How long am I required to keep EDD documents after benefits end? Record retention question

The general rule is to keep ALL tax-related documents for at least 3 years from the date you filed your tax return that included that unemployment income. This is because the IRS statute of limitations for audits is typically 3 years. For EDD-specific documents, I recommend keeping them for 4 years. EDD can investigate claims and potentially assess overpayments for up to 4 years after your benefit year ends. Better safe than sorry! You can scan the most important documents (award letters, notices of determination, any appeal documents) if you want to save space while maintaining records.

I kept mine for 5 years and I'm glad I did! EDD actually contacted me 3.5 years later claiming I had an overpayment from a job I supposedly didn't report. I was able to pull out my original certification forms showing I DID report that employer. Saved me from having to repay $2,700! Don't throw ANYTHING away until at least 4-5 years have passed.

I WOULDN'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY EVER!!! EDD is notorious for coming back YEARS later with overpayment notices and other problems. Their system is so messed up. I know someone who got hit with a claim from 6 YEARS AGO saying they owed money back. By then they had no proof of anything! The government keeps records FOREVER when it benefits them but somehow "loses" records when it would help you. KEEP EVERYTHING!!

i just took pictures of everything with my phone and tossed the papers. UI Online only keeps some stuff but not everything. the important things are ur award letter and any notices about interviews or eligibility decisions

UI taxation professional here. You should maintain records for unemployment benefits for at least 4 years after the end of the benefit year. This includes: - Initial award letter - Any determination notices (eligibility decisions) - Records of your certifications - Documentation of any appeals - Your 1099-G tax forms The UI Online system does maintain many documents, but not all correspondence, and access can sometimes be limited after your claim becomes inactive. I've seen cases where claimants needed documentation years later and couldn't access it online. If storage space is an issue, digitizing is perfectly acceptable as long as you have secure backups.

I had the worst experience trying to reach EDD last year when they sent me an overpayment notice for a claim from 2 years earlier. I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the phone with no success - constant busy signals and disconnections. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD rep within 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I finally spoke with someone, I was able to explain that I had documentation proving I reported all income correctly. The rep actually helped resolve it over the phone. So definitely keep your documentation - and if you ever need to reach EDD about old claims, Claimyr was seriously a life-saver.

One more important thing - if you received any pandemic-related benefits like PUA or the extra $300/$600 weekly supplements, I'd keep those records even longer (5-6 years). Those programs were new and had different rules, so there's more chance of confusion or audits later. Better to have documentation and not need it than need it and not have it!

This is such a good question! I've been wondering the same thing. I have a whole folder of EDD stuff taking up space. Glad you asked!

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! Based on all your responses, I'm going to: 1. Keep all my EDD documents for at least 4 years from when my benefits ended 2. Scan/photograph the bulkier items to save space 3. Make sure I have copies of my award letter, determination notices, and any income reporting forms 4. Hold onto my 1099-G forms with my tax records Really appreciate all the guidance and personal experiences shared. Definitely better to be safe than sorry when it comes to potential issues down the road!