Can you quit a job and still collect unemployment in California EDD?

Wait really? So the hour reduction alone might count as good cause? They cut me from 40 hours to around 24 which is a huge deal financially.

yes a significant pay/hours cut is definitely one of the qualifying reasons, EDD considers it a material change in employment conditions

Correct. California EDD specifically lists substantial reduction in hours or pay as a qualifying good cause reason. A 40% cut would very likely meet that threshold. Make sure you document when the change happened and keep any written communication about it.

Did it take longer to get approved compared to being laid off? I'm worried about the gap in income.

Yeah it took a few extra weeks for me because they had to investigate the circumstances. My claim went into adjudication for about 3 weeks before I got approved. Just be prepared for that possibility.

same here took forever but i did get approved eventually

I've been trying to call EDD for days and keep getting the 'we cannot take your call' message. Going to check that out thanks

does that actually work?? i've been trying to reach edd for 2 weeks straight

It worked for me. Got through within a couple hours vs the literal days I spent trying to call on my own. Definitely worth trying if you need to speak to someone before filing.

This is terrifying but really helpful. So I should like email HR about my concerns before I quit to create a paper trail?

YES exactly. Email is perfect because it's timestamped and documented. Even if HR doesn't respond the sent email shows you raised the issue. Also keep copies of your pay stubs showing the hour reduction.

This is really important advice. California EDD adjudication for voluntary quits heavily relies on documented evidence. Written complaints, emails to management, HR records - all of this supports your good cause claim significantly.

had no idea about this paper trail thing, this thread is super educational

wait so 20% reduction counts? my hours got cut from 38 to 32 hours that might qualify then

It's evaluated case by case but a reduction from 38 to 32 hours is about 15-16% which might be borderline. California EDD looks at both the percentage AND the dollar impact. If you were making minimum wage that cut could be significant enough. Worth filing and making your case.

also worth noting the employer can contest it and then EDD has to investigate which is why documentation matters so much like the previous comment said

Yeah that's exactly what I was told! Seems like a lot of people don't realize good cause exists.

employers probably want it that way tbh, keeps people from leaving bad situations

Constructive discharge - I've heard that term but didn't know it applied to unemployment. My situation kind of feels like that honestly, like they cut my hours hoping I'd just leave.

That's actually a textbook constructive discharge scenario if true. You'd want to document that pattern - the cuts happening with no business justification, no explanation given to you, etc. Might be worth consulting with an employment attorney before you quit, many do free consultations.

Really good point on constructive discharge. California labor law is actually quite protective here and EDD adjudicators are familiar with this concept.

Did you have to submit any documents with your explanation or just write what happened?

they sent me a form called the Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed (DE 1101CZ) and my employer got one too. I just filled mine out completely and attached screenshots of my old pay stubs vs new ones showing the difference. Pretty straightforward actually

No, filing and being denied does not create any debt. You only get an overpayment situation if you were APPROVED, collected benefits, and then EDD later determined you weren't eligible. Simply being denied means you just don't receive benefits - nothing to pay back.

oh wow ok that makes me feel better about at least trying to file. thank you

Correct. And even in the case of overpayments caused by EDD error rather than claimant fraud, there are waiver processes available. But for a simple denial on a voluntary quit claim, no financial liability at all.

That's really reassuring to hear from someone on the other side of this. My employer definitely has motive to downplay the situation.

Just make sure your documentation predates your quit date. Emails you send to HR after resigning look like you're creating a paper trail after the fact. Do it before you give notice.

THIS. I learned this the hard way. Do the documentation before you quit not after.

second this, i had a question about my adjudication status and spent 3 days trying to call before finding a way through

Good to know. I'll definitely want to follow up once I file to make sure everything is in order.

Yes! This is actually an important distinction. California EDD has a partial unemployment benefit where you can collect UI even while still employed if your hours have been drastically reduced. You'd report your reduced weekly earnings when certifying and EDD adjusts your benefit amount. This might actually be better than quitting in your situation - you'd keep the job and collect partial benefits while job searching.

wait seriously?? nobody told me this. so I don't have to actually quit to get something from EDD?

Correct. Partial unemployment is very underutilized. If your hours were reduced you can file a claim without separating from employment. California EDD will calculate benefits based on the difference between your reduced earnings and your benefit amount. Worth looking into before you make any decisions about quitting.

TIL about partial unemployment, this thread keeps giving

The job search requirement while collecting California EDD benefits is real but it's reasonable - typically 3 job search activities per week. If you're dealing with burnout and health stuff you can talk to your doctor about whether your condition qualifies for any accommodation or alternative program. California also has a program called SDI (State Disability Insurance) if a medical condition is preventing you from working.

i didn't know about SDI being an option if you're too burnt out to work. does a doctor have to certify it?

Yes SDI requires a doctor to certify that you have a medical condition preventing work. Burnout itself can qualify if a doctor documents it as anxiety, depression, etc. It's a separate program from UI but worth knowing about.

You should file as soon as possible after your last day of work. California EDD allows backdating in limited circumstances but generally your claim effective date is the week you file. Waiting even a few weeks means you could be giving up benefit weeks permanently. File within a day or two of your last day.

good to know, I waited like 3 weeks when I filed once and definitely lost some weeks because of it

Thanks for asking this - I was going to wait until I had everything figured out but sounds like I should file quickly even if I'm still gathering documentation

Four months is a long time. Did you have any income during that period or were you completely without?

I had to take a temp job to survive during the wait. Which created its own complications with the EDD claim honestly. It was a whole thing. But I did eventually get back pay for all the weeks I should have been approved for, so it was worth fighting.

The appeals process through the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB) can take time but as this person mentioned you do get paid retroactively for all weeks you certified during the appeal period IF you win. So keep filing your weekly certifications even while appealing.

Okay I keep seeing Claimyr mentioned and I think I need to just try it. Have been completely unable to get through to EDD on my own.

was skeptical but my sister used it last month and said it worked. she had a voluntary quit situation too

The EDD agent I spoke to specifically said that the more detail and documentation you include upfront the less likely the claim is to get stuck in extended adjudication. That tip alone was worth making the call.

Good luck!! Sounds like you did everything right. The documentation makes a huge difference.

You handled this so much smarter than I did. Rooting for you, keep us posted

The fact that the agent said your documentation looked solid is a really good sign. In my experience when they say that it usually means approval is coming.

Everything crossed for you. Make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications throughout the adjudication period so you don't lose any weeks if you get approved!