagree with the determination, file your appeal on DE 1000M within 30 days of the mailing date on the notice - do not wait. 4) Gather all documentation supporting your version of the separation. 5) Keep filing your weekly certifications throughout the entire process. 6) Try to get an EDD agent on the phone to understand exactly what's in your claim file - this is much harder than it should be but tools like Claimyr (claimyr.com) can help you actually get through. 7) If the case goes to CUIAB, be factual and organized at the hearing.
this should be pinned somewhere lol. I wish I'd had this when I was going through my adjudication mess
Adding to #5 - keep a record of every certification you file with screenshots. If there's ever a later dispute about whether you certified or not you have proof
OP please come back and update us on what happens! threads like this are actually really helpful for other people going through the same thing and it helps to know outcomes
18 days is enough time but don't let it slip away. Good luck to you, sounds like you have a solid case.
Rooting for you. Update us when you win.
How much is unemployment tax in California? EDD withholding explained
So I just got approved for unemployment benefits and I'm trying to figure out how much is unemployment tax going to take out of my payments. I didn't even realize I'd owe taxes on this until my neighbor mentioned it. When I filed my claim through UI Online I didn't see anywhere asking about withholding and now I'm kind of freaking out thinking I'm going to owe a huge amount come tax season. Does California EDD automatically withhold federal taxes from weekly benefit payments? And what about state taxes? I'm used to my employer handling all this so I genuinely have no idea how it works when you're getting unemployment. Anyone dealt with this before?
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Jumping in because I also just realized I need to sort out my withholding situation and couldn't reach EDD by phone to ask a quick question about it. Spent three days trying. Finally a coworker who had been through this told me about Claimyr at claimyr.com - they also have a video showing exactly how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10. Legitimately got a callback from an EDD rep within a few hours instead of sitting on hold forever. Asked my withholding question, got it resolved. For something as simple as a tax withholding question it felt like overkill but when EDD's phone system is basically a wall it was the only option that actually worked.
It really is. And the frustrating part is I wasn't calling about something complicated. Just needed to confirm my DE 4S change went through. You shouldn't need a service to ask a basic question but here we are.
Going to bookmark claimyr.com for if I run into phone issues. I've heard too many stories about people calling EDD for days and getting nowhere.
To wrap up the information in this thread for anyone finding it via search later: 1) California unemployment benefits ARE subject to federal income tax. 2) California does NOT tax UI benefits at the state level. 3) EDD offers optional 10% federal withholding via DE 4S form. 4) Without withholding you should either make quarterly estimated IRS payments or be prepared to pay at tax time. 5) EDD issues 1099-G forms in late January showing total benefits paid and any federal taxes withheld. 6) Update your mailing address in UI Online to ensure you receive your 1099-G.
Really important addition, thank you. EDD fraud with stolen identities has been a significant issue and some people have received 1099-Gs for benefits they never collected. If that happens, don't panic but do contact EDD right away.
The fraud/identity theft 1099-G issue is a whole other rabbit hole but yes definitely worth knowing about. Good thread overall, very helpful for people navigating this for the first time.
Dylan Cooper
this whole thread has been super informative. I'm in a situation where i might be getting laid off in the next couple months and have been too scared to even research unemployment. feeling a little less intimidated now
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Dylan Cooper
thank you. i kept putting off even learning about it because it felt like admitting it was going to happen. but being prepared is probably smarter than being surprised
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Mei Liu
Being prepared is absolutely the right move. Have your last few pay stubs handy, know your employer's address and contact info, and understand that a brief processing delay at the beginning is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your claim.
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Sofia Perez
just want to say this thread answered a question i've been googling for months. the comparison between covid unemployment amounts and current california edd benefits was exactly what i needed. bookmarking this whole page
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Jamal Carter
the official california edd website is notoriously hard to navigate. real people who've been through the process are often a better source for the practical stuff
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Andre Dubois
And if you ever need to actually reach California EDD by phone remember claimyr.com - worth having in your back pocket. So many claim issues really do require speaking to a live agent and that's been the most reliable way I've found to make that happen.
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