EDD certification while traveling internationally for 30 days - what happens when I return?

You absolutely need to stop certifying while you're out of the country. EDD requires you to be physically present in the US, able and available for work. When answering your bi-weekly certification questions, one specifically asks if you were available for work each day. If you answer 'yes' while abroad, that's considered misrepresentation and could lead to penalties. As for resuming when you return - yes, you can. Your claim remains active for a year from when you filed it. You'll need to start certifying again when you return. If you miss certifying for too long, the system may not automatically generate the certification weeks, but you can request them through your UI Online account or by calling EDD.

BE CAREFUL HERE!!! I did something similar last year & came back to a NIGHTMARE. Not only did I have to repay benefits I got while traveling (fair enough), but EDD put me on a 6-week penalty for "willfully withholding information" even though I thought I was following the rules!!! They'll check your IP address when certifying & can see you're out of country. I'd recommend formally reporting your temporary unavailability through your UI Online account before you leave - there's an option for that.

u can call and tell them but good luck gettin thru lol took me 3 days last time i needed something

I had this exact situation last year. The correct procedure is: 1. Do NOT certify for any weeks you're out of the country 2. You don't need to notify EDD in advance, but it doesn't hurt to call and have it noted on your account 3. When you return, you can resume certifying immediately 4. If it's been more than 2 weeks since your last certification was available, you may need to reopen your claim (there's an option for this in UI Online) Your benefit year remains active for 12 months from filing, so a 30-day gap won't close your claim. You'll just pick up where you left off with your remaining balance. And yes, if you've been taking vacations while certifying 'yes' to being available for work, that's technically fraud and can result in penalties if discovered.

wait im confused about something - doesnt the certification question ask if you were looking for work, not if you were in the country?? i've been certifying from mexico for the past 3 weeks lol...am i in trouble???

I think everyone is overcomplicating this. I traveled to Europe for 6 weeks last summer and just didn't certify during that time. When I got back, I logged in to UI Online and all my missed certifications were there waiting for me. I just picked up where I left off. The system doesn't automatically terminate your claim just because you miss a few certification periods.

To clarify a few points being discussed: 1. The certification questions include "Were you able and available for work?" - Being physically outside the US means you should answer "no" to this question or not certify at all for those weeks. 2. Yes, EDD can and does check IP addresses when they audit claims. They also cross-reference TSA travel data. 3. Reopening a claim after a gap is usually simple - there's a "Reopen Claim" button in UI Online that appears if your certifications stop generating. 4. Your benefit year remains active for 12 months from filing, regardless of certification gaps. 5. You won't lose benefits by not certifying while traveling - they'll still be available when you return (within your benefit year). The safest approach is to not certify while abroad, then resume when you return. If the system doesn't automatically generate your certifications when you return, use the reopen claim option.

When you resume certifying, there's no need to proactively mention your travel if you didn't certify during that period. Just start certifying normally for the weeks after you've returned to the US. The system only asks about your status during the weeks you're actually certifying for. However, if you're selected for an eligibility interview for any reason, be honest about your travel history if asked. Transparency is always the best policy when dealing with EDD.