EDD says 'excessive earnings' on my account - will this stop my benefits completely?
I just certified for my weekly benefits and checked my account this morning. There's this status that says 'excessive earnings' next to my certification week. I'm so confused. I went back to work part-time at a warehouse (about 18 hours/week) and reported exactly what I earned ($487), but I still thought I'd get something since I'm not working full-time. Does 'excessive earnings' mean I won't get ANY benefits for that week? And will this affect my claim going forward? Do I lose my entire claim now? I'm still trying to find full-time work and really need the partial UI to make ends meet. Please help - I'm freaking out a little!
39 comments


Grace Thomas
Excessive' earnings means you earned more than your weekly benefit amount that week, so you'won t receive benefits for that specific week. Your WBA is the maximum amount you can receive weekly. If you earn more than that amount in a week,'you re considered to have excessive earnings for that week only. This'doesn t affect your claim going forward. Your claim remains open, and you should continue certifying every two weeks. Any week you earn less than your WBA,'you ll likely receive partial benefits for that week. Just make sure'you re reporting all earnings accurately during the week you worked, not when you getpaid.
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Justin Chang
•Oh thank goodness! I was worried my entire claim was canceled. So if my WBA is $450, and I earned $487 that week, that's why I got the 'excessive earnings' status? But next week if I only work 12 hours and earn like $330, I might still get some partial benefits?
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Hunter Brighton
ya this happened 2 me last month. its just for that 1 week. keep certifying!!!! if u make less money next time u get benefits again
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Justin Chang
•That's a relief to hear someone else went through this! Will definitely keep certifying. Thanks!
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Dylan Baskin
Excessive earnings doesn't mean your claim is closed. You just didn't qualify for that specific week because you earned too much. Here's how the calculation works: If you earn more than your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA), you get $0 for that week. If you earn less than your WBA, they subtract 25% of what you earned from your WBA and pay you the difference. For example, if your WBA is $450: - You earn $487 → No payment (excessive earnings) - You earn $400 → You get $450 - ($400 x 0.25) = $450 - $100 = $350 in benefits Just keep certifying every two weeks, even if you think you earned too much. The system needs to know you're still seeking full-time work.
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Lauren Wood
•Wait, I thought they deducted dollar-for-dollar for part-time work? They only deduct 25% of your earnings? Where did you find this info? I've been so confused about this calculation for weeks...
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Dylan Baskin
•The first $25 or 25% of your gross wages (whichever is greater) doesn't count against your WBA. The rest is deducted dollar-for-dollar. So it's not exactly 25% of your total earnings being deducted - it's that 25% of your earnings are disregarded before the deduction. Common misunderstanding. EDD's website explains this under the 'Working Part-Time' section.
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Ellie Lopez
EDD's system is so frustrating to deal with! When I had 'excessive earnings' messages, I needed to call them to sort it out because the online account just doesn't explain things clearly. Took me DAYS to get through on the phone lines. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an actual EDD rep after wasting hours hitting redial. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep explained that excessive earnings just means you made too much for that specific week, not that your claim is canceled. Once I got someone on the phone, it took like 5 minutes to understand everything.
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Chad Winthrope
•does that claimyr thing actually work? i've been trying to call EDD for 2 weeks about an interview they scheduled but never called me for!
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Ellie Lopez
•Yeah it worked for me! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for days. Got connected to a rep in about 40 minutes instead of endless busy signals. They just place the call for you basically.
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Paige Cantoni
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PPL!!! They don't tell you that excessive earnings is temporary ON PURPOSE so people panic and stop certifying!!! I had this happen 3x during my claim and every time it was fine the next week when I earned less. They want people to give up on their claims!!! KEEP CERTIFYING no matter what!!!
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Justin Chang
•Thanks for the encouragement - definitely going to keep certifying. It's so stressful dealing with all this while trying to find stable work.
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Hunter Brighton
btw make sure ur reporting wages for the week u WORKED not when u got paid. thats a big mistake ppl make
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Lauren Wood
•This is so important! I messed this up once and had such a headache fixing it. EDD wants to know when you WORKED the hours, not when you got the paycheck.
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Chad Winthrope
My sister had this happen and she thought her claim was canceled too but it wasn't. Next week she got benefits again. Did you check your actual payment history page? Sometimes the status on the main page isn't clear but the payment section shows more details.
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Justin Chang
•I just checked the payment history and you're right - it specifically says $0 for that week with 'excessive earnings' as the reason, but all my previous payments are still there. Thanks for the tip!
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Grace Thomas
One more thing about excessive earnings - even when you don't receive money for a week, that week still counts toward your benefit year. So you're not losing anything in the long run. Your claim remains open for the full benefit year regardless of weeks with excessive earnings. Just make sure you're still doing your required work search activities during weeks with excessive earnings. The work search requirements still apply even if you know you won't get paid for that week.
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Dylan Baskin
•This is excellent advice. I'd also add that if you consistently have excessive earnings for a long period (like 4+ weeks in a row), EDD might review your claim to see if you've returned to full-time work. But as long as you're accurately reporting hours and continuing to look for full-time work, your claim remains valid.
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Oliver Schulz
I went through the exact same panic when I first saw "excessive earnings" on my account! It's such a scary term for something that's actually not that bad. Like everyone else said, it just means you earned more than your weekly benefit amount for that specific week. The key thing to remember is that this is calculated week by week. So if you work varying hours like I do (sometimes 15 hours, sometimes 25 hours), some weeks you'll get partial benefits and some weeks you'll get the "excessive earnings" status. Your claim stays active the whole time. Also, don't forget to keep track of your work search activities even during weeks with excessive earnings. I learned this the hard way when EDD asked for my work search log during a review. They still expect you to be looking for full-time work regardless of your part-time earnings. Keep your head up - you're doing everything right by working part-time while looking for something full-time!
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Sophia Carter
Don't worry, you're not alone in this confusion! "Excessive earnings" is definitely a scary-sounding term for something that's actually pretty straightforward. I had the same panic when I first saw it on my account. What everyone else said is spot on - it just means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) for that specific week, so you won't get benefits for that week only. Your claim stays open and active. One thing I'd add is to keep documenting everything - screenshot your certification pages and payment history. Sometimes EDD's system can be glitchy, and having records helps if you ever need to call them about discrepancies. Also, since you're working part-time at a warehouse, make sure you're being consistent about how you report your work schedule. If your hours vary week to week, you'll see this "excessive earnings" status come and go depending on how much you work each week. The fact that you're reporting your earnings accurately shows you're doing everything right. Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, and don't let that status discourage you from continuing to look for full-time work!
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Skylar Neal
•Thank you so much for this reassuring response! I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything clearly. The screenshot advice is really smart - I'm definitely going to start doing that. It's such a relief to know that other people have gone through this same panic and come out fine. I was literally losing sleep over this thinking I'd somehow messed up my entire claim! Your point about being consistent with reporting makes sense too - my warehouse hours do vary quite a bit week to week, so I'll probably see this status pop up occasionally. Thanks again for the encouragement - it really helps to hear from someone who's been through this!
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Evelyn Kelly
Hey Justin! I totally understand the panic you felt seeing "excessive earnings" - that terminology is so unnecessarily scary! I had the same freak-out moment when it first appeared on my account. Just to echo what everyone else has said, this is completely normal and doesn't affect your claim status at all. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is around $450, you simply earned too much that specific week to receive benefits. But your claim remains open! One thing that helped me understand the system better was realizing that EDD basically treats each certification period independently. So if next week you work fewer hours and earn less than your WBA, you'll likely get partial benefits again. I've been on UI for 8 months now with a part-time job, and I see "excessive earnings" probably every 3-4 weeks depending on my schedule. The most important thing is to keep certifying every two weeks no matter what. Even if you think you earned too much, still certify - let the system make that determination. And definitely keep looking for full-time work since that's what keeps your claim valid. You're handling this exactly right by reporting your earnings accurately. That warehouse job is helping you stay afloat while you find something permanent!
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Diego Vargas
•Thanks Evelyn! It's so helpful to hear from someone who's been dealing with this for 8 months - that really puts things in perspective. I was definitely overthinking it and imagining worst-case scenarios. Your point about each certification period being independent makes total sense, and knowing that you see "excessive earnings" regularly but still maintain your claim is really reassuring. I'll definitely keep certifying no matter what and continue my job search. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help calm my nerves about this!
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Anastasia Sokolov
I completely understand the panic you felt seeing "excessive earnings" - that phrase sounds so final and scary! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago when I started a part-time retail job while collecting UI. Just to reinforce what everyone else has said - your claim is absolutely NOT canceled. "Excessive earnings" simply means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week, so you get $0 for that week only. It's really just poor wording on EDD's part that causes so much unnecessary stress. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is probably around $450, that's exactly why you got that status. But here's the good news - next week if you work fewer hours and earn less, you'll likely get partial benefits again. I've been going back and forth between getting partial payments and "excessive earnings" weeks for months now, depending on my schedule. The key things to remember: keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, keep doing your work search activities even during "excessive earnings" weeks, and always report earnings for the week you WORKED (not when you got paid). You're doing everything right by working part-time while looking for full-time work - that warehouse job is helping bridge the gap until you find something permanent. Hang in there - you've got this!
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Nia Harris
•Thank you Anastasia! Your explanation really helps put everything in perspective. It's such a relief to hear from so many people who've been through this exact same situation. The phrase "excessive earnings" definitely does sound way more serious than it actually is - EDD really could use better wording there! I feel so much better knowing this is just a week-by-week thing and that my claim stays active. I was honestly spiraling thinking I'd somehow ruined everything by taking that part-time warehouse job. But you're right - it's actually helping me stay afloat while I keep searching for full-time work. I'll definitely keep certifying and doing my work searches no matter what status shows up. Thanks for taking the time to reassure a stressed-out newcomer!
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Zoe Papadopoulos
Hey Justin! I totally get why you'd panic seeing "excessive earnings" - that wording makes it sound like you did something wrong when you absolutely didn't! I've been in your exact situation multiple times over the past year while working part-time retail. What everyone else said is 100% correct - it just means you earned more than your weekly benefit amount for that specific week, so no payment for that week only. Your claim stays completely intact. The thing that helped me the most was realizing this is actually a GOOD problem to have - it means you're earning decent money that week! I've learned to almost celebrate those "excessive earnings" weeks because it means I had more work hours. Just keep doing what you're doing - report accurately, certify every two weeks, and keep job searching. Some weeks you'll get partial benefits, some weeks you'll see "excessive earnings," and that's totally normal when you have variable part-time hours. The warehouse job is smart - keeps money coming in while you look for something full-time. One last tip: I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my weekly earnings and hours worked. It helps me predict which weeks might be "excessive earnings" weeks and plan my budget accordingly. Takes the surprise and stress out of it! You're handling everything perfectly - don't let EDD's confusing terminology stress you out!
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Landon Morgan
•Thanks Zoe! I love how you reframed "excessive earnings" as a good problem to have - that actually makes me feel so much better about it! You're totally right that it means I had a decent work week, which is something to be happy about rather than stressed about. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to start tracking my hours and earnings so I can better predict these weeks and plan my budget accordingly. It's amazing how much less scary this all seems when you put it in that perspective. I was so focused on the negative that I forgot this actually means I'm earning good money that week! Thanks for helping me see the silver lining and for all the practical advice. This community has been such a lifesaver for my stress levels!
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AstroAdventurer
Hey Justin! I completely understand the panic you felt - I had the exact same reaction when I first saw "excessive earnings" on my account about 3 months ago. That terminology is so misleading and scary sounding! Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and they're absolutely right - your claim is still active and this is just for that one week. I wanted to add something that really helped me: I started keeping a simple notebook where I write down my work hours and estimated earnings each week before I certify. This way I can mentally prepare for whether I might see "excessive earnings" or get partial benefits. Also, since you're working at a warehouse with variable hours, you might find it helpful to know that some weeks when you think you earned too much, you might still get a small partial payment due to the calculation Grace and Dylan explained. The first $25 or 25% of earnings (whichever is greater) is disregarded, then the rest is deducted from your WBA. Keep certifying, keep job searching, and don't let EDD's confusing language stress you out. That warehouse job is actually helping you stay stable while you look for full-time work - you're doing everything right!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Thanks AstroAdventurer! The notebook idea is really smart - I'm definitely going to start doing that. It'll be so much less stressful if I can anticipate what's coming instead of being surprised by the "excessive earnings" status. And you're right about sometimes still getting partial payments even when I think I earned too much - the calculation with the 25% disregard that Dylan explained earlier makes more sense now. I had no idea about that buffer! It's really encouraging to hear from so many people who've been through this exact situation. I was feeling so alone and panicked this morning, but now I realize this is just a normal part of being on UI with part-time work. Thanks for the reassurance and practical tips!
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Miguel Silva
Hey Justin! I can totally relate to that panic - I had the exact same reaction when "excessive earnings" first showed up on my account a few months back. That phrase sounds so ominous when it's actually not a big deal at all! Everyone here has given you spot-on advice. Your claim is absolutely fine - "excessive earnings" just means you made more than your weekly benefit amount that specific week, so $0 payment for that week only. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is probably around $450, that explains the status perfectly. What really helped ease my anxiety was understanding that this is completely normal when you have variable part-time hours. Some weeks I get partial benefits, some weeks I see "excessive earnings" - it just depends on how many hours I worked that week. Your warehouse job is actually a great strategy for staying financially stable while job hunting. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: even though you won't get paid for that week, it still counts toward your benefit year, so you're not losing anything long-term. Just keep certifying every two weeks, keep doing your work searches, and report accurately. You're handling this perfectly! The stress does get easier once you realize it's just EDD's confusing way of saying "you earned good money this week!" Hang in there - you've got this!
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CyberSiren
I totally understand your panic - that "excessive earnings" status is so scary when you first see it! I went through the exact same thing about 4 months ago when I started a part-time job at a grocery store while on UI. Everyone here has explained it perfectly - it just means you earned more than your weekly benefit amount for that specific week, so no payment for that week only. Your claim stays completely active. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is around $450, that's exactly why you got that status. What helped me the most was realizing this is actually pretty common when you have variable part-time hours. I've probably seen "excessive earnings" about 6-7 times over the past few months, and every time I was worried something was wrong, but it never affected my overall claim. The key thing is to keep certifying every two weeks no matter what the status says. Some weeks you'll get partial benefits when you work fewer hours, some weeks you'll see "excessive earnings" when you work more. It's all calculated week by week. You're doing everything right by taking that warehouse job while looking for full-time work - it shows you're actively trying to get back on your feet. Keep reporting accurately, keep certifying, and don't let EDD's confusing terminology stress you out. Your claim is fine!
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Liam McConnell
Hey Justin! I completely understand that panic you felt seeing "excessive earnings" - I had the exact same freak-out moment when it first appeared on my account! That terminology is SO misleading and makes it sound like you did something wrong when you absolutely didn't. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice and they're 100% right - your claim is totally fine! "Excessive earnings" just means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week, so you get $0 for that week only. Since you earned $487 and your WBA is probably around $450, that explains it perfectly. I've been dealing with this same situation for about 5 months now while working part-time at a coffee shop. Some weeks I get partial benefits, some weeks I see "excessive earnings" - it just depends on my hours that week. Your warehouse job is actually a smart move to keep money coming in while job hunting! One thing that really helped my stress was keeping track of my weekly hours and earnings in a simple calendar app. That way I can mentally prepare for whether I might see "excessive earnings" or get partial benefits before I even certify. Takes away that surprise factor that caused my initial panic. Keep certifying every two weeks, keep job searching, and definitely don't let EDD's confusing wording discourage you. You're handling everything perfectly - that "excessive earnings" status is actually proof you had a good work week!
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Tasia Synder
Hey Justin! I totally get that initial panic - I had the exact same reaction when "excessive earnings" first showed up on my account about 6 months ago. That wording is so unnecessarily scary! Everyone here has explained it perfectly - it's just EDD's confusing way of saying you earned more than your weekly benefit amount for that specific week. Your claim is completely fine and stays active. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is around $450, that explains the status exactly. I've been in your shoes working part-time retail while on UI, and I've seen "excessive earnings" probably 8-10 times now depending on my weekly hours. It never affects your overall claim - just means no payment for that particular week. What really helped ease my anxiety was understanding that this is actually a GOOD thing - it means you had a solid work week! I started celebrating those "excessive earnings" weeks instead of stressing about them because it meant more money in my pocket that week. Keep doing exactly what you're doing - report accurately, certify every two weeks, and keep job searching. That warehouse job is smart for bridging the gap while you look for full-time work. Some weeks you'll get partial benefits, some weeks you'll see this status, and that's totally normal with variable hours. Don't let EDD's terrible terminology mess with your head - you're handling everything perfectly!
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•Thanks Tasia! I love how you and Zoe both reframed this as something to celebrate rather than stress about - that completely changed my perspective! You're absolutely right that "excessive earnings" actually means I had a good week financially. I was so caught up in the scary terminology that I forgot this means I earned decent money that week. It's amazing how much better this whole situation feels when I think of it as a positive thing rather than something I did wrong. I'm definitely going to start celebrating these weeks instead of panicking! Thanks for helping me see the bright side and for all the reassurance. This community has been incredible for turning my stress into relief!
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Kristin Frank
Hey Justin! I completely understand that panic you felt - I literally had a meltdown when I first saw "excessive earnings" on my account about 8 months ago! I thought I had somehow broken the system or done something illegal by working part-time. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - your claim is 100% fine! That status just means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. It's calculated week by week, so next week when you work fewer hours, you'll likely get partial benefits again. I've been working part-time at a restaurant while on UI, and my hours vary wildly - sometimes 12 hours, sometimes 30 hours depending on how busy we are. I've probably seen "excessive earnings" about 15 times now, and every single time my claim stayed active. It's just EDD's way of saying "you made good money this week!" The most important thing is to KEEP CERTIFYING every two weeks no matter what. Even if you think you earned too much, still certify and let the system decide. And definitely keep doing your work search activities during "excessive earnings" weeks too. That warehouse job is actually perfect while you're job hunting - variable hours mean some weeks you'll get UI payments and some weeks you won't need them because you earned enough. You're playing it smart! Don't let EDD's terrible wording stress you out - you're doing everything exactly right.
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Javier Hernandez
•Thanks so much Kristin! It's incredible to hear from someone who's seen "excessive earnings" 15 times and still has an active claim - that really drives home how normal this is! I was literally convinced I had broken something or violated some rule by taking the warehouse job. Your point about variable hours is so spot on - some weeks I'll need the UI support and some weeks I won't, which is actually perfect while job hunting. The restaurant industry sounds like it has even more unpredictable scheduling than warehouse work, so if you've navigated this successfully for 8 months, I feel so much more confident about my situation. I'm definitely going to keep certifying no matter what and continue my work searches during all weeks. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the encouragement - knowing that so many people have been through this exact same panic really helps!
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William Schwarz
Hey Justin! I totally understand that sinking feeling when you first see "excessive earnings" - I had the exact same panic attack when it showed up on my account for the first time! That terminology is so poorly chosen and makes it sound like you've done something terrible when you absolutely haven't. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - your claim is completely safe! "Excessive earnings" simply means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount that specific week, so you get $0 for that week only. Since you earned $487 and your WBA sounds like it's around $450, that explains the status perfectly. I've been working part-time at a bookstore while on UI for about 7 months now, and I've seen this status probably 10+ times depending on my weekly schedule. Every single time my claim stayed active, and the following weeks when I worked fewer hours, I got partial benefits again. It really is just calculated week by week. What helped me stop panicking was realizing this is actually proof that you're being responsible - you took a part-time job to help support yourself while looking for full-time work, and some weeks that job pays well enough that you don't need UI assistance. That's exactly how the system is supposed to work! Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, keep doing your work searches, and don't let EDD's confusing language discourage you. You're handling everything perfectly, and that warehouse job is smart for keeping you stable during your job hunt!
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Carmella Popescu
•Thanks William! Your perspective about this being proof that I'm being responsible really hits home - I hadn't thought about it that way! You're absolutely right that taking the warehouse job while job hunting is exactly how the system is supposed to work, and "excessive earnings" weeks just mean the job is doing its job of supporting me financially. The bookstore work sounds like it has similar variable scheduling to what I'm dealing with at the warehouse. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who's seen this status 10+ times and never had any issues with their claim. I was so focused on the scary terminology that I lost sight of the fact that this actually shows I'm being proactive about supporting myself. I feel so much more confident now about continuing to work part-time while job searching. Thanks for the encouragement and for helping me reframe this whole situation in such a positive light!
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Emma Wilson
Hey Justin! I completely understand that heart-stopping moment when you first see "excessive earnings" - I literally thought I had somehow violated the terms of my UI claim when it happened to me! That wording is absolutely terrible and makes it sound so much worse than it actually is. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - your claim is totally fine and will remain active! "Excessive earnings" is just EDD's unnecessarily scary way of saying you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and your WBA is probably around $450, that explains it perfectly. I've been in your exact situation working part-time at a hardware store while collecting UI for about 4 months now. My hours vary between 15-25 per week, and I've seen "excessive earnings" probably 6 or 7 times. Every single time I initially panicked, and every single time my claim stayed completely intact. The following weeks when I worked fewer hours, I got partial benefits again like clockwork. What really helped me was keeping a simple weekly log of my hours and estimated earnings. That way I can mentally prepare for whether I might see "excessive earnings" or receive partial benefits before I even certify. It takes away that surprise factor that causes so much stress. Your warehouse job is actually a perfect strategy - it keeps money coming in while you search for full-time work, and the variable hours mean some weeks UI supplements your income and some weeks you don't need it. That's exactly how the system is designed to work! Keep certifying every two weeks, keep doing your job searches, and definitely don't let EDD's confusing terminology discourage you. You're handling this perfectly!
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