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EDD benefits while receiving company pension - Am I eligible for unemployment?
So after 23 years at the same manufacturing company, I got laid off last week due to 'restructuring' (aka they're moving operations to Arizona). The severance package includes my pension that I can start collecting immediately - about $2,100 monthly. I'm only 58 and definitely NOT ready to retire yet. Does collecting this pension disqualify me from getting unemployment benefits in California? I heard somewhere that pension money affects UI eligibility, but I'm getting conflicting info from former coworkers. Some say I can get both, others say the pension will completely cancel out any EDD payments. Anyone dealt with this situation before? I've already applied for UI through the EDD website, but I'm worried about having to pay everything back if I wasn't supposed to apply in the first place. Thanks for any help!
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Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - when you report your pension during certification, make sure you report the GROSS amount, not the net amount after taxes. I made that mistake initially and it caused a whole mess with my calculations. Also, if your pension includes any cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) throughout the year, you'll need to report those changes to EDD immediately. Mine went up by $47/month in July and I didn't think to report it right away - ended up with another overpayment notice. One last thing - if you're planning to look for work in Arizona (since that's where your company moved), make sure you understand how that affects your California UI claim. There are interstate agreements but the rules can get complicated if you're job searching out of state. Good luck with everything! The manufacturing industry has been brutal lately with all these relocations and "restructuring" moves.
I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm 59, just got laid off from a telecommunications company after 21 years, and I'm facing the same pension + unemployment decision. What's been most helpful is seeing the actual numbers people have shared. The pension offset formula that @Elin provided (Monthly pension ÷ 4.33 subtracted from weekly UI benefit) finally makes sense of how this all works. I was getting so much conflicting information from HR and former colleagues. The unanimous advice about calling EDD proactively before the first certification is really striking - seems like every single person who waited or tried to figure it out later had major problems with overpayments and delays. That's definitely convinced me to spend whatever time it takes to get through to them first. I'm also really appreciating the practical tips about documentation, tax implications, and even things like keeping the EDD card for account access. These are the real-world details you just don't get from official sources. For anyone else just starting this process - this community discussion has been more informative than hours of searching EDD's website or calling their general help line. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific numbers and timelines. It really helps to know what to actually expect rather than just generic policy descriptions. Now I just need to work up the courage to start calling EDD! 😅
You've got this! I know calling EDD can feel daunting, but honestly after reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear that being proactive is so much better than dealing with the alternative. What really helped me was writing down all my questions and pension details before calling, so I wouldn't forget anything important during the conversation. Having your pension award letter and exact monthly amount ready makes the call go much smoother. The wait times are brutal, but like @Esteban mentioned, there are services like Claimyr that can help you get through faster if you get really stuck. Sometimes it's worth paying a small fee to avoid weeks of frustration! One thing that gave me confidence was realizing that pension + UI situations are actually pretty common - the EDD reps deal with this all the time, so they know exactly what information they need from you. You're not asking them to figure out something unusual. Good luck with the calls, and definitely come back here to update us on how it goes! This community has been such a great resource for navigating all these complications.
Money Network card portal completely down - can't access my EDD benefits
Is anyone else having trouble accessing their funds through the Money Network website and app? I've been trying for 5 days straight and keep getting locked out. The system says my password is incorrect, but when I try to reset it, the reset link never arrives in my email. I have $1,870 sitting on my card that I desperately need for rent due next week! I called their customer service line and waited 96 minutes only to speak with someone who literally read me the FAQ from their website and then suggested I "try again tomorrow" - are you kidding me?? I asked to speak to a supervisor and got disconnected. I'm about to drive to the nearest ATM and just withdraw everything before this system crashes again. Has EDD always used such a terrible payment provider? I swear they must've hired their cousin's tech startup or something.
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Glad to hear it's working again! This whole situation really highlights how unreliable Money Network can be. For anyone reading this in the future - definitely set up direct deposit as your backup. I learned the hard way that you can't rely on these third-party payment cards when you actually need your money. The cash advance tip from @Nina was a lifesaver for emergency situations too. Hopefully EDD considers switching to a more reliable payment provider eventually.
hello I got a job that pays us through this, except it won't let me create an account, money network I mean, and I'm kinda loss in what to do now, I've tried safari, chrome, Firefox, on my phone, iPad and computer and it always sends me back to the home page on step 2 while saying this message "Some or all information provided is not correct. Please enter valid information and retry.
EDD open on Columbus Day? Just saved me a week of waiting!
Just had a mini heart attack thinking I'd have to wait until Tuesday to sort out my UI payment issues! Realized the EDD office is ACTUALLY OPEN today (Oct 12) despite being Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day. The payment specialist told me California state offices don't observe this holiday anymore. I was convinced all government offices would be closed! If anyone else was planning to wait until tomorrow to call or visit an office, don't wait - they're fully operational today. Could save you from delaying your claim by a whole week if you're in a time crunch like me!
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does anyone know if the in person offices r open 2day too or just the phone lines?
Yes, all EDD services including the America's Job Centers (AJCC) and in-person offices are open regular hours today. The only EDD services that observe Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day are those that operate under federal funding guidelines, which doesn't include standard UI services.
This is such a lifesaver! I've been dealing with a payment hold for over a month and was planning to call first thing Tuesday morning. Just tried calling and actually got through in about 20 minutes - way faster than usual! The specialist was able to clear up my work search requirement confusion and release my payments. You're absolutely right about the lower call volume today. Can't believe I almost waited another whole day when I desperately need these payments to go through. Thanks for sharing this info - you probably helped a lot of people today!
EDD claim stuck on 'pending' instead of 'paid' - unusual delay?
So I certified for my weekly benefits on Sunday morning like I always do (around 7am), but my claim still shows 'pending' in the UI Online portal. Usually by Tuesday morning it switches to 'paid' and the money hits my Money Network card by Wednesday. It's been 3 days now and nothing's changed - still stuck on pending! No notifications or messages about any issues with my claim. My rent is due next week and I'm starting to get nervous. Anyone else experiencing longer-than-usual pending times this week? Should I be worried or is the EDD system just running slow?
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Just a heads up for everyone - I just checked and my payment finally changed from pending to paid! Took almost 5 days but it finally processed. Sounds like they're having system-wide delays this week.
That's good to hear! Mine just switched to paid too! What a relief. Seems like they really are just backed up right now.
I'm dealing with the same issue right now! Certified Sunday night and it's still showing pending. This is my first time experiencing a delay like this and I was starting to worry something was wrong with my claim. Reading through all these comments is actually really reassuring - sounds like there's a system-wide issue with processing times this week. I'm going to wait another day or two before trying to call since it seems like others are starting to see their payments go through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know I'm not the only one!
Jennifer Bazzano
Does anyone know if edd has a duty to notify claimants of interview for eligibility issues discovered at beginning of benefit year yet waited 18 mos after last payment . Subsequently they called and number was disconnected so they made determination to my acct for a staggering 25000$+ filed summary judgment to levy and garnish . I had no idea until I filed for ui recently. Just wondering if I can raise due process violation with superior court …
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Kristin Frank
@Jennifer Bazzano That s'a really tough situation. Generally, EDD is supposed to provide proper notice for interviews and determinations, and due process violations can definitely be challenged in court. The 18-month delay between your last payment and their action does seem problematic. I d'strongly recommend consulting with an employment law attorney who handles EDD cases - many offer free consultations and can advise if you have grounds for a due process challenge. You might also want to contact your local legal aid society for help. Don t'ignore this - overpayment determinations can often be appealed or negotiated down, especially if proper procedures weren t'followed.
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