Can I work part-time while receiving EDD benefits? Rep gave conflicting info

Yes, you absolutely can work part-time while collecting unemployment benefits, but there are important details you need to understand. When you certify every two weeks, you MUST report ALL earnings for the week they were earned (not when paid). EDD will then apply a formula: for every dollar you earn, they deduct about 75 cents from your weekly benefit amount. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive benefits for that week, but your claim stays active. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $350 and you earn $200 in a week from your coffee shop job, EDD will reduce your benefit by about $150, so you'd still receive around $200 in benefits plus your $200 in wages. The key is being 100% accurate with your reporting. Don't round numbers, report gross earnings (before taxes), and keep detailed records of all hours worked and amounts earned.

I tried doing this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!! They kept calculating my benefits wrong and paying me different amounts every time. Then they said I had an overpayment of $2900 and I'm still fighting with them about it. Just quit the part-time job and collect full benefits, trust me it's easier

I've been in your exact situation. Yes, you can work part-time while receiving UI benefits, but you need to be meticulously accurate with your certifications. Here's what to do: 1. Report ALL earnings in the week you WORKED (not when paid) 2. Report GROSS wages (before taxes/deductions) 3. Report ALL hours worked each week 4. Keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs 5. If your hours or pay increase, report it accurately The certification form asks both hours and earnings for a reason - EDD uses this to verify your reports make sense (they check if you're making at least minimum wage for hours reported). I worked 15-20 hours weekly at a retail store while on unemployment and never had issues because I was extremely careful with reporting. The partial benefits were worth it, and it kept me connected to the workforce.

omg im going thru this exact same thing right now!! my benefit is $275/week and I work like 15hrs at target. its so confusing cuz some weeks i get different payment amounts. does anyone know if they count tips too?? i get cash tips at my second job and idk if i need to report those???

The EDD phone rep gave you correct information, but they should have explained it better. This is actually very common - many people collect partial unemployment while working reduced hours. You definitely need to report your coffee shop earnings each certification period. I've found that using a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and earnings each day makes certification much easier.

I had the exact same issue last year trying to get clarification about my part-time work while on unemployment. Spent days trying to reach someone at EDD with no luck. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through 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 was able to explain exactly how my part-time earnings would affect my benefits and confirmed I was reporting correctly. Definitely worth it when you need specific answers about your situation that the website doesn't clarify.

Working part-time while collecting UI is completely legitimate and even encouraged by EDD. The partial benefit calculation is designed to incentivize work - you'll almost always end up with more total income (benefits + wages) than if you weren't working at all. One important note: If you have a week where you earn too much and don't receive benefits, this does NOT reset your claim. You simply don't get paid for that specific week, but your claim remains open and you can receive benefits in future weeks if your earnings decrease. Also, make sure you're still meeting the work search requirements. Even though you have part-time work, you're still required to make job contacts for full-time work unless specifically exempted.

Something similar happened to my cousin. She works weekends as a server but gets unemployment from her weekday job. She said as long as she reports her weekend income accurately it's fine. I think they just subtract some of your unemployment money but you still get something.

Just certified yesterday and saw how this works! They ask you if you worked and then you put in the hours and money for each week. My check was less but still got something! So yes it definitely works just like everyone is saying.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I've been working part-time at a grocery store while collecting unemployment from my previous full-time office job. Here's what I've learned from my experience over the past few months: The most important thing is accuracy - report your EXACT earnings and hours worked for the week you actually worked them. I keep a simple notebook where I write down my hours and earnings every day I work, which makes certification so much easier. One thing that caught me off guard initially: if your part-time job has irregular hours (like mine does), your benefit amount will vary week to week based on your actual earnings. Some weeks I get almost my full benefit amount, other weeks much less, but I've never had any issues as long as I report everything correctly. Also, don't stress too much about the calculations - EDD's system automatically figures out your partial benefit amount once you enter your earnings. Just focus on being 100% honest and accurate with your reporting. You've got this!

I'm in a very similar situation and just wanted to share what's been working for me! I've been collecting partial unemployment while working at a bookstore about 16 hours a week. The key things I've learned: 1. Always report gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid 2. Keep detailed records - I use a simple phone app to track my daily hours and earnings 3. The partial benefit formula works in your favor - you'll always have more total income than just unemployment alone 4. If you have a week with zero earnings from your part-time job, you'll get your full weekly benefit amount One tip that really helped me: I called EDD right after my first certification to confirm they calculated everything correctly. It gave me peace of mind knowing I was on the right track. The rep was actually very helpful and walked me through exactly how they applied the earnings deduction formula. Don't overthink it - just be honest and accurate with your reporting, and you should be fine. The system is designed to encourage part-time work while you search for full-time employment. Good luck with your certification!

I've been working part-time at a retail store while collecting unemployment for about 6 months now, and it's definitely doable! The key is being super organized with your record-keeping. I created a simple Excel sheet where I track my daily hours, gross pay, and which week the work was performed (not when I got paid). One thing that really helped me was understanding that the earnings deduction isn't as scary as it sounds. Like others mentioned, they use about a 75% deduction rate, so you're always better off working than not working. For example, when I earn $150 in a week and my weekly benefit is $300, I still get around $187 in benefits plus my $150 wages - way better than just the $300 unemployment alone. Also, don't worry about small variations in your hours from week to week. I've had weeks where I worked 8 hours and others where I worked 25 hours, and as long as I reported accurately, EDD handled the calculations just fine. The system is actually pretty forgiving as long as you're honest. Just make sure to report everything in the correct week and keep your pay stubs in case they ever need verification!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! I was working part-time at a restaurant (about 20 hours/week) while collecting unemployment from my previous marketing job. The EDD rep was right - you absolutely can work part-time and still receive partial benefits. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: create a simple tracking system immediately. I use a basic calendar where I write down my hours and gross earnings each day I work. This makes certification so much easier and gives you documentation if there are ever any questions. The partial benefit calculation actually works in your favor. Even when they reduce your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings, you'll always end up with more total income than if you just relied on unemployment alone. For example, if you earn $180 at the coffee shop and your weekly benefit is $315, you might receive around $180 in unemployment benefits plus your $180 in wages - that's $360 total versus just $315 from unemployment. One important thing: make sure you understand the difference between when you WORKED versus when you got PAID. Always report earnings for the week you actually performed the work, not when you received your paycheck. This trips up a lot of people initially. You're doing the right thing by keeping your part-time job. It shows you're actively working and helps with your job search requirements too. Just be meticulous with your record-keeping and you'll be fine!

I've been in your exact situation for the past 4 months and can confirm everything the EDD rep told you is correct! I work part-time at a local bookstore (about 15 hours/week) while collecting partial unemployment from my previous full-time job. Here's my practical advice: Start tracking everything NOW. I use a simple phone note where I jot down my hours and gross pay each day I work. When certification time comes, I just add up the totals for each week - super easy. The math really does work in your favor. My weekly benefit amount is $290, and when I earn around $200 at the bookstore, I still get about $140 in unemployment benefits. So I end up with $340 total instead of just $290 from unemployment alone. A few key things I learned: - Report earnings for the week you WORKED, not when you got paid - Always use gross earnings (before taxes) - Keep all your pay stubs just in case - Don't stress about hour variations week to week - just report accurately The certification process is actually pretty straightforward once you do it the first time. You'll answer yes to working, then enter your hours and earnings for each week. The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit amount. You're smart to keep that coffee shop job - it keeps you in the workforce and the extra income really helps. Just be honest and accurate with your reporting and you'll be totally fine!

I've been working part-time at a local restaurant while collecting unemployment for about 3 months now, and I can definitely confirm that what the EDD rep told you is accurate! You absolutely can work part-time and still receive partial benefits. Here's what's worked really well for me: I created a simple Google doc where I track my daily hours and gross earnings. At the end of each week, I total everything up so when certification time comes, I have all the numbers ready to go. This has saved me so much stress! The partial benefit calculation is actually pretty generous. My weekly benefit amount is $320, and on weeks when I earn around $160 at the restaurant, I still get about $200 in unemployment benefits. So that's $360 total versus just $320 from unemployment alone - definitely worth keeping the job! A couple of important tips I learned the hard way: - Always report your GROSS earnings (before taxes and deductions) - Report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you received payment - Keep detailed records and save all your pay stubs - Don't worry if your hours vary week to week - just report accurately The first certification felt intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward. You'll check "yes" that you worked, enter your hours and earnings for each week, and EDD's system automatically calculates your reduced benefit amount. You're making a smart choice keeping that coffee shop job - it shows you're actively working and helps you stay connected to the workforce while you search for full-time employment. Just be meticulous with your record-keeping and you'll do great!

I've been working part-time at a grocery store (about 18 hours/week) while collecting unemployment for the past 5 months, and I can assure you the EDD rep gave you correct information! You absolutely can continue working at your coffee shop and still receive partial unemployment benefits. Here's what I've learned from my experience: The key is being extremely accurate with your reporting during certification. I keep a small notebook where I write down my exact hours worked and gross pay earned each day. This makes certification much easier because I have all the numbers right there. The partial benefit formula really does work in your favor. My weekly benefit amount is $280, and when I earn about $170 at the grocery store, I still receive around $152 in unemployment benefits. That gives me $322 total income versus just $280 from unemployment alone - so keeping the part-time job is definitely worth it financially. A few crucial things to remember: - Always report GROSS earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually WORKED (not when you got paid) - Keep all your pay stubs as backup documentation - Don't stress if your hours vary week to week - just report the actual numbers - The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit amount Your first certification might feel nerve-wracking, but it's actually pretty straightforward. You'll indicate that you worked, enter your hours and gross earnings for each week, and EDD handles all the calculations. You're absolutely making the right choice keeping that coffee shop job - it shows you're actively working and helps with your overall job search efforts. Just stay organized with your record-keeping and be completely honest with your reporting, and you'll be fine!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! I work part-time at a retail store (about 14 hours/week) and just started collecting unemployment from my previous full-time job. The EDD rep I spoke with also confirmed that working part-time while collecting benefits is totally allowed and even encouraged. What really helped me prepare was setting up a simple tracking system before I even did my first certification. I use a basic spreadsheet where I log my daily hours and gross earnings. When certification time comes, I just add up the totals for each week - makes the whole process so much smoother. The math really does work out in your favor. My weekly benefit is $295, and when I earn around $165 at my retail job, I still get about $170 in benefits. That's $335 total compared to just $295 from unemployment alone - definitely worth keeping the part-time work! The most important thing I learned is to always report earnings for the week you actually WORKED, not when you received your paycheck. This seems to trip up a lot of people initially. Also, always use your gross earnings (before taxes) when reporting. You're definitely making the right choice keeping that coffee shop job. It shows you're actively working, helps with job search requirements, and gives you more total income. Just stay organized with your record-keeping and be completely honest with your reporting - you've got this!

I'm currently in a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far! I work part-time at a local bookstore (around 16 hours/week) and just filed for unemployment after losing my full-time marketing job. Like you, I was initially confused by all the conflicting information online, but after speaking with an EDD rep and doing some research, here's what I understand: You absolutely can work part-time while collecting unemployment - the system is actually designed to encourage this! The key things to remember: 1. Report ALL earnings during certification for the week you actually WORKED (not when you got paid) 2. Always report GROSS earnings (before taxes) 3. Keep detailed records - I started using a simple phone app to track daily hours and pay 4. EDD uses roughly a 75% deduction rate, so you'll always have more total income than unemployment alone With your $315 weekly benefit and around $180 coffee shop earnings, you'd likely receive about $180 in benefits plus your $180 wages = $360 total versus just $315 from unemployment. I haven't done my first certification yet, but I've been meticulously tracking everything in preparation. The consensus from everyone I've talked to is that accuracy and honesty are key - don't overthink the calculations, just report your actual numbers and let EDD's system handle the math. You're definitely making the right choice keeping that coffee shop job - it shows you're actively working and helps with the overall job search process. Good luck with your certification!

I've been in your exact situation and can definitely confirm that working part-time while collecting unemployment is completely legitimate! I worked at a local cafe (about 10-15 hours/week) while receiving benefits from my previous full-time job for several months. The most important advice I can give you is to start tracking everything immediately - and I mean EVERYTHING. I created a simple note in my phone where I recorded my exact hours and gross earnings every single day I worked. This made certification so much less stressful because I had all the numbers ready. Here's what really helped me understand the process: EDD wants to encourage part-time work, so the formula is designed to make you better off working than not working. With your $315 weekly benefit and approximately $180 coffee shop earnings, you'd likely end up with around $315-340 total income versus just $315 from unemployment alone. The key points that tripped me up initially: - Report earnings for the week you WORKED, not when you got your paycheck - Always use gross earnings (before any deductions) - Don't panic if your hours vary week to week - just report accurately - Save every pay stub as backup documentation Your first certification will feel overwhelming, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you do it. You'll check that you worked, enter your hours and gross pay for each week, and EDD automatically calculates everything. You're absolutely doing the right thing keeping that job - it shows you're actively working and helps with your job search requirements too. Just stay organized and be completely honest with your reporting!