EDD claim after quitting but having tentative new job offer - should I disclose?

You definitely need to report the job offer and orientation to EDD. When you certify for benefits, there's a question asking if you refused any work - technically you haven't, but the orientation could count as the beginning of employment. EDD requires you to report ANY work activity, even training or orientation hours. Call them ASAP to update your claim information.

similar thing happened 2 me last yr... didnt mention new job cuz never actually started, edd found out anyway thru tax system or something and made me pay back 2 weeks benefits + penalty. not worth it just tell them

You should absolutely update your claim. Here's why: 1. When you file for unemployment after quitting, EDD already scrutinizes your claim carefully to determine if you had good cause to quit. 2. The fact that you completed orientation means you technically began the employment process, even if you haven't started regular work. 3. When you certify for benefits bi-weekly, you must report ANY work activity, including orientation hours, even if unpaid. 4. The new employer has likely already reported you as a new hire to the state's employment database, which EDD cross-references. Call EDD immediately to update your claim. Be prepared with exact dates of the job offer, orientation, and all communication attempts with the new employer. This demonstrates good faith on your part. If getting through to EDD is difficult (which it usually is), try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get connected to an actual EDD representative without the endless busy signals and disconnections. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. I used them when I had a similar situation and was able to reach someone at EDD within 20 minutes instead of spending days trying.

EVERYONE IS WRONG HERE!!! The orientation doesn't automatically disqualify you! I went through this EXACT situation in 2024. You only have to report PAID work when you certify. If the orientation was UNPAID, you don't report those hours. What matters is whether you're "attached" to an employer. Since they're not giving you actual work, you're not attached. But you SHOULD call EDD and explain the situation because if the employer reported you as hired, it could create problems down the line. THE REAL ISSUE is that you QUIT your previous job. Unless you can prove good cause (like unsafe working conditions WITH DOCUMENTATION you reported to OSHA or management), you might be disqualified for 5-10 weeks anyway. That's what you should be more worried about!!!

omg i had this same issue but worse...got a job offer, quit my old job, then the new company rescinded the offer before i even started! EDD denied me initially saying i voluntarily quit without good cause. had to appeal and it was a whole mess. definitely call them and document EVERYTHING. save all emails with that supervisor!

i wonder if you could get unemployment based on the new job not actually giving you work? like constructive layoff or something? anybody know if thats a thing?

Just to add to my earlier comment, when you call EDD, ask specifically about how to report the orientation hours on your certification. You'll need to list the employer name, address, the dates you worked (your orientation dates), total hours (3), and that you haven't been paid. Also explain the situation about not having an actual start date despite completing orientation. Most importantly, be prepared to discuss why you quit your previous job. Since you quit voluntarily, EDD will require you to demonstrate "good cause" for quitting. Unsafe working conditions can qualify as good cause, but you'll need to explain if you tried to resolve the issues with your employer before quitting.

hey just wondering - did u try asking the new job if they could give u something in writing about your status? like maybe ask for a formal letter saying ur hired but start date is delayed? that might help with edd

ok but hear me out - what if the new job suddenly calls tomorrow and says "start monday"? then what happens with your unemployment claim? do you have to pay everything back? this whole system is so confusing

I went through something similar a few years ago and learned the hard way that transparency is absolutely key with EDD. Even though your situation is frustrating and unclear, you need to report the orientation and job offer situation immediately. Here's what I'd recommend doing right now: 1. Call EDD and explain the entire timeline - quitting due to unsafe conditions, getting the job offer, completing orientation, and the lack of follow-up from the new employer 2. Keep detailed records of ALL communication attempts with the new employer (screenshot those unanswered emails!) 3. When you certify, report the 3 orientation hours even though unpaid - better to over-report than under-report 4. Be prepared to provide documentation of the safety issues at your previous job since you quit voluntarily The worst thing you can do is stay silent and hope it works out. EDD has ways of finding out about employment activity, and discovering unreported information later will create much bigger problems than addressing it upfront. Your situation isn't uncommon - employers sometimes string people along or have disorganized hiring processes. EDD understands this happens, but they need full disclosure to make proper determinations. Good luck getting through to them - persistence is key with EDD phone lines!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I quit my retail job in May due to scheduling conflicts that were affecting my health, got a job offer at a local restaurant, did their "trial shift" orientation, and then... nothing. It's been 3 weeks of "we'll call you soon" messages. From what I've learned lurking in this community, you absolutely need to report everything to EDD. Even unpaid orientation counts as work activity that needs to be disclosed. The tricky part is that since you quit your previous job, EDD is going to scrutinize whether you had "good cause" - but unsafe working conditions with documentation should qualify. I ended up calling EDD last week to report my situation. The rep I spoke with said it's better to over-disclose than under-disclose, especially when you're dealing with a voluntary quit. She walked me through exactly what to report during certification and noted in my file that the new employer hasn't provided an actual start date despite completing their hiring process. One tip: when you call EDD, have all your dates ready (quit date, interview date, orientation dates, last contact with new employer). They'll want the complete timeline. Also save screenshots of all those non-responsive emails from your new supervisor - that evidence of their lack of communication might actually help your case. Hope this helps and that we both get some clarity on our situations soon!