EDD claim balance hit $0 but benefit year valid until Sep 2025 - can I still collect?

Unfortunately, once your claim balance reaches $0, you've exhausted your benefits regardless of when your benefit year ends. The benefit year (Sep 2025 in your case) just indicates the period during which you can collect your maximum benefit amount. It doesn't guarantee you'll receive benefits for the entire year. Your maximum benefit amount is calculated when you first file based on your earnings during your base period. Once that's gone, it's gone - until you qualify for a new claim by working and earning enough wages in a new base period.

yep ur done. happened 2 me in january. benefit year was till november but money ran out in 5 months. sucks but thats how it works

To clarify what others have said, your benefit amount is typically around 60-70% of your regular wages, up to the maximum weekly benefit amount (now $550). Most claims provide approximately 26 weeks of benefits if you claim every week, regardless of how long your benefit year is. Your benefit year (period ending in 2025) just establishes the window during which you can collect those benefits. If you had periods where you worked part-time or didn't certify, your benefits might stretch longer, but the total dollar amount stays the same. You might want to look into these options: 1. CalFresh (food assistance) 2. CalWORKs (if you have dependent children) 3. General Assistance/Relief (county programs) 4. Check with your county's social services department for other programs

my cousin went thru this last month he said he had to wait till he worked again to reapply. sucks man

I actually had the same issue and couldn't understand why my claim year was longer than my benefits. I kept calling EDD but could never get through on their lines - always got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then they'd hang up! So frustrating. I found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They confirmed exactly what others are saying here - once your balance hits zero, that's it until you qualify for a new claim with new work history. Check out their demo video here if you want to talk to someone official: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The website is claimyr.com - it was worth it for me to get a definitive answer instead of stressing.

When I exhausted my benefits in 2024, I went to my local EDD office in person (had to make an appointment online first). They explained that the benefit year is just the window, and your actual benefit amount is based on your previous earnings. Here's what the EDD rep told me that wasn't obvious online: - You need to earn at least $1,300 in a calendar quarter to qualify for a new claim - Even small part-time or gig work can help extend your existing claim while it's active - Once benefits are exhausted, your certifications will still show "$0" paid rather than stop completely - If you find work and then lose it again within your benefit year, you can sometimes reopen the claim (but only if you have balance left) Hope this helps. The system really isn't designed well for longer-term unemployment.

I cannot BELIEVE how they trick people like this!!! I went through the EXACT same thing and was SHOCKED when my money ran out after just 21 weeks even though my "benefit year" was supposedly a FULL YEAR! The EDD is deliberately misleading people and it should be ILLEGAL. They know EXACTLY what they're doing with this confusing language. And good luck getting ANY help when your benefits run out - all the social services have HUGE waiting lists. The whole system is designed to make us give up!!!! 😡

Thank you everyone for explaining this. I'm still upset that I misunderstood how it works, but at least I know where I stand now. I've applied for some jobs this week and I'm going to check out the CalFresh program tomorrow. Hopefully something comes through soon because I've got about 3 weeks of savings left.

I know this is a bit off topic but when I exhausted my benefits last year I started doing gig delivery work through apps like DoorDash while job hunting. It wasn't enough to fully support me but it helped bridge the gap until I found something permanent. Just thought I'd mention it as another option while you're figuring things out.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now. The terminology is really confusing - I thought "benefit year" meant I'd get benefits for a full year too! What helped me was immediately applying for CalFresh (took about 2 weeks to get approved) and checking with my local library for free job search resources. Many libraries have career centers with resume help and computer access if you need it. Also, don't forget to keep certifying even though your balance is $0 - if you do find any part-time work during your benefit year, you might be able to get some payments if it doesn't put you over the earnings limit. It's not much but every little bit helps while you're job hunting. Hang in there - I know it feels overwhelming but you'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the confusion around benefit years vs. actual benefit amounts is one of the most frustrating parts of the unemployment system. You're definitely not alone in misunderstanding this! Just to add to what others have shared, there are a few more resources that might help while you're job searching: - 211 (dial 2-1-1) is a free helpline that can connect you to local assistance programs for utilities, food, rent help, etc. - Many churches and community organizations have food pantries that don't require you to be a member - Check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs - some still have COVID relief funds available - Local community colleges often have free career counseling and job placement services The gig work suggestion is solid too - even if it's just a few hours a week, it can help with immediate needs and potentially count toward qualifying for a new unemployment claim later if you earn enough. You've got this! The system is confusing and inadequate, but you're asking the right questions and taking the right steps.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - it's such a shock when you realize the "benefit year" doesn't actually mean you get benefits for a year! I went through something similar about a year ago and felt completely blindsided. One thing that helped me was understanding that once your regular UI benefits are exhausted, you might still be eligible for other programs depending on your situation. If you have any dependents, definitely look into CalWORKs. And if you're over 50, some counties have special workforce programs for older workers. Also, when you do start working again (even part-time), keep track of your earnings carefully. Once you earn enough in new quarters, you can potentially file a new claim. The threshold is usually around $1,300 in your highest earning quarter during the new base period. In the meantime, food banks and pantries can be a huge help - many don't even require proof of income anymore. The United Way website has a good search tool for finding local resources by zip code. Stay strong - this situation is temporary even though it doesn't feel that way right now!

I'm really sorry you're going through this confusion and stress - the EDD's terminology around "benefit year" vs actual benefit duration is genuinely misleading and catches so many people off guard. Just to add another perspective: I work in workforce development and see this situation constantly. The key thing to understand is that your maximum benefit amount is calculated as roughly 25% of your total wages during your "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed). This typically works out to about 26 weeks of benefits, but it can be less if your wages were lower. A few additional resources that might help: - Your local One-Stop Career Center (part of the American Job Centers network) offers free services including career counseling, skills assessments, and sometimes training vouchers - If you qualify income-wise, you might be eligible for the Lifeline program for discounted phone/internet service - Many utility companies have low-income assistance programs that can help prevent shutoffs The gig work suggestion others mentioned is solid - even small amounts of earnings can help, and if you eventually earn enough to qualify for a new claim, that work history will count toward your new base period. Hang in there - this system is frustrating and poorly explained, but you're asking the right questions and getting good advice from this community.

I went through this exact same situation about 2 years ago and it's honestly one of the most stressful and confusing experiences with the unemployment system. The whole "benefit year" vs "benefit amount" distinction is so poorly communicated by EDD. Here's what I learned that might help you right now: 1. Even though your balance is $0, keep certifying for benefits during your benefit year - if you do any part-time work that doesn't exceed the weekly earning limits, you might still get small partial payments 2. Start applying for other assistance immediately - CalFresh, utility assistance programs, and local food banks don't have the same waiting periods as some other programs 3. Look into your local WorkSource or career center - many offer emergency assistance vouchers for things like gas money for job interviews or work clothes 4. Document everything for when you do work again - you'll need sufficient earnings in new quarters to qualify for a new claim, so keeping track helps The silver lining is that your benefit year lasting until September 2025 means if you find temporary work that ends before then, you might be able to reopen your claim if you have any balance left (though it sounds like you're at $0). It's a broken system that leaves people in exactly your situation, but you're not alone and there are ways to bridge the gap. Focus on immediate needs first - food assistance, utility help, then job searching. You'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly frustrating and the way EDD explains (or doesn't explain) the difference between benefit year and actual benefit duration is really misleading. What everyone else has said is correct - once your balance hits $0, you've exhausted your benefits even though your benefit year continues until September. The benefit year is just the window during which you can collect your predetermined maximum amount, which is typically enough for about 26 weeks of payments. A few things that might help right now: - Definitely apply for CalFresh ASAP - the application process has gotten much faster - Check with your county's social services for General Relief/General Assistance programs - Many food banks now operate drive-through style and don't require paperwork - Look into temp agencies - even short-term work can help bridge the gap and potentially count toward qualifying for a new claim later I know it feels overwhelming right now, but you're taking the right steps by asking questions and looking for resources. The system really should explain this better upfront, but unfortunately most people only learn how it actually works when they hit this exact situation. Hang in there!