Can I collect EDD unemployment while receiving a pension? Confused about possible deductions
Hi everyone, I just got laid off from my job of 8 years in healthcare administration. I'm 63 and already receiving a small pension ($1,850/month) from a previous employer where I worked for 15 years. When I try to research if I can still get unemployment while receiving this pension, I'm finding conflicting information. Some sites say pensions reduce unemployment benefits dollar-for-dollar, others say it depends on who contributed to the pension. My current (well, now former) employer didn't contribute anything to that old pension. Will EDD deny my claim completely or just reduce the weekly benefit amount? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Really stressed about making ends meet right now.
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Malia Ponder
Yes, you can collect unemployment while receiving a pension, BUT there's a catch. If the pension is from the same employer that laid you off, EDD will deduct that pension amount from your weekly benefit. Since your pension is from a previous employer, it shouldn't affect your UI benefits at all. Make sure you report the pension income when you file your claim though - always be transparent with EDD to avoid overpayment issues later.
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorThank you so much for clarifying! That's a huge relief. So I should definitely mention the pension on my application even though it won't reduce my benefits? I just want to make sure I do everything correctly.
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Kyle Wallace
my mom had this exact situation last year!!! pension from her teaching job but got laid off from her part time admin work. she got full unemployment no problem 👍
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorThat's encouraging to hear! Did she have to go through any special steps or verification process? Or was it pretty straightforward?
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Ryder Ross
WRONG INFO ABOVE!!! Any pension gets deducted!!!! my brother lost ALL his unemployment because of his pension. EDD takes EVERYTHING away!!! The system is rigged against older workers!!!
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Malia Ponder
That's not accurate information. Your brother's situation was likely different - perhaps his pension was from the same employer he was laid off from? The EDD policy is clear: pensions only affect UI benefits if they come from the employer that laid you off. Previous employer pensions generally don't impact current UI eligibility.
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Gianni Serpent
Here's the official EDD rule on pensions: If you receive a pension, your UI benefits may be reduced if the pension was contributed to by an employer in your base period. Since you mentioned your current employer didn't contribute to your previous pension, you should be eligible for full unemployment benefits. When you certify every two weeks, you'll need to report your pension income under the "other income" section, but it shouldn't reduce your payments as long as it's from a different employer than the one who laid you off.
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Henry Delgado
thx for explaining this so clearly! was wondering the same thing for my dad
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Olivia Kay
i think it depends on how much ur pension is too. my uncle gets a big pension like $4000 a month and they denied his unemployment completely. but my friend gets a small one (like $900) and still got some unemployment but less than normal. maybe there's a threshold?
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Gianni Serpent
The amount of the pension isn't relevant if it's from a previous employer (not the one who laid you off). Your uncle's situation sounds like his pension came from the same employer who laid him off, which would explain the denial. For your friend getting reduced benefits, there might be other income factors at play or partial work.
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Joshua Hellan
I went through this exact nightmare last year when I got laid off at 61. Had a pension from a previous job too. Took me FOREVER to get someone at EDD on the phone to confirm I could get UI while receiving my pension. Kept getting the stupid "we're experiencing high call volume" message for weeks. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep confirmed that since my pension was from a previous employer, it didn't affect my UI benefits at all. Got my claim approved that same day after waiting for almost a month trying to get through on my own.
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorThank you for sharing this! I've been trying to call for days without getting through. I'll check out that service if I can't get an answer soon. Did you have to provide any special documentation about your pension?
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Kyle Wallace
omg i heard about claimyr from my cousin too! totally works but i wish we didn't have to use a service just to talk to EDD 🙄
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Henry Delgado
just wanted 2 say make sure u certify on time every 2 weeks even while waiting 4 this pension question 2 be resolved!!! my friend missed 1 certification & lost a whole week of benefits
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorGood reminder, thank you! I'll make sure to certify on time regardless of what's happening with my claim.
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Malia Ponder
One more important point - make sure you're meeting all the work search requirements while receiving UI benefits. Even at 63 with a pension, you need to be looking for work and documenting your search efforts. EDD requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and log them in case you get audited. Some people think having a pension exempts them from work search requirements, but it doesn't.
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorThat's really helpful information. I'm definitely looking for work and will keep detailed records of my job search activities. Is there a specific format EDD prefers for documenting these contacts?
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Malia Ponder
EDD doesn't require a specific format, but I recommend keeping a spreadsheet with: date of contact, company name, position, contact method (online application, email, phone, in-person), contact person's name if applicable, and any follow-up. This makes it easy if they ever request your work search records during an eligibility determination.
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Gianni Serpent
Based on everything discussed, here's a summary for the original poster and others in this situation: 1. Pensions from PREVIOUS employers generally DO NOT reduce your unemployment benefits 2. Pensions from the SAME employer who laid you off WILL reduce your benefits 3. You must report all pension income when filing and certifying 4. Work search requirements still apply regardless of pension status 5. If you have trouble getting clarification, calling EDD directly (possibly using a service to get through) is your best option Hope this helps clear up the confusion!
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Holly Lascelles
AuthorThank you so much for this clear summary! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about moving forward with my claim now. I really appreciate everyone's input and advice!
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Freya Johansen
I'm in a similar boat - 59 years old, just laid off from my retail management position, and receiving a small pension from my previous job in manufacturing. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! I was panicking thinking I might not qualify for any unemployment benefits. Sounds like I should be okay since my pension is from a completely different employer. Going to file my claim this week and make sure to report the pension income upfront. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this situation.
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Corey Ebro
I appreciate finding this extremely helpful and informative thread today as I was navigating my own questions. Same age bracket and concerns as many of you folks. I am already successfully receiving EDD but have held off on requesting my pension from my former EE because I have been worried that my EDD pymts possibly being cut off if I started to take my small pension. However, after reading all this I am better educated and hopeful that I should seriously consider taking my pension since it is from my long time former employer in the private sector and not the current State job that I am currently furloughed from.
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