Can I get partial EDD benefits after retail hours cut from 28 to 18 hours weekly?

Yes, you absolutely qualify for partial unemployment! This is exactly what it's designed for. It's called "underemployment" - when your hours get significantly reduced. You need to apply right away through UI Online and make sure you report all hours/wages when you certify. They'll calculate a weekly benefit amount based on your earnings from the past 18 months, then subtract part of what you're currently earning to determine how much partial UI you get each week. Just be prepared to upload documentation proving your hours were cut (like paystubs showing before/after). Also, you'll need to meet the work search requirements by applying to at least 2 jobs weekly.

same thing happnd to me at Target lst year!! they cut me from 25 to 15 hrs n i got partial benefits. EDD givs u some $$$ but not full amount cuz ur still working. just make SURE u report exact hours on certification or they'll hit u w/ overpayment later!!

The key factor EDD looks at is if your earnings have been reduced through no fault of your own - which sounds exactly like your situation. The formula they use gets a bit complicated, but essentially you can earn up to a certain percentage of your weekly benefit amount before it starts reducing your payment. One important detail: when you file your initial claim, you'll need to indicate that you're still working but with reduced hours. The online application will ask if you were laid off, fired, quit, or had hours reduced - make sure to select "hours reduced" and provide details about the cut from 28 to 18 hours. Also, during the phone interview (if they schedule one), be prepared to explain that this wasn't a seasonal reduction but rather a corporate decision affecting multiple employees. Keep any documentation your employer provided about the reduction.

After my hours got cut at the grocery store, I wasted a WEEK trying to get through to EDD. Literally called 47 times one day (yes I counted) and never got past the stupid recording. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that basically calls for you until they get through, then they call you back when they have an agent on the line. Saved me so much frustration. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Worth it for me because I needed to explain my weird situation with the hours cut.

Just wanted to clarify something important here. While you do likely qualify for partial benefits, there's a formula EDD uses to determine how much you'll receive each week: 1. They'll calculate your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) based on your highest-earning quarter in the base period 2. You can earn up to $99 with no reduction in benefits 3. After that, for every dollar you earn, they reduce your benefit by about 75 cents So if your WBA is $350, and you earn $300 in a week from your reduced hours, the math would work like: - First $99 doesn't count against you - Remaining $201 reduces your benefit by about $150 - You'd receive approximately $200 in UI benefits ($350-$150) That's just an example - your actual amounts will vary based on your specific earnings history. But it explains why people sometimes get confused about how much they receive during partial unemployment.

I tried to apply for partial unemployment when my retail job cut my hours and it was a TOTAL NIGHTMARE!!! The EDD website is impossible to navigate and then they scheduled me for a phone interview but never called!!! I had to wait THREE WEEKS for them to reschedule and by then I'd found a second job. The system is completely broken and designed to frustrate people into giving up. Good luck but don't count on that money coming through quickly!!

One additional thing to be aware of: if/when you start receiving partial unemployment, you'll need to complete bi-weekly certifications where you report your exact hours and earnings for each week. Always report your gross wages (before taxes) for the weeks you actually worked, not when you got paid. For example, if you work Monday-Sunday but get paid the following Friday, you still report those hours for the week you actually performed the work. This is one of the most common mistakes people make with partial UI claims. Also, keep detailed records of your work search activities. The EDD can request proof of your job search efforts at any time, and if you can't provide it, they might disqualify you and demand repayment of benefits.

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I submitted my application yesterday and am waiting for it to process. One question I'm still confused about - for the work search requirement, does applying for additional hours at my current job count as one of my job search activities? Or do all job searches need to be with entirely different employers?