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Anastasia Kozlov

Can you collect California EDD unemployment and Social Security at the same time?

So I've been on Social Security retirement benefits for about two years now and recently got laid off from my part-time job at a logistics company where I'd been working 28 hours a week. My neighbor mentioned I might be able to file for California EDD unemployment benefits on top of my Social Security, but that sounds almost too good to be true. I'm 67, still sharp, still want to work, but the company downsized and here I am. Does anyone actually know if collecting both at the same time is allowed? I don't want to get flagged for fraud or end up with some overpayment notice six months down the line. I reported my part-time wages every week to SSA so my record is clean. Just want to know if drawing unemployment through California EDD while already on Social Security is even something that's permitted before I go through the whole filing process.

Yes, you absolutely can collect California EDD unemployment benefits and Social Security at the same time. This is actually a pretty common situation and California removed the offset rule years ago. Back in the day California EDD used to reduce your UI weekly benefit amount by a portion of your Social Security income, but that offset was eliminated. Now your Social Security retirement benefits do NOT count against your unemployment benefits and do not reduce your weekly payment amount. You just need to meet the standard eligibility requirements - you were laid off through no fault of your own, you're able and available to work, and you're actively looking for new employment. Your base period wages from that part-time logistics job will be used to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Go ahead and file, you're entitled to both.

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This is such a relief to hear. I was genuinely scared I'd be doing something wrong. So my weekly UI benefit amount will be based solely on what I earned at the logistics job and Social Security doesn't factor in at all?

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Exactly right. California EDD calculates your WBA based on your highest earning quarter in the base period, which covers roughly the first 12 of the last 15 months before you filed. Your Social Security retirement income is completely separate and won't affect that calculation at all.

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wait so they changed this rule? i remember my uncle got reduced benefits because of his SS like 10 years ago

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Confirmed what the person above said. I'm 64 and went through this exact situation last year when my employer downsized. Filed my California EDD claim online, listed Social Security as income on the application but was told by a California EDD rep that Social Security retirement benefits are NOT considered disqualifying income and won't reduce your weekly benefit amount. I get my full UI payment every week plus my SS deposit. The two are completely independent. Only thing you need to stay on top of is your weekly certifications and making sure you're documenting your job search activities - California EDD requires at least 3 job search activities per week unless you have standby status or some other exemption.

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3 job search activities per week - got it. Does applying online count or does it have to be in person? I'm in a rural area so most of my job searching would be through LinkedIn and Indeed.

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Online applications absolutely count. Each application to a different employer counts as one activity. You can also count things like attending a job fair, registering on a job board, or completing a workshop through CalJOBS. Online is totally valid and probably how most people do it now.

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same here i collect both no issues at all, been doing it for 8 months

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I want to jump in here because I've seen people get confused about this and make mistakes on their weekly certifications. When California EDD asks you during your weekly cert if you received any 'other income' during the week, Social Security retirement income DOES need to be reported. Here's the key distinction though: reporting it is not the same as it reducing your benefits. You report it, California EDD acknowledges it, and then pays your full weekly benefit amount anyway because SS retirement is excluded from the offset calculation. Do NOT leave it blank thinking you don't need to report it. Always disclose, let California EDD decide what affects your payment. Failing to report any income source even if it turns out to be non-reducing can create problems down the line.

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Oh wow this is really important, thank you. So I report the Social Security income on my weekly cert but it still won't reduce my payment? I want to make sure I'm doing this right from day one.

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That's correct. Report it honestly, and California EDD's system will apply the applicable rules. The SS retirement offset elimination means it won't reduce your WBA, but you still need to disclose it. Transparency protects you from any future overpayment claims.

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This tripped me up in the beginning too. I was afraid to report my SS because I thought it would take money away. My sister told me just to leave it blank which was terrible advice. Always report everything and let California EDD sort it out.

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THANK YOU for clarifying this. I've seen people on other forums saying don't bother reporting SS income and that's just asking for trouble with California EDD.

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I went through something similar and honestly the hardest part wasn't the SS question, it was actually getting someone at California EDD on the phone to confirm my situation before I filed. I spent like 3 days calling and either getting busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting 45 minutes. A friend told me to try Claimyr - it's a service that basically navigates the California EDD phone system and gets you connected to an actual agent. I used it at claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10. Got through to someone within about an hour, asked all my questions about the SS and UI overlap, and got official confirmation straight from a California EDD rep. For something like this where you want an authoritative answer before committing to a claim, it's worth it to actually talk to someone official.

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I've been having the exact same problem trying to call. Going to check out that Claimyr link, thank you. I really do want to hear it from an actual California EDD person before I file.

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the phone situation at California EDD is genuinely awful. i tried for 2 weeks straight before giving up and just filing without getting my questions answered. wish i had known about this earlier

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Does Claimyr work for general questions or only for people who already have an active claim? Asking because I have a similar pre-filing question.

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just want to add - disability social security (SSDI) is a slightly different story than retirement SS. if youre on SSDI there can be complications because SSDI already has rules about substantial gainful activity and being able to work. for regular SS retirement like the OP is talking about, no problem collecting both. but if anyones reading this and they're on SSDI not retirement SS, might want to look into that more carefully before filing UI

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Good point - mine is definitely retirement SS not disability. But helpful distinction for others reading this.

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This is a really important clarification. SSDI recipients technically need to demonstrate they can't engage in substantial gainful activity to qualify for SSDI, while UI requires you to be able and available to work. That's a tension that's worth discussing with a benefits counselor if you're in that situation. For straight retirement SS though, no conflict whatsoever with California EDD UI.

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my cousin got in trouble trying to collect both on SSDI, it's a whole mess. retirement is totally different though

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The fact that California eliminated the SS offset for unemployment is honestly one of the more claimant-friendly policies they have. A lot of older workers don't know about it and either don't file at all thinking they'll be disqualified, or they file and then panic when they see the Social Security income question on the certification. You paid into the unemployment insurance system through your payroll taxes your entire working life, you're entitled to these benefits. Don't let confusion about the rules stop you from getting what you've earned.

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That's a really good point about having paid into the system. I worked for 40+ years and this is literally the first time I've ever filed for unemployment.

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preach!! so many older workers leave money on the table because they assume they can't or shouldn't collect. the system exists for exactly these situations

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First time filer after 40 years - your base period wages should be solid and your claim should process pretty smoothly. Make sure you have your last employer's info and your last day of work handy when you file online at UI Online.

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ok dumb question but when you file the initial claim and it asks about 'other income' do you put your monthly SS amount or your weekly SS amount?? I messed this up on my claim and now i'm freaking out that I reported wrong

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Not a dumb question at all. California EDD typically wants you to report income for the specific week you're certifying for. So if you receive a monthly SS payment, you'd prorate it to the weekly amount for reporting purposes. If your monthly SS is say $1,400, your weekly reporting amount would be roughly $350. If you think you reported it incorrectly on a previous cert, you should contact California EDD to correct it before it becomes a bigger issue.

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ok so i definitely reported my monthly amount instead of weekly... do i need to call them or can i fix it through UI Online messaging?

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You can try through UI Online Ask EDD messaging but honestly for something like a correction to a submitted weekly cert, a phone call is more reliable. The Ask EDD system can be slow. Try to get through to an agent who can note the correction on your account.

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For getting through on the phone quickly, I mentioned Claimyr in an earlier comment - claimyr.com helped me get connected without spending hours on hold. Might be worth using if you're worried about this sitting unresolved.

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I worked in HR for a long time and we used to advise employees about this all the time. The California EDD UI program and Social Security are administered by completely separate federal and state agencies - California EDD is state-run while SSA is federal. They don't automatically share real-time information in a way that would flag you for collecting both. That said, you should always be honest on both applications because audits do happen. The good news is that collecting both is 100% legal and expected for older workers who get laid off.

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The separate agencies thing is helpful context. I was imagining some system that automatically detected both income streams and penalized you.

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i think a lot of people have that fear, like the government has some unified database watching everything you do. in reality these systems barely talk to each other lol

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went through this whole process 6 months ago. 66 years old, retired on SS but was still working part time at a bookstore. got laid off when they closed our location. was terrified to file California EDD because of the SS thing. finally did it and got approved in like 10 days. no issues, no reduction, full weekly benefit based on my bookstore wages. honestly the most straightforward part of my recent life lol. the hardest part was figuring out the CalJOBS registration requirement but even that wasnt that bad once i found the right page

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CalJOBS - I've seen that mentioned. Is registering with CalJOBS mandatory? I haven't done that yet.

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yes you're supposed to register with CalJOBS within 21 days of filing your initial claim. it's at caljobs.ca.gov - just create an account and fill out your profile. it registers you in the state job search system. not that complicated but easy to forget if nobody tells you

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Adding to this - CalJOBS registration is a requirement. California EDD can check for this and if you don't register it can affect your eligibility. Get it done early in your claim, the profile creation takes maybe 20-30 minutes.

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NOBODY WARNED ME ABOUT ANY OF THIS when i first got laid off at 65. i just assumed i couldn't collect UI because of SS and sat on my hands for two months before my daughter found out and basically forced me to file. i lost two months of benefits that i'll never get back. PLEASE file as soon as you're laid off and don't assume anything disqualifies you without checking first. california edd's website actually has a faq section that addresses the SS question directly

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I'm so sorry you lost those months of benefits. That's really frustrating. This is exactly why I wanted to get clarity before I filed.

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yes!! ask first, assume nothing. even if you think you already know the answer, verify it. i 'knew' i couldn't collect both and i was completely wrong

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This happens constantly with older workers. The SS offset rule used to exist and the word never fully got out that California eliminated it. People still operate on decade-old information.

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this is why forums like this are so valuable honestly

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side note - if you're also getting a pension from that logistics company on top of SS, that IS something that can potentially reduce your California EDD benefits. pensions from a base period employer can trigger an offset. SS retirement by itself no offset, but company pensions are different. just flagging this in case it's relevant to anyone reading

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Oh interesting - no pension from this job, it was a smaller company. But good to know that distinction exists.

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Correct and important distinction. Pension income from a base period employer can reduce UI benefits dollar for dollar in some cases, while SS retirement does not. Worth verifying your specific pension situation with California EDD if it applies to you.

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yeah the pension thing caught my brother off guard. his old company pension reduced his UI by like $80/week. totally legal but he had no idea

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filed for both last spring no problems. i'll say the initial claim questionnaire on UI Online asks a lot of questions and if you're not sure how to answer something don't just guess. use the Ask EDD feature to get clarification on specific questions before you submit. once you submit it's harder to correct things

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That's smart advice. I'm going to go through the whole form first before submitting anything.

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exactly. preview everything. and when it asks about your reason for separation make sure you say 'lack of work' or 'layoff' clearly - don't get creative with the language, that's what triggers adjudication delays

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My experience trying to reach California EDD to ask about this type of question was absolutely brutal. Tried the phone, tried Ask EDD, tried showing up at the local office which apparently doesn't do walk-ins anymore. A coworker who went through a similar situation told me about Claimyr - you go to claimyr.com and they handle getting you connected to an actual California EDD agent. There's a demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that shows what the process looks like. I was skeptical but it genuinely worked for me and I got my SS + UI question answered by an actual rep within the same day I tried it. Sometimes you just need to hear the answer from an official source rather than a forum.

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I've been struggling to get through on the phone so this is really helpful. I'll try this before I file so I can get official confirmation.

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the local office thing is so frustrating, you'd think you could just walk in and ask a quick question but nope

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i heard some offices do in-person appointments if you schedule ahead but the scheduling system is also a nightmare to navigate

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One more thing worth knowing - when you do your weekly certifications and it asks if you were 'able and available to work' you need to say yes. Some people on SS assume they should say no because they're 'retired' but if you're genuinely willing and able to take new employment, which it sounds like you are, answer yes. That question is about your physical and practical availability for work, not about your retirement status. Answering no will pause your benefits immediately.

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Really glad you mentioned this. I could see myself second-guessing that question given my age. But yes, I absolutely want to work and am physically able to.

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Exactly - the California EDD system doesn't penalize you for being older or for being on SS. If you want to work and you're available for work, you qualify. Age and SS status are not factors in the able-and-available determination.

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this is such a good point. the certification questions trip people up way more than the actual eligibility rules

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just want to circle back and say good luck OP - sounds like you have a clean situation (laid off, not quit, no misconduct, actively want to work) and the SS piece is clearly not an issue in California. your claim should go smoothly. make sure you file with UI Online at unemployment.edd.ca.gov, set up your EDD debit card or direct deposit preference, register with CalJOBS, and stay on top of your weekly certifications every two weeks. you've got this

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Thank you so much, everyone in this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm filing today. Really appreciate the community here.

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come back and update us! and if anything weird happens during adjudication don't panic, it's common and usually resolves within a few weeks

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good luck!! you paid into this system for 40 years, go get what's yours

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