Can I file for EDD unemployment when hours cut from full-time to 24 hours weekly?

Yes, you absolutely can file for partial unemployment in California if your hours have been reduced significantly. This is called \

Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. So I just go to the regular UI Online website to file? Do I need any kind of special documentation from my employer about the hour reduction?

im in the exact same boat right now!! my hours got cut from 38 to 22 last month and i filed for partial. its been a little confusing but its def helping make up some of the difference. make sure u report ur earnings accurately each week when u certify

That's really good to know someone else is going through this too! How long did it take for you to start getting benefits after you applied? I'm worried about the gap between now and when benefits might start.

I tried filing when my company cut my hours and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! EDD kept saying I was earning too much still even though I lost like half my income. Then they said I didn't provide enough information. Then they wanted me to do a phone interview but NEVER CALLED ME at the scheduled time!!! The whole system is designed to make you give up. Good luck even reaching anyone there - I tried calling for THREE WEEKS STRAIGHT and couldn't get through once. The whole thing is a scam if you ask me.

I understand your frustration, but I've found that success with EDD often depends on timing and persistence. For the phone issues, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get through to an EDD representative in under 10 minutes after weeks of failed attempts. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. For partial claims specifically, the key is accurately reporting your weekly earnings during certification and being available for any scheduled eligibility interviews. The system isn't perfect, but it does work for many people in reduced-hours situations.

Maybe I'll check that out... still think the whole system is broken though. Would've been nice to know about that service before I gave up entirely.

yes u can file! my cousin did this when his factory cut everyone to 25hrs

This is a common scenario in retail and hospitality industries. Here's what you need to know about partial unemployment:\n\n1. You qualify if your hours were cut involuntarily\n2. You must be willing to accept additional work hours if offered\n3. When certifying, you'll report your actual weekly earnings\n4. EDD uses a formula: If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive the difference plus $25 (this incentivizes working part-time)\n5. You still need to meet work search requirements - usually looking for full-time work\n\nDon't worry about your employer getting in trouble - this is considered a \

This is super helpful information! I didn't know about that formula or the work search requirements. Should I tell my employer I'm filing for partial UI or just go ahead and do it? I'm a little nervous about making them upset since I still need this job.

To answer your follow-up question - you don't need to inform your employer before filing. When you file a UI claim, EDD will automatically notify your employer, who will then verify your employment details and reason for reduced hours. This is a standard process and employers cannot legally retaliate against you for filing a legitimate UI claim. It's your right to seek these benefits when your hours are cut.

Thank you! That makes me feel better about moving forward with this. Going to start my application today.

Wait I'm confused... isn't unemployment only for when you get fired or laid off completely? I thought you had to be like fully unemployed to qualify? Can someone explain how this works if you're still working some hours? Also how much does it actually help - like if they cut 16 hours does EDD give you money for all 16 hours or just some percentage?

It's a common misunderstanding! California unemployment insurance actually covers both total and partial unemployment. If your hours are reduced involuntarily, you can receive partial benefits to help offset some of the lost income. \n\nRegarding the amount: EDD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your highest-earning quarter in the base period (usually the 12 months before filing). Then they use a formula where they deduct a portion of your current earnings from your potential benefit. You don't get compensated for every hour lost, but the system is designed to ensure you end up with more total income than if you just had the reduced hours alone.\n\nFor example, if your WBA would be $400 if fully unemployed, and you earn $250 from your part-time work, you might receive around $175 in UI benefits (the exact formula is a bit complex). So your total would be $425 - better than just the $250 from working alone.

Oh that makes so much more sense now! I had no idea this was a thing. Thanks for explaining!

just fyi when i filed it took like 3 weeks to get my first payment so dont expect it to be super fast. and they ask u all these questions when u certify like if u turned down any work and stuff so make sure u answer everything honestly

UPDATE: I went ahead and filed my claim yesterday through UI Online. The process was actually a lot easier than I expected! I had to provide info about my employment history, my previous wages, and explain that my hours were cut. Now I just need to wait for them to process it. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! I'll update again once I hear back from EDD about my claim status.

Great job taking action! While you're waiting for the claim to process, I recommend creating an account on CalJOBS (if you haven't already) and documenting any work search activities. Even with partial claims, you'll need to demonstrate that you're looking for full-time work during each certification period. Keep track of any applications, interviews, or networking you do, as you'll need to report these when you certify every two weeks.

Oh that's good to know about CalJOBS! I'll set that up today. I've been casually looking at other retail jobs but wasn't sure if I needed to document everything. Thanks for the heads up!

my friend got in trouble for not reporting some side gig income when on partial ui so make sure u tell them EVERYTHING u earn!!!

One more tip based on your situation: If your employer increases your hours temporarily during some weeks (like during holidays or sales periods), make sure to accurately report those earnings during certification. Your benefits will adjust week by week based on what you report. Many people make the mistake of not reporting increased earnings, which can lead to overpayment issues that you'll have to pay back later.

That's really good advice - our store does sometimes increase hours during sale events, so I'll definitely keep track of everything carefully. I definitely don't want to deal with overpayments later!

Just wait until you have to CALL them for something. I spent 5 HOURS on hold last week trying to fix an issue with my certification and then got disconnected!!! The whole system is broken and they don't care about helping people at all.

this happened to my roommate too lol she was crying after getting disconnected for the 3rd time

EXACTLY!! And they wonder why people get so frustrated with the system!

If anyone is struggling to reach EDD by phone (which is very common), I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps connect you with an EDD representative much faster than trying on your own. I was skeptical at first, but after weeks of failed attempts, they got me through in about 15 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Especially for complicated situations like partial unemployment where you might have specific questions, getting to speak with an actual representative can make a huge difference.

Thank you for this recommendation! I'm saving this info in case I run into phone issues. So far my claim seems straightforward, but it's good to know there's a solution if I need to actually talk to someone.