EDD benefits exhausted and WGA strike affected my industry - what are my options?

I'm in a similar situation (animation industry) and just got off the phone with an EDD rep yesterday. Unfortunately, there aren't any automatic extensions anymore like during COVID. The rep told me you have two options: 1. If you worked AT ALL during your benefit year and earned enough wages, you might qualify for a new claim before August. Check your wage history in UI Online to see if you hit the minimum threshold. 2. If the strike is officially recognized by EDD as a "trade dispute," you *might* qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), but that's usually for natural disasters, not labor disputes. Honestly, it sounds like you're in the gap period where you've exhausted benefits but can't file a new claim yet. It sucks. I'm looking into gig work just to survive until either the strike ends or I can file again.

Employment Development specialist here - just to clarify a few things: 1. The "trade dispute" provision (Section 1262 of UI Code) generally applies to workers DIRECTLY participating in the strike, not those indirectly affected, so that's likely not applicable to your situation unless you're actually a WGA member. 2. To qualify for a new claim before your benefit year ends, you need to have earned at least $1,300 in one quarter OR $900 in your highest quarter plus 1.25x that amount in your total base period. 3. Check if you might qualify for State Disability Insurance (SDI) or CalFresh (food assistance) to help bridge the gap. 4. File for an appeal if you believe your claim was incorrectly processed - sometimes extending benefits requires manual review. Hope this helps!

I went thru this last yr when my benefits ran out!!! so frustrating!! have u tried calling the EDD? they NEVER answer but my cousin told me about this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual EDD agent in like 15 minutes when i'd been trying for DAYS to get through. check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km they basically call EDD for you and when they get through to someone, they connect the call to your phone. it's way better than waiting on hold all day and hearing "we're experiencing high call volume" every 5 seconds lol. the website is claimyr.com

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO FAIL US!! I was in your exact situation in 2023 and let me tell you a secret - EDD ACTUALLY has programmatic exceptions for industry-wide work stoppages but they DON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THEM!! You need to specifically request a review under California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1267 which covers "unusual employment patterns" including seasonal and industry disruptions. I had to fight for 3 months to get mine approved because they keep rejecting everyone automatically hoping we'll just give up!!! Make sure you DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and mention the strike specifically in every communication. The system is counting on us not knowing our rights!!

have u tried Door Dash or Uber Eats? i'm a camera operator and when production slowed down i started doing food delivery. not great money but better than nothing while waiting for work to pick back up. the nice thing is u can work whenever u want and still go to interviews or take short jobs if they come up.

Omg I'm in post-production too!!! What a nightmare this strike has been. I'm surviving on credit cards right now and it's terrifying. Did you try Film Workers Unite? They have an emergency fund for industry people affected by the strike. It's not much (like $500) but might help with groceries for a month.

After calling EDD using the Claimyr service someone mentioned above (which did work, btw), I found out something that might help you. The rep I spoke with said that with your November earnings ($4,200), you MIGHT qualify for a reduced new claim. The minimum threshold for a quarter is actually $1,300, not the $900 someone mentioned earlier. So your earnings definitely meet that requirement. However, here's the catch - you also need to have worked for an employer who was paying into the UI system (not all 1099 contract work counts). The rep suggested submitting a new application and specifically mentioning those November earnings. Worst case, they just deny it, but best case you might get a small weekly benefit amount until your regular claim can be refiled in August. Also, definitely apply for CalFresh - with zero income, you should qualify for the maximum amount which is around $250/month for a single person. It's at least something for groceries while you figure out the rest.

I went thru this last year and ended up doing Instacart, which was better than food delivery cuz I didn't have to drive as much. just shopping and then dropping off in my neighborhood. not great money but better than nothing!

UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning! The rep said I DO qualify for a new claim, but at a much lower benefit amount ($97/week vs. my previous $450). She said this is because my base period only includes that one quarter with the November job. It's not much, but it's something to help with groceries while I keep searching for work. She also confirmed the CalFresh application should be approved since my income is now so low. Thank you everyone for the advice and support. For anyone else in a similar situation - definitely check if you have ANY earnings during your benefit year that might qualify you for a new claim, even a small one.