EDD eligibility for spouse after forced relocation - would quitting for family move qualify?

I went through almost the exact same situation in 2025 when my wife got transferred to Oakland. I was able to get UI benefits because EDD considers relocating with a spouse as 'good cause' if the distance makes commuting impossible. When you file your claim, make sure to clearly explain that you quit because your husband's job required your family to relocate. They might schedule a phone interview to verify the details. Have documentation ready showing your husband's job transfer (offer letter, transfer notice, etc). I also provided a map showing the distance between our new home and my previous job. Good luck!

be careful with this!!! my friend tried to claim UI after moving with her husband and got DENIED. they said she didnt have good cause because she could have found a job in the same field before moving. its not automatic approval just cuz ur spouse moved!!

I moved with my husband from LA to the Bay Area and got approved for benefits without any issues. Just make sure you explain everything clearly in your application and be honest during the interview. Also, you need to be available for work in your new location and actively looking for jobs to keep getting benefits after approval.

I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at EDD to ask this exact question last year!!! Their phone lines are always busy and the website is no help. I finally got through using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to a real EDD agent who confirmed that quitting to relocate with a spouse is usually considered good cause. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It saved me so much stress and waiting.

When I filed my claim after relocating with my husband, EDD scheduled an eligibility interview. They asked about: - Why my spouse had to relocate (was it mandatory?) - The distance between our new home and my previous job - Whether I tried to keep my job (asking for transfer, remote work, etc.) - If I looked for similar work in the old location before moving I was approved because I could show his relocation was necessary for his career and the 300+ mile commute would be impossible. Just be prepared to answer these questions!

Your situation meets California's standard for "good cause" voluntary quit. Under EDD guidelines, leaving work to accompany a spouse to a place that is too distant to commute is considered good cause. Section 1256 of the UI Code specifically addresses this. During your eligibility interview, focus on these points: 1. The relocation was due to your spouse's mandatory job transfer (not optional) 2. The distance makes continued employment impossible (500+ miles) 3. Any attempts you made to preserve employment (transfer requests, remote work inquiries) Have documentation ready showing the job transfer was necessary and the timing of events. As long as you're truthful and the facts match what you've described, you should be eligible.

i had the WORST experience with EDD last year omg. filed for benefits after moving with husband to new state and they denied me saying i "abandoned my job" even tho i EXPLAINED it was because of his work!!! had to appeal and wait 3 months to get approved. the system is broken!!!!!

One important thing no one mentioned yet - if you get approved, your benefits will be based on your earnings from your teaching job. Make sure all your wages were properly reported. Also, be aware that as a teacher, there might be questions about reasonable assurance of returning to work. Just clarify that due to the permanent relocation, you don't have reasonable assurance of returning to your former position.

Just to add some clarity to all the comments: relocating with a spouse is one of the most well-established "good cause" reasons for voluntarily quitting under California UI law. The key is demonstrating that: 1. The move was necessary (not just desired) 2. The distance makes continued employment impractical 3. You made reasonable efforts to maintain employment if possible With a 500+ mile relocation due to your husband's healthcare job transfer, you have a strong case. Be prepared for the phone interview, have documentation ready, and answer questions truthfully. Don't be discouraged by stories of denials - each case is unique, and the circumstances you've described should qualify under California's provisions for good cause.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - my spouse got relocated for work and I had to leave my job. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add is to keep records of everything - dates, emails, any conversations with your former employer about the situation. I made the mistake of not documenting enough initially and had to scramble to gather evidence later. Also, when you file online, there's a section where you can upload documents right away, which might speed up the process. Best of luck with your claim - it sounds like you have all the right circumstances for approval!

I was in a very similar situation about two years ago when my husband got transferred from Fresno to San Jose for his engineering job. I had been working as a school administrator and the 200+ mile commute would have been impossible. I was really nervous about applying for EDD benefits since I technically quit, but it turned out to be much smoother than I expected. The key things that helped me were: 1) I had my husband's official transfer letter from his company, 2) I documented that I asked my school district about potential transfers to districts near our new location (they had no openings), and 3) I kept all the emails and correspondence about the timeline. During my phone interview, the EDD representative was actually quite understanding and said spousal relocation is a common and legitimate reason for good cause separation. I was approved within about 3 weeks of my interview. Just make sure you're completely honest about the circumstances and have your documentation ready. Your situation sounds very straightforward for approval - a healthcare transfer is clearly necessary, and 500+ miles is obviously impossible to commute. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when my partner got transferred from Orange County to Redding for a nursing position. I was working as a librarian and the 400+ mile distance made it completely impossible to keep my job. I was really anxious about applying for benefits because I had never been unemployed before, but the process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what they were looking for. The EDD interviewer asked me detailed questions about why the move was necessary, what efforts I made to keep my job, and whether I had looked into remote work options. I provided my partner's official job transfer letter, our new lease agreement, and emails showing I had asked my library system about transfers or remote work possibilities. What really helped was being very clear that this wasn't a choice - it was a necessary move for my partner's career, and continuing to work would have meant living apart indefinitely which wasn't realistic for our family. I was approved after about 2 weeks from my interview date. Your healthcare transfer situation sounds very similar to mine, and with 500+ miles there's absolutely no question about the impossibility of commuting. Make sure to emphasize that it was mandatory for your husband's job and document any conversations you had with your school about alternatives. You should be in good shape for approval!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I just went through this process successfully! I relocated from Los Angeles to Bakersfield when my wife got transferred for her job in the medical field. The distance was about 300 miles, so similar situation to yours. What really helped me was being very organized with my documentation from the start. I kept a timeline of events (when my wife got the transfer notice, when I gave notice at my job, our moving date, etc.) and made sure to save every email. During my EDD phone interview, they were particularly interested in the timing - they wanted to make sure I didn't quit before knowing about the transfer. I also brought up that we looked into other options like me staying behind temporarily, but it wasn't feasible long-term for our family. The whole process took about a month from application to approval. Your 500+ mile situation is even more clear-cut than mine was - no one could reasonably be expected to commute that distance! Just be thorough with your documentation and honest about the circumstances. The fact that it's healthcare-related (essential work) probably helps too. Wishing you the best of luck with your claim!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since it's so relevant to your situation! I just got approved for EDD benefits after relocating from Riverside to Eureka when my husband got transferred for his job at a medical facility. The distance was about 350 miles, so not quite as far as yours but still clearly impossible to commute. What really helped my case was having a clear paper trail - I saved my husband's official transfer documentation, our moving receipts, and importantly, I had emails showing I reached out to my former employer about remote work options before making the final decision to quit. During my phone interview about 3 weeks ago, the EDD representative was very thorough but fair. They asked specific questions about whether the transfer was voluntary or mandatory, what alternatives we considered, and how the timing worked out. I was honest that while we could have theoretically delayed the move by a few months, it would have caused significant hardship for my husband's career and our family finances. The whole process from application to approval took about 5 weeks total. Your situation with a 500+ mile healthcare transfer sounds even more straightforward than mine was - that's clearly impossible to commute and healthcare jobs often have strict start dates. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready and be completely honest during the interview. Best of luck with your claim!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my perspective since I'm currently going through a very similar situation! My spouse just got transferred from San Francisco to San Diego for a critical healthcare position, and I had to leave my job in marketing because the 500+ mile commute would be impossible. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that spousal relocation for essential work like healthcare is well-established as good cause for unemployment benefits. What I'm finding most helpful from everyone's experiences is the importance of documentation and being prepared for that phone interview. I'm gathering my spouse's official transfer letter, our lease agreements, and emails where I inquired about remote work options with my former employer. The timeline aspect that @Fatima Al-Suwaidi mentioned is really smart too - I'm creating a clear sequence of events showing the transfer notice came first, then my resignation. It's also encouraging to see that EDD representatives seem to understand these situations, especially when healthcare transfers are involved since those are often non-negotiable. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be so valuable for anyone dealing with spousal relocation situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my experience since it's directly relevant to your situation! I just went through this exact process last month after relocating from Sacramento to Los Angeles when my partner got transferred to a major hospital down here. The 400+ mile distance made keeping my job as a social worker completely impossible. I was really nervous about applying for EDD benefits because I had technically quit, but after reading California's UI guidelines and speaking with an EDD representative, I learned that spousal relocation for essential work is one of the clearest examples of "good cause" separation. What really helped my case was being thorough with documentation from day one - I kept my partner's official hospital transfer letter, our apartment lease, and most importantly, email correspondence where I asked my former employer about remote work possibilities (they said no due to the nature of social work requiring in-person client contact). During my phone interview, the EDD representative asked about the necessity of the move, the timeline of events, and what alternatives we considered. I was completely honest that while we briefly discussed a long-distance relationship, it wasn't realistic given the demands of healthcare work and our family situation. I was approved within 3 weeks of my interview! Your situation with a healthcare transfer and 500+ miles is even more clear-cut than mine. Just make sure you emphasize that it was mandatory for your husband's position and document any conversations about alternatives with your school district. You've got this!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since it's so similar to yours! I just completed this process successfully after moving from San Jose to Fresno when my husband got transferred to a regional medical center. The 200+ mile distance made continuing my job as a school counselor impossible. I was initially worried because I had "voluntarily" quit, but EDD approved my claim without any issues. The key things that helped were: 1) Having my husband's official transfer documentation from the hospital, 2) Keeping records of my conversation with HR about potential transfers (there were none available), and 3) Being completely transparent during the phone interview about why the move was necessary and not optional. The interviewer was very understanding about healthcare transfers since those positions often can't be delayed or negotiated. Your 500+ mile situation is even more clear-cut than mine was - no reasonable person would expect someone to commute that distance! Make sure to gather all your documentation early and don't stress too much about the interview. Healthcare relocations are well-recognized as good cause, especially with that kind of distance. The whole process took about 4 weeks from application to first payment. You've got a strong case - best of luck with your claim!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my experience since it directly relates to your situation! I just went through this process a few months ago when my spouse got transferred from Stockton to Santa Barbara for a hospital administration position. The 300+ mile distance made it impossible for me to continue my job as a high school teacher. I was really anxious about applying for EDD benefits since I had technically resigned, but it turned out to be much more straightforward than I expected. The key things that helped my case were: 1) My spouse's official transfer letter clearly stating it was mandatory, 2) Documentation showing I inquired about remote teaching options (which obviously wasn't possible for classroom instruction), and 3) Being completely honest during the phone interview about our family's situation. The EDD representative was very understanding about healthcare-related transfers and said they see these cases regularly. With your 500+ mile distance and healthcare transfer, your case sounds even stronger than mine was! The whole process took about 5 weeks from application to approval. Just make sure you have all your documentation organized and be prepared to explain clearly that this wasn't a choice but a necessity for your family. You've got this - healthcare relocations are well-established as good cause for UI benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my perspective since I'm currently navigating a very similar situation! My spouse just got transferred from Long Beach to Redding for a critical nursing position, and I had to leave my job as a school administrator because the 350+ mile commute would be absolutely impossible. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - it's clear that spousal relocation for healthcare positions is well-recognized by EDD as good cause for unemployment benefits. What I'm finding most valuable from everyone's stories is the emphasis on thorough documentation and preparation for the phone interview. I'm currently gathering my spouse's official hospital transfer letter, our new rental agreement, and emails showing I reached out to my school district about potential transfers or remote work options (which obviously aren't available for administrative roles requiring on-site presence). The timeline advice from several members here is really smart too - I'm creating a clear chronological record showing the transfer notification came first, followed by my resignation after exploring alternatives. It's also encouraging to see that EDD representatives seem to have a good understanding of healthcare transfers, especially since these positions often have non-negotiable start dates and location requirements. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be invaluable for anyone dealing with spousal relocation situations involving essential healthcare work!