Can I get EDD unemployment benefits with severely reduced work hours?

ya u can get partial unemployment i did it last year when my construction job slowed down. u just report your hours when u certify and they subtract some of it from ur benefit amount. its not all or nothing

Yes, you can absolutely apply for unemployment with reduced hours. This is called partial unemployment benefits. When your hours are significantly reduced through no fault of your own, you may qualify. Here's what you need to know: 1. File a regular UI claim through UI Online 2. When certifying, honestly report any work and wages during the certification period 3. EDD will calculate a partial benefit amount based on what you're earning Basically, you can earn up to a certain amount without reducing your benefits (this is called the earnings disregard - currently $25 or 25% of your weekly benefit amount, whichever is higher). Anything over that gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your weekly benefit amount. If your current earnings are substantially less than what you were making before, you should definitely apply!

Same boat last month! So frustrating when they cut hours like that without warning. 😠

Yes, you can apply for partial unemployment benefits. EDD will determine your weekly benefit amount based on your previous earnings, then subtract a portion of your current earnings. You'll certify every two weeks and report exactly what you earned each week. Important: When reporting your work and earnings during certification, make sure you report your GROSS earnings (before taxes) for the week in which you worked (not when you got paid). This is a common mistake that can lead to overpayment issues later. Your employer will be notified when you file, but it's illegal for them to retaliate against you for filing for benefits you're entitled to receive. If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask questions or check on your claim, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that connects you directly to an EDD representative without the endless calling and busy signals. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or watch a demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

THEY WILL FIGHT YOU ON THIS!!!! I had my hours cut from 40 to 17 last year and EDD kept saying I wasn't eligible even though I CLEARLY WAS!! Had to appeal and wait FIVE WEEKS before getting approved. EDD system is DESIGNED to frustrate people into giving up!!! Make sure you keep ALL documents showing your previous hours and current reduced schedule. Take screenshots of everything!!!

Your situation is exactly what partial unemployment benefits are designed for. With your hours reduced from 38 to 12-15, you very likely qualify. One important thing to understand is how the calculation works: Let's say your weekly benefit amount (WBA) would be $450 if you were fully unemployed. When working partial hours, EDD allows you to earn up to 25% of your WBA ($112.50 in this example) without any reduction in benefits. After that, they deduct dollar-for-dollar. So if you earn $300 in a week: - First $112.50 doesn't count against you - Remaining $187.50 is deducted from your WBA - You'd receive $262.50 in benefits for that week ($450 - $187.50) To apply, just file a regular unemployment claim and accurately report your work and earnings when certifying. Your employer has already been paying unemployment insurance for you, so you're entitled to these benefits when your hours are cut.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to apply today. One last question - does anyone know how long it typically takes to get approved and start receiving benefits? I need to figure out how I'm going to cover rent next month.

my sister got partial uneployment when her hotel job cut her down to 2 days a week last winter. just make sure you dont mess up your certifications or you'll have to call and fix it which is impossible!!