Can I file for EDD after IHSS caregiver position ended due to death of family member?

First, I'm very sorry for your loss. Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment after working as an IHSS provider. The fact that your recipient was a family member doesn't disqualify you. IHSS caregivers are considered employees and pay into unemployment insurance. The county IHSS program was your employer of record, not your mother directly. As for the 4-week delay, that's not a problem - you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. Just make sure to explain your situation clearly when filing. You should apply as soon as possible though.

sorry about ur mom! my sister went thru this last yr when her client passed. she got bennefits no problem. dont worry about the 4 weeks, just apply now. they ask you when ur last day was anyway

I went through something similar when my grandmother passed away 2 years ago. I was her IHSS provider for 4 years. I tried applying online and got SO CONFUSED because there were questions about my "employer" and I didn't know what to put! I tried calling EDD but it was impossible to get through - kept saying "we're experiencing high call volume" UGH!! Finally I found out that my employer was actually the county IHSS program NOT my grandmother. You should have received paystubs that show this. Hope this helps and I'm really sorry about your mom. ❤️

edd dosnt care if its family or not. my cousin did ihss for his dad and got benefits when his dad went to nursing home. you still paid into system so you get benefits. apply online its easier.

As others have said, you're definitely eligible. I've helped several former IHSS providers navigate this exact situation. When filing your claim, list the county IHSS program as your employer (check your paystubs for the exact name). For separation reason, select 'laid off/no work available' and explain your recipient passed away. You'll need to be ready for job search requirements after filing - EDD requires you to look for work and document your search activities when certifying for benefits. Regarding the 4-week delay - that's not a problem for eligibility, but you'll want to backdate your claim to when you stopped working so you don't lose potential benefits. You may need to explain the reason for the delay (most people cite grief/dealing with arrangements following the death as completely understandable reasons).

I'm really sorry about your mother. When my aunt passed away last year I had the EXACT same question since I was her IHSS worker too. I tried calling EDD for DAYS and couldn't get through which made everything even more stressful. Then my friend told me about Claimyr.com - it's a service that gets you through to an EDD representative quickly. I was skeptical but tried their video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and it actually worked! Got through to EDD in like 20 minutes and they confirmed I was eligible and helped me file properly. Might be worth checking out if you have questions about your specific situation.

dont wait longer!!!! apply now!!!! u only get bak pay from when u apply!!!!!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST CAREGIVERS!!! I was a caregiver for my uncle and when he passed they tried to DENY my claim saying I didn't have "enough qualifying wages" which was COMPLETE NONSENSE since I worked 30+ hours a week for THREE YEARS!!! Had to appeal and wait MONTHS for benefits. Make sure you have ALL your paystubs and documentation ready because they WILL try to make it difficult for you!!! Not trying to scare you but just giving you a heads up to be PREPARED!!!

btw make sure ur certifying for weeks even while waiting for approval. my sister didnt know this and lost 3 weeks of benefits cuz she thought she had to wait till approved to certify

Just to follow up on a few points from other comments: 1. Yes, backdating is possible, but you'll need to provide a reason for the delay. The loss of a family member is generally accepted. 2. You'll need to meet the base period earnings requirement, which means you must have earned at least $1,300 in your highest-earning quarter in the base period (generally the 12-month period ending just before the last completed calendar quarter). 3. When you certify, you'll need to show you're able and available for work and actively seeking employment. This begins immediately, even during your first certification period. 4. For your work search activities, if you're looking for work in the same field (caregiving), document applications to agencies, facilities, or through care-matching services. Good luck with your claim. The system can be confusing, but IHSS workers definitely qualify for unemployment benefits when their service ends due to circumstances beyond their control.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother, Carmen. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and dealing with financial concerns on top of grief is overwhelming. I work as a benefits counselor and can confirm what others have said - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS provider. The key thing to remember is that your employer was the county IHSS program, not your mother personally. This is why you received W-2s and had taxes withheld. A few practical tips for filing: - Apply online at EDD's website as soon as possible - When asked about separation reason, select "lack of work" and explain your recipient passed away - Have your most recent paystub handy - it will show the correct employer name - Don't worry about the 4-week delay - you can backdate and the grief period is completely understandable The application process can feel daunting when you're grieving, but you've earned these benefits through your work. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Carmen. Losing your mother must be incredibly difficult, and I can understand why dealing with paperwork and benefits would be the last thing on your mind right now. I went through something similar when my father passed away last year - I was his IHSS caregiver for about 3 years. I was also worried about the family connection, but like others have said, it doesn't matter. The county is your actual employer, not your family member. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet - when you do apply, you might want to have your mother's death certificate handy. I didn't need it initially, but EDD did ask for it later during the process to verify why my caregiving position ended. It helped speed things up. Also, don't stress too much about the online application. I was intimidated by it at first, but it's pretty straightforward once you start. The hardest part for me was just getting myself to sit down and do it while I was still processing everything. You've been working and paying into the system for over 2 years - you've earned these benefits. Take care of yourself during this time.

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Having gone through caring for a loved one and then losing them, I know how emotionally and financially overwhelming this time can be. I want to reassure you that you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits. I was in a very similar situation - I cared for my grandfather through IHSS for nearly 3 years before he passed. Like you, I was worried about the family connection and waited a few weeks before applying because I just couldn't handle dealing with bureaucracy while grieving. The good news is that IHSS providers are regular employees who pay into unemployment insurance. Your employer was the county IHSS program, not your mother directly. When you apply, you'll list the county as your employer (check your paystubs for the exact name). A few things that helped me: - I applied online and was able to backdate to when I stopped working - For separation reason, I selected "lack of work" and explained my recipient had passed away - I had to provide documentation later, so keep your paystubs and your mother's death certificate accessible - The job search requirements start right away, so begin documenting any applications you submit The 4-week delay won't hurt you - grief is completely understandable. Please don't put this off much longer though. You've been working and contributing to the system for over 2 years. You've earned these benefits, and you deserve this support during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself. ❤️

Carmen, my heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Losing your mother while also facing uncertainty about your financial situation must feel overwhelming. I want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. I actually work in eligibility determination for social services, and I can confirm that IHSS providers are legitimate employees who contribute to unemployment insurance just like any other worker. The fact that your care recipient was your mother doesn't disqualify you at all. What matters is that you were officially employed through the IHSS program, received regular paystubs, and had appropriate taxes withheld. The county IHSS office was your legal employer, not your mother personally. Don't worry about the 4-week delay - you can absolutely backdate your claim to when your employment ended. Given the circumstances (death of your care recipient), this delay is completely understandable and won't negatively impact your eligibility. When you file online, make sure to have your most recent paystub available so you can accurately enter your employer information. You've been contributing to the unemployment system for 2.5 years - these benefits are rightfully yours. Please take care of yourself during this grieving process. The community here clearly cares about your wellbeing, and we're all rooting for you to get the support you need and deserve.

Carmen, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing your mom and then worrying about finances on top of grief is just heartbreaking. I was in almost the exact same situation last year when my dad passed away after I'd been his IHSS caregiver for about 2 years. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify because he was family, but it turns out that doesn't matter at all. The county IHSS program is your actual employer - they're the ones who processed your timesheets and issued your paychecks. I also waited about 3 weeks to apply because I was just too overwhelmed to deal with it. When I finally did apply online, I was able to backdate it to my last day of work with no problems. Just be honest about why you waited - dealing with your mother's passing is completely understandable. One tip: when you get to the part about why your job ended, select "lack of work" and then explain that your care recipient passed away. That's exactly what I did and it went through smoothly. You've been paying into the unemployment system for over 2 years - you absolutely deserve these benefits. Please don't wait much longer though. You need and deserve this financial support during such a difficult time. Sending you strength. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, and it's completely understandable that dealing with unemployment benefits wasn't your first priority while grieving. I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of support here - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. I've helped many families navigate this exact situation, and the family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all. The county IHSS program was your legal employer, which is why you received W-2s and had payroll taxes withheld. The 4-week delay won't be an issue - you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. When filing, you'll want to explain that your employment ended because your care recipient passed away. Have your most recent paystub handy so you can enter the correct employer information (it should show the county IHSS program name). After reading all these supportive responses, I hope you're feeling more confident about moving forward. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years - these benefits are something you've earned, not charity. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to reach out if you run into any issues with your application. This community clearly has your back. ❤️

Carmen, my heart truly goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Losing your mother while also worrying about your financial security must feel overwhelming beyond words. I want to join everyone else in reassuring you - you absolutely, 100% qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. I've been working in social services advocacy for over 10 years, and I've helped countless IHSS providers navigate this exact situation. The family relationship is completely irrelevant - what matters is that you were a legitimate employee of the county IHSS program, paying into the unemployment insurance system with every paycheck. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I hope their shared experiences have helped ease your worries. The fact that so many people have successfully gone through this same process should give you confidence that the system does work for IHSS caregivers. Please don't put this off any longer - you've already waited 4 weeks, which is understandable given your grief, but you deserve this financial support. You earned these benefits through 2.5 years of dedicated work caring for your mother. Apply tomorrow, backdate to when you stopped working, and know that this community is rooting for you. Take things one step at a time, and be gentle with yourself as you navigate both your grief and these practical matters. You're stronger than you know. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother. I can only imagine how difficult this time must be for you, dealing with grief while also worrying about your financial situation. I wanted to add my voice to everyone else's - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. I work as a case manager for disabled adults, and I've seen many IHSS providers successfully receive benefits when their caregiving positions end, regardless of whether they were caring for family members or not. What's important to understand is that you were a legitimate employee of the county IHSS program. They processed your timesheets, issued your paychecks, withheld taxes, and provided you with W-2 forms. The personal relationship you had with your care recipient doesn't change your employment status. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your circumstances, and you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. When you apply online, you'll select "lack of work" as your separation reason and explain that your care recipient passed away. Reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how many people in this community have faced similar situations and successfully navigated the system. You're not alone in this, and you have a whole community here supporting you. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to apply - you've earned these benefits through your years of dedicated work. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is one of life's most difficult experiences, and having to worry about finances while grieving makes it even harder. I want to add my voice to everyone else's reassurance - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. I actually went through this exact situation when my father-in-law passed away after I'd been his IHSS provider for about 18 months. Like you, I was worried about the family connection and waited several weeks to apply because I was just too emotionally drained to deal with paperwork. The key thing to remember is that your employer was the county IHSS program, not your mother personally. This is why you received official paystubs and W-2 forms. When I applied, I listed the county as my employer (the exact name was on my paystubs) and selected "lack of work" for the separation reason, explaining that my care recipient had passed away. The EDD representative I eventually spoke with was very understanding about the situation and confirmed that family relationships don't affect eligibility at all. I was able to backdate my claim without any issues - they completely understood why there was a delay given the circumstances. One small tip: have your mother's death certificate ready, as they may ask for it later in the process to verify why your position ended. It helped streamline things for me. You've been working and paying into the unemployment system for over 2 years - these benefits are rightfully yours. Please don't wait much longer to apply. You deserve this financial support during such a difficult time. This community is clearly behind you, and I'm sending you strength and support as well. ❤️

Carmen, my heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Losing your mother is devastating, and I can't imagine trying to navigate bureaucracy while grieving. I'm a social worker who has helped many IHSS caregivers through similar situations, and I want to reassure you - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits. The family relationship doesn't matter at all. You were a legitimate employee of the county IHSS program, which is why you received paystubs and W-2s with their name as your employer. Reading through all these responses, I'm moved by how many community members have shared nearly identical experiences and all received benefits successfully. This should give you tremendous confidence that the system works for IHSS providers in your situation. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your loss, and you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. When filling out the application, select "lack of work" as your separation reason and explain that your care recipient passed away. Have your most recent paystub handy for employer information. You've been contributing to unemployment insurance for 2.5 years - these aren't handouts, they're benefits you've earned through your dedicated work. Please apply as soon as you feel able. You deserve this financial support during your time of grief. Take care of yourself, and know this community is rooting for you. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is one of life's most profound losses, and having to worry about practical matters like benefits while you're grieving must feel overwhelming. As someone who's new to this community, I've been reading through all the responses here and I'm genuinely moved by how many people have shared their personal experiences to help you. It's clear that your situation - being an IHSS caregiver for a family member who passes away - is more common than you might realize, and every single person who's shared their story has successfully received unemployment benefits. The consistent message from everyone, including professionals in the field, is that you absolutely qualify. Your employer was the county IHSS program (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally, so the family relationship doesn't affect your eligibility at all. You've been paying into the unemployment system for 2.5 years - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've earned through your dedicated work. The advice about being able to backdate your claim due to grief, having your death certificate ready, and selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason seems very practical and reassuring. I hope seeing so many similar success stories gives you the confidence you need to apply soon. You deserve this financial support during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this entire community is cheering you on. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. What you're going through - losing a parent while also facing financial uncertainty - is incredibly difficult, and my heart goes out to you. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the responses here and I'm genuinely amazed by the outpouring of support and shared experiences. It's clear that so many people have been in your exact situation and have successfully navigated the unemployment benefits process as IHSS caregivers. The consistent message from everyone - including professionals in the field - is incredibly reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits, the family relationship doesn't disqualify you, and you can backdate your claim to account for the time you needed to grieve. Your employer was the county IHSS program (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally. Reading through everyone's advice about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, having documentation ready, and being able to apply online gives me confidence that this process, while potentially overwhelming right now, is definitely manageable. You've been contributing to the unemployment system for over 2 years - these benefits are something you've truly earned. I hope all the support and shared experiences in this thread give you the strength and confidence to apply soon. You deserve this financial assistance during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this community is clearly behind you every step of the way. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate financial concerns while grieving must feel overwhelming. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm genuinely touched by how many people have shared their personal experiences to help you. It's clear that your situation is more common than you might think, and every single person who's been through this has successfully received unemployment benefits. The message from everyone - including professionals in the field - is consistent and reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits as an IHSS caregiver. The county IHSS program was your legal employer (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally, so the family relationship doesn't affect your eligibility at all. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years through your dedicated work - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've rightfully earned. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your circumstances, and you can backdate your claim when you apply. I hope all the support and practical advice in this thread gives you the confidence you need to move forward. You deserve this financial assistance during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this entire community is rooting for you. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is one of life's most difficult experiences, and dealing with practical matters like benefits while grieving can feel overwhelming. Reading through all the responses here, I'm struck by how supportive this community is and how many people have shared nearly identical experiences. It's clear that you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver - the family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all since the county IHSS program was your actual employer. As someone new to this community, I wanted to add that the consistent advice from both professionals and people with personal experience should give you real confidence. You've been paying into the unemployment system for over 2 years, so these benefits are something you've genuinely earned through your dedicated work. The practical tips everyone has shared - about backdating due to grief, selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, and having your paystubs ready - seem very helpful for when you're ready to apply. Don't put too much pressure on yourself about the timing, but know that this financial support is available to you when you need it. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. This community clearly has your back, and I'm sending you strength as well. ❤️