EDD income limit for part-time work while on UI benefits - how much can I earn?
Just got laid off from my full-time warehouse job (40hrs cut to 12hrs) and considering filing for UI while I look for something better. I'm confused about the income limits though. My current part-time wages are about $240/week (12hrs @ $20/hr). Will I still qualify for any UI benefits with this income? How does EDD calculate the maximum part-time earnings allowed? Do they look at hours worked or just total income? The EDD website is so vague and the calculator tool kept crashing on me. Anyone know what the actual income threshold is to still get partial benefits?
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Kolton Murphy
EDD doesn't have a fixed dollar amount maximum - it's based on your specific weekly benefit amount (WBA). You can earn up to 25% of your WBA without any reduction. After that, they subtract the rest from your benefit payment. So if your WBA is $450, you can earn up to $112.50 without reduction, then they start deducting dollar for dollar. With your $240 weekly income, they'd deduct $127.50 from your benefit (240 - 112.50).
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Jackson Carter
•Thanks for breaking that down! So if my weekly benefit amount ends up being only $300, then I could only earn 25% of that ($75) before deductions start? That seems really low... does EDD ever consider your hours rather than just the pay?
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Evelyn Rivera
Ugh EDD's partial benefit calculator is THE WORST!! When I worked part-time last year they kept messing up my payments because of how they calculate things. They only care about $$$ not hours. And they use your GROSS pay before taxes which SUCKS. I think the max you can earn is like 1.33x your weekly benefit amount before you get zero benefits. But seriously their math is all over the place.
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Jackson Carter
•That's frustrating! So even if I'm working way fewer hours, if the pay is too high I might not qualify at all? I'm just trying to supplement my income until I find another full-time job.
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Julia Hall
Your best bet is 2 apply 4 UI and be honest about ur part time work. They'll calculate everything 4 u. Just make sure u report ALL earnings each week when u certify. I got in trouble 4 not reporting $120 cash job once & had 2 pay it back + penalty.
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Kolton Murphy
•This is really important advice. Always report all earnings when certifying, even small amounts. EDD can and will verify your income with your employer through tax records.
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Arjun Patel
If you're struggling to reach EDD to get a clear answer on your specific situation, you might want to try Claimyr. I had a similar income question last month and couldn't get through on the regular line for days. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes who explained my exact benefit calculation. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km
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Jade Lopez
•is this legit? seems sketchy that u have to pay just to talk to EDD...
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Arjun Patel
•It's definitely legit. They don't replace EDD - they just connect you to the actual EDD phone line without you having to keep redialing. The agent I spoke with was a regular EDD employee who pulled up my claim and everything.
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Tony Brooks
The formula EDD uses is actually more complicated than most people realize. It's not just about the 25% threshold. The complete formula is: 1. Take your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) 2. Subtract 25% of your WBA (this is your "disregard" amount) 3. Subtract the remainder of your part-time earnings from your WBA So technically, you can earn up to your WBA + 25% before your benefit reduces to $0. For example, if your WBA is $350, you could earn up to $437.50 before getting zero UI benefits. But remember, your WBA depends on your previous earnings, so you need to check your specific amount.
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Jackson Carter
•This makes more sense! So it's possible I could still get some UI even with my part-time job. I'll definitely apply and see what happens. Thank you for the detailed explanation.
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Ella rollingthunder87
I went through this exact same situation in 2023!!! I was working at Target part-time while on UI and as long as you report honestly you'll be fine. The online system calculates everything. One weird thing - if you work different hours each week your payment will change every time. It's annoying but at least you get something.
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Evelyn Rivera
•Yes!!! The fluctuating payments drove me CRAZY! One week I'd get $220, next week $87, then back up to $176...impossible to budget with that nonsense.
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Kolton Murphy
One more important thing to note: when calculating your initial eligibility for UI, EDD looks at your earnings during your base period (typically the 12-month period ending 5-6 months before you file). So your current part-time earnings aren't relevant to whether you qualify initially - that's determined by your previous full-time job earnings. Your current part-time income only affects how much you receive each week after you're approved.
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Jackson Carter
•Oh that's a relief! So my layoff from full-time to part-time should qualify me based on my previous earnings, and then my current part-time work just reduces the weekly amount. Thanks for clarifying!
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QuantumQuest
Just wanted to add - make sure you understand the difference between "reduced hours" and being "laid off" when you file your claim. Since you went from 40 hours to 12 hours at the same job, this might be considered a reduction in hours rather than a traditional layoff. EDD treats these situations slightly differently, but you should still qualify for partial benefits. When you file, be very clear about your situation - that your employer cut your hours significantly but you're still employed part-time. This will help EDD process your claim correctly from the start.
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Dana Doyle
•This is such a good point! I didn't even think about how to describe my situation properly. Should I mention that it's the same employer when I file, or does that complicate things? I want to make sure I don't accidentally misrepresent anything since everyone keeps emphasizing how important it is to be honest with EDD.
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Miguel Alvarez
•@dc11f34c4971 Definitely mention it's the same employer! Being transparent about this actually helps your case since it clearly shows you had a significant reduction in work hours through no fault of your own. When filing, there should be an option to indicate "reduced hours" as your reason for filing. This is actually pretty common - EDD sees tons of claims from people whose employers cut their hours but kept them on part-time. The key is just being upfront about still working for the same company at reduced hours. It won't complicate things at all, and it helps EDD understand your exact situation from the beginning.
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Miguel Diaz
I just went through this same situation! Got my hours cut from full-time to part-time and was worried about the income limits too. Here's what I learned: EDD looks at your gross weekly earnings vs your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA). You can earn up to 25% of your WBA without any deduction, then they reduce your benefits dollar-for-dollar after that. The good news is you can still get partial benefits as long as your part-time earnings don't exceed 125% of your WBA. With your $240/week, you'll likely still qualify for something - just apply and be completely honest about your current part-time work when you certify each week. The system will calculate it all automatically. Don't stress about the exact math beforehand, just get your claim started!
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