Can I qualify for EDD after working gig jobs following layoff?

I went through something similar back in October! Got laid off from my office job, did some freelance work, then tried to apply for benefits. EDD takes your 1099 income into account for your weekly certification but your benefit amount is based on your W-2 earnings during the base period. You definitely didn't mess up - you should still file ASAP because you were laid off (good cause) from your main job. When you certify, you'll need to report any gig income for those weeks, but now that you're not doing gigs anymore, you should get the full benefit amount going forward. The frustrating part is actually getting through to EDD if you have questions. Took me 47 calls over 3 days before I could speak to a rep. Try Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that gets you through to an EDD agent without the endless redial nightmare. Totally worth it for me. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

ur still eligble but u should of filed right when u got laidoff tbh.... the gig work just reduces ur weekly amnt. each week u certify u enter wat u made and they subtract it. but now that ur not doing gigs ull get full amnt

Technically, you can backdate your claim to when you were initially laid off, but you'll have to show good cause for not filing immediately. Working gig jobs doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits based on your W-2 employment. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest-earning quarter in the base period (typically 12-18 months before filing) 2. For any week you earned gig income, you'd need to report it during certification, and your weekly benefit would be reduced accordingly 3. Any week you earned more than $600 in gig work, you likely wouldn't receive benefits for that week 4. Now that your gig work has ended, you should be eligible for full benefits going forward I recommend applying immediately and explaining your situation. The EDD representative will help determine if you can backdate your claim. Be prepared to show documentation of both your layoff and your gig work.

just go ahead and file now don't worry about the past weeks. when you certify just be honest about what you earned during your gig work. unemployment is a weekly benefit so each week stands alone.

The important thing to understand is the partial benefit calculation. In California, you can earn up to $25 or 25% of your weekly benefit amount (whichever is higher) without any reduction. After that, every dollar reduces your benefit by a dollar. So if your weekly benefit is $450, you can earn up to $112.50 without reduction. If you earned $300 that week, your benefit would be reduced to $262.50. Also, IMPORTANT: You must report ALL income in the week you EARNED it, not when you got paid! This trips up a lot of gig workers. If you delivered on Sunday but got paid Friday, you report it for the certification week that included Sunday.

You absolutely can and should apply for unemployment! I went through this exact situation in February. They will look at your base period earnings (which would be from your W-2 job) to determine your weekly benefit amount. The gig work is just considered part-time work during your unemployment period. When you file your claim, you'll need to: 1. List your W-2 employer as your last employer 2. Explain that you were laid off due to downsizing (this qualifies as lack of work) 3. When you certify for the weeks you did gig work, honestly report those earnings Since your gig work has now ended too, make sure to report that as well. From now on, you should receive your full unemployment amount assuming you continue to certify and meet all eligibility requirements like being able and available for work and conducting work searches.

So frustating that nobody explains this stuff clearly!!! I've been on unemployment 3 times in the last 6 years and the EDD website is TERRIBLE about explaining how gig work effects your claim. I got hit with an overpayment too because the online certification is so confusing about how to report self-employment income. Make sure you're SUPER detailed when reporting your gig work - dates, hours, gross earnings BEFORE their fees are taken out. And keep all your records because they might audit you later!!

Wow, thank you all for the helpful responses! I just submitted my application and listed my W-2 job as my last employer. I explained the whole situation about the layoff and subsequent gig work in the additional information section. Fingers crossed it goes through without issues. I'll update once I hear back in case it helps someone else in the future.