EDD reporting rules for DoorDash/Uber income - how exactly does gig work affect my weekly benefit amount?

Yes, you can definitely do gig work while on unemployment, but you need to understand how it affects your benefits. Gig work is considered self-employment, and EDD handles it similarly to part-time work, but with some differences. The basic rule is that EDD uses the 75% formula for deductions. They'll subtract 75% of your gross earnings from your weekly benefit amount. So if you make $100 in a week doing DoorDash, they'll deduct $75 from your weekly benefit. Important: You must report your gig earnings in the week you WORKED, not when you got paid. This is different from regular employment. So if you do DoorDash on Saturday but don't get the deposit until Tuesday, you report it for the week you actually did the driving. Also, keep detailed records of all your earnings and expenses for tax purposes later. And don't forget to report ALL income - even cash tips.

thats NOT how it works!!! EDD takes dollar for dollar after the first $25 you earn each week. so if u make $100 they take $75 from ur benefits. ppl always get this wrong. look it up on the EDD website dont listen to random ppl on here

You know what's INSANE?? They expect us to somehow magically calculate all this correctly but then dont answer phones when u have questions!! I called EDD 32 times last month trying to get clarification on my gig earnings and NEVER got through. The whole system is designed to make us fail i swear

I did Instacart while on UI last year! The way I understood it (and plz someone correct me if I'm wrong), you report your GROSS earnings before they take out their fees. So if you made $100 in deliveries but the app only gives you $80 after their cut, you still report $100. And yeah track EVERYTHING for taxes. I kept all my mileage, gas receipts, car maintenance, even part of my phone bill since I used it for the app. You'll need all that for taxes since gig work doesn't withhold anything!!! Oh and don't forget that u have to do those quarterly tax payments if u make enough from gigs. That caught me by surprise!!

my cousin did doordash while on edd and they ended up saying he commited fraud and now he owes like $6000 back be careful man

I'm actually doing DoorDash while on unemployment right now and it's working out pretty well! I'm actually making more than when I was just getting UI alone. I try to keep my earnings below a certain amount each week so I still get some benefits. One thing I noticed is that I get a LOT of conflicting information from EDD reps when I call. One told me to report when I get paid, another said report when I work. I've been reporting when I work to be safe since that's what the certification question actually asks. Also - dont forget you can deduct mileage for taxes as a gig worker. Makes a big difference!

This has nothing to do with gig work but my EDD payment has been stuck on pending for 3 weeks now and I can't get anyone on the phone. Anyone know how to fix this??

To address the specific calculation question: With a $450 weekly benefit amount (WBA): 1. If you earn $100 from gig work in a week: 75% of $100 = $75 deduction. You'd receive $375 in UI benefits plus your $100 in gig earnings = $475 total. 2. If you earn $200 from gig work: 75% of $200 = $150 deduction. You'd get $300 in UI plus $200 in gig money = $500 total. 3. If you earn $600 from gig work: 75% of $600 = $450. This equals your entire WBA, so you'd get $0 in UI that week but keep your $600 in gig earnings. The key is to report accurately and keep detailed records. As long as you're honest with your reporting, you won't have any issues with EDD.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider the impact on your benefit year and total claim balance. Even though you can work gig jobs while collecting UI, every week you receive any unemployment benefits (even a reduced amount) counts toward your benefit year. So if you're earning enough from gig work that you're only getting like $50-100 in UI benefits per week, you might want to consider whether it's worth it to keep claiming. Sometimes it makes more sense to just work gig jobs full-time and save your UI benefits for when you really need them - like if gig work slows down or you get sick. Also, make sure you're still actively looking for permanent work and can prove it. EDD requires job search activities even when you're doing gig work. Keep a log of applications, interviews, etc. because they can audit your job search efforts at any time. The combination of gig work + UI can be great short-term, but don't lose sight of finding that stable full-time job!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been doing Uber Eats while on unemployment for about 2 months now. The 75% deduction rule is correct for gig work, and I've had no issues with EDD as long as I report everything accurately. One practical tip: I use a simple spreadsheet to track my daily earnings and miles driven. At the end of each week, I add up my gross earnings (before Uber's fees) and report that amount when I certify. I also keep screenshots of my weekly earnings summary from the app as backup documentation. The timing question is crucial - you report earnings for the week you WORKED, not when you got paid. So if you work Monday-Sunday but don't get paid until the following Tuesday, you still report those earnings for the week you actually drove. Also, don't forget that as a gig worker you're responsible for self-employment taxes (about 15.3% on top of regular income tax). I've been setting aside about 30% of my gig earnings for taxes to be safe. The IRS expects quarterly payments if you'll owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year. Overall, the combination has worked well for me - I'm making more than my UI alone, and it's giving me flexibility while I job hunt. Just stay organized with your record-keeping and be completely honest in your reporting!

I've been doing gig work while on UI for about 6 months now and want to share some hard-learned lessons that might help you avoid mistakes I made early on. First, the reporting timing IS confusing at first, but here's how I think about it: EDD wants to know what you EARNED during each certification period, regardless of when the money hits your account. So if you work Thursday-Sunday of your certification week, you report ALL of those earnings even if some payments are delayed. Second thing - and this is HUGE - track your GROSS earnings before any platform fees. So if DoorDash shows you earned $100 but only pays you $85 after their service fee, you report $100 to EDD. I made the mistake of reporting net earnings my first few weeks and had to correct it later. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I use a simple notes app on my phone to log: date, platform, hours worked, gross earnings, miles driven, and gas purchased. Takes 30 seconds after each shift but has saved me multiple times when EDD asked for clarification. One more tip: consider your vehicle expenses. Gig work is hard on your car - oil changes, tire wear, increased insurance. Factor these real costs into whether the work is actually profitable for you after the UI benefit reduction. The system works if you're diligent about accurate reporting, but there's definitely a learning curve!

I've been doing Uber/DoorDash while on UI for about 4 months now and wanted to share some practical tips that have helped me stay compliant and maximize my income. **Key things I've learned:** 1. **Set up a simple tracking system immediately** - I use a notebook in my car where I write down each shift: date, app used, total gross shown in app, hours worked. Takes 10 seconds but creates a paper trail. 2. **Screenshot everything** - At the end of each week, I screenshot my earnings summary from each app before I cash out. This gives me proof of what I reported to EDD if questions come up later. 3. **The sweet spot calculation** - With your $450 WBA, if you earn around $400 gross from gig work in a week, EDD deducts $300 (75%), leaving you $150 in benefits + $400 gig money = $550 total. That's been my target range. 4. **Don't overthink the timing** - I report earnings for the week I did the actual work, period. If I drove Saturday night but got paid Tuesday, it goes on Saturday's week. Keep it simple. 5. **Plan for taxes NOW** - I transfer 25% of each gig deposit into a separate savings account immediately. You'll thank yourself later when quarterly taxes are due. The system really does work if you're honest and organized. I'm actually earning more now than I was at my old job, and it's giving me flexibility to be picky about my next permanent position. Just don't cut corners on the record-keeping!