EDD weekly benefit amount - is this before or after taxes? Will I get the full amount?

The weekly benefit amount on your award letter is your GROSS amount before taxes. If you elected to have taxes withheld, they'll take out 10% federal tax (no state tax is withheld from CA unemployment). So you'd actually receive $402.30 each week after the withholding. Make sure to check your payment history in UI Online after your first payment to see the exact amounts. I found this out the hard way when budgeting last year!

my wba is 375 and i get the full amount cuz i didnt check the tax withholding box. u can change it later if u want. they dont take state tax just federal

I think it depends on what you selected when you filed!!! I didn't have taxes withheld from mine and got the full amount BUT had to pay it back at tax time and it was A LOT!! Like $1500 I wasn't expecting!!!

If you're struggling with tax questions, you might also have issues reaching EDD representatives for other matters. I had so many questions about my claim but couldn't get through on the phone until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an EDD agent in about 15 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Definitely worth it when you need to actually talk to someone at EDD.

Everyone is giving good advice about the taxes, but I also want to point out that you need to verify the WBA is correct based on your earnings! When I first got my award letter, they had calculated my benefit using incomplete wage information. I had to provide additional earnings proof through the appeal process, and my weekly amount increased by over $150! Double-check the calculation against your base period earnings (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed).

just so you know the letter is just saying what ur eligible for, you still have to certify every 2 weeks to actually get paid. some ppl think they automatically get money after getting that letter lol

also u might get more if u have dependents did u add that when u applied

To summarize what everyone has correctly shared: 1. The WBA listed is the gross amount before any tax withholding 2. If you elected tax withholding, 10% will be withheld for federal taxes only (California doesn't tax unemployment benefits) 3. You can change your withholding preference anytime through UI Online 4. If you don't withhold taxes now, you'll need to pay them when filing your tax return 5. Verify your award amount is based on complete wage information from all employers 6. Remember to certify every two weeks to receive payments Most people find it easier to have taxes withheld rather than face a potentially large tax bill later, but it's a personal financial decision.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Money Network card they use for payments can sometimes have delays or issues. I'd recommend setting up direct deposit to your bank account instead if you haven't already - it's more reliable and faster. You can do this through UI Online under "Payment Method." Also, make sure to keep track of all your payments because you'll get a 1099-G tax form at the end of the year showing your total unemployment income, which you'll need for filing taxes.

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been on unemployment for about 3 months now and can confirm everything people are saying about the tax withholding. I originally opted out of withholding thinking I'd handle it myself, but after calculating what I'd owe (about 22% of my total benefits), I switched to having them withhold the 10% federal. Yes, it means less money each week, but it's way better than getting hit with a huge tax bill next April. Also, definitely check your wage calculation like Omar mentioned - I had to submit additional W-2s because they initially only had info from one of my employers. My WBA went up by $89/week once they had all my earnings data!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to look for work while on unemployment (which you're required to do anyway), factor in that your benefits might end before you expect them to. I thought I had 26 weeks of benefits, but I actually only qualified for 20 weeks based on my earnings history. The award letter should show your maximum benefit amount and weekly benefit amount - you can divide the max by the weekly to see how many weeks you'll actually get. This is especially important for budgeting since you mentioned this is your first time on unemployment. Also, some weeks you might not get paid if you earn too much from part-time work (anything over $25 gets deducted from your weekly benefit), so keep that in mind if you pick up any freelance or gig work while job hunting!

I went through this exact same confusion when I first got my award letter! The $447 is definitely your gross amount before taxes. Since you opted for withholding, expect to receive about $402 after they take out the 10% federal tax. One thing I'd also recommend is double-checking that all your employers reported your wages correctly - you can see this in your UI Online account under "Payment Activity" and then "Benefit Programs Online." If any wages are missing, it could affect your benefit amount. Also, make sure you understand the work search requirements in your area - they vary by county and you need to keep detailed records. I learned that the hard way when they audited my work search log! The good news is once you get into the rhythm of certifying every two weeks and managing the payments, it becomes pretty routine.

Just wanted to share my recent experience to add to all the great advice here. I was in a similar situation a few months ago - got my award letter showing $425 WBA and was confused about the tax situation. I initially didn't elect withholding thinking I'd save more money each week, but after doing the math and reading stories like Isabella's about owing $1500+ at tax time, I quickly changed my mind! What really helped me was calling it during a slower time (try early morning around 8:05 AM right when they open, or late afternoon around 4 PM). I was able to get through and confirm that my WBA was calculated correctly and switch to tax withholding. The representative was actually really helpful and explained that the 10% federal withholding usually covers most of what you'll owe, though you might still owe a small amount depending on your other income. Also, definitely set up direct deposit like Zoe mentioned - the Money Network card gave me nothing but headaches with random holds and ATM fees. Direct deposit has been seamless. One last tip: download the UI Online mobile app if you haven't already. Makes certifying much quicker than logging into the website every two weeks!