Can I get EDD benefits for reduced work hours? Desperate with sick mother at home

yes u can totally apply for reduced hours! my work did the same thing last year. they cut me from 40 to 15 hrs and i got partial benefits. just be honest about why ur hours got reduced on ur application

You absolutely qualify for UI benefits with reduced hours. This is called "partial unemployment" and EDD has specific provisions for it. When filling out the application, make sure to: 1. Accurately report your current weekly earnings 2. Explain that your hours were involuntarily reduced by your employer 3. Indicate you're still able and available for full-time work 4. Have documentation ready showing your previous full-time schedule and the reduction The key is being consistent with your certification every two weeks. You'll need to report ANY earnings during your certification periods. EDD uses a formula where the first 25% of your earnings aren't counted against your benefit amount, then the remainder reduces your weekly benefit. I went through this in March when my retail position was cut from 36 to 18 hours. The partial benefits made a huge difference while I looked for additional work.

When I tried claiming for reduced hours last year they DENIED me saying I didn't make enough in the base period whatever that means!!! The whole system is rigged against workers while these companies make MILLIONS!!! Don't get your hopes up.

A few important things about your situation: 1. Yes, you qualify for partial unemployment when your hours are reduced through no fault of your own. 2. During certification, you must report your exact earnings BEFORE taxes for each week. If you estimate or round numbers, it can cause problems later. 3. When it asks why your hours were reduced, simply state "Employer reduced hours due to business needs" - keep it simple and factual. 4. For the "able to work" question - answer YES as long as you're physically capable of working full-time hours (even if you're caring for your mom, as long as you could arrange care to work full hours if offered). 5. The EDD will automatically calculate your benefit amount based on your previous earnings and current reduced income. And yes, your employer will be notified when you file, but they cannot legally retaliate against you for claiming benefits you're entitled to. This is your legal right.

sry bout ur mom hope she gets better. my cousin had similar thing happen at his warehouse job and he got unemployment plus his part time checks. made almost same as before

I had to deal with reduced hours last year and trying to reach EDD was IMPOSSIBLE. I spent 3 weeks calling hundreds of times every day and couldn't get through. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because the EDD rep helped me fix some issues with my claim that would've kept it stuck. When you're dealing with a sick family member, the last thing you need is spending hours trying to reach someone at EDD.

Quick question - I'm confused about the difference between reduced hours claims and regular unemployment. Do you have to do anything special to indicate it's for reduced hours? I thought there was a separate application form for partial UI benefits?

oh i forgot to say make sure u certify every 2 weeks!!!!! if u miss certifying they dont pay u and its a hassle to get backpay

Just wanted to add - when you're caring for a sick family member while working reduced hours, you might also want to look into State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) as additional options. These are separate from unemployment but can provide benefits in certain caregiving situations. The EDD manages these programs too. Also, be prepared that there might be a phone interview to verify your eligibility. Make sure you answer when they call (typically shows as "St of CA EDD" or an unknown number).