This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my uncle who's been on Social Security disability (not retirement) and just started receiving unemployment. From what I've read here, I understand that Social Security retirement doesn't reduce UI benefits in California, but I'm wondering if the same applies to Social Security disability? The forms and requirements seem so similar but I want to make sure we're reporting everything correctly. Has anyone here dealt with SSDI specifically alongside unemployment benefits?

I'm new to this community and this thread has been a lifesaver! My mom is in almost the exact same situation - she's been receiving Social Security retirement for about 18 months and just applied for unemployment after being laid off from her part-time job. We were so confused about the reporting requirements and honestly terrified about making a mistake that could jeopardize either benefit. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially Sofia's update about her dad getting everything sorted out, gives me so much confidence that we can handle this correctly. I'm definitely going to have her report the Social Security under "other income" from the start, and it's such a relief to know that in California it won't actually reduce her unemployment benefits. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - communities like this make navigating these confusing systems so much easier!

You don't need to call EDD proactively - just make sure you report your gross earnings correctly when you certify. Keep careful track of exactly which days you work and how much you earn BEFORE taxes each week. When you certify, you'll answer 'YES' to the question about whether you worked or earned money, then enter the gross amount. The system automatically calculates your partial benefits. One tip: Some employers report wages when they're PAID, but EDD wants to know when they're EARNED. So if you work the last week of April but get paid in May, you report those earnings for the April certification period.

Just want to add - make sure you keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs! I learned this the hard way when EDD asked me to verify my reported earnings from 6 months prior. Having everything documented saved me from a huge headache. Also, if your hours vary significantly week to week (like 10 hours one week, 25 the next), your benefits will adjust accordingly using that same formula everyone explained. The system is actually pretty fair once you understand how it works. Good luck with the new job!

I'm currently dealing with a similar mixed income situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the annual cross-matching with tax records or that penalties could be as high as 30%. The consensus here is crystal clear - report everything, no matter how small. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here actually gone through an EDD audit or income verification process? I'm wondering what that looks like and what kind of documentation they typically request. I want to make sure I'm keeping the right records just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, both the success stories and the cautionary tales!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's dealt with mixed W-2/1099 income while on UI - definitely report that $620! I made the mistake early on of thinking 1099 work was treated differently since "it's not regular employment" but EDD sees ALL income the same way during certification. One tip that helped me: when you certify online, there's a section that asks about work performed during each day of the certification period. Make sure you mark the specific days you actually worked the gig, not just lump it all into one day. This helps EDD calculate your benefits more accurately and shows you're being thorough with your reporting. Also, keep a simple spreadsheet or notes on your phone tracking any freelance/contractor work you do while on UI - date worked, amount earned, and when you got paid. This saved me so much time during certifications and gave me peace of mind that I wasn't missing anything. The $620 will reduce your weekly benefit but you'll likely still qualify for partial payments, which is way better than risking those scary fraud penalties everyone's mentioned!

Hi everyone, just made a video about how to call the EDD and reach a live human agent: https://youtu.be/-R4SqP7_JUA

I've been dealing with the same frustrating issue! The system seems to automatically disconnect calls after a certain period, even when you're still holding. From what I've experienced, it usually happens during peak call times when their system is overloaded. One thing that's helped me is calling right when they open at 8 AM - the success rate seems much higher then. Also, make sure you're not on speakerphone or using Bluetooth as sometimes the system interprets audio delays as a disconnected call. Keep trying - I know it's incredibly frustrating but persistence eventually pays off with EDD.

I'm going through the same thing right now - got my appeal hearing scheduled for next month and I've been losing sleep over it! Reading everyone's experiences here is so helpful. One question I haven't seen answered yet: what happens if there are technical difficulties during the call? Like if someone's phone cuts out or the connection is bad? I have pretty spotty cell service at my apartment and I'm worried about getting disconnected in the middle of presenting my case. Should I plan to use a landline instead, or is there a backup procedure if technical issues happen during the hearing?

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 2 months ago and can absolutely confirm it's a conference call with all parties present simultaneously - you, your employer (usually HR or a manager), and the Administrative Law Judge. It really does feel like being in court, just over the phone. Here's something that really helped me that I don't see mentioned yet: about a week before your hearing, call the Appeals office and ask if you can do a "test call" to make sure your phone connection is clear. They actually let me do this and it helped calm my nerves knowing the audio quality was good. Also, if you have any witnesses who can support your case (former coworkers, etc.), you can request to have them join the call too - just make sure to arrange this with the Appeals office beforehand. The judge will typically start by asking your employer to present their case first, then you'll get your turn. Don't interrupt them even if they say something completely wrong - just take notes and address it when the judge asks for your response. The whole process was actually more fair and structured than I expected. I was terrified beforehand but the judge made sure both sides were heard equally. Hang in there, Diego - you're more prepared than you think!