EDD claim confusion - report gig work (DoorDash) or entertainment industry as last employer?

You absolutely need to report BOTH. The production company as your W-2 employer AND your gig work with DoorDash. California EDD requires you to report all employment, including independent contractor/1099 work. If you don't report everything correctly, you could end up with an overpayment notice down the road, which is a nightmare to deal with.

lol dont overthink it just put ur tv job. doordash isnt real employment its just gig stuff. thats what i did when i was between construction jobs and doing uber. edd never said anything

Entertainment industry worker here who also dealt with this! You need to list the production company as your last employer, but you MUST also disclose your DoorDash work on your application. The key issue isn't so much who your last employer was, but being fully transparent about all income sources. Here's something important many people miss: living out of state complicates things. Since you're physically in Nevada while filing a California claim, you need to indicate that on your application. California can still pay your benefits based on your work history there, but you need to meet their requirements for filing an interstate claim.

When I filed my claim after the writers strike, I listed EVERYTHING - my studio job, plus the TaskRabbit and Etsy side hustles I was doing to survive. EDD asked more questions about my gig work during my eligibility interview, but ultimately they approved my claim because I was making significantly less with gigs than my regular job and was still available for full-time work in my industry. BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO REPORT THE DOORDASH INCOME DURING CERTIFICATION. If you're approved, you'll need to report any earnings each week when you certify. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn, but you can still get partial benefits if you earn under a certain threshold.

good luck getting through to ask ANYONE AT EDD!! i've been trying for TWO WEEKS and keep getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then they hang up! so frustrating!!!!!

To address your specific question about DoorDash: it's considered self-employment. When you file your claim, you'll list your production company as your last employer. Then, in the section that asks about self-employment or additional income, you'll report your DoorDash work. The EDD will then determine your benefit amount based primarily on your W-2 wages from the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing). Your DoorDash earnings will mainly affect your weekly certifications, not necessarily your initial eligibility. Also, since you mentioned you're living in Nevada now - make sure you're filing an interstate claim correctly. You'll file with California since that's where your wages were earned, but you'll need to follow California's rules while physically being in Nevada.

my cousin works in film and had the same issue!!! he said the key thing is to make sure ur reporting that ur still looking for work in ur REGULAR industry (entertainment) not just doing more doordash. EDD wants to know ur trying to get back to real work

Just to be clear on an important distinction: 1. When you FILE a new claim, you must report all employers, including self-employment like DoorDash. 2. When you CERTIFY for benefits each week after being approved, you must report any income earned that week, including DoorDash. Failure to do either can result in an overpayment determination. The EDD regularly cross-references with tax records and other databases, so unreported income is likely to be discovered eventually. For the interstate aspect, you'll need to indicate on your application that you're physically residing in Nevada. Your monetary eligibility will be based on your California wages, but you'll need to meet Nevada's work search requirements. Make sure you document all work search activities thoroughly.

i think everyones making this way more complicated than it needs 2 be lol

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! To summarize what I'm understanding: 1. List my production company as my last employer BUT also disclose DoorDash work 2. Be clear that I'm living in Nevada but filing based on California work history 3. Make sure to report DoorDash earnings during weekly certifications 4. Document my job search efforts in the entertainment industry I'll be filing tomorrow and will make sure to be completely transparent about everything. Hoping it all goes smoothly!