EDD reporting stipend income on certifications - confused about what counts as wages

YES, you absolutely must report stipends when certifying for unemployment benefits. The EDD considers pretty much any income you receive as reportable, regardless of what they call it. A stipend is compensation for work/services and EDD will count it. When you certify, report the stipend amount for the weeks you receive it. Be prepared for your weekly benefit amount to be reduced based on the stipend amount. It's better to over-report than under-report and face penalties later!

my cousins roomate got a stipend for some community project and didnt report it and got nailed with fraud later, had to pay back like everything + penalties. def report it!!

I can clarify this for you based on my experience working with EDD claims. Stipends are 100% reportable income when certifying for UI benefits. The key thing to understand is that EDD cares about ANY money you receive in exchange for services or work performed, regardless of what it's called (wages, stipend, honorarium, etc). When reporting: calculate the weekly equivalent of your monthly stipend. So $800/month would be approximately $184.62/week (800 ÷ 4.33 weeks). Report this amount for each week you're performing the work, not just the week you receive payment. Keep in mind that EDD has an earnings disregard of $25 or 25% of your weekly wages (whichever is greater). So they'll only deduct a portion of your stipend from your weekly benefit amount. Also, since you're filling out a W9, they'll treat you as an independent contractor. You'll receive a 1099 form at tax time, not a W2. This means you're not technically an "employee" but you're still earning reportable income.

Not reporting income is a common mistake that can lead to serious problems later! I think what matters is if you're providing services in exchange for money. If yes = reportable income. The name they give it (stipend, grant, etc) doesn't matter to EDD.

Stipends are DEFINITELY reportable! I was in a similar situation with a research stipend from UC Davis last year. I reported it on my certification and my weekly benefit amount was reduced, but I still received partial benefits. The EDD phone rep told me that any money received for services rendered must be reported, regardless of how it's classified by the payer. The confusing part is WHEN to report it. Since you'll be doing ongoing work for a monthly stipend, you should divide the monthly amount by 4.33 (average weeks in a month) and report that amount for each certification week. If you're having trouble getting through to EDD to confirm this, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get past the busy signals and actually speak with a rep who explained all this to me. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Much better than waiting weeks for an answer!

u might get enough hours with that research thing to qualify for partial unemployment! thats what my friend did with her part time gig

EDD IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! I had a similar situation with a teaching assistant stipend and they counted every penny against my benefits!!! But then my roommate had some kind of artistic grant and they didn't count it because it wasn't for "services rendered" but was for "creative output" or something?? The whole system is COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT and depends on which rep you talk to!!!

Just to add one important clarification: when you certify, there's a specific question asking if you "received any other type of income" - stipends fall under this category. Be sure to answer YES to this question and then select "other" from the dropdown menu. In the explanation field, type "research stipend" so it's clear what type of income you're reporting. This creates a clear paper trail showing you're being transparent about your income sources.

I didnt know this and didnt report my tutoring money and got hit with an overpayment notice six months later! Now im paying back $4200 plus a 30% penalty becuz they said i was negligent!! DONT RISK IT

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to report the stipend by dividing it into weekly amounts like suggested. Definitely don't want to risk an overpayment situation. I'll be sure to clearly mark it as a research stipend in the "other income" section when I certify. Really appreciate all the help!

I went through something similar with a fellowship stipend last year. The key thing that helped me was calling EDD and asking them to put a note on my file about the stipend situation. When I explained it was a research stipend paid monthly, they confirmed I should divide it weekly ($800 ÷ 4.33 = ~$185/week) and report it as "other income" during certification. Having that conversation documented on my claim really helped when they did their quarterly review - no issues at all! Also, keep all your paperwork from the university showing it's a legitimate research stipend. EDD appreciates transparency and documentation.

I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation! I just started a graduate research assistantship that pays a monthly stipend and was so confused about reporting it. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the weekly calculation method or the earnings disregard. One question though - if the stipend is tied to academic enrollment (like you have to be a student to receive it), does that change anything? I'm worried because some people told me educational stipends might be treated differently than regular work stipends. Has anyone dealt with student research stipends specifically?

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to add that when I called EDD about my research stipend, they told me something really important - make sure you're consistent with HOW you report it each certification period. If you decide to divide your $800 monthly stipend into weekly amounts (~$185), stick with that method every time you certify. Don't switch between reporting the full amount one week and then nothing the next three weeks, because that can trigger their system to flag your account for review. The rep I spoke with said consistency in reporting is key to avoiding unnecessary complications. Also, if your research work has specific start/end dates (like a semester), make sure you only report the stipend income for the weeks you're actually performing the research work, not just when you receive the payment. Good luck with everything!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Had a research stipend from a nonprofit organization and was terrified about reporting it wrong. Here's what I learned: EDD absolutely considers stipends as reportable income, even if your employer calls it something else. The fact that you're getting a W9 instead of W4 doesn't change that - you're still receiving compensation for work performed. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - the original offer letter mentioning it's a stipend, communications with the university, and screenshots of how I reported it in my certifications. When EDD did their routine review of my claim, having that documentation made the process smooth. Also, don't stress too much about the weekly calculation - as long as you're consistently reporting the income and being transparent, EDD is pretty reasonable. The $800/month ÷ 4.33 weeks method that others mentioned is exactly what I used and it worked perfectly. You're being smart by asking these questions upfront rather than guessing!

I'm dealing with a similar stipend situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add based on my recent experience - when you call EDD to discuss your stipend, make sure to ask them about the "base period wages" vs "benefit year earnings" distinction. My EDD rep explained that the stipend income you report during your benefit year won't affect your original qualification or weekly benefit amount calculation (which is based on your base period wages from before you filed). It only affects the weekly payment you receive through the earnings calculation. This was a huge relief for me because I was worried the stipend would somehow disqualify me from unemployment entirely. Also, if you're doing the research work from home or have flexible hours, EDD still considers it "work performed" regardless of where or when you do it - just wanted to clarify that since some people think remote/flexible work might be treated differently. Keep all your university paperwork and you'll be fine!

I just wanted to jump in and say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation a few weeks ago with a university research stipend and was completely lost about how to handle it. Reading through all these responses gave me the confidence to call EDD and report everything properly. I ended up following the advice about dividing my monthly stipend by 4.33 weeks and reporting it as "other income" with a clear description. My benefits were reduced but I still receive partial payments, and most importantly, I have peace of mind knowing I'm doing everything correctly. For anyone else dealing with this - the key takeaways seem to be: always report stipend income regardless of what they call it, be consistent with your reporting method, keep detailed documentation, and don't hesitate to call EDD to get official guidance on your file. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing situations!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! I just wanted to add something that might help others - when I spoke with an EDD representative about my graduate research stipend, they emphasized that the timing of when you receive the payment doesn't matter as much as when you perform the work. So if you're doing research work consistently throughout the month but only get paid once at the end, you should still divide that payment across the weeks you actually worked and report it for each certification period during those weeks. Also, for anyone worried about this affecting future unemployment claims - the rep told me that properly reported stipend income during your current claim won't negatively impact your ability to file a new claim later if needed. It's only unreported income that can cause problems down the road. The key is transparency and consistency. I've been following the advice in this thread for three months now with no issues, and it's such a relief to know I'm handling everything correctly!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience with a similar stipend situation that might help! I just finished dealing with a 6-month research stipend from a local medical center and successfully navigated the EDD reporting process. Like many others have mentioned, I divided my monthly stipend by 4.33 weeks and consistently reported it as "other income" during certification. One thing I learned that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your stipend amount changes during your research period (maybe due to additional responsibilities or project extensions), make sure to recalculate the weekly amount and update your reporting accordingly. I had my stipend increased halfway through my project and initially wasn't sure if I should report the new amount or stick with the original. EDD confirmed I should always report the current weekly equivalent of whatever I'm actually receiving. Also, keep copies of any email communications with your university contact about the stipend terms and payment schedule. When EDD did their review, they specifically asked for documentation showing the nature of the work and payment structure, and having those emails made the process much smoother. The whole experience was way less stressful than I expected once I got into a routine of consistent reporting!