Can I still collect EDD if accepting very limited part-time tour guide work ($120 bi-weekly)?

Yes, you can absolutely still collect partial unemployment while working part-time! This is a common situation. When you certify each week, you'll report any hours worked and income earned. EDD uses a formula that allows you to earn up to a certain amount before reducing your benefits.\n\nBasically, you can earn up to $99 with no reduction in benefits. After that, for every dollar you earn above $99, they subtract a dollar from your weekly benefit amount. So if you only work occasionally giving these tours, you'll simply get a reduced benefit amount for the weeks you work.\n\nMost importantly, accepting this part-time work won't disqualify you from unemployment as long as you remain available for full-time work and continue your job search. Make sure you accurately report your hours and earnings each certification period.

Oh thank you so much! That's a huge relief. So if I understand correctly, on weeks I don't give any tours, I'll get my full benefit amount. And on weeks I do give a tour, I'd get my benefit minus (my earnings - $99)? That sounds manageable. I was so stressed thinking I'd lose everything by accepting a few hours of work.

be careful tho!!! my cousin took a pt job last yr & edd stopped ALL her benefits cuz they said she wasnt 'available for full time work' cuz she agreed to be available thurs-sun. they didnt care that she barely got any hrs!!! make sure u tell them ur still looking for ft work & the tour thing is just temporary!!

This happened to my neighbor too! The issue wasn't the amount of money she made but the fact that her availability was restricted for those days. EDD considered her

The previous responses are partially correct, but there's a key detail you need to understand about EDD's requirements. They have two separate issues to consider:\n\n1. INCOME REPORTING: Yes, you report earnings and they reduce your benefits accordingly using the formula someone already mentioned ($99 exempt, then dollar-for-dollar reduction).\n\n2. AVAILABILITY: This is where people run into problems. When you certify, you must answer whether you were available for full-time work. If your part-time job restricts your availability during normal business hours (8am-5pm, Mon-Fri), then EDD may determine you're not available for full-time work.\n\nIn your case, since the tour guide job is evenings and weekends, it shouldn't affect your availability for traditional full-time work. Make sure when certifying that you indicate you're still available for full-time work. The fact that you're only working occasionally helps your case too, as you're clearly still in need of full-time employment.\n\nDocument everything - your job search efforts, your limited hours, and be prepared to explain this situation if they schedule an eligibility interview.

Thank you for the detailed explanation! That makes sense about the availability issue. The tour job is only evenings (like 7-9pm) and doesn't require me to be available during business hours at all. I'll make sure to keep thorough records of my job search activities to show I'm still actively looking for full-time work during standard hours.

lol good luck even getting through to ask EDD this question!! been trying for WEEKS to talk to someone about my claim and just get the \

I had the exact same problem trying to reach EDD about my partial employment situation. After days of failed attempts, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km \n\nThe agent I spoke with confirmed that part-time evening/weekend work that doesn't conflict with standard business hours won't disqualify you from benefits - they'll just reduce the amount based on what you earn. They also told me that maintaining detailed records of job search activities is critical for avoiding any issues.

omg thank u!!! never heard of that before! gonna try it tomorrow morning

EDD's system is DESIGNED to trip you up on this exact thing. They WANT you to lose benefits so they don't have to pay. I got COMPLETELY cut off when I took a 10-hour-per-week job because I didn't understand how to properly report it. The whole system is rigged against working people. They'll use ANY excuse to disqualify you. \n\nBe VERY careful how you answer those certification questions. When it asks if anything affected your ability to work full time, you MUST say NO. When it asks if you're available for full time work, you MUST say YES. And when it asks if you refused any work, say NO.\n\nThe income reporting part is the easy part. It's their gotcha questions designed to disqualify you that are the real trap.

While I understand your frustration, I don't think it's accurate to say the system is designed to trip people up. The questions are there to ensure benefits go to those who meet the legal requirements. It's definitely important to answer truthfully while understanding what the questions are really asking.\n\nTo clarify for the original poster: When EDD asks if you're available for full-time work, they mean whether you're able and willing to accept a full-time job if offered one. Since your evening tour guide role doesn't prevent you from working full-time during normal business hours, you would truthfully answer \

wut about the work search requirement?? dont u still have to apply to like 3 jobs a week or something even if ur working part time???

Yes, you still need to meet work search requirements even while working part-time. Currently, EDD requires you to perform at least three work search activities each week. These can include:\n\n• Applying for jobs\n• Submitting resumes\n• Attending job interviews\n• Registering with placement agencies\n• Networking for job leads\n• Taking job-related training\n\nKeep detailed records of all these activities in case EDD requests verification. Make sure you're looking for full-time positions in line with your skills and experience.

I was in a pretty similar situation last year - I got a part-time job at a winery doing weekend tastings but it was only like 8-12 hours a week during slow season. I kept getting partial unemployment and everything was fine until I messed up on one certification. I accidentally put that I wasn't available for full-time work (was rushing through the questions) and it triggered an eligibility interview. \n\nTook forever to get that sorted out, and my payments were on hold for almost 6 weeks while waiting for the interview! So just be super careful filling out those bi-weekly certifications.

That's good to know - I'll be extra careful with the certification questions. Did you have to provide any additional documentation to prove you were still available for full-time work during your eligibility interview?

During the interview they asked for my work schedule to verify it wouldn't interfere with a normal 9-5 job, and they wanted examples of jobs I'd applied to. They also asked if I would quit the part-time job if I got offered full-time work somewhere else, and I said yes. That seemed to satisfy them, but it was still super stressful waiting for the interview!

One more important thing - when you report your earnings, you need to report them for the week you EARNED them, not when you get paid. So if you work a tour on Sunday but don't get the paycheck until the following Friday, you still report those earnings for the week you actually performed the work.\n\nAlso, EDD calculates everything based on gross wages (before taxes and deductions), not your take-home pay. Make sure you're reporting the correct amount to avoid overpayment issues down the road.

Thank you for this clarification! That's really helpful to know about reporting for when I earned vs when I got paid. I'll definitely report the gross amount and keep track of which certification period each tour falls under.

Make sure you keep a DETAILED RECORD of EVERY SINGLE HOUR you work and EXACTLY how much you earn! When I was working part-time while on unemployment, EDD later claimed I had misreported my earnings and slapped me with a $4,800 overpayment notice!!! I had to fight it for MONTHS to prove I reported everything correctly. The burden of proof is ALWAYS on you, not them!

My sister works for EDD (not saying this to brag just giving context lol) and she says one of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they can't work part-time while on unemployment. The system is actually designed to encourage you to take part-time work while searching for full-time jobs! You just need to be honest about your earnings. \n\nShe also mentioned that tour guide work specifically wouldn't typically cause availability issues since it's outside normal business hours when most interviews and job opportunities would occur anyway.\n\nAnyway, take the tour guide job! Some income is better than none, and it won't harm your unemployment as long as you report accurately.

Thank you - that's really reassuring to hear from someone with insider knowledge! I'll definitely take the tour guide position and make sure I report everything accurately. I appreciate everyone's help - feeling much less anxious about this decision now.