Can you get partial EDD benefits with reduced hours after store closure demotion?

Yes, she would likely qualify for partial unemployment benefits. When your girlfriend reports her reduced earnings during certification, EDD will calculate a partial benefit. The basic formula is that the first $25 or 25% of her wages (whichever is greater) doesn't count against her weekly benefit amount, then the rest is subtracted. For example, if her weekly benefit amount would be $450, and she earns $300 per week at the new job, they would disregard about $75 (25% of $300) and then subtract the remaining $225 from her weekly benefit. So she'd get about $225 in partial benefits ($450 - $225 = $225) plus her wages. She should definitely apply since she's experiencing a reduction in hours due to lack of work at her original position. Make sure she explains the situation clearly on her application.

this happened to my cousin last yr she got laid off from target and took a job at kohls with way less hrs. she got partial unemployment for like 4 months. they make u report everythin u earn each week when u certify and they do the math. its actually not bad.

Your girlfriend definitely qualifies for partial UI benefits. The key is that she's experiencing a reduction in hours and wages through no fault of her own (store closure). Here's how she should handle it: 1. File a regular UI claim stating she's still working but with reduced hours 2. During certification, accurately report all wages earned (before taxes) 3. Report wages for the week she earned them, not when she gets paid 4. Be prepared to provide documentation of her previous wages and hours One important thing - EDD has a formula where they deduct a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. In 2025, they don't count the first 25% of your earnings, then subtract the remainder from your weekly benefit amount. The other crucial point is that she must be available and looking for full-time work while collecting partial benefits. EDD may ask what efforts she's making to find work with hours/pay comparable to her original position.

DONT DO IT!!!! i did the same thing and it was a NIGHTMARE. my employer reported my earnings wrong and edd overpaid me by $2,800 which i had to pay back!!! spent 4 months fighting with them to fix it but they wouldnt listen. tell her to take the severance and full unemployment - WAYYYY less headache!!!

If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask about your specific situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar position with partial unemployment questions last month and couldn't get through on the regular line at all. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I spoke with was actually super helpful and explained exactly how the partial benefit calculation would work in my specific situation with varying hours each week. Definitely worth it to get the correct information directly from EDD.

ur gf needs to b careful, they might deny her if they think she voluntarily reduced her hours by taking the demotion instead of severance. edd can be SUPER picky about this stuff. i would tell her to document EVERYTHING showing the store is closing and she had no choice

To clarify about the work search requirements with partial unemployment: Yes, technically EDD still requires you to search for work even with partial benefits. However, if your girlfriend explains in her application that she accepted reduced hours from the same employer due to a store closure, they may approve what's called a "work search waiver" or determine that her current reduced-hour job satisfies the requirement. If they don't waive it, she would need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and document them. She should be upfront with EDD about her situation and follow their guidance specifically for her case. As for the earnings calculation, here's a concrete example based on what you shared: Assume her weekly benefit amount would be $450 Reduced hours mean she now earns roughly $600 per biweekly period instead of $900 So that's about $300 per week she's earning EDD would exclude $75 (25% of her earnings) Then subtract the remaining $225 from her weekly benefit She would receive $225 in partial unemployment plus her $300 in wages That's $525 total weekly compared to the $450 she'd get on full unemployment So financially, taking the reduced-hour position with partial benefits would likely be slightly better than full unemployment.

@anxious_response she just applied regular and then when she certified every 2 weeks she put in her hours/pay from the new job. super easy actually. just make sure ur completely honest about what u earn each week!!

I went through this exact situation last year! My job cut my hours from 40 to 25 per week. Applied for partial unemployment and it worked perfectly. Just make sure your girlfriend keeps super accurate records of her hours and pay at the new position. I literally took screenshots of my timecard each week just to be safe. One weird thing - my benefit amount fluctuated a LOT week to week because my hours weren't consistent. Some weeks I'd get like $180 in partial benefits, other weeks only $75. It all depends on exactly what you earn that specific week. Also, tell her to expect at least 3-4 weeks before she sees any money. The EDD system is soooo slooow to process partial claims for some reason.

@system_critic Technically yes, they require you to look for work, but when I certified I just put that I was looking for full-time work to replace my reduced-hour position. They never questioned it or asked for details. I think as long as you're working and reporting wages, they don't scrutinize the work search stuff as much as when you're fully unemployed.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I showed my girlfriend this thread and she decided to take the assistant manager position with reduced hours AND apply for partial unemployment. We're going to document everything carefully about the store closure to make it clear this wasn't a voluntary reduction. She's going to apply this weekend and I'll update again once we see how it goes. Fingers crossed the partial benefits help make up most of the difference!