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I went through almost the exact same situation last year with a yoga studio! They "temporarily" suspended my classes due to "scheduling changes" but kept me as an employee. I was so confused about whether I could file for UI, but it turned out to be a straightforward partial unemployment claim. One thing I wish I had known - start documenting everything NOW. Screenshot any texts or emails about the hour reduction, save your old schedules showing your regular hours, and keep records of any conversations about when (or if) they might bring your class back. EDD may ask for this information during the eligibility review. Also, don't let your employer make you feel guilty about filing. You paid into the unemployment insurance system through your payroll taxes, and this is exactly what it's designed for. They made a business decision that affected your income - you have every right to seek benefits to bridge the gap. The good news is partial UI claims are usually processed faster than full unemployment claims since you're still working. Just be super accurate with your earnings reporting and you should be fine!
This is so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! I really appreciate the advice about documenting everything - I already have some texts from my boss but I'll make sure to screenshot them and gather my old schedules too. You're absolutely right about not feeling guilty - I've been worried about somehow "taking advantage" of the system, but you're right that this is exactly what UI is designed for. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the encouragement!
I'm dealing with something similar right now - my employer cut my restaurant shifts from 25 hours a week down to maybe 8 hours, saying it's "temporary" due to slower winter business. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add is that when you're gathering documentation, also keep track of your previous earnings pattern. EDD will look at your base period wages to calculate your benefit amount, and having a clear record of what your income was before the reduction can help if there are any disputes. Also, I've found it helpful to apply for UI online during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) when the system tends to be less overloaded. The site can be really slow during business hours. Good luck with your application! It sounds like you have a solid case for partial benefits.
Thanks for adding that tip about applying during off-peak hours! I hadn't thought about the system being overloaded during business hours but that makes total sense. I'll definitely plan to apply early in the morning. It's also really helpful to know about keeping track of previous earnings patterns - I've been pretty good about saving my paystubs but I'll make sure to organize them clearly to show what my income was like before the hour reduction. Sorry you're dealing with a similar situation with your restaurant job, but it's somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone in this weird employment limbo!
I've been working part-time (15-18 hours) for the past 3 months while on UI. The partial benefit calculation works exactly as others described. Just make sure you're very precise about reporting. I take screenshots of my hours worked each day and save them in a folder on my phone so I can refer to them when certifying. One thing that might help - when you certify, you'll get a summary screen showing what you reported. Take a screenshot of that too in case there are ever any questions about what you reported vs. what EDD recorded in their system.
Just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me - when you start your part-time job, ask your employer upfront about their pay schedule and how they calculate hours. Some places pay weekly, others bi-weekly, and some even pay monthly. This will help you plan ahead for your certifications. Also, if your employer uses a time tracking system or app, take screenshots of your logged hours at the end of each EDD week (Saturday night). I learned this the hard way when my employer's system had a glitch and my hours from two weeks prior disappeared. Having those screenshots saved me from a potential overpayment situation. Good luck with the new job! It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about this whole process, which is exactly the right approach.
That's really smart advice about screenshots! I just downloaded a note-taking app to track everything daily. Quick question - do you know if it matters when during the week I take those screenshots? Like should I do it right at midnight Saturday/Sunday when the EDD week ends, or is anytime on Saturday night fine?
Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same worry! I work at a hotel and had a really busy week during a conference where I made almost double my usual hours. I was terrified to report it because I thought they'd shut down my claim. But everyone here is absolutely right - I reported everything honestly, got $0 for that one week, and then the next week when my hours dropped back down, my benefits resumed like nothing happened. The system really is set up to handle this kind of thing. The key thing I learned is that you HAVE to keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, even if you know you won't get paid that week. Missing your certification is what can actually mess up your claim, not having a good week of earnings. Stay honest and keep certifying - you'll be fine!
This is so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! I'm working at a restaurant too and was honestly considering just not reporting the extra hours because I was so scared of losing my claim. But hearing all these real experiences from people who stayed honest and everything worked out fine really puts my mind at ease. I'll definitely keep certifying every two weeks like you said. Thanks for sharing your story!
I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! I'm a server and just had my best week in months - made almost $800 when I usually make around $300-400. I was literally losing sleep over whether to report it honestly or not. But reading all these responses has been such a huge relief! It sounds like the system really is designed for people like us with variable schedules. I'm definitely going to report everything accurately and just keep certifying every two weeks like everyone is saying. It's good to know that one good week won't kill my whole claim - I was picturing having to start the entire application process over again if I reported too much income. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences with this. It's so much more helpful than trying to navigate the EDD website or sitting on hold for hours!
I was in almost the exact same situation about 4 months ago! My benefit year ended and I was panicking because I still hadn't found work. You can definitely file a new claim right away - don't wait for tax season, that's completely unrelated. The good news is that your $3,200 from 8 weeks of part-time work should easily qualify you for a new claim. The minimum is usually around $1,300 in your highest quarter, so you're well above that threshold. Just be mentally prepared for a much lower weekly benefit amount since it'll be calculated based on your part-time wages instead of your restaurant management salary. When I filed my new claim, my benefits dropped from $380 to $165 per week - still helpful but definitely a reality check! Make sure you have all your employment details ready (employer name, dates, total gross wages) for those 8 weeks when you file online. And yes, you'll have to do that annoying one-week waiting period again unfortunately. The restaurant industry job market has been brutal lately - you're not alone in struggling to find something. Keep applying and don't get discouraged. I finally landed a position after 3 months of searching. Hang in there!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I was definitely stressed about whether my part-time earnings would be enough, so knowing that $3,200 should easily qualify me is a huge relief. The drop in weekly benefits is going to sting (going from $380 to $165 sounds rough!) but like you said, something is better than nothing right now. I'm glad to hear you eventually found a position after 3 months - gives me hope that persistence will pay off. The restaurant industry really has been a nightmare lately. Thanks for the encouragement and the practical tips about having all the employment details ready!
I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! My benefit year just ended last Friday and I've been so confused about what to do next. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea you could file immediately without waiting for tax season. I worked part-time for about 10 weeks during my benefit year (retail job) and made around $2,800, so it sounds like I should qualify for a new claim too. The idea of the weekly benefit amount being way lower is definitely disappointing but honestly any help right now would be amazing. Has anyone had luck with the EDD website lately for filing new claims? I tried logging in yesterday and it seemed to be running really slowly. Wondering if I should try calling instead or just be patient with the online system. Also wanted to say thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so stressful when you're dealing with this stuff alone and the EDD website explains nothing clearly! Really appreciate this community.
Luca Conti
Just wanted to add another perspective - I'm a former EDD claims examiner and can confirm that everyone here is giving you solid advice. The key thing is that your husband didn't voluntarily quit in the traditional sense - the employer fundamentally changed the job requirements by eliminating remote work. This is what we call "constructive dismissal" and it's generally considered good cause for leaving. When he files, make sure he emphasizes that continuing employment was contingent on relocating to Minnesota, which wasn't feasible. The fact that he paid taxes in both states is actually helpful documentation that shows he was legitimately working from California. Keep copies of any emails or notices from the employer about the remote work policy change - that documentation will be crucial during the eligibility interview. Also, don't be discouraged if the initial determination is unfavorable. These multi-state cases with job requirement changes often require the human review that happens during the eligibility interview to get properly resolved.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Wow, having insight from a former EDD claims examiner is incredibly reassuring! The term "constructive dismissal" is really helpful - I didn't know there was an official name for this situation. We'll definitely keep all the emails from his employer about the remote work policy change. It's good to know that even if the initial determination isn't favorable, we shouldn't give up and should push through to the eligibility interview. Thank you for taking the time to share your professional perspective!
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Zara Khan
As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I wanted to add that when you file with California EDD, make sure to save screenshots of every page during the application process. The system sometimes glitches and loses information, especially for interstate claims. Also, when they ask about your last day of work, use the date when the remote work option was eliminated, not when he technically "quit." This helps frame it correctly as a job elimination rather than a voluntary separation. The eligibility interview can feel intimidating, but just be honest and stick to the facts - the employer changed the fundamental terms of employment by requiring relocation. Good luck with everything!
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