EDD claim balance hit $0 at 6 months - thought benefits lasted a full year?

The benefit YEAR lasts 12 months but your actual money doesn't necessarily last that long. Your claim gets a specific dollar amount when you first apply (based on your earnings in the base period), and once that money is gone, it's gone—even if your benefit year hasn't ended yet. When EDD says "benefit year" they just mean the period during which you're allowed to collect whatever amount they approved you for. If you're still unemployed, you'll need to wait until your current benefit year ends before applying for a new claim. You'll need to have earned some wages since your last claim to qualify for a new one though.

yep your running out of money doesnt have anything to do with the year. i ran out after like 4 months because my weekly amount was high but my total wasnt that much. the year just means thats how long you have to USE the money they gave you. sucks but thats how it works

Let me clarify for everyone. Your UI claim has TWO key components: 1. Benefit Year: The 12-month period during which you can collect benefits (in your case ending 12/5/2025) 2. Maximum Benefit Amount: The total money available on your claim (which you've now exhausted) Your claim award is calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings during your base period. In California, the maximum amount is 26 weeks of full benefits IF you qualify for the maximum. Most people don't get the full 26 weeks. Unfortunately, there are currently no federal extensions available. The pandemic extensions (PEUC, PUA, etc.) ended years ago. You'll need to wait until your benefit year ends to file a new claim, and you'll need to have earned wages in the interim. In the meantime, you might want to check: - CalFresh (food benefits) - County General Assistance programs - Covered California (health insurance if you lose your coverage) Keep detailed records of your job search efforts in case you need them for a future claim.

Call them and ask if there's anything they can do!!! I was in the same boat back in February and I couldn't get through for DAYS. Kept getting that stupid "we're experiencing high call volume" message over and over. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I talked to confirmed what others are saying here - once your balance hits zero, that's it until your benefit year ends. BUT they were able to tell me about some other resources I might qualify for. It was worth the call just to know for sure and get some direction.

i dont think anyone explained this yet but you only get 26 weeks MAX of benefits in california even tho the "year" is 12 months. so ya if u got the max weekly amount ($550) then u burn thru the benefit amount quicker. i been on EDD 3 times and it never lasts the whole year, its more like 5-6 months most of the time. wish they would explain this better!!!!

This whole system is DESIGNED to confuse people!!! They make it intentionally complicated so fewer people get the full benefits they deserve. I bet there are millions of dollars in benefits that go unclaimed because people get frustrated with the system. When I was on unemployment last year, I spent HOURS trying to get someone on the phone just to answer basic questions. And even when you do reach someone, half the time they give conflicting information!!! It's a total mess.

Thanks everyone for the information. I'm still disappointed but at least I understand what happened now. I'm going to call EDD tomorrow to confirm everything and see if they have any suggestions for other assistance programs. And I'll definitely check out CalFresh. I've been putting in job applications every day, so hopefully something comes through soon. This is just so stressful.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a common misunderstanding and honestly EDD could do WAY better at explaining how the system actually works upfront. Just want to add that when you do eventually file a new claim after your benefit year ends, you'll need to have earned at least $1,300 in wages during the new base period to qualify. So if you can find ANY work - even part-time or gig work - during these next 6 months, it could help you qualify for a new claim later. Also, don't forget to keep certifying if you find temporary work, as you might be able to get partial benefits depending on how much you earn. Hang in there and keep applying - the job market is tough but you'll get through this!

Hey Eduardo, I went through the exact same thing last year and I totally get how scary and confusing this is! The whole "benefit year vs. benefit amount" thing really trips people up. A few things that helped me when I was in your shoes: First, definitely apply for CalFresh ASAP - the process can take a few weeks but it'll help with groceries. Also look into your county's General Relief/General Assistance program - some counties offer small monthly cash payments for people who don't qualify for other programs. Second, consider expanding your job search to include temp agencies, gig work (DoorDash, Uber, TaskRabbit), or even seasonal retail since we're heading into spring hiring season. Any income will help you meet that $1,300 threshold for a future claim AND give you something to live on now. Lastly, check if your local library offers free career services - mine had resume workshops and job search resources that were actually really helpful. You've got this! The next 6 months will be tough but you're definitely not the first person to figure this out.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is honestly one of the most confusing aspects of the EDD system and you're definitely not alone in being caught off guard by it. The "benefit year" vs "maximum benefit amount" distinction is really poorly explained when you first apply. Just wanted to add a couple more resources that might help while you're figuring things out: - Check if your city/county has any emergency rental assistance programs still running - some areas still have COVID relief funds available for rent/utilities - Food banks don't require any paperwork and can help immediately while you wait for CalFresh to process - Some churches and community organizations offer small emergency grants for people between jobs, even if you're not a member - 211 (dial 2-1-1) is a free service that can connect you with local assistance programs you might not know about Also, when you do call EDD, ask them to mail you a "Notice of Computation" if you haven't received one already. This breaks down exactly how they calculated your benefit amount and can help you understand what to expect if you file a new claim later. Keep your head up - 6 months is actually pretty good for benefits to last, and the job market is picking up in a lot of sectors right now. You'll get through this!