Can I claim EDD unemployment after quitting my job to care for my baby due to childcare issues?

Generally, when you voluntarily quit a job, you don't qualify for unemployment benefits unless you can prove you had "good cause" for leaving. In California, EDD evaluates each case individually. Childcare issues CAN sometimes qualify as good cause, but you'll need to show that: 1) You had a genuine childcare problem 2) You took reasonable steps to preserve your employment before quitting 3) You had no reasonable alternatives Did you discuss alternative scheduling options with your employer before resigning? Did you request part-time work, flexible hours, or remote work? EDD will want to see that you tried to resolve the situation before quitting.

ur gonna get denied 100%. my sister had almost the exact same thing happen and edd said she voluntarily quit so no benefits. doesnt matter what the reason is, if u quit ur done. they dont care about childcare problems.

I went through something similar last year. When you file your claim, you'll have an eligibility interview scheduled where you explain your situation. Be prepared with documentation showing: 1) Proof you searched for childcare (emails to daycares, quotes showing costs) 2) Documentation of conversations with your employer about alternative arrangements 3) Financial calculations showing childcare would consume an unreasonable percentage of your income In my case, I was initially denied, but I appealed and won because I could prove I had no reasonable alternatives. The judge considered the fact that the cheapest childcare would have consumed over 60% of my take-home pay unreasonable. Keep detailed records of your job search efforts too. You'll need to certify that you're looking for work and available to accept suitable employment that accommodates your childcare situation.

You should be honest about your job search parameters. Being available for work doesn't mean you have to be available for ANY job at ANY hours - you can have reasonable restrictions. Just make sure you're applying to enough positions that match your availability to show you're seriously looking for work. When you have your eligibility interview, keep your explanation clear and focused on the facts. Explain that you're available for work during specific hours that accommodate your childcare situation. The interviewer will document your availability limitations, and as long as there's sufficient labor market for the jobs you're qualified for during those hours, you should be considered available for work.

My appeal took about 7 weeks from filing to hearing, and then another 10 days for the decision. That's pretty standard, though timelines can vary. Make sure you continue certifying for benefits every two weeks even during the appeal process - if you win, they'll pay all the back weeks you certified for. One thing that really helped me was getting through to an actual person at EDD before my interview. I waited on hold for hours with no luck, then I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in under 25 minutes. It basically keeps dialing EDD for you until it gets through. Talking to a live person beforehand helped me understand exactly what documentation they needed for my specific situation. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

THEY LIE!!!!! I know someone who tried the "childcare" reason and EDD denied them TWICE even with so-called "good cause" documentation!!!! The system is RIGGED against mothers. They expect us to work AND somehow magically take care of our kids with no support!!!! Don't get your hopes up...

One important detail that hasn't been mentioned: when you file your claim, DO NOT just say you "quit to take care of your child." That will trigger an automatic denial. Instead, select the option that says you had a compelling reason to leave employment, and then be prepared to explain the full situation in your eligibility interview. Also, you mentioned you're looking for remote jobs. Make sure you're applying to a reasonable number of positions and documenting everything. EDD requires 2-3 job contacts per week, but I recommend doing more (5+) to show good faith in your job search. Good luck with your claim!

Something else to consider: make sure you're applying for the right program. Regular UI is for people who lost work through no fault of their own. Since you resigned, even with good cause, your case might be more complex. When you have your eligibility interview, be very clear about the timeline: when your leave ended, what steps you took to preserve your job, when you made the decision to resign, etc. And don't be discouraged if you get denied initially. Many legitimate claims are denied at first but approved on appeal. The appeal judges often have more time to review the nuances of situations like childcare issues than the initial claims processors.

UI (Unemployment Insurance) is the regular unemployment program. I was just emphasizing that she needs to make sure she's applying for UI specifically and not conflating it with other EDD programs like SDI or PFL, which she's already used. Since her situation involves a voluntary quit with mitigating circumstances, I wanted to make sure she understood she's still applying for regular UI but will need to clearly explain her good cause reason during the eligibility determination process.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I wanted to add that when you have your eligibility interview, be prepared to explain your husband's work schedule in detail. EDD needs to understand that your childcare situation isn't just about cost, but also about availability. The fact that your husband works 4pm-1am and you worked 8am-5pm shows there was literally no overlap for childcare coverage. Also, I'd recommend calling around to a few more daycares if possible and documenting those calls too. The more evidence you have of genuinely trying to find affordable, available childcare that fits your schedule, the stronger your case will be. Even if they're all booked or too expensive, having that documentation shows you exhausted your options before resigning. One last tip: if you do get denied initially, don't give up. The appeals process exists for situations exactly like yours where there are legitimate extenuating circumstances. Good luck!

I want to add something that might help your case - document any additional expenses that would come with returning to work. Beyond the $2,400/month daycare cost, factor in things like transportation, work clothes, meals out, etc. When EDD evaluates "good cause," they look at whether continuing employment would be economically unreasonable. Also, since you mentioned your husband works nights, make sure to document how his sleep schedule would be impacted. If he needs to sleep during the day to work nights, that creates an additional childcare coverage gap that standard daycare hours don't address. I'd also suggest reaching out to any local childcare resource and referral agencies in your area. Even if they can't help you find immediate care, having documentation that you contacted these resources shows you were proactive in trying to solve the problem before resigning. The fact that you have 4+ years with the same employer actually works in your favor - it shows you're a stable employee who didn't quit lightly. Make sure to mention your employment history during your interview to demonstrate this wasn't a rash decision.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation. One thing that really helped my case was getting a letter from my pediatrician explaining that consistent caregiving is important for infant development and that frequent caregiver changes (which would happen with unreliable childcare) could be detrimental. Also, if you haven't already, document the timeline of when you first started looking for childcare versus when your leave was ending. EDD wants to see that you weren't procrastinating but genuinely couldn't find viable options despite reasonable efforts. Another tip: when you describe your job search during the eligibility interview, emphasize that you're looking for "suitable work" that accommodates your childcare constraints. California law recognizes that parents can have reasonable limitations on work availability and still be considered "able and available" for work. The documentation everyone mentioned is key - I created a binder with everything organized by category (childcare search, employer communications, financial calculations, job applications) which made the interview much smoother. Best of luck with your claim!

I'm going through a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more piece of advice that my case worker mentioned during my eligibility interview - make sure you can clearly articulate why remote work or flexible scheduling wasn't a viable solution with your previous employer. In my case, I had to explain that my role required physical presence for tasks like managing mail, greeting clients, and handling confidential documents that couldn't be accessed remotely. EDD needed to understand that I didn't just choose to quit instead of working from home - it genuinely wasn't an option for my specific position. Also, if you do end up appealing an initial denial, consider getting a brief consultation with an employment attorney who handles UI appeals. Many offer free 15-minute consultations and can help you frame your case using the specific legal language that appeals judges look for. The California code sections around "good cause" can be pretty nuanced. One last thing - keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to EDD. I learned this the hard way when they claimed they never received some of my documentation. Having backup copies saved me weeks of delays in my appeal process. Your situation sounds very legitimate based on everything you've described. The fact that childcare would consume 65% of your income combined with the schedule impossibility should definitely qualify as good cause. Hang in there!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who's currently navigating a similar situation. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - this community really knows their stuff! One thing I'd add based on my recent experience: when you have your eligibility interview, be prepared to explain not just what you tried, but also WHY each option didn't work. For example, don't just say "daycare was too expensive" - explain that at $2,400/month it would consume 65% of your take-home pay, leaving your family financially worse off than if you weren't working at all. Also, I noticed you mentioned applying to remote positions. Make sure you're also documenting applications to in-person jobs that have schedules compatible with your childcare situation (like 9am-3pm positions, weekend work, etc.). EDD wants to see you're not just limiting yourself to one type of work arrangement. The emotional toll of this situation is real, but try to keep your interview focused on the practical/financial impossibility of your previous work arrangement rather than the stress aspects. EDD responds better to concrete numbers and logistics than emotional arguments, unfortunately. You've got this! The fact that you tried so many solutions with your employer before quitting shows you made a good faith effort to preserve your job. That's exactly what EDD looks for in "good cause" determinations.

As someone who successfully obtained UI benefits after quitting due to childcare issues, I wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped my case: First, create a detailed financial breakdown showing your net loss if you had continued working. Include not just childcare costs, but also commuting expenses, work lunches, professional clothing, and any overtime childcare fees. In my case, I would have actually lost $300/month by continuing to work - this concrete number was crucial during my appeal. Second, document your husband's work schedule with his employer if possible. I got a letter from my spouse's HR department confirming his shift times, which helped EDD understand why standard daycare hours (7am-6pm) left us with zero coverage gaps. Third, when describing your job search, use the phrase "suitable employment" - this is the legal standard EDD uses. You can have reasonable restrictions on work hours/location and still be considered available for work as long as there's sufficient job opportunities within your parameters. Finally, if you get denied initially (which is common), file your appeal immediately. I was denied at first but won on appeal because the judge had more time to review all my documentation. The appeals process took about 8 weeks but I received back pay for all the weeks I certified. Your situation sounds very similar to mine and you've done everything right by trying to work with your employer first. Stay organized with your documentation and don't give up if you get an initial denial!