Can I pause EDD benefits during a lower-paying temp job? Need to understand partial UI

Yes, you can absolutely receive partial benefits if your new job pays significantly less than your previous one! When certifying, you'll report your work hours and earnings each week. EDD uses a formula where they deduct part of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive the difference. You don't need to "pause" your claim - just keep certifying honestly while working. If you earn too much one week, you'll just get $0 for that week but your claim stays open. When the temp job ends, you'll already be in the system and can continue certifying without needing to reapply (as long as your benefit year hasn't expired).

i was in kinda the same boat last year but my temp job was evn more of a paycut lol. you do NOT pause anything! just keep certifying every 2 weeks and report your work hours + pay exactly. they take the first $25 you earn each week with no penalty i think, then after that they subtract like 75% of ur earnings from ur benefit amount? dont quote me on the exact % but thats what happened to me

THE EDD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TRIP YOU UP!! BE CAREFUL with the partial benefits. I had a temp job last year and they RETROACTIVELY decided I wasn't eligible for the partial benefits they had been paying me!! Had to pay back over $2,300 even though I reported EVERYTHING correctly each week. Make SURE you keep records of EVERY HOUR you work and every dollar you earn because they WILL come after you if there's any discrepancy with what your employer reports!!!

I work for an HR department and help employees with this exact situation frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. As others mentioned, you don't pause your claim. Continue certifying every two weeks. 2. For partial benefits, EDD disregards the first $25 or 25% of your earnings (whichever is greater) per week. The remainder is subtracted from your weekly benefit amount (WBA). 3. Example: If your WBA is $450 and you earn $500 in a week: - 25% of $500 = $125 (greater than $25, so this is disregarded) - Remainder: $500 - $125 = $375 - Partial benefit: $450 - $375 = $75 4. When the temp job ends, just report zero earnings on your certification and you'll automatically receive your full benefit again. Make sure you report ALL earnings when you perform the work (not when you get paid). This is critical to avoid overpayment notices later.

I've been through this situation twice with temp jobs. The advice above is good, but I wanted to add that when I tried to call EDD to confirm I was doing everything right, I couldn't get through for WEEKS. I was so stressed about making a mistake. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The agent confirmed everything I needed to know about partial benefits during my temp job. Honestly was worth it for the peace of mind rather than guessing if I was doing it right.

Just my two cents...don't forget that taking the temp job might help you in the long run even if it pays less right now. Sometimes temp jobs turn permanent, plus it looks better on your resume than a gap. I took a temp job for 3 months last year that paid less than my benefits and ended up getting hired full-time with benefits after the contract ended. Good luck!

wait so im confused... if u get a job but it pays less than ur previous job, ur saying EDD will pay you the difference?? that doesn't sound right. unemployment is for when ur unemployed, not when u dont like ur pay...

One thing no one has mentioned - make SURE you answer "yes" to the question about looking for work each week even though you have this temp job! Since it's temporary, you're still required to do job searches for permanent work. I got caught on this and had my benefits stopped for three weeks until I appealed. Documentation is everything with EDD!

I just remembered something important! When the temp job ends, make sure you list the correct reason on your certification - you want to select "job ended" or "laid off" NOT "quit" or you might have eligibility issues. My friend got stuck in this situation and had to do an eligibility interview when his temp job ended.