Can you go to school and collect unemployment in California EDD?

So does the California Training Benefits thing add more weeks on top of my regular 26, or is it just that I don't have to job search while I collect the same amount?

The training program can extend your benefits past what you'd normally get, but you have to request it before your 16th week of benefits - there's a deadline on that. The weekly amount stays the same though, it doesn't change what you get per week.

Also worth knowing - if your classes are in the evening or on weekends and you're genuinely still available for full-time work during normal business hours, that's a different situation than if you're in class Monday through Friday all day. The availability question is really about whether school would stop you from taking a job.

Evening classes - that's actually really useful. I was thinking about doing two evening classes too so this is encouraging. Did the agent say anything about whether you had to report being in school when you certify?

She didn't say I needed to report class enrollment specifically, but said to always answer the certification questions honestly about whether anything changed about my availability. If your schedule is genuinely still open for full-time work, you answer accordingly.

This is the part that trips people up honestly. The certification question asks if you were able and available for work - it doesn't ask "did you take any classes." So the answer to that question depends on your actual availability, not just whether you're enrolled somewhere.

Exactly this. My sister enrolled in a certification program while on unemployment and nobody said a word - but she was taking classes on Saturday mornings only and applying for jobs all week. It's the availability piece that matters, not school itself.

The person above is on the right track but I want to gently clarify - what matters isn't what actually happened to your sister, it's whether you could genuinely accept full-time work during whatever hours an employer might need you. If the answer is yes, the classes aren't the issue.

wait so if you have class from like 9-11am on two days a week but you'd be available the rest of the time, that's probably okay?? I've been terrified to even look at the community college catalog

So if I'm at week 6 right now I still have time to apply for the CTB thing if I wanted to do a full program. How do I actually apply for that? Do I just call EDD or is there a form?

You'd contact EDD to start that process - either through a UI Online message or by phone. They'll tell you what documentation they need. The key is not waiting too long given that week 16 cutoff.

I tried to ask about CTB through Ask EDD and got a generic response that didn't really answer anything. Phone ended up being the only way to get a real answer on my situation.

This is a good way to explain it. The question on certification is basically asking "are you in a position to take a job this week" not "were you free every single hour.

Right, and the classic problem case is someone doing a full-time day program who literally couldn't start a job if hired because they'd be in class all day. That's the situation where EDD could say you weren't really available.

okay but what if you have a class that conflicts with ONE shift option but you're available for literally every other schedule?? like if a job required weekday mornings only and you have a class then

That's a little scary. So EDD can find out even if you don't volunteer the info?

Employers can respond to EDD's claim questionnaire and mention things like "they told us they were going back to school." Not saying it always happens but it can. Being transparent about your schedule and genuinely available is the safer position.

This happened on my claim too except I'd told EDD myself. Having the documentation of my actual class times helped during the adjudication process because it showed I was available during regular business hours.

Are you going to apply for CTB or just do part-time evening stuff?

I'm leaning toward evening and weekend classes first semester so I can keep job searching without worrying about it. If I get deeper into it I'll look at CTB.

Part-time evening was what I did and it was fine. Had to be really honest with myself about whether I'd actually be available for a job, and I genuinely was, so I kept certifying as normal and had no issues.

wait they put your whole claim in adjudication just because you enrolled in school?? that seems extreme

In my case the bootcamp was 9am-5pm Monday through Friday - so yeah, there's no way I was available for full-time work during those hours. EDD was correct to question it honestly. The evening switch fixed the problem.

Adjudication just means EDD is reviewing eligibility - it's not an automatic denial. It's their process for looking into questions about whether someone meets the requirements. Getting it resolved quickly (like by switching schedules as the person above did) is the right approach.

Yep, the only thing that removes the work search requirement is CTB approval. Otherwise you're still expected to be actively looking while doing your coursework.

This is good to know. I hadn't thought about whether school would affect the job search piece - I'd have to be doing both simultaneously without CTB.

Exactly. And honestly, two evening classes plus a job search is very doable. People do it all the time. It's the "I'm in a full-time program, can I pause job searching" scenario that doesn't work without CTB approval.

I did register on CalJOBS already - got the DE 8405 and did it within the first couple weeks. Good to know that doesn't change with school enrollment.

Good, that's one less thing to worry about. The main things are keeping your CalJOBS profile current, doing your work searches, and making sure your class schedule doesn't take you out of the available-for-work column.

Does CalJOBS itself have any way to log your work search activities? I've been keeping a spreadsheet but wasn't sure if EDD wanted it in a specific place.

That's really helpful, thank you. Spreadsheet it is then.

i use the notes app on my phone lol, quick entry every time I apply somewhere. it's not fancy but it works

I actually do have federal withholding set up already. And yeah, community college tuition is pretty manageable so I think the math works if I keep the benefits going.

Community college is probably the ideal setup for this honestly - low cost, flexible scheduling, evening options. Much lower stakes than a full-time university program when it comes to the availability question.

That's exactly the right reframe. EDD isn't penalizing you for self-improvement - they're checking whether you're genuinely in the labor market. If you are, two evening classes a week is not going to be the thing that derails your claim.

okay I'm going to look at the spring schedule then. I'll make sure my classes are evenings and I'll keep job searching like normal. I feel way less freaked out now

Just make sure your answer on each certification is honest based on your actual situation that week. If something changes - like you add more classes and suddenly your schedule gets complicated - that's when to call EDD and ask before assuming.

This is the scenario I'm looking at basically exactly. Good to hear it worked out without any complications.

The only thing I'd add is don't tell your former employer you're going to school when they contact you - EDD reaches out to them too and you don't want them reporting something back that creates questions about your availability.

To be fair, EDD does ask employers about why someone left work, not necessarily about what they're doing now. But being careful about what you share isn't bad advice.

This is an important point. EDD has discretion in what it approves for CTB. A liberal arts degree for someone who's been an accountant might not fly the same way a healthcare credential would. Calling EDD to discuss your specific program before applying for CTB is the smart move.

Used Claimyr to get through to EDD when I was trying to sort out exactly this question on my own claim - whether my medical billing certificate program would qualify for CTB. The agent pulled up my claim, confirmed the program was likely to qualify, and told me what documentation to submit. I still needed to wait for EDD's formal decision but at least I knew what to expect.

That's the kind of answer you can only get with your actual claim in front of someone. Generic answers online can't tell you whether your specific program and your specific work history make CTB the right path.

Good point about updating the resume. Mine was still showing my old industry and I realized if EDD ever looked at it, they might wonder why I wasn't finding work in a field that's hiring.

Exactly - an active, updated CalJOBS profile is part of being genuinely available. Treat it seriously even if it feels like busywork.

the live chat hours are annoyingly short but good to know that exists. i always forget about it

I've tried the live chat once and got cut off. The phone might honestly be easier for the kind of question I have about how my specific class schedule would be viewed.

For anything where the answer depends on your actual claim details - which weeks, what your availability looks like, whether your work history qualifies for something - the phone agent is the only one who can give you a real answer.

The three-week processing window for new claims is normal and trips a lot of people up. The first certification usually covers your waiting week plus one paid week, so you're not getting three weeks of pay right away even once things start moving.

Right, the waiting week is real - first eligible week is unpaid. I didn't know that until it happened and I thought money was missing from my payment.

EDD's rules are really about your availability for work, not about what format your learning takes. A self-paced online program with no fixed hours probably doesn't affect your availability at all since you can study whenever - including evenings and weekends. The concern would only arise if the time you're dedicating to it somehow prevents you from taking a job.

Agreed. EDD isn't going to find out you're doing a Coursera course unless you tell them, and there's really nothing to tell if it's not affecting your availability. The question you answer on certification is about whether you were able and available for work, not about what websites you visited.

okay that makes way more sense. I was worried about nothing then lol

This is probably the most useful summary in this whole thread. The honest answer is the right answer, and the honest answer depends on your actual situation, not just the fact that you're enrolled somewhere.

Exactly. And if you're genuinely unsure how to answer something on your certification, contact EDD before certifying - not after. Getting it right upfront is a lot easier than dealing with a Notice of Overpayment later.

That overpayment point is real. EDD can go back and determine you weren't eligible for weeks you already collected, and then you owe it back. Asking before certifying incorrectly is always the right call.