EDD reporting Uber Eats/DoorDash income during unemployment - will this affect my benefits?

You absolutely must report ALL income when certifying, including gig work like Uber Eats or DoorDash. EDD considers this self-employment income. When you certify each week, you'll report your gross earnings (before expenses/taxes) for the week you performed the work, not when you got paid. EDD will reduce your weekly benefit by subtracting 75% of your earnings. So if you make $100 delivering food, your weekly benefit would be reduced by $75. Example: $450 weekly benefit - $75 (75% of $100 earnings) = $375 unemployment payment for that week. As long as you report accurately, you won't get penalized. Just be aware that if your earnings are too high in a given week, you might not receive any benefits for that week, but you'd still remain on your claim.

did doordash all last yr while on ui. its ok but u gotta report every penny or they WILL catch u later trust me. my friend didnt report like $340 from instacart and got hit with fraud penalty + had to payback everything. not worth it!!

I did UberEats while on unemployment in 2022. Here's what you need to know: 1) You'll need to report your GROSS earnings (what you make before expenses) 2) Report earnings in the week you WORKED, not when you get paid 3) You can still receive partial benefits as long as you don't earn more than your weekly benefit amount 4) Make sure to track ALL your expenses (mileage, hot bags, etc.) for tax purposes 5) You'll need to certify that you're still looking for full-time work I personally found it worthwhile. I typically did deliveries Friday-Sunday and still had plenty of time for job searching during the week. My benefits were reduced some weeks, but the combined income was better than unemployment alone.

@profile7 No, I never had an eligibility interview specifically about the gig work. As long as you're available for and actively seeking full-time work (and can document your job search activities), doing some gig work on the side shouldn't trigger issues. The key is being honest on your certification that you're available for work and not turning down any suitable job offers.

Just to add another perspective - I tried doing DoorDash while on unemployment last year, and honestly the hassle of reporting, the benefit reductions, and the stress about possibly making mistakes wasn't worth it FOR ME. After gas, car wear and tear, and taxes, I was barely making anything extra once my benefits were reduced. I found a part-time temporary job with fixed hours instead, which was easier to report and track. One thing to be super careful about - don't accidentally claim you're "self-employed" on your certification. There's a difference between having self-employment income and being fully self-employed (which could disqualify you).

To answer your question about the threshold - you won't receive benefits for any week you earn equal to or more than your weekly benefit amount ($450 in your case). If you earn $449 or less, you'll receive at least some partial benefits. Also, any week you receive even $1 in benefits, it counts as a full paid week for your claim and you'll get the additional $25 Supplement Benefit Payment that EDD recently started adding to weekly payments.

I've been trying to reach EDD for 3 weeks to ask questions about reporting my DoorDash income and it's IMPOSSIBLE to get through. I keep getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then it hangs up. So frustrating! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a human at EDD? I have specific questions about my situation that aren't answered on their website.

@profile6 Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out. Just need to get clear answers about my situation before I mess something up on my certification.

Im so confused 😫 Does anyone know if we're supposed to report the ACTUAL amount deposited in our bank account from Uber or the amount before they take out their fees? The EDD website is so unclear and I've been reporting the deposit amount. Now I'm worried I've been doing it wrong.

Has anyone had their account flagged for an eligibility interview after starting gig work? That's my biggest fear - that somehow EDD will think I'm not looking for full-time work anymore just because I'm doing some deliveries on weekends.

One more important tip: I recommend setting aside at least 25-30% of your gig earnings for taxes. Unlike regular employment, taxes aren't withheld from gig work, so you'll owe self-employment tax plus income tax when you file next year. Keep track of your mileage too (use an app like Stride) - that's your biggest deduction.

@profile5 yea its a pain but u get used 2 it. i just take screenshots of my earnings every week n save them in a folder so if EDD ever asks i got proof. better safe than sorry.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - laid off from my tech job in San Francisco and the cost of living here is brutal. Based on everyone's advice, it sounds like doing some weekend delivery work could be worth it as long as I'm super careful about reporting everything correctly. A few follow-up questions: Does anyone know if EDD has access to the gig platforms' records? Like, can they cross-check what I report against what Uber Eats or DoorDash reports to the IRS? Also, I'm curious about the timing - if I work on a Sunday but don't get paid until the following Tuesday, I report it for the week I actually worked, right? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's reassuring to know others have navigated this successfully without getting into trouble with EDD.

@Isaac Wright Yes, you're absolutely right about the timing - you report earnings for the week you actually performed the work, not when you received payment. So if you work Sunday but get paid Tuesday, you report it for the week containing that Sunday. As for EDD having access to gig platform records - they definitely can cross-reference your reported income with what platforms report to the IRS via 1099s. The gig companies are required to send you (and the IRS) a 1099-NEC if you earn $600+ in a year. EDD has sophisticated systems to detect unreported income, so it's crucial to be accurate. One thing I learned the hard way - keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I use a simple spreadsheet to track: date worked, platform used, gross earnings, and any expenses. Take screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries from the apps too. This documentation saved me when EDD requested additional information about my self-employment income during a routine review. The extra income really does help with SF's crazy cost of living, just make sure you're still dedicating enough time to your job search in tech. Good luck!

I've been doing UberEats while on unemployment for about 6 months now and wanted to share some practical tips that have helped me stay compliant: 1) Download a mileage tracking app like Everlance or MileIQ - it automatically tracks your driving and calculates deductions for taxes 2) Take screenshots of your weekly earnings summary every Sunday night before the new week starts 3) I created a simple Google Sheet with columns for: Week Ending Date, Platform (UberEats/DoorDash), Gross Earnings, Hours Worked, Mileage 4) When certifying, I always round UP to the nearest dollar if there are cents (better to over-report slightly than under-report) The income really does help bridge the gap while job hunting. Last month I made $180 from deliveries over 3 weekends, my benefits were reduced by $135 (75% of earnings), but I still came out $45 ahead plus kept my partial benefits. One warning though - be careful during busy periods like holidays. I made $380 one week during New Year's and got zero benefits that week since I exceeded my weekly benefit amount. Plan accordingly if you need consistent benefit payments! Also, keep ALL your documentation. EDD can request records going back to the start of your claim at any time.

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in the exact same boat as the original poster - laid off from marketing and struggling with LA rent on $450/week. Reading everyone's experiences has given me confidence to try some weekend delivery work. Based on all the advice here, my plan is to: - Start with just Friday/Saturday nights to test the waters - Use Everlance for mileage tracking like Hunter suggested - Set up that Google Sheet template to track everything - Take weekly screenshots of earnings - Set aside 30% of gig earnings for taxes - Keep detailed job search records to show I'm still actively looking for full-time work One question I still have: if I'm doing delivery work in LA traffic, are there any specific safety considerations or insurance issues I should be aware of? I know some personal auto insurance policies don't cover commercial use, and I don't want to get stuck with a huge bill if something happens while I'm delivering. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and actual numbers - it makes this feel much more manageable knowing others have successfully balanced gig work with unemployment benefits!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who's been dealing with EDD for a few months now, I wanted to add one more important point that I learned recently. If you're planning to do gig work while on unemployment, make sure you understand the difference between "working" and being "available for work" on your certification. EDD asks both questions separately for a reason. You can answer YES to working (and report your gig earnings) while still answering YES to being available for full-time work, as long as you're genuinely available to accept suitable employment in your field. I was initially confused about this and almost answered NO to "available for work" just because I was doing some weekend Instacart deliveries. Thankfully I called EDD (using that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really works!) and they clarified that as long as you're not turning down job offers and you're still actively job searching, doing limited gig work doesn't make you "unavailable." Also, to answer @Diego Castillo's insurance question - I use GEICO and they have a pretty affordable gig work add-on that covers the gaps between personal and the app's commercial coverage. Definitely worth checking with your insurance company before you start driving! Keep detailed records, be honest on your certifications, and you should be fine. The extra income really does help, especially with California's cost of living being so brutal right now.

@Carmen Ortiz Great question about platform flexibility! I've tried most of the major delivery apps while on unemployment and here's what I've found: **UberEats** - Most flexible scheduling, you can literally turn on/off whenever. Great for working around interviews. Peak weekend earnings are decent, especially Friday/Saturday nights. **DoorDash** - Also very flexible, but you need to schedule blocks during busy times or you might not get orders. I found their weekend lunch rush (11am-2pm Saturday/Sunday) surprisingly good for earnings. **Grubhub** - Requires you to schedule blocks in advance, which can be tricky if you get last-minute interview calls. But they tend to have higher payouts per order. **Instacart** - Super flexible like Uber, but grocery shopping takes longer per order. Good for Sunday mornings when people are meal prepping. For unemployment purposes, I'd recommend starting with UberEats or DoorDash since you can instantly pause/resume if you need to take a phone interview or attend something job-search related. Both apps let you work as little or as much as you want without any minimum hour commitments. Just remember that flexibility comes with inconsistent earnings - some weekends you might make $200, others only $80 depending on demand and how much you work. Plan accordingly for your budget and benefit calculations!

I've been doing delivery gigs while on unemployment for about 4 months now and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me stay organized: **Weekly routine that works for me:** - Sunday night: Screenshot all earnings from each app and update my tracking spreadsheet - Monday morning: Calculate what I need to report for certification (usually due Tuesday) - Always certify early in the day to avoid any technical issues with the EDD website **Red flags to avoid:** - Never work during typical business hours (9-5 weekdays) if you can help it - makes it look like you're not available for interviews - Don't work the same 30+ hours every week or it might look like regular employment rather than supplemental gig work - Keep your delivery area consistent with where you're actually looking for full-time jobs **Money management:** I set up a separate savings account and immediately transfer 30% of all gig earnings for taxes. Also put aside money to cover the weeks when I might earn too much and lose benefits entirely. The key is treating this as truly supplemental income while keeping your job search as the main priority. Document everything obsessively - it's better to be over-prepared than scrambling if EDD ever asks questions. The extra money has been a lifesaver for covering rent and groceries while job hunting in this expensive state!

I'm really glad this thread exists - I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster, laid off from a tech job in San Diego and struggling to make ends meet on my weekly benefit amount. The rent here is absolutely crushing and I've been considering gig work but was terrified of messing up my EDD claim. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly reassuring. The fact that multiple people have successfully balanced delivery work with unemployment benefits while staying compliant gives me confidence to try this approach. I especially appreciate the specific tips about tracking everything, the weekly routines, and the platform comparisons. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - has anyone had experience with multiple delivery platforms simultaneously? Like, could I do both UberEats and DoorDash in the same week, or does that complicate the reporting process too much? I'm thinking it might help ensure more consistent earnings if one platform is slow, but I don't want to overcomplicate things when I'm just starting out. Also, for tax purposes, do the platforms send separate 1099s if you work for multiple companies, or is there some consolidated reporting? I want to make sure I'm prepared for next tax season since this will be my first time dealing with gig work income. Thanks to everyone who has shared their real experiences and numbers - it's made this feel so much more manageable!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who just started collecting unemployment after being laid off from my retail management job, I was completely overwhelmed by the idea of doing gig work while maintaining my benefits. Reading through everyone's real experiences and seeing the actual numbers has made this feel so much more manageable. The weekly routine suggestions from @Amina Toure are genius - having that Sunday night screenshot ritual and Monday morning calculation process will definitely help me stay organized. And @Micah Franklin, thanks for clarifying how the multi-platform approach works for reporting - I was worried it would be too complicated but your explanation makes it sound totally doable. One thing that really stands out from everyone's advice is how critical it is to be obsessively organized with documentation. It sounds like EDD can and will cross-reference everything, so there's no room for "close enough" when it comes to reporting earnings. I'm definitely going to set up that separate savings account for taxes right from the start. I'm planning to start with just UberEats on weekends to test the waters, focusing on Friday dinner and Saturday/Sunday when I wouldn't be job hunting anyway. The flexibility to turn it on/off instantly seems perfect for my situation since I never know when I might get an interview call. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver!

I've been doing Instacart while on unemployment for the past 2 months and wanted to add a few things that haven't been mentioned yet: **Seasonal considerations:** Be prepared for earnings to fluctuate based on weather and holidays. Rainy weekends are goldmines for delivery drivers, but slow weeks happen too. I track my monthly averages to help predict income better. **EDD audit protection:** I keep a simple folder on my phone with screenshots of every weekly summary from each app, plus photos of my mileage log. If EDD ever audits my claim, I can produce everything immediately. Takes 2 minutes each week but gives me huge peace of mind. **Job search balance:** I found that limiting myself to 15-20 hours max per week keeps me well under full-time territory and leaves plenty of energy for applications and interviews. Some weeks I only work 8-10 hours if I have multiple interviews scheduled. **Banking tip:** I use a separate checking account just for gig work deposits and tax savings. Makes it super easy to track everything and I never accidentally spend money I owe the IRS. The extra income has been a lifesaver while job hunting, especially with California's cost of living. Just stay organized, be conservative with your reporting (when in doubt, report more), and keep your job search as the main priority. You've got this!

I've been following this thread as someone who's been doing DoorDash while on unemployment for about 3 months, and I wanted to share a few additional insights that might help newcomers: **Weekly earnings strategy:** I've found that aiming for $150-200 per week in gig earnings hits a sweet spot. After the 75% benefit reduction, I still get partial unemployment plus the full delivery income, and it keeps me well below the threshold where I'd lose benefits entirely. More importantly, it's sustainable alongside serious job searching. **Documentation beyond screenshots:** I also keep a simple note in my phone for each delivery session - date, start/end times, platform used, and total earned. Takes 30 seconds but creates a backup record if app data ever gets corrupted or deleted. **Interview scheduling tip:** Both UberEats and DoorDash let you see demand forecasts for upcoming days. I use this to plan my delivery schedule around potential interview times. If I see high demand predicted for Tuesday afternoon, I'll block that time off in case I get interview requests. **Reality check on expenses:** Don't forget to factor in gas, car maintenance, and the toll on your vehicle. I budget about $0.25 per mile for total vehicle costs. Some weeks after expenses, I'm only netting $100-120 from $150 in reported earnings, but combined with partial benefits it's still worthwhile. The key is treating this as temporary supplemental income while you focus on landing that next full-time role. Stay compliant, stay organized, and good luck to everyone navigating this challenging job market!

Wow, this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I'm in a very similar situation - just got laid off from my graphic design job here in LA and that $450/week is barely covering my rent, let alone food and other expenses. Reading through everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective on doing delivery work while on unemployment. I was initially terrified about potentially messing up my EDD claim, but seeing how many people have successfully navigated this with proper documentation and honest reporting is really encouraging. The specific tips about weekly routines, separate banking accounts for taxes, and using apps like Everlance for mileage tracking are exactly what I needed to hear. @Freya Johansen your $150-200 weekly target strategy sounds perfect for my situation. After reading everyone's math on the 75% benefit reduction, it seems like that range would give me meaningful extra income while keeping me in partial benefits territory. I'm planning to start with UberEats on Friday/Saturday evenings like several people suggested, get that Google Sheets tracking system set up, and be absolutely religious about those Sunday night screenshots. The flexibility to instantly turn on/off the app seems crucial since I never know when an interview opportunity might pop up. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual numbers and real-world experiences. This thread has turned what felt like a risky gamble into a manageable strategy with clear best practices. Time to get that background check started!