EDD application confusion - on administrative leave but can't find right option besides 'quit' or 'laid off'

You should select 'laid off' since you're involuntarily not working. In the additional details section, explain that you're on administrative leave pending investigation. Make sure to note that your employer directed you to apply for UI. When they contact your employer for verification, the investigation situation will be clarified. The important thing is that you didn't voluntarily leave your job.

I went thru almost exactlyt the same thing last yr!! My company put me on leave for 3 months during an audit. I picked 'laid off' and then wrote in the comments box that I was on ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. Got approved but took like 5 weeks. Make sure u keep certifying every 2 weeks even if ur not getting paid yet!!

This is actually a common situation that comes up. You should select 'laid off' and then in the explanation section clarify that you are on administrative leave pending investigation. Your situation would typically qualify under what EDD considers a 'temporary layoff' since you are not working through no fault of your own. When you certify for benefits, make sure to answer truthfully that you are still technically employed but not receiving wages. EDD will likely schedule an eligibility interview to get more details about your specific circumstance. Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an EDD representative? Their service connects you with EDD much faster than calling yourself. I used them when I had a similar issue last year and got through within 20 minutes instead of days of calling. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

I think everyone here is giving BAD advice!! If ur still technically employed you CAN'T get unemployment!!! My cousin tried this and got DENIED and had to pay back money. Administrative leave is NOT the same as being laid off and EDD knows the difference!!

Dont stress too much about the exact category - the EDD system is old and doesn't have options for every possible scenario. Just pick the closest option and explain your specific situation in the details section. They'll sort it out during processing.

I used to work in HR and we had employees file for UI during administrative leaves all the time. It's absolutely allowed as long as the leave is unpaid and was initiated by the employer. The key here is to document everything clearly. Save any emails or notices about your leave. Keep a log of all conversations with HR. When you have your eligibility interview (you'll probably get scheduled for one), have these documents ready. Also, when you certify every two weeks, make sure you indicate you're still attached to an employer but not working or receiving wages. Don't say you're looking for other work if you expect to return to your current job.

i had a similar thing happen and i just put laid off cuz thats basically what it is if ur not getting paid. nobody from edd ever contacted my work they just approved it after like 3 weeks

To answer your latest question - yes, you should still be actively looking for work while collecting UI benefits, even if you expect to return to your job. This is a requirement for receiving benefits. Document your job search activities for each week you certify. If your administrative leave ends and your employer calls you back, you can simply report that you've returned to work when you certify.

One more thing - when you do manage to talk to an EDD representative, ask them specifically about your work search requirements given your unique situation. Sometimes in temporary separation cases where there's an expected return date, they can adjust the work search requirements. Be totally upfront about your circumstances though - transparency is key with EDD.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my company put me on administrative leave during a compliance investigation. Here's what worked for me: 1. I selected "laid off" and clearly explained in the details that I was on unpaid administrative leave pending investigation 2. I kept detailed records of all communications with my employer about the leave 3. EDD did schedule an eligibility interview about 2 weeks after I applied 4. During the interview, I was completely honest about my situation - that I was still technically employed but not working or receiving pay through no fault of my own 5. I was approved and started receiving benefits about 3 weeks after applying The key is being transparent about your situation. Don't try to hide that you're on administrative leave - EDD handles these cases regularly and they understand the difference between voluntary separation and involuntary leave. Also, regarding the work search requirement - during my eligibility interview, they adjusted my requirements since I had a reasonable expectation of returning to work. I still had to look for work but the requirements were less stringent. Good luck! The waiting and uncertainty is really stressful but you're doing the right thing by applying for benefits you're entitled to.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - placed on administrative leave 2 weeks ago while my company investigates some workplace incident I wasn't even directly involved in. Like you, I'm getting desperate financially and my employer basically told me the same thing about "looking into unemployment options." From reading all these responses, it sounds like selecting "laid off" and being completely transparent about the administrative leave situation is the way to go. I'm also going to try that Claimyr service @Genevieve Cavalier mentioned because I've been having the same issues getting through to EDD by phone. One question for anyone who's been through this - did you continue to receive any benefits from your employer during the leave (health insurance, etc.) and did that affect your UI eligibility at all? My HR department said I'd keep my health coverage but I'm wondering if that complicates things with EDD. Thanks for posting about this @Eli Wang - it's helpful to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusing situation!

I work as a benefits specialist and see these administrative leave situations frequently. You're absolutely on the right track selecting "laid off" - this is the standard approach for unpaid administrative leave cases. The key points to remember: 1. Be completely transparent in your application about being on administrative leave pending investigation 2. Keep all documentation from your employer about the leave status 3. During your eligibility interview (which you'll likely get), emphasize that this is involuntary and unpaid 4. Your employer suggesting you apply for UI actually works in your favor - document that conversation if possible Administrative leave cases are more common than you might think, especially in larger companies. EDD has established procedures for handling them. The fact that you're not receiving wages through no fault of your own is the crucial factor for eligibility. One tip: if you do get that eligibility interview, have your employer's HR contact information readily available. Sometimes EDD will want to verify the details directly with your company, and having that info handy speeds up the process. Don't let the confusing application categories stress you out too much - the detailed explanation section and interview process are designed to capture situations that don't fit neatly into the basic dropdown options.

I'm currently going through something very similar - been on administrative leave for about a month now while my company deals with some HR issues. I was also confused about which option to select on the EDD application, but after reading everyone's advice here, I went with "laid off" and explained my situation thoroughly in the details section. One thing I want to add that I learned from my experience: make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING related to your leave. I saved all emails, any written notices, and even took notes on phone conversations with HR. When I had my eligibility interview last week, the EDD representative was really impressed that I had everything documented and it made the whole process much smoother. Also, regarding the work search requirement - they did adjust mine during the interview once I explained that I have a reasonable expectation of returning to my current job. I still have to do some job search activities, but it's much more manageable than the standard requirements. The waiting is really tough financially and emotionally, but hang in there. The system does work, it's just slow and the initial application doesn't capture every possible scenario. That's what the interviews are for!