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.