EDD unreported wages dilemma - just received check for orientation 4 years after the fact

Yes, technically you were supposed to report ANY earnings during your certification weeks, including paid training/orientation. EDD defines work as any service performed for which you receive payment. However, there's a practical side to this... The reporting timeframe isn't really the issue - what matters is whether this unreported income would have affected your weekly benefit amount. If that $54.25 would have reduced your benefits that week, then technically it's an overpayment situation. That said, EDD generally focuses on more significant overpayments. Given the small amount and the genuine misunderstanding, you have a few options: 1) Report it now by calling EDD and explaining the situation (most honest approach) 2) Document everything but wait to see if it ever comes up (EDD may never even notice) 3) If you ever need to file another claim, be prepared to explain if it somehow gets flagged The good news is that EDD typically only looks back 3 years for most issues, so you're approaching that timeframe anyway.

dont stress about it!! $54 is nothing and its from 4 yrs ago. edd has WAY bigger problems to deal with lol. i worked a one day gig during covid and forgot to report like $120 and nothing ever happend. just keep the check as proof if they ever ask but they probly wont

omg the SAME exact thing happened to me but it was for a training at a call center!!! I thought it was unpaid and then got a random check like 7 months later when I was already working somewhere else. I freaked out and called EDD right away but couldn't get through for days. When I finally did the rep said I needed to report it as income for the week I actually did the work, not when I got paid. She said they could adjust my claim retroactively and I'd probably just have to pay back the difference for that one week. BUT she also said since it was such a small amount, I could just submit a written statement explaining the misunderstanding. I never heard anything else about it after I sent the letter, so I think they just noted it in my file and moved on.

According to EDD regulations, any wages earned during a certification period must be reported, regardless of when payment is received. The correct approach is to report this to EDD with a written explanation of the circumstances. There is a 3-year statute of limitations for most non-fraudulent overpayments, but that time period can be extended in certain circumstances. Since this appears to be an honest mistake with a minimal amount, it's unlikely to result in significant penalties. However, leaving it unreported could potentially affect future claims. The most straightforward solution would be to contact EDD, explain the situation, and offer to repay any overpayment for that week. Since the amount is small, they may simply note it in your record without requiring repayment. If you're having trouble reaching EDD directly (which is common), I recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an EDD representative quickly instead of dealing with busy signals and disconnections. I used their service when I had a similar issue and got through in about 25 minutes - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

THE EDD SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! They will ignore legitimate fraud happening all over the place but then come after honest people over $50 from years ago. It's all about their arbitrary enforcement. I had a neighbor who collected benefits while working full-time under the table and NOTHING happened to him, but my cousin got penalized for not reporting a $200 gig job. The whole system is designed to trap honest people with confusing rules while letting real fraudsters get away with everything.

I work as an employment counselor, and this situation comes up occasionally. For such a small amount and given the significant time that has passed, here's what I typically recommend: 1. Keep documentation of everything - the check, when you received it, and notes about the original orientation 2. Calculate what the actual reduction would have been that week. Generally, the first $25 of earnings each week doesn't count against your benefits, and then benefits are reduced by 75% of remaining earnings. So for $54.25, that's $25 + ($29.25 × 0.75) = approximately $47 in benefits you would have received that week instead of your full amount. 3. If you decide to report it, be prepared with this calculation and a clear explanation that you had no expectation of payment for what you understood to be part of the interview process. 4. Since this happened in 2021, you're approaching the typical lookback period for non-fraud overpayments anyway. In my experience, EDD is unlikely to pursue this given the amount and circumstances, but properly reporting it does protect you from potential issues with future claims.

Wait - why did they send you a check 4 YEARS later??? That's the weird part to me. Did the check come with any explanation? Could it be for something else entirely? I'd be suspicious that it might be some kind of error or even a scam. Have you verified that the check is legitimate and from the actual company?

After reading through this discussion, I want to add one important point: if you do contact EDD about this, make sure to emphasize that this was an honest mistake. The distinction between fraud and non-fraud overpayments is significant. Fraud cases can have much longer lookback periods and more severe penalties. In your case, you had no way of knowing you'd be paid for the orientation, so this clearly falls into the non-fraud category. Document everything including your attempt to clarify the situation once you became aware of it - this shows good faith on your part. If you're worried about triggering a full investigation, you could also consider sending a written statement through UI Online rather than calling. Sometimes a written record can be processed more routinely than a call that might lead to different interpretations depending on which representative you speak with.

I went through something similar a few years back! Got a random paycheck for training I forgot about while on unemployment. Here's what I learned from that experience: The key thing is that you're being proactive about this now that you know. EDD really differentiates between intentional fraud and honest mistakes. Since you genuinely thought it was unpaid and are now trying to do the right thing, that works in your favor. One thing to consider - since the company did an audit and is sending out these checks to multiple people from years ago, there's a chance EDD might already be aware of this situation. Companies sometimes report wage corrections to state agencies when they do these kinds of audits. My recommendation would be to go with the written statement approach that @NeonNova suggested. Include the check stub, explain the timeline, and mention that the company proactively sent this as part of an audit (shows it wasn't hidden income). The worst case scenario is you'd owe back about $30 for that week based on the calculation @Sophia shared, but given the circumstances and time elapsed, I'd be surprised if they even pursue collection on such a small amount. The main thing is getting it documented properly so it doesn't become an issue if you ever need benefits again. You're doing the right thing by addressing it now!

Just want to echo what others have said about documenting everything and being proactive. I actually had a similar situation where I received unexpected payment for what I thought was unpaid training, though mine was only about 6 months later, not 4 years! One thing that might help ease your mind - since this was genuinely unpaid orientation that you had no expectation of being compensated for, and the company is now doing retroactive payments as part of an audit, this shows a clear pattern that this wasn't standard practice at the time. That context really strengthens your case that this was an honest oversight. The written statement approach through UI Online sounds like the best plan. Make sure to mention that the company's HR confirmed this was part of a broader audit affecting multiple people - that shows this was a systematic issue on their end, not something you should have anticipated. Given the small amount and the circumstances, I really think you'll be fine. The fact that you're asking about it and want to do the right thing says a lot about your integrity. EDD deals with much bigger fish than this, and honest mistakes with good faith disclosure typically get resolved pretty smoothly.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might be relevant to your situation. I actually work in payroll for a mid-sized company, and we've had to do similar audits where we discovered unpaid orientation time from years back. It's more common than you'd think, especially after labor law changes or when companies realize they weren't properly classifying certain activities as compensable time. From what I've seen, when companies do these retroactive payments, they usually have to file amended wage reports with the state. So there's a decent chance EDD might already have documentation that you earned this money in 2021, even though you're just receiving it now. The good news is that this creates a paper trail showing the payment was a legitimate business correction, not unreported income you were hiding. When you submit your written statement, definitely mention that this came from the company's internal audit - it demonstrates that neither you nor the company initially realized this orientation should have been paid. Based on the experiences others have shared here, it sounds like you're taking the right approach with the written statement through UI Online. The combination of the small amount, the time elapsed, and the clear documentation that this was an honest mistake should work in your favor. Good luck!