EDD application timing with 6-month severance package - can I delay filing?

You should actually file for unemployment as soon as your employment ends, even while receiving severance. Here's why: When you file, EDD will determine if your severance affects your benefits (it usually does). They'll either reduce your weekly benefit amount or determine you're not eligible while receiving severance. BUT - and this is important - filing immediately establishes your claim and benefit year. If you wait 6 months, you might lose out on establishing your claim based on your highest earning quarters. Your benefit year starts when you file, not when your job ended.

dont feel bad abt claiming UI while getting severence!! the company already paid into UI for you its YOUR money not some charity. i got laid off last yr + got 3 month severence + still filed UI right away. EDD just reduced my payments during that time but i still got some $$$

I'm a former HR director who's helped many employees navigate this exact situation. Here's what happens in California: 1. File your claim immediately after separation - this establishes your benefit year 2. Report your severance income when certifying bi-weekly 3. EDD will reduce your benefit or show $0 payment while severance exceeds your weekly benefit amount 4. Once severance ends or drops below threshold, you'll receive appropriate benefits 5. Your benefit year lasts 12 months from filing, giving you protection if you're still searching after severance ends If you wait 6 months, you're potentially losing money and using more recent quarters for your base period calculation, which might lower your benefit amount depending on your earnings history.

EDD IS A NIGHTMARE TO DEAL WITH!!! I waited to file after my severance and REGRETTED IT SO MUCH!!!! They calculated my benefits based on different quarters and I got WAY less than I would have if I filed right away. DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKE!!! File now and let them figure out the math!!!

Has anyone here ever tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD? When I was trying to sort out something similar with my severance package, I was getting the 'maximum callers' message for days. I found their service at claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual EDD rep within 20 minutes! They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I spoke with was super helpful and explained exactly how my severance would affect my claim. Totally worth it instead of spending weeks trying to get answers.

Quick clarification on severance reporting: When certifying, you report your severance as "other income" during the weeks you receive it. Make sure to have documentation of your severance agreement and payment schedule handy in case EDD requests it. Your severance will be prorated on a weekly basis, so if your monthly severance is $2,600, EDD will calculate that as approximately $600/week when determining benefit reductions.

My friend waited til his severence ran out to file for unemployment and EDD told him he shouldve filed earlier! He lost out on like 2 months of benefits bc of the base period thing that changes every quarter. dont be that guy lol

wait im confused about something... if ur getting severance pay doesn't that mean ur technically still employed? or does EDD count u as unemployed once ur actually laid off even if ur still getting paid?

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful advice! I've decided to file my claim right away tomorrow morning. Just to make sure I get this right: 1. File now to establish my benefit year and protect my base period 2. Report my severance as "other income" during bi-weekly certification (using gross amount) 3. Expect reduced or $0 benefits while receiving severance 4. Benefits should automatically adjust once severance ends This has been so helpful - I was honestly going to wait the full 6 months which sounds like it would have been a big mistake. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this!

You've got it exactly right! That's a perfect summary of the process. One small tip for when you file tomorrow - make sure to have your last day of work date ready (not when severance ends, but your actual last day on the job) since that's your official separation date. Also keep a copy of your severance agreement handy in case they ask for it later. You're making the smart choice by filing right away - it really does protect your benefit year and base period calculation. Good luck with your claim and your job search!

As someone who just went through this exact situation last year, I can't stress enough how important it is to file immediately! I was laid off in April with 5 months severance and almost made the mistake of waiting. A coworker who had been through it before told me to file right away, and I'm so glad I did. My benefits were $0 for those 5 months, but the second my severance ended, payments started automatically without any additional paperwork or delays. Plus, when I calculated what my benefits would have been if I waited, I would have lost about $300/week because of the base period shift. The system is designed to protect you when you file early - take advantage of it! Also, don't stress too much about the certification process. It becomes routine after the first couple times, and EDD's online portal makes it pretty straightforward to report your severance each time.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you file tomorrow, make sure you have your employer's information ready including their state employer account number if you have it (sometimes on your final paystub). This can speed up the process. Also, if your severance is being paid out monthly like yours, EDD might ask for documentation of the payment schedule, so having your severance agreement or HR letter handy is smart. The whole process should be pretty straightforward online, and you're absolutely doing the right thing by filing immediately. The peace of mind alone is worth it - you won't have to worry about missing deadlines or losing benefits later. Best of luck with everything!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! Got laid off from a tech company with 6 months severance and was totally torn about when to file. Like you, it felt weird to collect unemployment while getting severance payments. But filing immediately was 100% the right call - my claim got established with my highest earning quarters, and even though I got $0 payments during the severance period, everything kicked in seamlessly once it ended. The key thing I learned is that EDD treats your employment as officially ended on your last day of work, regardless of severance. So you're not "double-dipping" - you're just following the system as designed. One tip: when you certify bi-weekly during your severance period, be super consistent with how you report those payments. I created a simple spreadsheet to track the weekly breakdown of my monthly severance to make sure I was reporting the same amount each time. It made the whole process much smoother!

I'm in a very similar boat right now - just got laid off from my sales job yesterday with a 4-month severance package. I was planning to wait until the severance ended to file, but after reading through all these responses, I'm convinced that would be a huge mistake! The base period protection alone seems worth filing immediately. One question though - has anyone had issues with EDD questioning why you're filing while receiving severance? I'm worried they might think I'm trying to game the system somehow, even though everyone here is saying it's the right thing to do. My severance letter specifically says I'm "terminated" as of my last work day, so I assume that's clear enough for EDD? Going to file online this weekend and just wanted to make sure there aren't any red flags I should watch out for. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences!

I was in almost the exact same situation about a year ago - laid off from my finance job with a 5-month severance package. I initially planned to wait until the severance ended to file, but thankfully a friend who works in HR convinced me to file immediately. Best decision I made! Here's what actually happened: Filed my claim right away, reported my severance as "other income" during bi-weekly certifications, received $0 in benefits during the severance period, then benefits automatically kicked in the week after my final severance payment. No additional paperwork, no delays, no complications. The real kicker? I later found out that if I had waited those 5 months to file, my weekly benefit amount would have been about $180 lower due to the base period calculation using different quarters. Over the remaining 7 months of my benefit year, that would have cost me over $5,000 total! EDD is designed to handle this exact situation. You're not doing anything wrong by filing while receiving severance - you're just protecting your rightful benefits. The peace of mind alone is worth it, knowing your claim is established and protected regardless of how long your job search takes.

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - FILE IMMEDIATELY! I made the mistake of waiting 3 months after my severance ended to file my claim, thinking I was being "honest" by not applying while getting paid. Big mistake. Not only did I lose out on establishing my benefit year during my highest earning quarters, but I also had to deal with a much more complicated application process since so much time had passed since my termination date. EDD kept asking for additional documentation to verify my employment dates and reason for separation. If I had just filed right after being laid off, it would have been straightforward. The system literally expects you to file immediately after termination, regardless of severance. Don't overthink it - your employer paid into the unemployment insurance system on your behalf, and you have every right to file your claim when you become unemployed, even if you're receiving severance payments. The math will work itself out automatically.

I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - got laid off two weeks ago with a 3-month severance package. I was completely torn about when to file, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been a real eye-opener! The consensus is crystal clear: file immediately to protect your benefit year and base period calculation. What really convinced me was hearing about people losing thousands of dollars by waiting, plus the stories about benefits automatically kicking in once severance ends without any extra hassle. I had no idea that waiting could actually hurt your benefit calculation - I thought I was being responsible by not filing while receiving severance payments. Turns out the system is designed to handle exactly this situation. Filing my claim tomorrow morning! Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - this thread probably saved me from making a very expensive mistake.

This thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who works in employment law, I can confirm everything everyone is saying here is absolutely correct. The key thing people don't realize is that California unemployment insurance is designed as a safety net that activates the moment you lose your job - NOT when your income stops. Your severance is considered deferred compensation for work already performed, while UI benefits are insurance against job loss. These are completely separate things in the eyes of the law. I've seen too many clients lose significant money by waiting to file. The base period quarters shift every three months, so timing really matters for your benefit calculation. Also worth noting: if you're in a union or have any kind of employment contract, sometimes there are specific clauses about UI eligibility during severance that you should review. But for standard at-will employment with severance packages, filing immediately is always the right move. The guilt about "double-dipping" is totally understandable but misplaced - you've earned both benefits through different mechanisms. Your employer paid UI premiums specifically so you'd have this protection when laid off.

I just want to add another perspective as someone who's been through this twice - once in 2019 and again last year. Both times I filed immediately after being laid off despite having severance packages (4 months the first time, 5 months the second time). What I've learned is that EDD actually has really clear internal processes for handling severance situations - it's not some edge case that confuses them. When you file online, there are specific fields for reporting severance, and their system automatically calculates how it affects your benefits. The customer service reps are trained on this scenario because it's incredibly common with corporate layoffs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're doing any freelance or consulting work during your severance period, make sure to report that income separately from your severance payments. They're treated differently for UI purposes. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, even during the severance period when you're getting $0 benefits. EDD can ask for this documentation later, and it's much easier to track as you go rather than trying to reconstruct it months later. The bottom line is that filing immediately gives you maximum flexibility and protection. You can always turn down benefits if you don't need them, but you can't go back and establish your claim retroactively without potentially losing money or facing complications.