How EDD calculates weekly benefit amount - highest quarter or entire base period?

they use the highest QUARTER not the highest month

EDD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest-earning QUARTER (3-month period), not just a single month. They take your total earnings from your highest quarter and use a formula to determine your weekly amount. So in your case, if Jan-Mar was your highest quarter, they would add $5,800 + $2,900 + $4,100 = $12,800 total for that quarter. They don't just look at January even though it was your highest individual month. The formula is roughly 1/23 to 1/26 of your highest quarter earnings, up to the maximum benefit amount (which is $575 in 2025). So with a $12,800 quarter, your weekly benefit would be approximately $490-$556 depending on the exact formula they apply to your situation.

i think its all about the base period which is like a year before u file but not including the most recent quarter. so if u filed in january 2025 they look at oct 2023-sept 2024

To answer your specific question: EDD calculates your benefit amount based on the TOTAL earnings for all three months of your highest-earning quarter, not just your highest month. The process works like this: 1. They identify your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) 2. They determine which quarter within that period had the highest total earnings 3. They use the total earnings from that entire quarter (all 3 months combined) 4. They apply a formula to that quarterly total to determine your weekly benefit amount In your example, if Jan-Mar 2024 was your highest quarter with total earnings of $12,800, that's what they'd use for the calculation. January's $5,800 alone wouldn't be used, even though it was your highest individual month. You can use the EDD's benefit calculator here: https://edd.ca.gov/en/uiben/resources/calculate-your-potential-ui-benefit-amount/ - it will give you an estimate based on your highest quarter earnings.

when i was on unemployment last year i was SO confused about this too!!! the EDD website is literally impossible to understand sometimes 🤬 i spent HOURS trying to figure out how much i would get and the calculator gave me a different amount than what i actually ended up getting. so frustrating!

You know what's even more frustrating than trying to figure out your benefit amount? ACTUALLY GETTING THROUGH TO EDD ON THE PHONE to ask questions like this! I spent DAYS trying to reach someone last month when I had a simple question about my claim. I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Their website is claimyr.com - definitely worth checking out if you're struggling to get answers directly from EDD about your benefit calculations or anything else!

One more thing I wanted to clarify - your weekly benefit amount is approximately 1/23 to 1/26 of your highest quarter earnings, which works out to be about 50% of your average weekly wage during that quarter. That's why sometimes the amount seems lower than expected. So with your Jan-Mar quarter totaling $12,800, that's about $985 per week average (over 13 weeks). Your benefit would be roughly half of that, so around $490-$492 weekly. The exact formula varies slightly based on your total earnings.

Just wanted to add that it's also worth noting that EDD has a minimum and maximum weekly benefit amount. For 2025, the minimum is $40 per week and the maximum is $575 per week. So even if your calculation comes out higher than $575, you'll be capped at that amount. And if it comes out lower than $40, you'll still get the minimum. Also, make sure all your W-2s and wage information is accurate when you file - any discrepancies can delay your claim processing. Good luck with your application!

I went through this exact same confusion when I filed my claim a few months ago! The answers here are correct - EDD uses your highest quarter's TOTAL earnings (all 3 months combined), not just your highest single month. Just to add some real-world context: I had a similar situation where one month in my highest quarter was way higher than the other two. I initially thought they might just use that one high month, but nope - they definitely add up all three months in that quarter. One tip: when you're gathering your wage information for filing, make sure you have documentation for ALL earnings in that base period, not just your highest quarter. EDD will verify everything, and having complete records upfront will save you headaches later. I learned this the hard way when they asked for additional wage verification even though I thought I'd provided enough initially. Your calculation sounds about right based on what others have shared. With that $12,800 quarter, you should be looking at somewhere in the $490-$550 range for your weekly benefit amount. Good luck with your application!

I just want to echo what others have said - this was one of the most confusing parts of the whole unemployment process for me! The EDD website really doesn't explain it clearly at all. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, I found it helpful to actually map out my earnings quarter by quarter before filing. I made a simple spreadsheet with each quarter's total earnings so I could easily identify my highest one. It also helped me double-check that I had all the right documentation ready. The good news is that once you get past this initial confusion about how they calculate your benefit amount, the rest of the process is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you have all your wage records organized and ready to go when you file!

This thread has been super helpful! I was actually in a similar boat a few months ago trying to figure out the calculation. Just to confirm what everyone's saying - yes, EDD definitely uses the TOTAL earnings from your highest quarter (all 3 months combined). One thing I learned that might help: if you're trying to estimate your benefit amount before filing, remember that the formula isn't exact because there are some additional factors EDD considers. But the rough calculation of around 50% of your average weekly wage during that highest quarter is a good ballpark. Also, pro tip: when you do file, make sure you have your Social Security earnings statement handy (you can get it from ssa.gov). Sometimes EDD's wage records don't match perfectly with what you think you earned, and having that official record can help resolve any discrepancies quickly. Your situation sounds pretty straightforward though - with that $12,800 quarter you should be in good shape for a decent weekly benefit amount!

I went through this exact same confusion last year! Everyone here is right - EDD uses your highest quarter's TOTAL earnings (all 3 months combined). I had a quarter where I made $8,200, $3,400, and $4,100, so they used the full $15,700 total, not just the $8,200 high month. One thing that really helped me was calling the EDD customer service line early in the morning (like 8:02 AM right when they open) - I actually got through on my second try. The rep walked me through exactly how they calculate it and confirmed my benefit amount over the phone. Your $12,800 quarter should put you around $495-530 per week based on my experience with similar earnings. Just make sure you have all your pay stubs organized by quarter when you file - it makes the whole process much smoother!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to this helpful thread! I filed my claim in January and had the exact same confusion about whether EDD uses the highest quarter total or just the highest month. After going through the process, I can confirm what everyone else has said - they definitely use the TOTAL earnings from your highest quarter (all 3 months combined). In my case, I had one really strong month followed by two weaker ones in my highest quarter, but they still used the full quarterly total. One thing that surprised me was how quickly they processed my claim once I had all the documentation ready. The benefit amount came out pretty close to the estimates people have shared here - roughly 50% of my average weekly earnings during that highest quarter. For anyone still preparing to file: definitely organize your wage info by quarter first like others have suggested. It makes everything so much clearer when you can see exactly which quarter was your highest and what the total was. Good luck to everyone navigating this process!