EDD benefits after IHSS caregiver job ends due to recipient's passing - eligible for unemployment?

First, I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, you should be eligible for unemployment. IHSS caregivers (even for family members) are considered employees of the state for unemployment insurance purposes. The Public Authority is technically your employer, not your stepdad. You should apply right away through UI Online at edd.ca.gov. Make sure you have your paystubs or W-2s handy when you file. In your application, indicate that your job ended due to 'lack of work' since the recipient passed away. When they ask about your ability to work, make sure you indicate you're able and available for full-time work, as that's a requirement for UI benefits.

so sorry bout ur stepdad. my mom was ihss too for my grandma who passed in 2024 and she got unemployment no problem. just be honest when u apply and u should b fine. the edd website is confusing tho ngl

I went through EXACTLY this in January when my aunt passed away after I was her IHSS provider for 3 years!!! The EDD denied my claim initially saying I was "self employed" which is TOTALLY WRONG!!!! I had to appeal and it was a NIGHTMARE getting through to anyone who understood IHSS. I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at EDD who understood that IHSS providers are employees NOT independent contractors!!!! FINALLY got it sorted but lost almost 2 months of benefits because of their mistakes!!!

This is a common question for IHSS caregivers. Here's the accurate information: Yes, you are eligible for unemployment benefits as an IHSS provider, even when caring for a family member. The Public Authority or County is your employer of record for UI purposes. When filing: 1. List your employer as your county's IHSS Public Authority or IHSS program (not your family member) 2. Reason for separation: "Lack of work" or "Job ended" 3. You must be able and available for full-time work 4. Yes, you will need to meet work search requirements (apply for jobs weekly) Make sure you have your IHSS provider number and recent pay information ready when you file. Some EDD representatives may be confused about IHSS eligibility, so if denied, definitely appeal with documentation showing you were an IHSS provider.

I've been trying to call EDD for three days about my own IHSS-related claim and it's impossible to get through. Either "too many callers" message or 3+ hour wait times that disconnect me. If you have trouble reaching them, I found a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to an EDD representative faster. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It helped me finally get through last month when I had issues with my claim. Worth checking out if you get stuck in the EDD phone system nightmare like I did.

My cousin's wife dealt with this same thing last year! The important thing is that IHSS providers DO qualify but sometimes the EDD staff messes up because they don't understand how IHSS works. My cousin's wife had to explain three different times that she wasn't self-employed before they got it right. Just be persistent!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I applied online yesterday and listed the IHSS Public Authority as my employer. I made sure to say I'm able and available for full-time work, and I've already started my work search activities. I'll update this thread once I hear back from EDD about my claim status. Fingers crossed I don't run into the issues some of you mentioned!

ALSO MAKE SURE you print copies of EVERYTHING you submit online!!! The EDD website crashed on me TWICE during my application and I had to start over!!! And take screenshots of confirmation pages because sometimes they say they never got stuff you submitted!!!! Their system is SO BROKEN!!

One more important thing about IHSS unemployment claims - make sure you're applying for regular UI benefits, not PUA or any other program. Regular UI is what you qualify for as an IHSS provider. Also, when you start certifying for benefits every two weeks, be very careful to accurately report any income if you start working somewhere else part-time while searching for full-time work. Reporting errors, even accidental ones, can lead to overpayment notices later.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through something very similar when I was caring for my grandfather through IHSS and he passed away in 2023. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits! IHSS providers are considered state employees for UI purposes, even when caring for family members. A few things that helped me navigate the process: - Apply online immediately - don't wait - Have your IHSS provider ID number ready when you apply - List your county's IHSS Public Authority as your employer (not your stepdad) - Select "lack of work" as your reason for job separation - Keep all your IHSS paystubs and timesheets handy The work search requirement does apply, but since you're already looking for caregiving work, you're on the right track. Document every job application you submit. My claim was approved without issues, but I know some people have had to deal with confused EDD representatives who don't understand IHSS employment status. If that happens, don't give up - appeal if necessary. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and feel free to ask if you have more questions as you go through the process.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I haven't been through this exact situation, but I wanted to share what I learned when my neighbor was dealing with something similar. She was an IHSS provider for her mom and when her mom passed, she was worried about the same thing. From what I understand, you should definitely qualify since IHSS providers are considered employees of the county/state, not independent contractors. The key thing is making sure you apply quickly and have all your documentation ready. I'd suggest keeping copies of everything you submit because I've heard the EDD system can be really glitchy. One thing that might help - if you run into any issues with EDD not understanding your employment status, you could try contacting your county's IHSS office again and ask to speak with someone who handles employment/benefits questions. They might be able to give you a letter or documentation that clarifies your employee status, which could help if EDD gives you any trouble. I hope everything works out smoothly for you during this difficult time. It sounds like you're taking all the right steps by applying online and having your paperwork ready.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through this exact situation when my mother passed away after I had been her IHSS provider for about 18 months. You absolutely do qualify for unemployment benefits! Here's what I learned from my experience: - IHSS providers are considered employees of the county/Public Authority, so you're covered under UI - Apply online as soon as possible - don't wait - When they ask for your employer, use your county's IHSS Public Authority name (not your stepdad's name) - List the reason as "lack of work due to client passing away" or similar wording - Have your IHSS provider number, recent paystubs, and W-2 ready The work search requirements do apply, but since you're already looking for caregiving positions, you should be fine. Just make sure to document every job application you submit. My claim was approved without any issues, though I know others have had to deal with EDD reps who don't understand IHSS employment status. One tip: if you get any pushback about your eligibility, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor. Some front-line staff aren't familiar with how IHSS works. You've got this, and you deserve these benefits after contributing to the system. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss - losing a family member you were caring for is incredibly difficult both emotionally and practically. You absolutely should qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS provider! I work in social services and deal with IHSS cases regularly. You're considered an employee of your county's Public Authority/IHSS program, not your stepdad directly, which means you're covered under regular unemployment insurance. When you apply online, make sure to: - List your county's IHSS Public Authority as your employer (very important!) - Use "lack of work" or "position eliminated due to client passing" as your separation reason - Have your IHSS provider ID number and recent pay stubs ready - Indicate you're able and available for full-time work Yes, you'll need to meet work search requirements, but since you're already looking for caregiving positions, you're on track. Keep detailed records of every job application you submit - EDD requires this for certification. Some EDD staff may not understand IHSS employment status, so if you get any pushback, politely ask for a supervisor or someone familiar with IHSS claims. You've been paying into the system and absolutely deserve these benefits. Don't let anyone tell you family caregivers don't qualify - that's incorrect information. Take care of yourself during this transition. The community here is really supportive if you need help navigating the process.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this myself right now - my dad passed away two weeks ago after I was his IHSS provider for almost three years. The grief is overwhelming and then having to worry about income on top of it is just brutal. I applied for unemployment last week and my claim was approved! Here's what worked for me: - Applied online immediately (don't wait, the sooner the better) - Listed my county's IHSS Public Authority as employer, NOT my dad - Put "lack of work due to recipient passing away" as the reason - Had my IHSS provider ID, recent paystubs, and last year's W-2 ready The hardest part emotionally was having to check "able and available for full-time work" when you're still processing the loss, but it's required for benefits. I'm doing the work search requirements by applying to other caregiving positions and some general jobs too. One thing nobody mentioned yet - when you certify every two weeks, there's a question about whether you refused any work. Make sure you understand what counts as "suitable work" so you don't accidentally mess up your benefits if you turn down a job that doesn't fit your situation. You've got this. Take it one step at a time and don't hesitate to ask for help here if you get stuck with EDD. This community really knows their stuff.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you right now. I haven't been through this exact situation myself, but I wanted to reach out because I've been following this community for a while as someone who might need to become an IHSS provider for my elderly mom soon. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really educational - it sounds like you should definitely qualify for benefits since IHSS providers are considered state employees. The advice about listing the county's Public Authority as your employer instead of your stepdad makes a lot of sense. I just wanted to say that this community seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. It's amazing how many people have shared their personal experiences to help you navigate this process. I hope your application goes smoothly and you get the benefits you deserve after contributing to the system for two years. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and please do update us on how things go with EDD. Your experience will probably help other IHSS providers who find themselves in similar situations in the future.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing someone you were caring for is devastating both personally and financially. I went through this exact situation when my uncle passed away after I was his IHSS provider for about 14 months. You absolutely DO qualify for unemployment benefits! IHSS providers are employees of the county/Public Authority for UI purposes, even when caring for family members. A few key things that helped me: - Apply online immediately at edd.ca.gov (don't delay) - List your county's IHSS Public Authority as your employer, NOT your stepdad - Use "lack of work due to recipient passing away" as your separation reason - Have your IHSS provider ID number and recent paystubs ready - Make sure to indicate you're able and available for full-time work Yes, you'll need to do work searches, but since you're already looking for caregiving work, you're ahead of the game. Just document every application you submit. My claim was approved without issues, but I've heard some EDD reps get confused about IHSS employment status. If that happens, don't give up - ask for a supervisor who understands IHSS. You've been paying into the system and deserve these benefits. Take care of yourself during this difficult transition. This community is here to help if you run into any roadblocks with EDD.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having to deal with financial stress while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on all the responses here, it's clear you should qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS provider. I wanted to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you're doing your work searches, consider looking beyond just traditional caregiving positions. Your IHSS experience actually translates to a lot of other jobs: home health aide, personal care assistant, companion care, assisted living facility work, and even some healthcare support roles. This might help you meet the work search requirements more easily and potentially open up more job opportunities. Also, if you decide to take any temporary or part-time work while searching for full-time employment, California allows you to earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without it affecting your unemployment benefits. Anything above that gets deducted, but you might still come out ahead financially. Hang in there - it sounds like you're doing everything right with your application. The fact that you were a dedicated caregiver for two years shows your work ethic, and you absolutely deserve these benefits after contributing to the system. Please keep us updated on how your claim progresses!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I just wanted to add that if you run into any delays with your claim processing, don't panic - it's unfortunately common for IHSS-related unemployment claims to get flagged for additional review, even though they're totally legitimate. This happens because some automated systems don't immediately recognize IHSS employment status. If your claim shows "pending" for more than 2 weeks or you get any kind of eligibility questionnaire asking about your work relationship, respond quickly and clearly explain that you were an IHSS provider employed by the county's Public Authority. Include your provider ID number in any correspondence. Also, I'd recommend setting up your EDD online account notifications so you don't miss any important updates or requests for information. Missing a deadline can really slow things down. From everything shared here, it sounds like you're doing all the right things. The fact that so many people have successfully gotten benefits in similar situations should give you confidence. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to reach out if you hit any snags with the process.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing someone you've been caring for is heartbreaking, and having to worry about finances on top of grief is incredibly stressful. You absolutely should qualify for unemployment benefits! I haven't personally gone through this with IHSS, but I work in disability services and deal with similar employment situations regularly. IHSS providers are definitely considered employees of the county/Public Authority, not independent contractors, which means you're covered under regular unemployment insurance. Based on all the great advice already shared here, it sounds like you're on the right track with your application. One small thing I'd add - when you're doing your bi-weekly certifications, be very careful about the questions regarding availability and job search activities. EDD can be strict about these requirements, so keep detailed records of everything. Also, if you haven't already, you might want to reach out to your local caregiver resource center or aging services department. They sometimes have additional resources for caregivers transitioning between positions, including job placement assistance or even temporary financial support programs. This community has given you excellent guidance. You've been contributing to the system for two years and absolutely deserve these benefits. Take things one day at a time and don't hesitate to advocate for yourself if you encounter any confusion from EDD staff. You've got this!