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Giovanni Rossi

Laid off from tech job but working at husband's business unpaid - EDD eligibility question

I got laid off from my software developer position on July 31, 2024 (yay tech industry cuts 🙄). I've been helping at my husband's small consulting business since then, but I've never taken a salary from it (we keep business and personal finances separate for tax reasons). I'm putting in about 15-20 hours a week there handling client communications and some basic bookkeeping. My question is: Am I eligible for unemployment benefits from my tech job layoff even though I'm working at my husband's business? Since I'm not getting paid, I'm really struggling financially, but I'm worried EDD might view this as self-employment or something that disqualifies me. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation or know the rules around this? I don't want to apply and then get hit with an overpayment notice later!

i think ur overthinking this. just apply! worst they can say is no lol. ur not getting paid so how is that even work? my nieghbor volunteers at a charity 15hrs a week and still gets unemployment because volunteering isnt a job. ur basically volunteering for ur husband

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There's a significant difference between volunteering for a charitable organization and working unpaid for a family business. EDD treats these situations very differently. Family businesses receive extra scrutiny because there's often an expectation of eventual compensation or non-monetary benefits. Volunteering at a registered non-profit is a clearly defined relationship.

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UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used Claimyr to reach an EDD representative yesterday after failing to get through on my own for days. The rep was really helpful and told me I should definitely apply but make sure to report the unpaid hours when certifying. She said I'll likely get an eligibility interview, but as long as I'm honestly reporting everything and actively looking for work in my field, I should be eligible. I'm going to file my claim today and make sure I keep detailed records of all my job search activities. Will update again after my interview!

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That's great news! Glad you were able to get some official guidance. Definitely keep detailed records of your job search activities - names of companies, dates of application, any follow-ups, interviews, etc. This will be extremely helpful during your eligibility interview. Good luck with your claim!

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Reginald Blackwell

How long for San Diego EDD appeal hearing date after receipt? Waiting since May

Feeling super stressed about how slow my appeal process is going. My EDD disqualification appeal was received by the San Diego appeals office on May 6th (over 6 weeks ago now), but I still haven't gotten any notice about a hearing date. My rent is due next week and I've been counting on these benefits after being laid off from my restaurant management job in March. Has anyone else gone through the appeals process with the San Diego office specifically? How long did it take from when they acknowledged receiving your appeal to actually scheduling a hearing? I've tried calling the appeal office, but I just get a voicemail saying they're experiencing high call volumes. Starting to panic a little...

Quick update to what I said earlier - I just remembered something that might help you. When you do get your hearing notice, it'll come with instructions for requesting an expedited hearing due to financial hardship. If you can document that you're at risk of eviction or utility shutoff, they might be able to move you up in the queue. I didn't qualify for this since I was staying with family, but the judge mentioned they do prioritize these cases when possible.

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That's incredibly helpful information - thank you! I definitely qualify for financial hardship consideration. I'll keep an eye out for that option when I get my notice.

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good luck hope it works out!!!

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Nia Jackson

EDD appeal hearing decision timeline in San Diego - when and how will I be notified?

I just finished the second part of my EDD appeal hearing today in San Diego. The judge seemed fair but it's really nerve-wracking waiting for the decision. Does anyone know approximately how long it typically takes before they make a final ruling? Will I get the decision by mail or will it show up in my UI Online account first? This whole appeal process has been going on for almost 2 months now and the uncertainty is killing me. Need to figure out my next steps depending on the outcome. Thanks for any info you can share 🙏

i got my decision in 12 days but that was back in 2021, might be different now idk. they just sent a letter in the mail. i was so nervous i checked the mailbox like 3 times a day lol. hope u get good news!!!!

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Thanks! Did your UI Online account status change at all before you got the letter? I keep checking there too.

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nope nothing changed online until after i got the letter and it was approved then suddenly all my weeks changed from disqualified to paid it was awesome

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Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like I should expect to wait 2-4 weeks for the decision by mail. I'll make sure my address is updated correctly. Really appreciate all the insights - helps calm my nerves a bit. I'll update this thread when I finally get my decision letter for anyone who might be searching for this info in the future.

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Mia Green

Can I delay reporting income to EDD until next certification period - will this trigger fraud flags?

I'm in a really tight spot with rent due next week, and I just started a temporary job that pays weekly. I won't have enough money saved up by my rent due date. I was thinking about not reporting this week's income until my next bi-weekly certification period (which would be after rent is due), so I can get my full unemployment payment now to cover rent. Would the EDD system automatically flag this as suspicious? I know we're supposed to report income for the weeks we actually worked, not when we got paid, but I'm desperate. Has anyone done this before? Would I get in trouble for reporting it late? I'm not trying to commit fraud, I'd still report all the income eventually, just in the next certification period instead of this one.

not to get off topic but is anyone else having issues with the certification questions? the new wording on question 3 about "reasonable efforts to maintain benefits" is so confusing. i never know if im answering right

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That's asking about your work search activities. You need to say "yes" and be making the required number of job contacts each week, even if you're temporarily working. But to address the original question - reporting income in the correct week is essential.

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One option that many people don't know about: If you report your income correctly but it's significantly lower than your weekly benefit amount, you may still receive partial unemployment benefits. This is called partial UI. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $450 and you earn $200 in a week, after the standard earnings disregard, you would still receive some benefits. This is a legal way to maximize your income while maintaining honest reporting.

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This is really helpful information! I'm not working full-time yet, so I should still qualify for partial benefits. I think this is the solution I needed. I'll accurately report my income and still get some assistance. Thank you so much!

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Anastasia Ivanova

Can my husband backdate EDD claim for reduced hours from 7 months ago?

My husband's been dealing with reduced hours since September 2024 (about 7 months now). He didn't apply for unemployment right away because his manager kept promising his hours would go back to normal "next month." Well, it's been 7 months of waiting and our savings is finally running thin. We just found out he could've been claiming unemployment benefits this WHOLE TIME for the reduction in hours (his schedule went from 40 hours to about 15-20 per week). Nobody at his workplace mentioned this was possible! My question is: Can he backdate his initial EDD claim all the way to September when his hours were first reduced? Or is there a limit to how far back EDD will let him go? Would REALLY appreciate any advice because we could definitely use those retroactive payments if possible. Thanks in advance for any help!

Just wanna add - make sure ur husband keeps certifying EVERY WEEK even if the claim is pending. My friend didn't certify while waiting for EDD to process his claim and lost 3 weeks of benefits he couldn't get back!!

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One additional point worth noting: If your husband applies and is approved for UI benefits based on reduced hours, he'll still need to meet all other eligibility requirements. This includes being able and available for work and actively seeking additional employment to supplement his reduced hours. During certification, EDD will ask if he's looking for work. He should be applying for additional part-time jobs or full-time positions to maintain eligibility. He'll need to list at least 3 work search activities per week typically. Also, depending on his industry and skills, he might qualify for EDD's training extension if he wants to use this opportunity to gain new skills while working reduced hours. Just something to consider for the long term if his employer doesn't restore his schedule.

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That's a good point about the work search requirements. He's been casually looking for a new full-time job already since the reduced hours don't seem to be changing anytime soon. Would applying to full-time positions satisfy the work search requirement even though he's currently still employed part-time?

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Yes, applying for full-time positions absolutely satisfies the work search requirements. In fact, that's exactly what EDD expects from someone on reduced hours - that they're trying to find more complete employment. Just make sure he keeps records of all job applications (company name, position, date applied, contact info if available) as EDD occasionally conducts eligibility interviews to verify work search activities.

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