EDD application with 4 weeks of severance - apply now or wait?

You can file your claim now, but you'll need to report your severance payments when you certify each week. During weeks you receive severance, you'll likely be considered "partially employed" or ineligible for benefits for those specific weeks, but your claim will be established in the system. This way, once your severance ends, you can start collecting benefits immediately without a waiting period beyond the standard one week. Just make sure to honestly report all income when you certify. The EDD application will specifically ask about severance pay.

my cousin got fired last year n did the same thing. he applied right away even with severance coming in. jus be honest bout the $ ur getting each week when u certify. ur boss doesnt know what hes talkin about lol

I totally disagree with the others!! When I applied during my severance period, I got flagged for a phone interview and it delayed my whole claim for MONTHS!!! The EDD agent said I should have waited until severance ended to avoid complications. Different EDD reps will tell you different things and it's INFURIATING. The system is completely broken and I ended up having to appeal because they said I misreported something that their own website told me to do!!! Just wait the 4 weeks and save yourself the headache!!

When I was laid off in December, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to speak with an EDD rep directly about this exact question. They connected me with an agent in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent confirmed I should apply immediately and just report severance when certifying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Definitely worth it to get clear answers from an actual EDD agent instead of guessing.

I think everyones getting 2 excited here. OP might not even qualify for benefits cause they might have been fired for cause??? It makes a difference if u were laid off vs fired for performance or something. Also severance is technically wages so u have to report it and probably wont get benefits for those weeks anyway. So whats the rush???

Let me clarify the official EDD position on this situation: 1. You can and should file your claim immediately after your last day worked (yesterday). 2. Your claim will establish your benefit year, even if you don't receive payments right away. 3. When you certify for benefits every two weeks, you must report your severance pay as income for the weeks in which it's paid. 4. During weeks you report severance income, you may receive reduced benefits or no benefits, depending on the amount. 5. Once your severance payments end, you'll be eligible to receive your full benefit amount (assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements). This approach ensures there's no gap between your severance ending and your unemployment benefits beginning. Your claim effective date will be the week you apply, which is important for maximizing your benefit period.

when i got laid off i waited until severence ended and it was a HUGE mistake!!!! took like 6 weeks after that to get my first payment and i nearly got evicted!!! definitely file now dont listen to ur boss

One more thing to keep in mind - if your severance is paid out as a lump sum rather than regular paychecks, the reporting requirements can be different. If you're receiving a true lump sum payment, you would report it for the week you receive it, not spread across multiple weeks. But if it's being paid as regular paychecks over 4 weeks, then you report it for each week as it comes in. Just make sure you understand which type of severance you're receiving.