EDD weekly benefit amount for sales job - will I get $450 or percentage of my $5k monthly income?

The maximum weekly benefit amount in California is $450, your friend was right about that part. They don't pay a percentage of your income once you hit that threshold. With your income level ($5k/month = $60k/year), you would qualify for the maximum $450/week. EDD calculates your benefit amount based on your highest-earning quarter during the 12-month base period before you file your claim. For you to get the max benefit, you need to have earned at least $11,674 in your highest quarter - which you've clearly met with your monthly income.

i got laid off from tech sales last yr and ya its 450 max. doesnt matter if u made 5k or 15k a month, still caps at 450. sucks but better than nothing i guess

Just to add some important information - when you file your claim, EDD will look at your base period earnings. If your sales job had commission structures or variable pay, they'll use all of that when calculating your benefit. The system automatically determines your weekly benefit amount based on a formula. Since you earned $5,000/month, you'll definitely receive the maximum $450/week. Make sure when you do apply that you have accurate information about your employer, your last day worked, and reasons for separation. Since you mentioned being let go due to performance, ensure you're clear that it's not for misconduct, as that could affect eligibility. Also, remember you'll need to do regular work search activities and certify every two weeks to keep receiving benefits.

When I filed after losing my marketing job last fall, the phone lines were IMPOSSIBLE to get through when I had questions about my base period calculation. I spent two weeks trying multiple times daily and always got the 'too many callers' message. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an EDD agent. They have a service that calls EDD for you and connects you when they get through. Saved my sanity! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT EDD!!! I was in sales too and it's NEVER AS SIMPLE as just getting $450/week! They'll find some stupid reason to delay your claim or make you wait WEEKS to get your money. The whole system is designed to frustrate you into giving up! And God forbid there's any issue with your claim - you'll never reach anyone on those phone lines!!! And that $450 is BEFORE taxes. You can choose to have 10% withheld but most people don't because you need every penny when you're only getting $450/week - which is a JOKE in California with our cost of living!!!

To answer your questions about taxes - the $450 is before taxes. You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld (EDD doesn't withhold state taxes), but it's optional. Many people choose not to have taxes withheld to maximize their weekly payment, but remember you'll owe those taxes when you file your tax return next year. Regarding certification: after you're approved, you'll need to certify for benefits every two weeks. This means answering questions about whether you looked for work, worked any hours, or earned any income during each week. This is done through UI Online and is fairly straightforward.

my cousin works in sales & got laid off in february. she said the most annoying part wasn't even the $450 cap but having to deal with the work search requirements. you have to list the jobs you applied for when you certify every 2 weeks. she said to make sure u keep track of all jobs u apply for, interviews, networking, etc. she almost got in trouble once because she couldn't remember all the places she applied!

Since you work in sales, I'd recommend starting your job search immediately even before being let go. The current job market is competitive, and the $450/week maximum benefit is significantly less than your current income. Also, when you file your claim, your benefit year will be established for 12 months. During this period, you can receive benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks (they don't have to be consecutive). If you find temporary work and then lose it again within your benefit year, you can reopen your claim rather than filing a new one. Regarding work search requirements, EDD typically expects you to make a reasonable effort to find work each week. This generally means applying to 2-3 jobs per week minimum, but more is better. Keep detailed records of all your job search activities.

When I got laid off, my employer actually contested my unemployment claim even though they were the ones who let me go! It delayed my payments by almost a month while EDD sorted it out. Make sure you have documentation about why you're being let go - particularly that it's due to not meeting quota rather than any misconduct. Performance-based termination usually qualifies for benefits, but having documentation helps if there's any dispute.