Fired after only one week on new job - do I qualify for EDD benefits?
Just had the worst first week at a new job possible. Got hired at this marketing agency last Monday, went through orientation and started working on some projects. Then out of nowhere on Friday (Feb 7th), the boss calls me into his office and says they're letting me go because I'm "not a good fit" for the team. No warning, no feedback during the week, nothing! I'm completely blindsided. I was unemployed for almost 3 months before finding this job, and now I'm back at square one. Would I even qualify for unemployment since I only worked there for 5 days? Do I need to have worked somewhere for a minimum amount of time? My previous employer before this was a startup where I worked for 14 months until they had layoffs in November 2024. I did receive unemployment benefits after that layoff but stopped certifying when I got this new job. Can I reopen my previous claim or do I need to file a new one? I'm so confused and frustrated right now. Any advice would be really appreciated.
17 comments

Natasha Kuznetsova
Yes u can reopen ur previous claim since its stll in the same benefit year. just go to ur ui online account and theres a button to reopen claim. i had similar thing happen 2 me last summer, got job for 3 weeks then they cut my hours to basically nothin. EDD let me go back on my old claim no problem
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FireflyDreams
AuthorThank you for responding! That's a relief to hear. Do you know if I need to report that I worked for this new company for that one week when I reopen the claim? I'm worried they might think I'm trying to hide something if I don't mention it.
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Javier Morales
You absolutely can reopen your previous claim as long as you're still within your benefit year (which is 12 months from when you first filed). The key factors here: 1. You need to report the work you did for that one week, including the employer's info and earnings 2. Make sure to explain you were let go through no fault of your own 3. When you reopen, you'll need to serve a one-week waiting period again unless you already served it in your benefit year Since your previous employer was the one where you established your claim, they're still the employer of record for your benefits. This short employment shouldn't affect your weekly benefit amount. Log into UI Online and look for the "Reopen Claim" option. Answer all questions accurately, especially about your most recent work.
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FireflyDreams
AuthorThis is incredibly helpful, thank you! I didn't realize I'd need to serve another waiting period - that's good to know. I still have all the info from the company that just let me go, so I'll make sure to include that when I reopen the claim. Really appreciate the detailed advice.
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Emma Anderson
DONT LISTEN TO THEM!!! U WILL NOT QUALIFY if u got FIRED!!!! EDD will say its ur fault and deny u! They denied me when my boss fired me for being 10 min late ONE TIME!!! The system is RIGGED against workers!!!!!
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Javier Morales
This isn't accurate. Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. The term "fired" covers many situations. What matters is whether it was for misconduct, which has a specific legal definition. Being let go for "not being a good fit" during a probationary period is usually considered a "no fault" separation. The OP should absolutely apply and explain the situation truthfully.
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Malik Thompson
I had this EXACT situation in January. After reopening my claim online, EDD scheduled a phone interview to ask about the short job. Just be honest - tell them you were dismissed during training/probationary period for not being a "good fit" but weren't given specific reasons why. They approved mine with no issues after the interview. One thing though - when you reopen, BE PREPARED for delays. Have you tried calling EDD directly? It's almost impossible to get through these days with all the call volume. I spent 3 days trying before giving up.
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Isabella Ferreira
I've had luck using Claimyr to get through to an EDD agent. Their system calls EDD for you and then connects you once they get through. Saved me hours of redial hell last month when I had issues with my certification. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - it's worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through.
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CosmicVoyager
When you reopen your claim, make sure you answer the questions about your separation carefully. Don't just say you were "fired" because that triggers automatic flags in their system. Explain you were released during the probationary/training period. Also, remember to restart your work search activities and keep records of everything. I learned that the hard way - had my benefits delayed for 3 weeks because I didn't have proper documentation of my job search efforts after reopening my claim.
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FireflyDreams
AuthorThat's a really good point about not just saying "fired" - I wouldn't have thought about how that might trigger flags. I'll make sure to explain the situation clearly. And I'll definitely restart tracking my job search activities right away. I still have my old spreadsheet from before, so I'll just continue with that system.
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Ravi Kapoor
everyone saying reopen claim is correct but make sure u dont wait too long. i think theres like a 30 day window or something. also when they ask why u stopped certifying be SUPER CLEAR u got a new job. also they mite want pay stubs from that 1 week job so get those ready if u can. and yah ur benefit amount will stay same cuz its based on previous employer
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FireflyDreams
AuthorThanks! I'll reopen it today so there's no delay. Good point about the pay stub - I haven't even received one yet since I was only there for a week. I'll reach out to their HR department to see if they can provide proof of my employment and pay for that week.
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CosmicVoyager
One thing nobody's mentioned - if your benefit year is almost over (like if you originally filed in Feb/March 2024), it might actually be better to file a new claim instead of reopening. The benefit calculator might give you a higher WBA if you had good earnings in 2024. But if your benefit year started in November or December 2024, then definitely reopen the existing claim like others suggested.
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Freya Nielsen
This is wrong information. You CANNOT file a new claim until your benefit year ends. The system won't let you. The only option is to reopen existing claim if you're within your benefit year. I know this because I tried to do what you're suggesting in December and it automatically directed me to reopen instead.
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FireflyDreams
Thanks everyone for all this great advice! I just reopened my claim through UI Online and reported the one week of work exactly as suggested. The system said I might need a phone interview, so I'm prepared for that. I'll update this thread once I hear back from EDD about the status. Really appreciate all the help during this stressful time.
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Malik Thompson
Good luck! And if they do schedule an interview, just remember to stay calm and explain things clearly. My interview only lasted about 10 minutes. The agent basically just wanted to verify I didn't quit or get fired for misconduct. Once I explained I was let go during the training period for "not being a good fit" but wasn't given any specific performance issues, they approved it right away.
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JaylinCharles
Just wanted to add something that might help - when you're doing your phone interview (if they schedule one), make sure you have the exact dates you worked and any documentation ready. I went through something similar last year where I was let go after just a few days for "cultural fit" reasons. The EDD interviewer asked me specific questions like: Did you receive any written warnings? Were you told about specific performance issues? Did you violate any company policies? Since you were let go for being "not a good fit" without any concrete reasons, you should be fine. Also, don't stress too much about the one-week waiting period someone mentioned - if you already served your waiting week when you first filed your claim in your benefit year, you won't need to serve another one when reopening. Hope this helps and good luck with everything!
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