EDD application asking for previous employer info - Will my husband get benefits from both companies?
My husband's current employer told him to file for unemployment due to slow work for the past two weeks. I'm helping him with the application now but I'm stuck on a question about his previous job. The EDD application is asking for hours worked and gross pay from a company he left last year, in addition to his current employer's info. Does this mean they'll calculate benefits based on both companies? Or should we just input his current employer's information? I'm worried if I enter the wrong info it might delay his claim or affect his benefit amount. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? What's the correct way to handle multiple employers on an EDD application?
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Yuki Kobayashi
You absolutely need to include ALL employment information for the past 18 months. EDD uses your highest earning quarter during your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Leaving out previous employers could result in a lower benefit amount or even disqualification for misreporting. It doesn't mean he'll get separate payments from each employer - it's all combined into one calculation.
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AstroAce
•Thank you! That makes sense. So even though his hours were just reduced at his current job, they still need the previous employer's info for the calculation. I was worried it might complicate things!
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Carmen Vega
when my bf filed last yr they made him list ALL jobs from the past 18 months... its normal so dont worry!! they just use it to figure out how much $$$ you get
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Andre Rousseau
Wait so is this a partial unemployment situation? If his hours were just reduced but not eliminated completely, that's different than regular unemployment. Make sure you're reporting any hours he DOES work each week when certifying. My cousin got hit with an overpayment because he didn't report partial hours correctly. The whole system is designed to trip people up I swear!
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AstroAce
•Yes! They cut his hours completely for the past two weeks, but they said work might pick up again soon. So I guess it is partial unemployment? I didn't know there was a difference. If he gets called back to work, we'll definitely report his hours when certifying. Thanks for the warning about your cousin's situation!
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Andre Rousseau
•The EDD website is super confusing about this. When he certifies every two weeks, there's a question about whether he worked or refused work - make sure to report ANY hours worked and the gross amount (before taxes). They'll reduce his weekly benefit amount based on what he earned that week. It's actually better than nothing when work is slow!
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Zoe Stavros
This happens to me every winter in construction. Yes, you have to report ALL employers from the last 18 months. This is how EDD calculates your base period and weekly benefit amount. They'll look at your highest quarter of earnings. Also, since your husband's employer told him to apply, make sure they aren't marking it as a "voluntary quit" when EDD contacts them. That could cause problems. Have your husband confirm with his boss that they're reporting it as a temporary layoff or reduction in hours.
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AstroAce
•Thank you for the tip about making sure they don't mark it as voluntary! I'll have him talk to his boss tomorrow to confirm how they're reporting it. That's not something I would have thought about.
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Jamal Harris
My wife had the same question last month! You definitely need to list all employers. EDD looks at earnings over a specific period to determine benefits. Good luck getting through the application process though - took us FOREVER to get approved and then we couldn't get anyone on the phone when we had questions.
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GalaxyGlider
•If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in the same situation last month - couldn't get past the "too many callers" message for days. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Website is claimyr.com - seriously saved me from pulling my hair out when I needed to ask questions about my previous employers affecting my claim.
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Mei Wong
Make sure ur entering the RIGHT wage info!!!! I messed this up on my application & they flagged my account for an eligibility interview which took WEEKS to resolve. Double check pay stubs if u have them. And yes u need ALL jobs from past 18 months not just current 1
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AstroAce
•Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure to double check all the pay information. Luckily my husband keeps all his pay stubs organized so we should have accurate numbers.
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Liam Sullivan
Is it a seasonal layoff? Because that's what happens in my industry every year, and we just cycle on and off unemployment. I've gone through this process like 6 times now lol. But yeah, you always list all employers from the base period. The system is actually designed for people who move between jobs or have multiple employers.
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AstroAce
•It's not seasonal - he works in manufacturing and they're just having a slow period right now. They said they expect to call him back in a week or two when new orders come in. Sounds like your situation is similar though!
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Yuki Kobayashi
One more important thing: since this sounds like a temporary work reduction, make sure your husband is available for work and actively looking for work while receiving benefits. EDD requires this, and they may ask for proof of job search activities when he certifies for benefits every two weeks. Even though his employer plans to bring him back, he technically needs to be looking for work to qualify for benefits in the meantime.
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AstroAce
•That's good to know! I wasn't sure if he needed to look for other work since this is supposed to be temporary. I'll make sure he keeps track of any job search activities just in case EDD asks for proof. Thank you!
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Natasha Volkov
Just went through this exact same situation with my sister last fall! She was stressed about the multiple employer thing too, but it's totally standard. The key thing is to be super accurate with the dates and wages - EDD will cross-reference everything with employer records anyway. Also, keep copies of everything you submit because if there are any discrepancies later, you'll want documentation to back up what you reported. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment, but that was pretty typical timing. Hope your husband gets back to full hours soon!
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