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

Oh wow that's actually really reassuring to hear. So as long as I'm doing my job search activities and certifying every two weeks I should be fine? My claim is still showing pending and I'm worried the Social Security thing is causing a hold.

this is correct. my dad collected both for almost a year when his company downsized. edd never flagged anything about his social security

Confirmed accurate. California is one of the states that removed the SS offset years ago. Just make sure you're reporting your income correctly each week - if you receive any Social Security work incentive payments or wages on top of retirement benefits, those need to be reported on your weekly certification.

That makes a lot of sense actually. So the adjudication is about the employer dispute not because I get Social Security? Should I be doing anything on my end while they investigate?

Yes exactly. Keep filing your weekly certifications even while in adjudication - if you stop certifying and then win your case you'll lose those weeks of back pay. Also gather any documentation proving you were laid off - emails, termination letter, anything in writing from your employer about the workforce reduction.

same thing happened to me when my boss tried to say i resigned. took about 5 weeks but edd sided with me because i had email proof

I've been trying to call EDD literally every morning and can't get through. I'll check out that video. Does it actually work?

Worked for me twice. The key is it basically navigates the phone queue for you. Got to speak with an agent within a few hours both times.

sounds too good to be true honestly but I've seen a few people on here mention it so maybe its legit

A few people in my local job search group have used Claimyr with good results. Getting a live EDD agent on the phone is genuinely one of the hardest parts of this whole process.

Social Security RETIREMENT benefits are not counted as wages in California and don't reduce your UI benefit amount. However if you're talking about Social Security work credits or SSDI that's a different situation. Regular retirement benefits - no offset in California.

oh ok so retirement specifically. what about if someone is on ssi

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is also handled differently. If you're collecting SSI you need to report UI benefits as income to Social Security because it could affect your SSI payment amount. But from EDD's side, the UI eligibility still stands based on your work history. It gets complicated when SSI is involved so I'd recommend calling EDD and also the SSA to understand both sides.

Mine is just regular retirement benefits so it sounds like I'm in the clear on that piece. Still need to resolve the adjudication situation though.

Wait you can request to speak specifically with an adjudicator? I didn't know that. Is there a specific number to call for that or just the main EDD line?

Main line, but when you get through ask them to transfer you to the adjudication unit or leave a note for your adjudicator. It doesn't always work but it helped in my case. The faxing thing was huge - I faxed my termination paperwork and an email chain from my manager and my case was approved within a week of that.

the fax tip is underrated. edd's online message system is unreliable but fax submissions get into the physical file faster sometimes

preach. i have a full time job now but when i was on unemployment the amount of time i wasted trying to call edd was insane. like a part time job just trying to reach them

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I just couldn't afford to spend 4 hours a day redialing. Check out claimyr.com if you're hitting that wall, it got me connected when I was ready to give up on calling entirely.

might have to look into that seriously. never heard of it before

I actually wasn't aware about the CalJOBS requirement. I've been keeping a paper log but haven't set up CalJOBS yet. Is that going to be a problem?

You should set up your CalJOBS account as soon as possible at caljobs.ca.gov - it's technically required as part of UI eligibility. EDD doesn't always audit it immediately but not having it registered can create issues especially if your claim is already in adjudication. Register, upload your resume, and log your past job search activities there.

Seconding the CalJOBS setup urgently. During adjudication EDD sometimes does a more thorough eligibility review and missing CalJOBS registration can become an additional problem on top of the employer dispute.

That's really encouraging to hear about your mom. Did she have any issues with the employer or was her claim straightforward?

Her employer actually provided a nice layoff letter so there was no dispute. Her claim approved in maybe 10 days. Your adjudication situation sounds more complicated but the SS piece shouldn't add to that.

yeah the employer dispute is really the main thing here, not the social security. OP should focus energy on getting that documentation together

Good point. Standard Social Security retirement benefits (not SSI) generally don't have income limits that would be affected by UI, but it's always smart to verify with SSA directly since everyone's situation is slightly different.

I'm on standard retirement benefits not SSI so hopefully that simplifies things. But I'll call SSA as well just to confirm nothing on their end gets complicated.

Yes I've certified for three biweekly periods so far. All showing as pending. I believe it's all tied to the adjudication status from the employer dispute.

oh ok good. yeah then it sounds like adjudication is just the wait. keep certifying no matter what

Correct - never stop certifying during adjudication. Those payments are held pending resolution and then released in a lump sum once approved. Claimants who stop certifying during adjudication and then win their appeal end up losing weeks they should have been paid for.

Thank you for clarifying that. I definitely have been catastrophizing and treating pending adjudication as basically a denial. That's helpful to keep in mind.

This is true in my experience too. If you have ANY documentation showing you were laid off - even an informal email saying the position is being eliminated - that usually carries more weight than the employer just claiming you quit with no evidence.

i panicked so much during my adjudication period lol. wasted so much stress. got approved in the end

Thank you so much for summarizing everything. This thread has honestly been really helpful. I'm going to get my documentation together today and try to reach an EDD adjudicator. I'll also set up my CalJOBS account finally.

good luck OP. come back and let us know how it resolves

rooting for you. keep certifying every two weeks no matter what happens!

Worth noting that the WORK rules for Social Security retirement (earning limits before full retirement age) are separate from the UI question. Your dad should look into how working while collecting SS affects his SS benefits depending on his age - it's a different issue from the EDD UI eligibility question but still relevant for planning purposes.

oh that's a good point. he's past full retirement age so i think the earnings limits don't apply to him anymore but I'll make sure he understands the distinction

Seven weeks is a long time to wait. How did you keep yourself from losing your mind during that?

honestly just tried to stay busy applying for jobs and kept copies of everything. and i made peace with the fact that calling edd obsessively wasn't helping my anxiety lol. i did eventually use Claimyr to get through to an agent around week 5 just to confirm my claim was still active - that actually helped my anxiety more than anything knowing nothing had fallen through the cracks

The peace of mind from just confirming your file is intact during a long adjudication is genuinely underrated. Sometimes you just need to hear from a human that yes your claim exists and is processing.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is more complicated for UI purposes. If you're collecting SSDI it means SSA has determined you have a disability preventing substantial gainful employment - but UI requires you to certify that you're ABLE to work, AVAILABLE to work, and actively seeking work. These two requirements can contradict each other. The situation depends heavily on the individual's specific disability, whether they can legitimately certify they're able and available, and what type of work they're looking for. It's a gray area that really requires speaking with an EDD specialist.

yeah SSDI is really different from retirement SS for this purpose. the able and available requirement is the sticking point. not saying it's impossible but definitely more complicated than the retirement SS situation.

ok thanks. she has a partial disability and was working modified duty so maybe there's an argument she's still able and available for modified work. will have her call edd to ask

This is exactly the kind of outcome I'm hoping for. Did your neighbor have to do anything special to get it resolved or did it just process on its own?

He sent in a detailed written statement through the EDD portal explaining his side of the separation with specifics - dates, who told him he was being laid off, the reason given. That seemed to help move things along. The adjudicator also called him with a few questions which he said was actually a good sign - it meant they were actively working his case.

The phone call from an adjudicator is definitely a positive sign when you get it. It means they're in the active review phase not just the backlog queue. Make sure you answer unknown numbers OP because EDD adjudicators call from blocked or government numbers sometimes.

Some states do reduce UI benefits based on Social Security income - typically by 50% of the Social Security amount. So if you received $1,200/month in SS some states would reduce your weekly UI by the equivalent of $600/month. California eliminated this offset, so you receive your full calculated UI benefit regardless of SS income. It's one area where California's unemployment system is actually more claimant-friendly than many states.

wow ok so california is actually pretty good on this one. good to know for when I eventually retire

I will definitely update! Going to compile my documentation today, get CalJOBS set up, and attempt to reach an EDD adjudicator. Will report back either way.

yes please update us. these resolution stories help a lot of people who find this thread later through search

agreed. bookmarking this thread. best of luck to you - sounds like your case is solid