Can I get California EDD unemployment if I quit my job due to child care issues?

This is so reassuring thank you. I was spiraling thinking adjudication automatically meant denial. Do you know roughly how long adjudication takes for this type of claim?

My sister went through almost this exact situation two years ago and she got approved. Took about 5 weeks in adjudication but she did get it. The documentation made the difference according to the rep she eventually spoke with.

Good info here. I'd also add that California EDD may try to contact the former employer during adjudication to verify the circumstances, so be consistent with whatever you told EDD and whatever your employer knows about your reason for leaving.

Common misconception! Quitting makes you potentially disqualified but there are several exceptions under California unemployment law. Childcare, domestic violence situations, following a spouse who relocates for military service, and unsafe working conditions are among the recognized reasons that can qualify someone who quit voluntarily.

wow had no idea. wish i knew this like 2 years ago lol

I've tried calling maybe 8 times already and either get a busy signal or get disconnected after 45 minutes on hold. This is so frustrating. I'll check out that Claimyr thing - at this point I'll try anything.

seconding this, calling EDD is genuinely one of the most demoralizing experiences. The hold music alone is enough to make you give up.

does claimyr actually work or is it a scam? genuinely asking bc I've seen sketchy stuff advertised in these forums before

@above - I was skeptical too honestly. But it's legitimate, it just does the waiting/dialing for you and calls you back when an agent is on the line. The video demo on their site shows exactly what the process looks like before you commit to anything.

This is incredibly helpful, I'm going to put together a document with all of this organized. I have texts, some emails, and I even have a form rejection from one daycare. Is there a way to submit additional documentation after I've already filed?

Yes - log into UI Online and look for the option to submit additional documents or upload evidence. You can also fax documents to California EDD though the online upload is faster. If your claim has been assigned to a specific office you can sometimes find a direct number in your correspondence.

The timeline document is such a good idea. I feel like half the battle with EDD adjudication is just making it easy for the reviewer to understand your situation quickly.

Truly. I check UI Online like five times a day hoping something changes and it never does.

same exact thing happened to me with a different type of claim. the silence from EDD during adjudication is almost worse than a denial because at least a denial you can respond to

Oh wow I did NOT know this - I certified for the first two weeks but then kind of stopped because I wasn't sure I was going to be approved. Is it too late to go back and certify for missed weeks??

You can sometimes certify retroactively for missed weeks through UI Online - there's a 'certify for past weeks' option. Call California EDD as soon as possible to ask about this because there are time limits. Do not wait on this one.

This is correct and really important. Please prioritize this OP. Missed certification weeks are one of the most common and painful mistakes people make during adjudication.

Oh no, I did ask about flexible hours but I didn't specifically ask about a leave of absence. I honestly didn't think of that at the time. Is this going to tank my claim??

Don't panic. It's a factor but not necessarily a dealbreaker. Be honest if they ask about it - explain that you were in crisis mode and focused on the immediate scheduling problem. California EDD reviewers deal with real humans in hard situations and context matters.

Also worth noting - even if a leave option technically existed, if taking unpaid leave was not financially feasible given your circumstances, that can be part of your explanation. 'I was the sole provider for my child and could not sustain months without income while searching for new care' is a reasonable human factor.

Really useful to have the actual code cited. Knowing the legal basis also helps if you need to appeal a denial.

so if i quit without trying to find other childcare options first, does that automatically mean i won't qualify?

It significantly weakens your claim, yes. The 'reasonable effort' requirement means California EDD expects you to have tried alternatives before concluding quitting was the only option. Though 'reasonable' is assessed based on what was actually available to you - if there genuinely were no other options, that's different from not looking.

That would likely fall under similar 'compelling personal reason' provisions but might also intersect with California's leave laws if the condition qualifies your child as having a serious health condition under FMLA/CFRA. Definitely worth a consultation with a benefits advocate or legal aid if one is available in your area.

thank you, hadn't thought about the CFRA angle. the employer definitely never mentioned that as an option

I actually tried it after your earlier comment and I have an agent call scheduled. So relieved to potentially have actual answers soon.

glad that worked out - seriously the not knowing is the worst part

This is exactly what I needed to hear thank you. Did you get much notice before the adjudicator called or did it just show up as a random number?

They sent me a letter with the scheduled call date and time about a week before. I almost missed the letter because I wasn't checking mail closely - make sure you're watching for anything from California EDD by mail as well as online.

Good tip - I've been so focused on UI Online that I haven't been paying as much attention to physical mail. Will fix that.

That is a myth. California EDD approved roughly 40-50% of voluntary quit claims that go through adjudication, and the approval rate is higher when claimants can demonstrate good cause with documentation. It's not a sure thing but it's absolutely not futile.

oh wow okay yeah my coworker was just wrong then lol

This misinformation circulates a lot and it actively discourages people from filing valid claims. Always worth filing and letting the process play out.

Yes - while in adjudication you are generally expected to be able and available to work and to conduct and record job searches (currently 3 employer contacts per week in California). However, if you have young children and limited childcare, you may be able to claim 'standby' status or document specific limitations on your availability. This is worth clarifying with California EDD directly because the rules interact in complicated ways when childcare is the reason you left work.

okay this is getting complicated. so i need to be doing job search AND i might also be limited in what jobs i can accept because of childcare?? how does that work

Basically California EDD expects you to be actively seeking work appropriate to your circumstances. If you have childcare limitations, you're looking for jobs that fit those limitations - not every single job, but jobs that could realistically work for your situation. Document your searches accurately and honestly.

This makes me feel better. I've been dreading it because I'm not great on the phone under pressure.

Just have your timeline notes in front of you so you don't have to remember everything from memory. Reference them as needed, no one cares if you're looking at notes.

Also remember - the adjudicator is not trying to catch you lying. They're trying to gather enough information to make a fair determination. Treat it like explaining your situation to a neutral third party.

11 weeks is genuinely excessive, I'm sorry. Have you tried contacting your state assembly member's office? They have California EDD liaisons and can sometimes escalate cases that are stalled. It's worth a try at that point.

no i had no idea that was a thing. how do I find out who my assembly member is

Just Google '[your city] California state assembly member' and you'll find their website with constituent services contact info. Explain your situation briefly and ask them to help escalate your stuck adjudication case. Some offices respond within days.

No - the reason for separation only affects eligibility (whether you get anything), not the benefit amount. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated entirely based on your earnings during your base period, which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before your claim date. The separation reason is irrelevant to the calculation.

okay that makes sense, thanks. just wanted to make sure approving the good cause thing didn't somehow reduce what you'd get

Thank you, means a lot honestly. This forum has been more helpful than anything else I've found.

Really important to know, thank you. I was under the impression that denial basically meant game over.

The appeals process is genuinely worth pursuing if you have documentation and a legitimate reason. The CUIAB reverses EDD adjudication decisions more often than people think.

Just make sure you count the 30 days from the date on the letter NOT the date you receive it. Mail delays have caused people to miss their appeal window.

This is so helpful to hear, genuinely. Thank you for coming back to share this.

threads like this are so much more useful than the official EDD website which tells you basically nothing about real outcomes

My requests were all verbal which worries me. I do have one text to my direct manager though asking about possibly working from home temporarily.

That text is valuable - it shows you were proactively trying to find solutions before quitting. Even informal communication like that demonstrates good faith effort.

Also, if your employer tells EDD that you quit without explanation or for a different reason, that's something you can address in the adjudicator interview. You'll have a chance to respond to whatever your employer says.