I went through something very similar when I filed my claim in 2023. My WBA was calculated based on when I was working reduced hours while caring for my sick parent, so it was frustratingly low at $165/week. Like others have said, the weekly benefit amount is locked in for your entire benefit year - there's no way to get it recalculated even if your recent earnings are much higher. What helped me was focusing on maximizing my partial benefits by picking up every shift I could at my part-time job. Since you can earn up to about $188 without any reduction (as Omar mentioned), try to get as close to that threshold as possible each week. Also, start planning now for when your benefit year ends in January 2026 - if you're still eligible then, your new claim will include those higher earnings from late 2024 and all of 2025, which should give you a much better WBA. It's frustrating that the system looks backward instead of at your current earning potential, but understanding the rules helps you work within them. Hang in there!

I feel your pain on this one! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my WBA is way lower than what I could actually earn now. Just wanted to add one thing that helped me - make sure you're tracking your work hours super carefully when you do pick up those extra shifts. I use a simple spreadsheet to log my hours and earnings each day so I don't accidentally go over the partial benefit threshold or mess up my certification. Also, if you're looking for additional income sources while staying under that $188 limit, consider gig work that gives you flexible scheduling. Just remember what Ravi said about reporting ALL income - even small amounts from apps like DoorDash or Uber need to be reported. The key is finding that sweet spot where you maximize your total income (benefits + wages) without losing your UI eligibility completely. The whole system feels backwards when you're in a situation like this, but at least now you know exactly what to expect going forward!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through something really similar a few months ago! I did a paid medical assistant training program that was about 40 hours over 2 weeks. Like everyone else has said, definitely report it as work income on your certification. One thing I learned that might help you - when you're filling out your certification and it asks if you were "ready, willing, and able to work," make sure you answer YES as long as the training schedule would allow you to accept a full-time job if one was offered. That's really important for maintaining your eligibility. Also, don't be surprised if your first reduced payment takes a little longer to process. Mine was delayed by about a week because their system flagged the income change, but it all worked out fine once they reviewed it. Just be patient if that happens. The medical coding field is awesome - I have friends who completed similar programs and they're all working now with really good pay. Even if this specific company doesn't hire you right away, you'll have that certification which opens up so many opportunities. You're making a smart move by taking this training!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! I just started a paid customer service training program that's 25 hours over one week at $15/hr. I was terrified about reporting it on my certification, but after reading all these responses, I feel so much better about it. I ended up calling EDD (took me 3 days of trying at exactly 8am) and the representative confirmed what everyone here is saying - report it as work income, expect a reduced payment for that week, but your claim stays active. She also mentioned that as long as the training doesn't prevent you from accepting other full-time work, you should still answer YES to being available for work. The rep actually seemed impressed that I was doing skills training and said it shows I'm actively working toward reemployment, which is exactly what they want to see. She told me to keep documentation of the training program just in case they need it later. One thing she emphasized that I don't think anyone mentioned - make sure you report the GROSS earnings before any taxes or deductions are taken out. That was something I wasn't sure about. Good luck with your medical coding training! From what I've heard, that field has amazing job prospects right now. You're definitely making a smart choice taking this opportunity!

Just wanted to follow up and see if you've had any luck getting your payments processed? Did you end up calling EDD? Sometimes after the interview, they're waiting for employer verification which can cause delays but they don't always tell you that's what they're waiting for.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people not to wait too long after an interview if payments stay pending. Employer disputes are super common and can hold up everything, but EDD rarely proactively tells you that's what's happening. Your story will definitely help others in similar situations - calling really does make a difference even though it's a pain to get through. Congrats on getting your payments released!

So glad to see this got resolved! This is exactly why I joined this community - to help fellow veterans navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. I went through something similar with my Air Force retirement when I filed for UI after my tech job got eliminated. For future reference, veterans should always emphasize the "base period" distinction when dealing with EDD. The key phrase to use is "non-base period pension income" - that's the magic language that gets their attention. I keep a copy of my DD-214 and retirement orders handy whenever I deal with any government benefits. It's frustrating that EDD staff aren't properly trained on military retirement vs regular pension rules. Hopefully your success story will help other vets who face this same issue!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - retired from the Marines 5 years ago and just got laid off from my civilian job. EDD initially approved my claim but then suddenly stopped payments saying there was an "income verification issue" with my retirement pay. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like they might be incorrectly treating my military retirement as base period income even though my service ended way before my base period. I'm going to call tomorrow and use that key phrase "non-base period pension income" that @Mateo Rodriguez mentioned. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you called, did you need any specific documentation beyond your DD-214? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I try to get through to someone.

This is such a common issue and it's ridiculous that EDD makes it so confusing! I went through the exact same thing a few months ago - got my Money Network card, activated it, and then waited weeks wondering where my payments were. Turns out they were still going to my old bank account the whole time because I didn't know I had to manually change the payment preference in UI Online. For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with the same problem: definitely check your old bank account first before panicking. Then log into UI Online, go to "Payment Preferences" and make sure you select "Debit Card" instead of "Direct Deposit." It's not automatic at all, which is super misleading. The whole system really needs better communication - they should include clear instructions with the card or at least send an email explaining the next steps. So many people get stuck in this exact situation!

This exact thing happened to my neighbor last year! She was so stressed thinking EDD had stopped her payments completely. Turns out she needed to call both EDD AND Money Network to make sure everything was linked properly on both ends. Sometimes there's a disconnect between the two systems even after you change your payment preference in UI Online. If your payments are still going to your old account after you switch the preference, try calling Money Network first (way easier to get through than EDD) and ask them to verify that your SSN and claim info is properly linked to your card. They can usually tell you if there's a technical issue preventing the payments from routing correctly. Also heads up - even after you properly switch everything over, it can take 1-2 certification cycles for the change to fully take effect. The system is just painfully slow with updates!