Can I claim EDD benefits for a job in another state? Worked in Minnesota but live in California
I'm in a confusing situation with my unemployment claim and hoping someone here has been through this. My husband worked remotely for a Minnesota company while we lived in California. He had taxes taken out for both states (CA and MN). His company recently eliminated all remote positions and wanted everyone to relocate to Minnesota, but we can't move our family there for personal reasons, so he had to quit. Since he can't work for them anymore, I'm wondering if he qualifies for California unemployment benefits? Or does he have to apply in Minnesota since that's where the company is based? Has anyone dealt with multi-state unemployment claims? Any guidance would be super helpful because we're not sure which state to apply with.
20 comments
Ravi Sharma
He should apply for unemployment in the state where he performed the work, not necessarily where the employer is located. Since he was working remotely from California, he would file with California EDD, not Minnesota. This is a common question for remote workers! The fact that he paid taxes to both states doesn't change this - what matters is his physical location while performing the job.
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Isabella Santos
•Thank you so much! That makes sense. Do you know if quitting because they eliminated remote positions would be considered a good cause for leaving? I'm worried they might deny him since technically he wasn't laid off.
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Freya Larsen
my frend had this exact problem last year!! she worked for a company in oregon but lived in CA. EDD told her to file in california since thats where she physically did the work everyday. they approved her claim no problemo
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Omar Hassan
•I had the same situation and definitely file in California! But the eligibility interview was a nightmare to schedule. Took me 5 weeks of calling every day.
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Chloe Taylor
Let me clarify a bit more precisely: Your husband needs to file in California since that's where he physically performed his work duties. However, there's an important distinction regarding his separation reason. If the company eliminated his remote position and the only option was relocation, this could be considered a "compelling family reason" if moving would cause undue hardship. During the application, he should clearly explain that the company eliminated his ability to work remotely and required relocation to Minnesota, which wasn't feasible for your family situation. When he files, be prepared for them to contact his employer to verify the circumstances. He'll likely need to participate in an eligibility interview where he can explain why relocating wasn't possible. Having documentation from the employer about the position elimination and relocation requirement would be helpful.
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Isabella Santos
•This is incredibly helpful! We'll gather documentation from his employer about the remote position being eliminated. Do you know how long eligibility interviews typically take to schedule these days? Should we expect a long wait?
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ShadowHunter
OH MY GOD I tried to get through to EDD about something like this for WEEKS!!! it was IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone who could answer my question about working in 2 states. I kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and getting disconnected!! SO FRUSTRATING!!!!
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Diego Ramirez
•I had the same problem but found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in under 20 minutes. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. You just go to claimyr.com and they basically navigate the phone system for you and call when there's an agent available. Totally worth it for complicated situations like this where you really need to talk to someone.
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Anastasia Sokolov
I went through this EXACT situation in 2024 when my NY employer cut remote positions. Here's what you need to know: 1. File with California EDD since that's where the work was performed 2. When you get to the separation reason, choose "Laid Off/No Work Available" NOT voluntary quit 3. In the explanation box, write that the employer eliminated remote work options and required relocation to another state which was not possible 4. You WILL get scheduled for an eligibility interview - they're currently taking about 4-6 weeks to schedule 5. During the interview, explain that continuing employment would require relocation which isn't feasible The key is framing this as the employer changing the terms of employment (eliminating remote work) rather than your husband simply quitting. This is considered good cause to leave employment in California. In my case, they approved benefits after the interview.
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Isabella Santos
•This is SO helpful! Thank you for the step-by-step guidance. It sounds like your situation was almost identical to ours. We'll definitely frame it as the employer changing the terms by eliminating remote work. 4-6 weeks is a long wait for the interview though... I guess we better apply ASAP.
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Omar Hassan
Wait im confused, if he paid taxes in minnesota doesnt that mean he should file there? my cousin works in tech and files in the state where his company is headquarterd not where he lives???
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Chloe Taylor
•That's a common misconception. For unemployment insurance purposes, the controlling factor is where the work was physically performed, not where taxes were paid or where the company is headquartered. Some remote workers do have to pay income taxes to multiple states depending on tax laws, but unemployment insurance generally follows physical work location. Your cousin's situation might be different - some tech companies have specific arrangements with certain states.
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Freya Larsen
just so u know, when my neighbor had his eligbility interview for something similar they asked for proof that relocating was hardship. he had to talk about his kids school and wifes job and stuff to prove he couldnt just move. tell ur husband to be ready to explain all that!
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Isabella Santos
•That's great to know - we have lots of reasons we can't relocate (elderly parents we care for, my job, kids' schools) so we'll make sure he documents all of that. Thanks for the tip!
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Diego Ramirez
When I had to call EDD about my multi-state issue last month, I was never able to get through until I used Claimyr. Got connected to an actual person who helped me with my interstate claim in like 15 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Trying to reach EDD on your own for complicated situations like this is practically impossible with how overwhelmed their phone lines are.
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Omar Hassan
•I tried calling EDD like 50 times about my multi-state claim and gave up. Wish I'd known about this sooner!
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Anastasia Sokolov
One more important thing to know: In your husband's case, California EDD will likely request wage information from Minnesota through a process called a "combined wage claim" or "interstate claim." This means they'll contact Minnesota to verify his wages there, and those wages can be used to establish his California claim. This is completely normal for multi-state workers. During the application process, there will be a section asking if he worked in multiple states. He should make sure to list the Minnesota employment there. This process takes a bit longer than a standard claim (usually an extra 1-2 weeks) because of the interstate verification, but it ensures he gets the correct benefit amount based on all his earnings.
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Isabella Santos
•Oh that's really good to know! I was wondering how they would calculate his benefit amount with wages from two states. Sounds like we need to be patient with the whole process.
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Ravi Sharma
Based on everything shared here, here's a quick summary of next steps: 1. Apply with California EDD as soon as possible 2. Select "Laid Off/No Work Available" with an explanation about the remote work elimination 3. Be prepared for a 4-6 week wait for the eligibility interview 4. Gather documentation of the job change and reasons why relocation isn't possible 5. Expect some delays due to the interstate claim process This is definitely a situation where speaking with an EDD representative will be necessary. If you have trouble getting through on the phone lines (which is very common), consider using a service to help connect with a representative to address any questions about the multi-state claim.
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Isabella Santos
•Thank you so much everyone for all the helpful advice! We're going to apply through California EDD right away and make sure to document everything. I feel much more confident about navigating this situation now. I'll update once we get through the process in case it helps someone else!
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