EDD claim denied - was told child support makes me ineligible despite reduced work hours

Child support is definitely counted as income when EDD calculates your weekly benefit amount. This is because child support is considered income available to meet your needs, even though it's technically meant for your child. However, you might still be eligible for a partial UI claim since your hours were reduced. The key is whether your total income (reduced wages + child support) falls below the maximum earning threshold for partial benefits. Have you logged into your UI Online account to see if there's any specific reason listed for the denial?

thats so anoying!! i got denied 2 for working partime hours but my freind told me u gotta specifically say ur hours were reduced not that u work partime. Did u put that ur hours were CUT or did u just say u work partime?? the way u phrase it on the application matters ALOT with edd

I went through something similar last year and eventually got approved after appealing. For a partial unemployment claim, you need to be VERY SPECIFIC about your previous full-time hours versus current reduced hours. Child support does count as income, but it shouldn't automatically disqualify you if your work hours were involuntarily reduced. The process I followed: 1. Filed for appeal using the form DE 1000M (available on EDD website) 2. Submitted documentation showing my previous work schedule compared to current reduced hours 3. Got a letter from my employer confirming the hours reduction was not my choice 4. Called EDD repeatedly until I reached someone who could help When calling EDD, you'll likely encounter their notorious busy signals and disconnections. I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an EDD agent without spending days trying. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. It was so much better than trying to call repeatedly on my own.

Child support isn't supposed to make you ineligible for unemployment!!! That's YOUR money to support your child. The EDD rep who told you that doesn't know what they're talking about. Call back and ask to speak to a different person. Don't take no for an answer!!

hey just wanted to say im in a similar boat. got my hours cut at my job in oakland and i have 2 kids. the whole system is confusing! did u try applying for partial unemployment? thats different than regular unemployment and might work better for ur situation with the reduced hours.

There's a lot of confusion here that needs clearing up: 1. When you have reduced hours, you should apply for UI but be very clear that your hours were involuntarily reduced (not that you quit or are working part-time by choice) 2. Child support IS counted as income for EDD calculations, BUT having income doesn't automatically disqualify you - it just potentially reduces your weekly benefit amount (WBA) 3. For a household of two in 2025, the income threshold is actually $1,160 per month for maximum benefits, but you can still receive partial benefits with higher income depending on your base period earnings 4. The key is your Base Period earnings (the 12-month period that ended before the quarter you filed your claim). This determines your maximum benefit amount 5. Each week when you certify, your reported income (including child support) will reduce your benefit for that week You should definitely appeal this decision using form DE 1000M. Make sure to include documentation of your previous full-time hours compared to current reduced schedule. Also, try to reach an EDD representative who can review your specific situation - sometimes the initial determination is incorrect.

did u try calling the special edd number for partial claims?? its different from the regular unemployment number! my friend gave me this special number to call: (831) 454-1850 but i think thats just for my region so mayb google the one for san fran

Just wanted to update you - I used Claimyr last month when dealing with my claim issues. It was worth it because I got through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes after spending 3 days trying on my own with no luck. The agent I spoke with was able to review my file details and explain exactly why I was initially denied and what documentation I needed to provide for reconsideration. Definitely make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you call - previous pay stubs showing full-time hours, current pay stubs showing reduced hours, and any communication from your employer about the reduction.

You need to specifically request a determination interview regarding your eligibility. This is different from just calling their general line. When you get through to EDD (which is admittedly very difficult), tell them you want to schedule an eligibility determination interview to discuss your reduced hours and the child support income issue. During that interview, make sure to emphasize that your hours were involuntarily reduced and you're actively looking for full-time work. The interview gives you a chance to explain your situation to someone who can actually make decisions about your claim, not just a general customer service rep. Also, make sure you're properly certifying every two weeks, even while waiting for this to get resolved. If you ultimately win your appeal, they'll pay you retroactively for the weeks you certified correctly.

Just FYI my sister was in a similar situation last year and she ended up qualifying for CalFresh even though she didn't get unemployment. You might want to look into that too while you're fighting the EDD decision!