CalSTRS pension recipient - can I claim EDD after losing part-time teaching job?

Yes, you can absolutely apply for unemployment benefits while receiving a pension. The key thing to understand is that California uses what's called a 'pension offset' rule. This means your weekly UI benefit amount might be reduced by a portion of your pension, but you're still eligible. Since your CalSTRS pension is from a public school employer and your recent work was at private schools (different employers), you should still qualify for at least some benefits based on your part-time earnings. Make sure when you apply that you report both your pension income and your work history at the private schools accurately. The EDD will calculate any applicable deductions.

my mom went thru this exact thing!! they do reduce ur benefits but u still get something if u worked enuf quarters. she got about half what she would normally get without the pension. better than nothing tho!!

I went through this last year. The way EDD calculated mine was they took my weekly pension amount and subtracted it from what my weekly benefit amount would have been. In my case, my pension was higher than the maximum weekly benefit amount, so I ended up qualifying for $0 in benefits. BUT - this was because my pension and my recent work were both from the same school district. Since yours are different employers (public vs private), your calculation should be more favorable.

When you file your claim, you need to be prepared for the EDD pension questionnaire which will ask: 1. The source of your pension 2. When you began receiving it 3. The monthly amount 4. Whether the employer who pays your pension is the same employer who paid wages during your base period The last question is crucial. Since your CalSTRS pension is from public school employment and your recent work was at private schools, they're different employers. This means your pension deduction will likely be less severe. Also important: You must still be able and available for work and actively seeking work to qualify, even while receiving a pension. Make sure you're willing to accept suitable employment if offered.

I've helped several retired teachers navigate this exact situation. One thing to be aware of: when you certify for benefits every two weeks, be extra careful to report your pension correctly. EDD's system can be confusing about this. You only need to report pension changes if the amount changes, but some people mistakenly report it every two weeks which can cause calculation errors. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to EDD about your specific pension situation (which is common), I recommend using Claimyr to connect with an EDD representative quickly. It saved me hours of frustration when I had pension-related questions. Their site is claimyr.com and you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

I tried 2 do this & it was NIGHTMARE!!! 😡 spent 4ever trying 2 explain my situation 2 the EDD ppl who kept giving different answers every time!! 1st they said yes, then no, then maybe. total waste of time & still no $$$. the whole system is broken beyond belief!!!!!

Based on what you've shared, I believe you'll qualify for at least some UI benefits. To maximize your chances of a smooth claim: 1. Apply online through UI Online for fastest processing 2. When asked about income, be sure to include ALL part-time work during the base period (typically 12-18 months before your claim) 3. When asked about pensions, provide complete information about your CalSTRS pension 4. Be prepared for a possible phone interview about your pension 5. Keep detailed records of all work searches The pension offset won't eliminate your benefits entirely since your pension is from a different employer than your recent work. The calculation is: (Weekly UI benefit amount you'd normally get) - (prorated weekly pension amount) = your actual weekly benefit.

Quick question - does anyone know if you have to report pension income on the bi-weekly certification form? Or is that only counted once during the initial application?

I wanted to update everyone. I applied online last week and included all the information about my CalSTRS pension as suggested. I just got a notice that I qualify for $247 per week after the pension reduction! That's much better than I expected and will definitely help while I look for another teaching position. Thanks to everyone who shared advice - this forum has been incredibly helpful!

That's wonderful news! $247/week is actually a pretty solid outcome considering the pension offset. It shows that having your pension from public schools while your recent work was at private schools really did help with the calculation, just like several people mentioned. Best of luck with your job search - with your experience, I'm sure you'll find another good position soon!

Congratulations on getting approved! That's a really encouraging outcome for others in similar situations. Your case is a perfect example of how the pension offset calculation works when your pension and recent employment are from different types of employers. $247/week should definitely help bridge the gap while you search for your next teaching position. Thanks for coming back to update us - it's so helpful when people share their actual results since everyone's situation is slightly different with these pension cases.