Can you collect unemployment on furlough in California EDD?

Thank you - does the fact that my employer says the job still exists mess anything up? Like they're saying it's temporary.

The temporary part doesn't disqualify you. EDD looks at whether you're out of work right now through no fault of your own. A furlough fits that exactly. File Monday morning.

Came here to say the same thing. Filed my own furlough claim back when my company did a shutdown period. Had no issues with eligibility at all.

Good call, I would have definitely gotten stuck on that. Is there anything specific to put in the reason for separation field?

For a furlough, I just wrote that my employer temporarily suspended operations and sent me home without pay. Keep it short and factual. Temporary furlough due to business conditions is basically what you're describing.

Pay stub tip is real, I fumbled through mine without one and had to guess at some employer details. Made the whole thing take twice as long.

Wait, so the amount on the DE 429Z can be less than what you're making now? I assumed it would be close to my salary.

The weekly benefit amount runs between $40 and $450 max in California, calculated from the highest-paid quarter in your base period. If you got a raise recently, your earlier lower wages might be what EDD bases it on. EDD's site has a benefits calculator that gives you a ballpark estimate before you file.

My weekly benefit amount was also lower than expected for the same reason. At least once you understand the calculation it makes sense, even if the number stings.

I had no idea about CalJOBS. So I need to do that too?

Watch for the DE 8405 in your mail. If EDD sends it to you, then yes, 21 days from that date to get registered at caljobs.ca.gov and post your resume. If you're exempt, EDD will note it and you won't get the notice.

The CalJOBS thing caught me off guard too. I figured since I had a job to go back to it wouldn't matter. Register anyway just in case.

Does CalJOBS cost anything? I've never used it before.

Free. It's the state's job search platform. Even if EDD doesn't require it for your situation, it's actually useful for finding work.

I told my coworker who's also furloughed that she should file and she said she didn't think she could because she's 'still employed.' She needs to read this.

Super common misconception. Still employed but not working and not paid is exactly what unemployment is designed for. Tell her to file right away - the claim starts on the Sunday of the week she applies, not from when the furlough started.

Yeah I thought the same thing initially. Filed anyway based on advice from someone on a different forum and got paid no problem.

Oh good to know - so I should expect the first payment to be smaller than what I'd normally get every two weeks?

Exactly. First certification usually covers the waiting week, which isn't paid, plus one week that is. After that you get the full two-week amount each time you certify.

Tripped me up too. I thought something was wrong with my claim. It's just standard, every claim starts that way.

How do I know when my first certification period opens?

EDD processes the application and then about two weeks later your first certification window opens. Keep checking UI Online. The Claim History section will show your weeks and their status.

Phone reminder is genuinely the move here. My first time I completely forgot because I kept thinking 'I'll do it tomorrow' and missed the window by two days. What a headache that was.

That's actually a great point, I'll mention it to HR Monday. Better they're not caught off guard.

Smart move. When an employer responds accurately and quickly it really does speed up how fast EDD processes claims. Mass furlough situations especially.

So if they bring us back for two days a week I'd still get partial benefits?

You'd report your earnings for those days when you certify and EDD calculates what you're owed that week. The first $25 or 25 percent of what you earned, whichever is bigger, isn't counted against you. Only what's above that gets subtracted from your weekly benefit amount.

That's accurate. And if you go back full time for a week, you wouldn't get benefits for that specific week, whatever you earned. The partial earnings formula is for part time only.

I didn't even think about taxes on this. So I'd get a 1099G?

EDD mails Form 1099G in January for whatever you received during the year. You can also find it in UI Online under Payments. Keep track of what you get so it doesn't blindside you at tax time.

This is such a good point that people sleep on. Set aside that 10 percent from the start or just let EDD withhold it.

That's actually reassuring. Even if this drags on longer than they're saying I should be okay?

As long as you're still within the 52-week benefit year and you haven't used up your maximum benefit amount, you just keep certifying. The DE 429Z shows your maximum benefit amount so you can track what's left.

Worth doing the math on your max early. It's 26 times your weekly benefit amount or half your total base period wages, whichever is less. So if your furlough runs very long you want to know where you stand.

Yeah that's a myth. The employer continuing health coverage has zero bearing on UI eligibility. Eligibility is about your work status and your earnings, full stop.

So much bad HR advice floating around during furloughs. Good you filed anyway.

Report all work and wages for the week they were earned, not when they hit your bank account. Even one day's worth of wages gets reported when you certify for that week. EDD then applies the earnings formula to figure out your benefit for that week.

Got it. So I report it honestly and EDD does the math. That's cleaner than I expected.

UI Online also has a Report Wages option you can use before certifying to work out how a week's earnings affect your benefit amount. Doesn't change anything already certified, it's just for planning.

Mine went through without issues but good to know for my coworkers who might be filing this week.

ID.me gave me fits when I first tried it. Had to redo the photo three times. Natural light and a flat surface made it finally work.

A pension based on past work can reduce your weekly benefit amount. EDD decides how much, if at all, based on the specifics of your situation. It's something you'd want to ask EDD directly about your own claim.

Okay so I should definitely disclose it when I file and let EDD sort it out?

Disclose it, yes. EDD makes the determination. Don't try to guess how it affects things yourself.

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd want to call and confirm. So there's no way to appeal the weekly amount?

If you think the wages used to calculate your amount are wrong, you'd appeal the DE 429Z within 30 days of its mailing date. But if the wages are correct and you're just hoping for a higher number via a different base period, the alternate base period doesn't work that way - it's only used automatically when the standard one doesn't qualify you for a claim at all.

That's exactly what the agent told me. I appealed the DE 429Z anyway because there were two weeks of wages from the previous quarter missing from what EDD had on file. Worth double checking the wages listed on yours.

EDD's standard requirement is that for every week you certify, you need to be able to work, available for work, and looking for work. The CalJOBS registration is separate from the actual looking-for-work requirement each week. Even on furlough, most claimants need to be actively searching. EDD's rules don't carve out a furlough exception to that requirement.

That seems weird if the job is waiting for me. But okay, so I keep track of where I apply just in case?

Keeping records of your job search activities is a good habit regardless. EDD doesn't tell you a specific number of contacts, but you need to be genuinely looking each week you certify and be ready to take suitable work if it came along.

I had a coworker who assumed 'furlough equals exempt from job search.' She didn't get that memo from EDD though. Just search and document it.

Payments go on a Money Network prepaid debit card by default unless you switch to direct deposit or a paper check. You can change that in myEDD. EDD doesn't say one method is faster than the other - payments typically post within about 24 hours of certifying online. The balance and payment info updates daily in UI Online and also through EDD Tele-Cert.

Okay I'll go with the default card then and not overthink it. I just want to certify as fast as possible after each window opens.

Certifying right when the window opens is the right instinct. The sooner you certify, the sooner the payment processes.

I had no idea that existed. Good to know I have options beyond the phone line.

It's right in UI Online once you're logged in. For anything complicated or specific to your payment amounts, the phone is better, but for status questions chat is solid.

Tried chat first on my own claim question and the queue was long that day. Ended up needing the phone for it anyway. Good to try chat first though.

Okay that's really useful context, my company has definitely hinted that this might not be the last one.

Exactly why it's worth filing now and understanding the benefit year. 52 weeks from when you file, your claim is active. Max benefit amount applies across all the periods you're out of work, so track how much you've collected.

Didn't know you could reopen a claim either. Thought you'd have to start fresh each time. This thread has been genuinely educational.

Reopening an existing claim also means EDD already has your info on file. Much smoother than starting from scratch with a new application.

Another HR myth. So much misinformation circulates during furloughs. Report everything honestly and let EDD sort it out.

Exactly. EDD has seen every situation. Report it as the certification asks and move on.

Three weeks feels like a long time right now but at least I know what to expect. Filing today.

Filing today is the right call. And once it's in, check UI Online regularly so you catch anything EDD needs from you right away - like the ID.me verification or any document requests.

The earlier you file, the earlier the clock starts. Three weeks from today is a lot better than three weeks from next week.

Good luck. Furlough claims in California are as clean as UI claims get. You should be fine.