Do I need to report Social Security survivor benefits on my EDD claim? Will it reduce my weekly amount?

i think u gotta report everything. better safe than sorry

You need to report Social Security survivor benefits when you file for unemployment in California. However, it's important to know that Social Security benefits (including survivor benefits) do NOT reduce your unemployment benefits in California. Unlike some other states, California doesn't consider Social Security when calculating your weekly benefit amount. Your UI benefits will be based solely on your earned wages during your base period. Make sure to report the benefits accurately on your application to avoid any potential overpayment issues later. But rest assured, your survivor benefits won't impact your weekly unemployment amount.

when I was on unemplymnt last year I got mixed advice from 2 diff EDD people!! first one told me report everything second one said only report WORK income not benefit income it was so frustrating

I went through this EXACT situation last year after my spouse passed and I lost my job within 3 months (worst timing ever). I reported my SS survivor benefits on the initial application where it asks about income sources. My weekly benefit amount was still calculated based only on my previous work wages - I got $450/week which was the max at that time. So yes, report it, but NO it shouldn't reduce your unemployment at all in California. Different states have different rules though!!! PS - when you certify every two weeks, you don't need to list the SS benefits as income on those forms. That's only for work income or severance.

I'm really confused now...my brother-in-law said his retirement check DID reduce his unemployment amount last year??? Something about "deductible income

The reporting requirements can be super confusing! When I was trying to figure this out a few months ago, I spent DAYS trying to contact EDD for clarification and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD agent who confirmed that Social Security doesn't affect unemployment amounts in California. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with was really helpful and explained exactly what needs to be reported and what doesn't. Saved me a lot of stress!

IMPORTANT: Make sure you're answering the question exactly as it's written! The EDD application should ask something like "Are you receiving or expecting to receive payments from a claim or income from any source other than employment?" - for THAT question, yes, list your Social Security. But when it asks about deductible income, Social Security isn't included.

Here's the official answer: You must REPORT Social Security survivor benefits on your initial application, but they are NOT considered deductible income that would reduce your weekly benefit amount. This is different from some other types of income (like severance pay or pension from a base period employer) which can reduce your benefits. When you certify every two weeks, you only need to report income from work or self-employment, not your ongoing Social Security payments. Your unemployment benefit amount will be calculated based solely on your earnings during the base period (typically the 12-15 months before you filed your claim).

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you're filling out the initial application and it asks about other income sources, make sure to keep documentation of your Social Security survivor benefits (like your award letter or recent statements). Even though they won't reduce your unemployment benefits, EDD sometimes asks for verification of reported income sources during the review process. Having that paperwork ready can help avoid delays in processing your claim. Good luck with your application!

I've been through a similar situation with survivor benefits and unemployment. One thing to keep in mind is that while California doesn't reduce your UI benefits for Social Security, some people get confused because the federal tax implications can be different. Your unemployment benefits are fully taxable, but only a portion of your Social Security survivor benefits may be taxable depending on your total income. Just something to consider when planning for tax season - you might want to have taxes withheld from your unemployment payments if you're not already doing that. The EDD website has a form you can submit to have taxes automatically deducted if you prefer.