Can I file for EDD now to get higher benefits from next quarter? Backpay question too
Got laid off from my marketing job in May but I've been holding off on filing for UI since my severance package was pretty decent and when I used the EDD calculator, my weekly benefit amount looked really low based on my previous earnings. I realized that next quarter (starting July 1) would include some months where I had much higher income that would boost my weekly benefit amount significantly. My severance runs out at the end of this month so my question is: If I apply for unemployment NOW (like this week), would EDD use the new quarter's earnings since they typically take 2-3 weeks to process applications? Or should I wait until exactly July 1st to file? I'm worried about the gap with no income if I wait. Also, is there any way to get back pay for the weeks since my layoff, or is that a lost cause since I haven't been certifying? Any insight would be super helpful!
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Nia Watson
The quarter used for your benefit calculation is determined by your application date, not the processing date. If you file before July 1st, EDD will use the base period ending March 31, 2025 (so they'd look at earnings from April 2024-March 2025). If you wait until July 1st or later, they'll use the quarter ending June 30, 2025 (looking at earnings from July 2024-June 2025). As for backpay - it's possible but challenging. You'd need to request what's called 'backdating' your claim and provide a good cause reason for not filing sooner. Receiving severance generally isn't considered a valid reason since you could have filed and reported the severance income. EDD views it as your responsibility to file timely even if you might not receive benefits immediately due to severance deductions.
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Micah Trail
•Thanks for the clear explanation! Definitely sounds like waiting until July 1st is the smart move then. I was hoping the processing time might work in my favor, but I get it now. For the backdating, would it hurt to try anyway? My severance was paid as a lump sum if that matters at all for how EDD views it.
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Alberto Souchard
WAIT UNTIL JULY 1ST!!!!! I made this exact mistake last year - filed 2 weeks before quarter change and got $127 less per week than I would have if I'd just waited. EDD looks at your application date NOT when they process it. Also backpay is basically IMPOSSIBLE unless you have some documentable reason why you COULDNT apply (like hospital stay or something). They don't care about severance as a reason.
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Micah Trail
•Ouch, that $127 difference would add up fast! Thanks for the warning. I'll definitely wait until July 1st then. Bummer about the backpay situation but that's what I was suspecting.
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Katherine Shultz
Hmm i thot when you get sevrence u cant get ui anyway? my friend got laid off and her company gave her 6 wks pay and edd made her wait those weeks b4 benefits started. are u sure u need backpay?
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Nia Watson
•You're confusing two different concepts. You're right that severance can delay when you start receiving benefits, but you should still file your claim immediately after separation. EDD will calculate your "potentially payable benefits" during the severance period, but place them on hold. Once the severance period ends, you can start receiving your weekly benefits if you continue certifying. That's why immediate filing is important, even with severance.
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Marcus Marsh
Wait til July 1st but set a reminder and do it FIRST THING that morning. The system gets super slow when lots of people file at once at the start of new quarters. I waited til afternoon last time and the website kept crashing.
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Micah Trail
•Good tip! I'll definitely set an alarm and do it first thing in the morning on July 1st. The last thing I need is technical problems delaying things even more.
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Hailey O'Leary
Have you tried reaching an EDD rep to get official guidance? I was in a similar situation last year and really needed definitive answers. After struggling with busy signals for days, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a rep in about 20 minutes who confirmed exactly how the quarter calculation would work in my case. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep also told me I could file a backdated claim, but would need to explain my delay in writing and provide supporting documentation. In my case it wasn't worth the hassle since the reason wasn't strong enough, but every situation is different.
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Micah Trail
•Thanks for suggesting this! I might give it a try if I have any other questions come up. For now, I think I'm convinced that waiting until July 1st is the right move, but I'll keep this in mind if I run into other issues.
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Cedric Chung
jus my 2 cents but dont 4get your claim year is 12 months from whenever u file so waiting til july might be better for WBA but also pushes out ur whole claim timeline which might matter if ur job hunt takes a while
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Talia Klein
•This is actually a really important point that people overlook. If you think your job search might take longer than 6 months, you need to weigh the higher weekly benefit amount against potentially losing weeks at the end of your benefit year. It's a gamble either way.
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Alberto Souchard
btw when u do file make ABSOLUTELY SURE u report ur severance correctly!! so many ppl get hit w/ overpayment notices later cuz they mess this up. if ur layoff was in May but u got paid thru June, ur last day of work for EDD purposes is the end of June NOT May!!
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Micah Trail
•That's super helpful - thank you! My severance was a lump sum but they said it covered through June 30th, so I'll make sure to report that as my last day of work. Definitely don't want overpayment headaches later!
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Nia Watson
One last thing to consider: while waiting until July 1st will likely increase your weekly benefit amount (WBA), be aware that your claim effective date will determine your benefit year. So if your claim is effective July 1, 2025, your benefit year ends June 30, 2026. Make sure you have a clear understanding of how much higher your WBA will be to determine if the wait is worth it. You can use the EDD benefit calculator on their website with both sets of quarters to compare.
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Micah Trail
•I did run the calculations and it looks like waiting will increase my weekly benefit from about $320 to $450, which is a pretty significant difference for me. I appreciate all the advice from everyone! Going to mark my calendar for July 1st and be ready first thing in the morning.
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