Do I need to report EBT/CalFresh benefits to EDD when certifying for unemployment?

No, you don't need to report EBT/CalFresh benefits to EDD when certifying for unemployment. They're completely separate programs. EBT is considered public assistance and not income. When EDD asks about income during certification, they're looking for actual earnings from work, part-time jobs, self-employment, etc. Food assistance doesn't count as income for unemployment purposes.

i got both ebt and ui last year its fine dont worry bout it

You're asking about two completely different government programs that don't interact with each other. EDD (unemployment) wants to know about income sources that might reduce your unemployment benefits - like part-time work, 1099 gigs, disability payments, etc. EBT/CalFresh is a food assistance program and isn't considered income. However, when you apply for EBT, you DO need to report your unemployment benefits as income to the CalFresh office, as this could affect your food benefit amount. So it works one way but not the other - unemployment doesn't care about your food benefits, but food benefits program cares about your unemployment income.

WRONG INFORMATION being given here!!! You absolutely MUST report ALL benefits to EDD!!! My cousin didn't report her disability payments and got hit with a HUGE overpayment and fraud investigation!! Don't listen to these people telling you it's fine!!! EDD will find out and you'll be sorry!!!

Hey there, I went through the exact same situation last year. Lost my retail job and applied for both programs. The important thing to understand is that EDD and CalFresh are completely separate programs with different reporting requirements. When certifying for unemployment, you DON'T need to report your EBT benefits. EDD only wants to know about actual income (wages, part-time work, gig work, etc.) that might reduce your unemployment benefits. BUT, for your CalFresh application, you DO need to report your unemployment benefits, as that counts as income for determining your food benefit eligibility and amount. Hope that helps! The whole process is confusing with all the different government programs.

Off topic but has anyone else been trying to call EDD about certification issues and can't get through? I've been calling for DAYS and either get disconnected or told they're at max capacity. So frustrating!!

when i was gettin unemployment i was on ebt to. never told edd nothing abt my ebt and never had problems so ur good

To summarize what everyone has correctly said: 1. You do NOT need to report EBT/CalFresh to EDD when certifying for unemployment. 2. You DO need to report your unemployment benefits to CalFresh/EBT program. These are separate assistance programs with different reporting requirements. EBT is not considered income for unemployment purposes. The income questions on your biweekly certification are asking about actual earnings from work or other income sources that would reduce your unemployment benefits.

Just want to add that I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my job at a local restaurant. I was really stressed about the whole process too, but everyone here is giving you solid advice. EBT/CalFresh benefits are NOT income that you need to report to EDD during your biweekly certifications. The key thing to remember is that EDD is specifically asking about income that would offset your unemployment benefits - like if you worked part-time, did freelance work, got disability payments, etc. Food assistance is a completely different category and doesn't reduce your unemployment benefits. I've been collecting both for months now with zero issues. Just make sure you're honest about any actual work income when you certify, and you'll be fine. Good luck with your job search!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - just applied for unemployment after losing my job at a local grocery store and also applying for CalFresh. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was getting really anxious about the certification questions too, especially since I keep seeing conflicting information online. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people who've actually been through this process that EBT benefits don't need to be reported to EDD. The distinction between "income" and "assistance" makes so much more sense now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in navigating all these different government programs at once!

I've been on both programs for about 8 months now after getting laid off from my manufacturing job. Can confirm what everyone else is saying - you absolutely do NOT report EBT/CalFresh benefits when certifying for unemployment. I was super paranoid about this too at first and even called EDD to double-check (after waiting on hold for 3 hours!). The rep confirmed that food assistance is not considered reportable income for unemployment purposes. The only things you need to report during certification are actual earnings from work - like if you picked up a part-time job, did some gig work, freelance income, etc. EBT is assistance, not income. Two totally different things in the eyes of these programs. Just stay honest about any work you do while collecting, and you'll be fine. The system is confusing enough without overthinking the parts that are actually straightforward. Hope your job search goes well!

I went through this exact same worry when I lost my restaurant job last year! The short answer is no - you do NOT need to report EBT/CalFresh benefits when certifying for unemployment. They're completely separate programs and EBT is considered food assistance, not income. I was so anxious about this too because the certification questions can be confusing. When EDD asks about "income" during your biweekly certification, they're specifically asking about money you earned from work (part-time jobs, gig work, freelancing, etc.) or other income sources that would reduce your unemployment benefits. Food stamps don't fall into that category at all. I collected both benefits for several months with zero issues. Just make sure you report your unemployment income to CalFresh when you apply/recertify for food benefits, since that does count as income for determining your EBT amount. But the other way around? Nope, EDD doesn't care about your food assistance. You're being smart to ask before certifying - shows you want to do everything right. But you can relax on this one! Focus your energy on the job search and don't stress about this part of the process.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation after being laid off from my retail job two weeks ago. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly reassuring! I was honestly terrified that I might accidentally commit fraud or something by not reporting my EBT benefits, but it sounds like I was overthinking it. Just to make sure I understand correctly - when I do my biweekly certification and it asks about income, I only need to report actual money I earned from work or other income sources, not food assistance benefits. And if I do pick up a small part-time job while collecting unemployment, THAT'S what I need to report, not my CalFresh benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually navigated both systems. The whole unemployment process is stressful enough without worrying about accidentally breaking rules you didn't even know existed!

I was in a very similar situation about 8 months ago when I lost my job at a tech startup. The anxiety about potentially messing up your benefits is totally understandable, but everyone here has given you accurate information. To put it simply: EBT/CalFresh benefits are NOT income that you report to EDD during certification. They're food assistance, which is completely different from income in the government's eyes. When EDD asks about income during your biweekly certification, they want to know about actual earnings - wages from part-time work, freelance gigs, disability payments, etc. - things that would potentially reduce your unemployment benefits. I collected both unemployment and EBT for about 6 months with zero issues. Never reported my food benefits to EDD, and it was never a problem. The key is understanding that these are separate programs with different purposes and requirements. Just make sure you DO report your unemployment income to the CalFresh office when you apply or recertify for food benefits, since that counts as household income for determining your EBT amount. But the reverse isn't true - EDD doesn't need to know about your food assistance. You're asking all the right questions and clearly want to do everything correctly. That's the right approach, but you can stop worrying about this particular issue. Good luck with your job search!

I just went through this same situation about 3 months ago after getting laid off from my job at a local clinic. The stress and confusion around these different programs is so real! Reading through all these responses brings back memories of how anxious I was about potentially messing something up. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - you absolutely do NOT need to report EBT/CalFresh benefits when certifying for unemployment with EDD. I was terrified about this too and spent way too many sleepless nights worrying about it. But after months of collecting both benefits with zero issues, I can confirm that food assistance and unemployment are treated as completely separate things. The way I think about it now is: EDD wants to know about money you EARNED (like from work) that might reduce your unemployment benefits. EBT is assistance you RECEIVED to help with food costs - totally different category. When you're doing your biweekly certifications, just focus on reporting any actual work income, and don't stress about the food benefits. One tip that helped me stay organized was keeping a simple calendar where I marked my certification dates and noted if I had any work income to report. Made the whole process feel less overwhelming when everything was written down clearly. You're going to get through this! The fact that you're asking these questions shows you want to do everything right, which is exactly the attitude that will help you navigate this whole process successfully.