Can I get California EDD unemployment if I haven't worked in 2 years?

Ok so if I only worked about 4 months part time does that all fall into one quarter or could it span two? I started the part-time job in November 2024.

If you started in November 2024 that means you worked in Q4 2024 (October-December) and Q1 2025 (January-March). So your earnings would likely be split across two quarters which could actually help you meet the 1.25x requirement since you'd have wages in multiple quarters. Run the numbers on what you actually earned in each of those periods.

this is good info, I didn't know they split it by quarters like that

Probably around $1,100-$1,200 in my best quarter? maybe slightly more I have to look at my pay stubs

That's cutting it close to the $1,300 high quarter threshold. Might want to check if California EDD could use an alternate base period for you - it uses the most recent four completed quarters instead of the standard base period. Sometimes that gives you a better picture of your earnings depending on when exactly you filed.

yes the alternate base period saved my claim when I was in a similar situation, definitely worth asking about

omg I did not know this existed. I've been calling every morning and just getting the busy signal thing. Does it work for the main EDD claims line?

Yes that's exactly what I used it for - the main claims assistance line. The agent I reached was actually really helpful once I got through, explained the alternate base period option and everything.

sounds too good to be true lol but I might try it my claim has been pending for weeks and I can't get anyone

I was skeptical too but tried it last month worked fine for me

Good question. Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is calculated as roughly 60-70% of your average weekly earnings during the base period, up to the maximum which in 2025 is $450/week. So yes if OP only has part-time wages in the base period the weekly amount would be lower than someone who worked full time. But even a smaller benefit amount is worth having while job searching.

that makes sense thanks. so OP could potentially get approved but just for a smaller amount than a full time worker would get

Right yeah at this point even getting something would be a huge help honestly. I'm not expecting the maximum or anything.

This is really reassuring thank you. Did you have to explain the gap at all or did they just look at your wages?

They didn't ask me to explain the gap in the initial filing, no. The online application just asks about your last employer and your wages. The gap itself wasn't a field I had to fill out or anything.

same experience here, the gap didn't come up during my initial claim process at all

So good cause is actually relevant if you voluntarily quit a job - if you left a position to provide care for a seriously ill family member that CAN qualify as good cause for a voluntary quit in California. But in OP's case they got laid off from a part-time job, so the voluntary quit issue doesn't really apply here. The question is just whether they have enough wages in the base period.

ohhhh ok I misread the post lol. so OP didn't quit they got laid off. ok that makes more sense then

Yeah I got laid off, I didn't quit. The company did budget cuts and I was one of the part-timers they cut first which honestly I expected.

Wait you have to file weekly even before they've approved it? I haven't done that yet and it's been about a week since I filed...

Yes!! Go to UI Online right now and check if a certification period is open for you. You should be certifying weekly regardless of where your claim is in the process. The first certification is usually available about a week after you file your initial claim.

I just checked and there is one available, filing it right now thank you so much for mentioning this

This is such an important tip that people miss all the time. Glad you caught it before you fell behind on certifications.

How would I know which base period they used? Would it say that in the denial letter?

The determination letter should show the quarters they used to calculate your claim. If it shows the standard base period quarters (Q1 2024 through Q4 2024 for example) and doesn't mention the alternate, you can contact EDD and specifically request the alternate base period review. Keep any documentation of your earnings handy.

I did not know EDD was supposed to do this automatically, learned something new today

Oh good to know! I actually already did the ID.me verification when I set up my account so hopefully that's covered.

Oh if you already did it you're probably fine then, it just surprised me when I got it mid-process

I didn't know there were job re-entry resources available through EDD. That's actually really helpful to know since I'll need to explain the gap to employers too.

Yeah they have workshops on resume gaps and stuff through the AJCC locations. Worth looking into once your claim is sorted.

huh I had no idea about this either

What would cause it to go to adjudication versus just getting approved? Is there a specific reason or is it kind of random?

Usually adjudication happens when there's something EDD wants to verify - like they might want to confirm the circumstances of the layoff with your former employer, or there could be a flag related to your work history gap. It's not necessarily a bad sign, they just take longer on certain claims.

mine went to adjudication and I had NO idea what was happening. I wish I'd known this beforehand would have saved me a lot of anxiety

ok you convinced me I'm trying this tomorrow my claim has been sitting for 3 weeks with no update

second this, used it when my claim went to adjudication and getting through to an agent to explain my situation made a big difference

It can be complicated especially when your situation is outside the typical full-time employee pattern. But that doesn't mean it's impossible - California EDD does have provisions for a lot of different situations including part-time workers.

yeah no I appreciate all the info. good luck to OP hope it works out

So glad you were able to get some answers! Employer protests during adjudication can slow things down but if you were legitimately laid off your case should still be resolved in your favor. Did the agent give you any timeline estimate?

She said typically 3-5 weeks for adjudication when there's an employer protest involved. Not great but at least I have a number to work with now.

hang in there, adjudication with an employer protest can take a bit but if you have documentation of the layoff being a budget cut you should be ok

Thank you for actually doing the math, this is really helpful. I'm going to pull up my exact pay stubs and figure out my quarter-by-quarter earnings before anything else.

Good plan. Exact numbers matter a lot here. Also check if your employer took out state disability insurance (SDI) from your checks - that generally confirms you were covered under California UI as well.

Good tip, I'll check my pay stubs for that too. Really appreciate everyone's help in this thread.

That's actually a personal call but I'd say yes it's almost always worth it. Even a small weekly amount adds up over the 26-week maximum benefit period. Also being on active UI claim can give you access to workforce development resources. And it keeps you in the habit of documenting your job search which you should be doing anyway.

Fair point, $150 x 26 weeks is still $3,900 total which is not nothing

Also you never know how long your job search will take. The job market in 2025 is still tough in a lot of sectors. Better to have that safety net than not.

California EDD requires you to document three employer contacts per week as of current requirements. You're certifying under penalty of perjury that you completed them, and EDD does conduct random audits where they can request your job search records. It's strongly advisable to actually keep a log with dates, employer names, positions applied for, and contact method. If you get audited and can't produce records you could face an overpayment determination and potential fraud flags.

three per week that's more than I realized. ok good to know

seriously keep a real log, I got audited and it was stressful but I had all my documentation and was fine. people who don't keep records have a much harder time

Congratulations!! $178/week is real money over the benefit period, so glad it worked out for you!

Great outcome! And good that you came back to update the thread - this kind of resolution post is really helpful for others who search for this situation.

So glad it worked out! And now you know about Claimyr if you ever need to reach EDD quickly during your benefit period for any issues that come up.

This is a good resolution. The alternate base period provision exists specifically for situations like yours - California EDD built it in knowing that not everyone has a clean standard work history. Well done for filing instead of assuming denial.