Does community college financial aid affect EDD unemployment eligibility? (FAFSA, grants, etc.)

yea dont report it! financial aid isnt income, its for school. i never reported mine and nothing happened

This is actually an important distinction. Financial aid like Pell Grants and student loans are NOT considered income for unemployment purposes. You don't need to report these when certifying for benefits as they're specifically for educational expenses. However, if you receive a stipend, work-study payment, or any compensation for actual work performed, THAT would count as income and needs to be reported. Also, as a student, make sure you're still able to work full-time and are actively seeking work while in school - EDD sometimes questions full-time students about availability for work.

I had this EXACT same issue last year and almost lost my benefits because of it!!! The EDD system is SO confusing and the agents all tell you different things depending who you talk to. My advice? CALL EDD directly and get it in writing somehow. I ended up having to do an eligibility interview because I reported my grant money one week (thinking I had to) and then stopped reporting it the next week (after a friend told me I didn't have to). The inconsistency flagged my account and it was a NIGHTMARE to sort out.

wait im confused. so ur saying if i get a pell grant i dont report it but if i get work study i do? what about scholarships? and what about the money that gets refunded to you after tuition is paid? cuz sometimes you get extra money back right?

Be careful about the full-time student status though. EDD can disqualify you if they determine your school schedule makes you unavailable for work. When I went back to school while on unemployment in 2023, I had to fill out a special form showing my class schedule and confirming I was still able and available to work full-time despite being in school. Make sure you can document that your classes don't prevent you from accepting suitable work in your field.

just curious why do u need both financial aid AND unemployment? isnt that kinda double dipping? no offense just asking

This whole system is designed to confuse people! My gf got hit with an overpayment notice for $11,400 because she didn't report some income from her side gig properly. Now they're taking 25% of her current benefits to pay it back. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and keep copies of all your certifications!

Congrats on going back to school! I did the same thing a few years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. Just make sure you're balancing your course load with your job search requirements. EDD requires you to be looking for work, so keep detailed records of all your job applications. I found it helpful to create a spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions, and any responses. This came in handy when EDD randomly selected me for a work search review.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my retail job and planning to start community college in the spring. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! One thing I'd add is to check if your community college has any specific programs for unemployed workers. Mine offers priority enrollment and additional support services through their workforce development office. They even have counselors who understand the EDD requirements and can help you plan your schedule to stay compliant. Might be worth reaching out to the financial aid office too - they deal with students on unemployment all the time and can give you guidance specific to your school's policies.

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago and can confirm what Omar said - financial aid like Pell Grants and student loans are NOT considered income for EDD purposes. I was super nervous about it too, but I spoke with an EDD rep who confirmed that educational financial aid is specifically excluded from reportable income. One thing that helped me feel more confident was getting documentation from my school's financial aid office that clearly stated what type of aid I was receiving (grants vs loans vs work-study). I kept copies of everything just in case EDD ever had questions. Also, make sure when you do your weekly certifications that you're consistent - don't report financial aid one week and then not report it the next, as that can trigger a review. Good luck with school! Going back at 33 takes guts and it's going to pay off in the long run.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my tech support job last month and just started my unemployment claim. I've been accepted to community college for the spring semester and was stressing about how to handle the financial aid reporting. Based on everything I'm reading here, it sounds like the key points are: 1. Pell grants and student loans = NOT reportable income 2. Work-study or any actual work = IS reportable 3. Keep detailed documentation of everything 4. Be consistent with your weekly certifications 5. Make sure your class schedule doesn't prevent you from being available for full-time work One question I have - has anyone dealt with emergency financial aid from the college (like those COVID relief funds they were giving out)? I might qualify for some additional emergency grants and wondering if those fall under the same rules as regular financial aid. Also want to echo what others have said about this community being so valuable. The EDD website and phone system are absolutely useless for getting clear answers on these kinds of questions!

Another thing to consider - if you're planning to take out student loans, make sure you understand the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans for unemployment purposes. Neither type counts as reportable income since they're both loans that need to be repaid, but it's good to keep the paperwork organized. Also, I'd recommend setting up a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for all your unemployment and school-related documents. Include your EDD determination letter, weekly certification confirmations, financial aid award letters, class schedules, and any correspondence with either EDD or your school. If you ever get audited or have to do an eligibility interview, having everything organized will save you a ton of stress. One last tip - consider reaching out to your local workforce development center (usually run by the county). They often have staff who are familiar with both EDD requirements and educational programs, and can sometimes provide additional resources or even help you navigate any issues that come up. Good luck with everything - you're making a smart investment in your future!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm literally in the exact same position - just got laid off from my manufacturing job and starting community college in January. I was so worried about messing up the financial aid reporting and accidentally getting hit with fraud charges or overpayments. From everything I'm reading here, it sounds like I can breathe a little easier about my Pell Grant not counting as income. But I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about getting documentation from the financial aid office and keeping everything organized. The horror stories about people getting massive overpayment notices are terrifying! One thing I wanted to add - my unemployment counselor at the local One-Stop center mentioned that they have workshops specifically for people who are going back to school while on benefits. Might be worth checking if your area has something similar. They apparently cover topics like how to balance job search requirements with class schedules and what to do if EDD questions your student status. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real information you can't get from the official websites!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this last year! I was super paranoid about reporting my financial aid correctly, so I actually called EDD three times and got three different answers from different reps (classic EDD, right?). Finally got connected to a supervisor who confirmed that Pell Grants, Cal Grants, and federal student loans are NOT reportable income for unemployment purposes. What really helped me was creating a simple chart for myself: - Pell Grant: NO (educational aid) - Student loans: NO (must be repaid) - Work-study job: YES (actual work performed) - Tutoring stipend: YES (compensation for services) I also kept a screenshot of the EDD handbook section that specifically mentions educational financial aid being excluded from income reporting. Having that visual reference made me feel way more confident during my weekly certifications. One heads up though - if you get any 1099 forms at the end of the year from your school (sometimes happens with certain types of aid), don't panic! Just because you get a tax form doesn't mean it was reportable income for EDD purposes during the year. The tax rules and EDD rules are different systems entirely. Good luck with school and finding your next job! Going back at 33 shows serious determination - you've got this!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. As someone who's been considering going back to school while on unemployment, reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly valuable. One thing I'd add - if you're worried about making mistakes with reporting, consider keeping a simple journal or notes app on your phone where you jot down what you report each week during certification. That way if EDD ever questions anything, you have a record of exactly what you reported and when. It's saved me from second-guessing myself multiple times! Also want to emphasize what others have said about documentation - I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep copies of EVERYTHING. Screenshots of your weekly certifications, copies of financial aid letters, even notes from phone calls with EDD (including date, time, and rep name if possible). The system is so confusing and inconsistent that having your own paper trail is essential. Best of luck with school, Ravi! It's never too late to invest in your education and future career prospects. You're making a smart move!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm in almost the exact same situation - got laid off from my job three weeks ago and just submitted my community college application for the spring semester. I was so stressed about how to handle the financial aid reporting, but reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity and confidence. The key takeaways that really stood out to me: - Pell Grants and student loans = NOT reportable as income - Any actual work (like work-study) = IS reportable - Document EVERYTHING and keep it organized - Be consistent with weekly certifications - Make sure class schedule allows for full-time work availability I especially appreciate the practical tips like creating a chart of what to report vs not report, keeping screenshots of EDD policy language, and maintaining a weekly journal of what you certify. These are the kinds of real-world strategies you just can't get from the official resources. One question I have - has anyone dealt with reporting their student status to EDD proactively, or do you just wait until they ask? I'm wondering if it's better to get ahead of any potential questions about being a student while on benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing systems!

This thread is absolutely golden! I'm in a very similar situation - got laid off from my restaurant job last month and just got approved for unemployment. I've been accepted to community college for the spring and was totally stressing about the financial aid reporting requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring, especially hearing from people like Paolo and Keisha who went through the exact same thing. The consensus seems clear that Pell Grants and student loans don't count as reportable income, but I love all the practical advice about documentation and staying consistent. I'm definitely going to implement several of the strategies mentioned here: - Create that visual chart of what to report vs not report - Set up a dedicated folder for all unemployment and school docs - Keep a weekly journal of what I certify - Get documentation from my school's financial aid office - Look into my local workforce development resources One thing I wanted to add - my community college has a "Students with Disabilities" office that also helps with navigating benefits while in school. Even if you don't have a disability, they sometimes have resources about maintaining various types of assistance programs while pursuing education. Might be worth checking if your school has similar support services. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and advice. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes all the difference when dealing with these confusing systems!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually starting community college next month while on unemployment and was having the same concerns about financial aid reporting. After reading through all these responses, I feel so much more confident about the process. What really stands out to me is how many different resources people have mentioned - the financial aid office, workforce development centers, One-Stop workshops, and even the Students with Disabilities office. It's clear that building a support network is just as important as understanding the reporting rules. I'm definitely going to follow the documentation strategies everyone has shared. The idea of creating a weekly certification journal and keeping screenshots of EDD policy language is brilliant. After seeing what happened with Diego's girlfriend and her $11,400 overpayment, I want to be absolutely meticulous about record-keeping. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with reporting changes in enrollment status mid-semester? Like if you had to drop a class or reduce your course load, do you need to notify EDD about that change? I want to be prepared in case my initial course schedule doesn't work out perfectly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating these complex systems that the official resources explain so poorly!