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Sofia Torres

EDD partial benefits with part-time job after full-time layoff? Hours reporting confusion

Recently got laid off from my warehouse supervisor position after 4 years (company downsizing). I'm receiving about $425/week in unemployment benefits which barely covers my bills. I just got offered a part-time position at a local retail store (25 hours/week at $19/hr) starting next Monday. I really need this income but I'm confused about how this affects my EDD claim. Can I still collect partial unemployment while working part-time? How exactly do I report my hours and pay when certifying? Will I lose my entire weekly benefit amount or do they just reduce it? This is my first time on unemployment and I don't want to mess anything up and get hit with an overpayment later. Any advice would be super helpful!

Yes, you can definitely still receive partial unemployment benefits while working part-time. When you certify, you'll need to report ALL hours worked and ALL gross earnings (before taxes) for each week. EDD uses a formula where they deduct a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. The basic calculation is that the first $25 or 25% of your earnings (whichever is greater) doesn't count against you, then the rest reduces your benefit dollar for dollar. So with your situation: 25 hours × $19 = $475 gross weekly earnings. They'll subtract ~$119 (25% of your earnings) and then the remaining $356 would reduce your weekly benefit amount. Since your WBA is $425, you'd still get about $69/week in benefits ($425 - $356 = $69) plus you'd have your part-time job income. Just be extremely accurate when reporting - always report based on when you worked, not when you got paid.

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Thank you so much for breaking it down like that! So I'll still get a small unemployment payment plus my work income - that helps a lot. I was worried I'd lose everything as soon as I started working. Quick follow-up question: do I report my hours for the days I actually work them, even if the pay period hasn't ended yet? And should I wait to certify until after I get my first paycheck so I know the exact amount?

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I went through this EXACT same thing last year and EDD SCREWED ME OVER completely!! I reported everything correctly and they STILL hit me with a $2400 overpayment notice 6 months later claiming I didn't report income properly!!! I had to appeal and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! Be super careful with part-time work - sometimes its not worth it cuz theyll take most of ur benefits anyway and then come after u later for 'mistakes' THEY MADE!!!

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Oh no, that sounds awful! Did you win your appeal? I'm definitely worried about making a mistake and dealing with overpayments later. I need both income sources to make ends meet right now though.

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I eventually won after 3 MONTHS of back and forth and having to dig up old paystubs and timecards!!! They kept saying I didn't report one week properly even tho I HAD PROOF I did!!! Make sure u save EVERYTHING - screenshots of all ur certifications, paystubs, timecards, everything!!! Don't trust EDD to keep proper records!!

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i work parttime at amazon and get partial benefits. just make sure u put in the exact hours each week when u certify. they ask u day by day how many hours u worked. dont wait til u get paid to report it. report the hours in the week u actually worked them even if u havent been paid yet

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This is good advice - always report when you worked, not when you got paid. That's a common mistake people make.

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One thing nobody mentioned yet is how working part-time affects your work search requirements. When you're working part-time, you're still required to make at least 3 job contacts each week for full-time work unless EDD specifically waives this requirement. Some people don't realize this and get disqualified because they stop looking for work once they get a part-time job. Make sure you keep track of all your job contacts in case EDD asks for verification. Also, if your part-time hours ever increase to full-time (32+ hours), or if your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount by too much, you won't receive benefits for that week, but your claim stays open. You can resume collecting benefits if your hours drop again during your benefit year.

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That's really good to know! I was wondering about the job search requirements. I'll definitely keep looking for full-time work and tracking my applications. My goal is to find something full-time with benefits anyway, this part-time job is just to help in the meantime.

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Have you tried calling EDD to get clarification directly from them? You should get the information from the source since your situation has some specific details that might affect how benefits are calculated. I was in a similar situation last month and was getting conflicting advice online. I finally got through to EDD using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They connect you with EDD representatives without you having to keep redialing all day. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I spoke with gave me the exact formula they use for my specific situation and cleared up my confusion about reporting hours. It was worth getting the official answer directly from EDD instead of worrying about doing something wrong.

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I've tried calling EDD three times this week and couldn't get through! Always got the message about too many callers. I'll check out that service - at this point I'm willing to try anything to get clear answers directly from EDD. Thanks for the suggestion!

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my brother works part time at target and gets partial benefits too. he says the key is being super accurate with ur hours. if u work 5.75 hours put exactly 5.75 not 6 or 5.5. and report the hours for the certification week not the pay period. like if the certification week ends on saturday but ur pay period ends on friday still report saturdays hours in that certification

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To answer your follow-up question: Always report based on when you WORKED, not when you got PAID. So if your certification period is for May 1-14, and you worked during that time, you report those hours even if you won't get paid until May 20th. Don't wait to certify until after you get your paycheck. Certify on time and report your hours worked and what your gross earnings will be (hours × hourly rate). Being late with certification can cause payment delays or even disqualification. One more important tip: When you start your part-time job, the first week you work might be a partial week rather than a full workweek. Be extra careful reporting just the hours worked in each specific certification week. For example, if you start on a Wednesday and the certification week runs Sunday-Saturday, you'd only report 3 days of work for that first week.

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Thank you for the detailed explanation! This clarifies everything. You're right that my first week will be partial since I start on Monday but the EDD week starts on Sunday. I'll make sure to report accurately for each certification period regardless of when I actually get paid. Really appreciate everyone's help!

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I've been on partial unemployment for about 4 months now with a part-time job. Just want to add that in my experience, it takes EDD about 1-2 days longer to process my payments when I report wages compared to when I had no income. So don't panic if you see a slight delay after reporting part-time work. Also, double-check the certification questions carefully - there's a specific question asking if you refused any work, which is different from the question about whether you worked.

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Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me a lot when I was in a similar situation - keep a simple spreadsheet or notebook tracking your daily hours and earnings for each week. I created columns for date, hours worked, and gross pay, then totaled them by EDD certification week (Sunday-Saturday). This made it super easy to report accurately during certification and also gave me backup documentation in case EDD ever questioned anything. Also, don't forget that your part-time earnings might affect your taxes differently than when you were just on unemployment. UI benefits are taxable, but having both sources of income might push you into a different situation come tax time. Just something to keep in mind for next year! Good luck with the new job - it sounds like you've got a solid plan and the community here has given you great advice about reporting everything properly.

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I'm new to this community but have been dealing with a similar situation for the past few months. One thing I learned the hard way is to always keep copies of your work schedules in addition to tracking your hours. My manager at my part-time job sometimes changes the schedule last minute, and I've had to show EDD proof of when I was actually scheduled vs when I worked to avoid any discrepancies. Also, regarding the benefit calculation - the formula can vary slightly based on your specific Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA). I'd recommend using EDD's online benefit calculator if you haven't already, or like others mentioned, try to get through to them directly for your exact situation. One last tip: if your part-time employer offers any benefits (even minimal ones), make sure you understand how that might affect your unemployment claim. Some people don't realize that certain employer benefits can be considered "wages" for reporting purposes. Sounds like you're being really thoughtful about this transition - that's the key to avoiding problems down the road!

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Welcome to the community! That's really smart advice about keeping copies of work schedules - I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense, especially with retail jobs where schedules can change. I'll definitely start doing that once I begin working. The point about employer benefits is interesting too - my new part-time job doesn't offer much but I should double-check if there's anything that could be considered "wages" for EDD purposes. Thanks for the practical tips!

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I'm currently in a very similar situation - laid off from my full-time manufacturing job in January and just started a part-time cashier position at a grocery store. I was terrified about messing up the reporting too, but it's actually been pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. A few things that have helped me: 1. I created a simple calendar where I write down my exact hours each day (like 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM = 5.5 hours) so I never have to guess when certifying 2. I always round to the nearest quarter hour when calculating, never round up to make it "easier" - EDD wants precision 3. I screenshot my certification confirmation page every time as backup proof The partial benefits have been a lifesaver for me financially while I search for full-time work. In my case, I work about 20 hours/week at $16/hour and still get about $180/week in unemployment benefits on top of my part-time wages. It's definitely worth doing if you need the income! One thing I wish someone had told me: your first certification after starting part-time work might take an extra day or two to process while EDD reviews the new income information. Don't worry if there's a slight delay - it's normal for the first few weeks. Good luck with the new job! You've got this!

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This is so helpful to hear from someone in almost the exact same situation! I really like your idea about writing down the exact times on a calendar - that seems way more reliable than trying to remember later. The screenshot tip is brilliant too, especially after reading about @Ava Martinez s'nightmare with the overpayment dispute. It s'reassuring to know that the slight processing delay is normal for the first few weeks. I m'feeling much more confident about managing this whole process now. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I've been working part-time while on unemployment for about 6 months now and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me stay organized and avoid issues: 1. Set up a simple reminder on your phone for certification days - I use a recurring alarm every two weeks that says "EDD certification due" so I never miss the deadline. 2. If you're working retail like your new job, be extra careful about reporting holiday pay or any overtime hours. Even if you work just one extra hour beyond your normal schedule, make sure to report the exact total for that week. 3. Keep a backup of all your certifications - I take photos of the completed certification screens with my phone before submitting, just in case the system glitches or I need proof later. 4. If EDD ever sends you any notices or requests for additional information about your part-time work, respond immediately. Don't put it off even if it seems like a minor request - delays in responding can cause payment holds. The partial benefits system really does work well when you report everything accurately and consistently. It sounds like you're approaching this the right way by asking questions upfront rather than figuring it out as you go. That preparation will definitely save you headaches later!

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These are excellent tips! I especially appreciate the reminder about setting up phone alerts for certification - I can already see myself getting caught up in my new work routine and potentially forgetting. The point about holiday pay is really important too since I'm starting in retail and the holidays are coming up. I hadn't even thought about how that might complicate things. Taking photos of the certification screens is such a smart backup strategy, especially after hearing about all the documentation issues people have had. Thanks for thinking of all these practical details that I probably wouldn't have considered until I ran into problems!

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Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been navigating this exact situation! I was laid off from my office job in February and started part-time work at a local bookstore about a month ago. The learning curve with EDD reporting seemed overwhelming at first, but it's actually become pretty routine now. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: if your part-time job has irregular scheduling (which is common in retail), try to get your schedule as far in advance as possible and keep a photo of it. My bookstore sometimes posts schedules only a week out, and I've found it helpful to have that documentation in case there are ever questions about when I was supposed to work vs. when I actually worked. Also, don't be discouraged by the stories about overpayments and appeals - while those situations do happen, the vast majority of people who report accurately and consistently don't have major issues. The key is being meticulous about your record-keeping from day one. You're already asking the right questions and getting solid advice from this community. That proactive approach will serve you well! The partial benefits really do help bridge the gap while you're searching for full-time work.

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who's successfully navigated this for a few months. The irregular scheduling point is definitely something I need to think about - retail schedules can be pretty unpredictable. I'll make sure to take photos of my schedule each week. Your point about not being discouraged by the scary stories is really helpful too. I was starting to get anxious after reading about some of the overpayment situations, but you're right that being meticulous with documentation from the start should prevent most issues. I'm feeling much more prepared now thanks to everyone's advice in this thread!

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Hey Sofia! I've been in a very similar situation - got laid off from my warehouse job last year and started part-time retail work while collecting partial unemployment. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice, but I wanted to add one practical tip that really helped me: when you start your new job, ask your manager upfront about their policy for schedule changes and how much notice they typically give. Retail can be unpredictable with hours, and I found it helpful to establish a good relationship early on so I could get advance notice of any schedule changes. This made it much easier to plan my EDD reporting accurately. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time on unemployment - don't stress too much! The system is designed to work with part-time employment, and as long as you're honest and precise with your reporting, you should be fine. I've been doing partial benefits for 8 months now without any issues. The combination of your part-time wages plus the reduced unemployment benefits will definitely help more than just the unemployment alone. You've got this!

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Thanks Isabella! That's really smart advice about talking to the manager upfront about schedule changes. I hadn't thought about being proactive like that, but it makes total sense - establishing that communication early could save me a lot of headaches with reporting. It's also really encouraging to hear that you've been doing this successfully for 8 months without issues! All the advice in this thread has been incredibly helpful and I'm feeling much more confident about starting this part-time job while maintaining my unemployment benefits. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

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As someone who's been collecting partial unemployment benefits while working part-time for about 3 months now, I wanted to share a few things that have really helped me stay organized and avoid any issues: First, download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it makes certification so much easier and you can do it from anywhere. I set myself a recurring reminder for every other Sunday morning to certify. Second, create a simple system for tracking your hours that works for YOUR schedule. I use a small notebook that I keep in my work bag where I jot down my start/end times each day. At the end of each week, I total up the hours and write down my gross pay calculation (hours × $hourly rate). This takes maybe 2 minutes but saves so much stress during certification. One thing I learned after a minor scare with EDD - if you ever make a mistake on your certification (like accidentally putting 8 hours instead of 7.5), call EDD immediately to correct it rather than waiting. They appreciate the honesty and it's much easier to fix mistakes proactively. The partial benefits have been a financial lifesaver while I search for full-time work. You're doing the right thing by asking these questions upfront - that preparation mindset will definitely keep you out of trouble. Best of luck with your new retail job!

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This is such practical advice, thank you! I really like the idea of using a small notebook to track hours - that seems way more reliable than trying to remember everything later. The EDD mobile app is definitely something I need to download before I start working. Your point about calling immediately if you make a mistake is really important too - I can see how being proactive about corrections would be much better than trying to explain it later. It's so encouraging to hear from people who are successfully managing this system! I'm starting to feel like I can handle this transition confidently.

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I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so similar to yours! I was laid off from my logistics coordinator job in February and just started a part-time position at a local coffee shop last month (about 22 hours/week at $17/hour). The transition to partial benefits was actually much smoother than I expected after reading so many scary stories online. The key things that helped me were: 1) Setting up a simple Google Sheet to track my daily hours and weekly totals, 2) Always reporting hours worked during the certification week regardless of when I get paid, and 3) Being extremely precise with my time tracking (I use my phone's clock app to timestamp my actual start/end times each shift). My weekly benefit amount dropped from $380 to about $95, but combined with my part-time earnings, I'm actually doing better financially than on unemployment alone. Plus, having some structure and income from work has really helped my mental health during this job search process. One specific tip for retail work - make sure you understand your store's policy on breaks and meal periods, since those unpaid times need to be subtracted from your total hours when reporting to EDD. My coffee shop automatically deducts 30 minutes for shifts over 6 hours, so I had to factor that into my calculations. You're asking all the right questions upfront, which puts you way ahead of where I was when I started! The EDD system really does work when you're accurate and consistent with reporting.

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Welcome to the community! Your experience is really encouraging to hear, especially the part about actually doing better financially with the combination of part-time work and reduced benefits. That's exactly what I'm hoping for with my situation. The Google Sheet idea is brilliant - I was thinking about using a notebook, but a digital tracker would probably be even better for calculating weekly totals. Your point about break and meal periods is something I definitely need to ask about on my first day - I hadn't even thought about how unpaid breaks would affect my hour calculations for EDD reporting. It's also really reassuring to hear that the mental health benefits of having work structure have helped during your job search. Thanks for sharing such detailed and practical advice!

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