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.