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Logan Scott

How many days do you have to work to get unemployment in California EDD?

I got laid off from my warehouse job about a month ago and I'm trying to figure out if I even qualify for California EDD unemployment. I worked there for about 7 months before they let me go due to downsizing. A coworker told me there's a minimum number of days or weeks you have to work before you're eligible but I can't find a clear answer anywhere on the EDD website. How many days do you have to work to get unemployment? Is it based on days worked, weeks worked, or total wages earned? I'm so confused by all the base period stuff I keep reading about. Any help would be really appreciated because I haven't filed yet and I'm worried I might not qualify after all this time waiting to find out.

Great question and you've come to the right place. California EDD doesn't actually measure eligibility strictly by the number of days worked - it's primarily based on wages earned during what they call the 'base period.' The standard base period covers the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. To qualify you generally need to have earned at least $1,300 in your highest earning quarter, OR earned at least $900 in your highest quarter AND your total base period wages are at least 1.25 times your high quarter earnings. With 7 months of warehouse work you very likely meet those thresholds. Go ahead and file - the worst they can say is you don't qualify.

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Wait so it's not about days at all? I was so sure my coworker said something about working a certain number of days. This wage-based system makes more sense honestly. So I should just file and let EDD figure out if I qualify?

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yeah the days thing is kind of a myth a lot of people believe. its really about how much you made not how long you worked technically

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This is accurate. The base period wage requirements are what really determine eligibility. That said, working more days generally means higher wages which indirectly connects the two concepts. Your coworker probably heard a simplified version of the rule somewhere.

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To add some clarity - technically there IS a minimum hours component in some interpretations but California EDD really focuses on the wage thresholds the previous commenter mentioned. For most people who worked a steady job for several months the bigger question isn't whether you worked enough days but whether your wages were high enough. With warehouse work for 7 months you should be well over the minimum thresholds. File your claim at UI Online as soon as possible because your benefit year starts from the date you file not the date you were laid off.

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Oh wow I didn't know the benefit year starts from when I file! I've been waiting almost a month already. Does that mean I've lost out on a month of potential benefits?

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Unfortunately yes, delays in filing do cost you benefits generally. However California EDD does allow you to certify for the weeks between your layoff and your filing date so you may be able to recover some of that. It's called backdating and you'll need to request it when you file.

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omg same thing happened to me i waited like 3 weeks before filing and lost some weeks. file immediately everyone!!!

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I was in a similar boat when I got laid off from my retail job last year - kept asking myself how many days do you have to work to get unemployment and couldn't find a straight answer either. The EDD website is genuinely confusing about this. What finally helped me was just calling EDD to talk through my specific situation. Except calling EDD is basically an Olympic sport in futility. I tried for two weeks straight and kept getting the 'we cannot take your call' message. A friend suggested I try Claimyr at claimyr.com - there's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - and it actually got me connected to a live EDD agent within a couple hours. The agent confirmed I qualified and walked me through filing. Would have saved myself so much stress if I'd used it sooner.

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I've been dreading calling EDD because everyone says it's impossible to get through. Does Claimyr actually work? I might need to talk to someone about my specific situation since I also had a second part-time job during those 7 months.

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It worked for me and a couple people I know who tried it. The EDD agent I reached was actually really helpful once I got through. Definitely worth trying if you need to talk to someone about your specific wages and work history.

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I'm always skeptical of these services but if it gets you to an actual human at EDD that alone seems worth it. Those phone lines are absolutely brutal.

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seconded on the phone lines being awful. i once sat on hold for 3 hours and then got disconnected. THREE HOURS

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Let me break down the actual numbers so this is crystal clear for anyone searching this question. California EDD base period eligibility requires ONE of the following: (1) You earned at least $1,300 in wages during your highest paid quarter of the base period, OR (2) You earned at least $900 in your highest quarter AND your total wages across all base period quarters equal at least 1.25 times that highest quarter amount. A 'quarter' is a three month period - January through March, April through June, July through September, October through December. Seven months of warehouse work almost certainly puts you over these thresholds assuming you were earning any reasonable wage. The 'days worked' question is really answered indirectly by whether your paycheck was big enough.

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This is really helpful breakdown. Quick question - what if someone worked gig or contract work? Does that count toward the base period wages the same way?

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Gig work is more complicated - it depends on whether the employer reported your wages to EDD and paid UI taxes on your behalf. Traditional W2 employment like warehouse work is straightforward. Independent contractor 1099 work generally doesn't count toward California EDD base period wages. If you had a mix of W2 and 1099 income, only the W2 portion typically counts.

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this is why gig workers got hit so hard when pandemic happened, they had no UI coverage at all. hopefully OP had regular employment

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just wanna say dont stress too much about the days question - if you worked full time for 7 months you almost definitely qualify. i worked like 4 months part time and still got approved

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That's actually really reassuring to hear, thank you. I was catastrophizing a bit.

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yeah 7 months full time warehouse you're fine. file today honestly

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Something nobody mentioned yet - the ALTERNATE BASE PERIOD. If you don't qualify under the standard base period calculation, California EDD will automatically check if you qualify under the alternate base period which uses the four most recently completed quarters instead of the standard calculation. This can help people who recently started working or had gaps in employment. So even if your standard base period wages fall short for some reason, you might still qualify under the alternate calculation. EDD is supposed to use whichever one benefits you more.

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Really important point. The alternate base period has helped a lot of people who would have otherwise been disqualified. EDD does check this automatically now but it's good to know this exists as a safety net in your eligibility determination.

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I had no idea there were two different ways they calculate this. The EDD system is more complex than I thought. Should I mention the alternate base period when I file or do they just figure it out automatically?

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They figure it out automatically - you don't need to request it specifically. Just file your claim with accurate wage and employment information and EDD will run both calculations on their end.

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I work at a workforce development center (not EDD itself) and see questions like 'how many days do you have to work to get unemployment' constantly. The short answer that helps most people: if you worked full time for even just a single quarter (3 months) at minimum wage or above in California, you likely meet the wage thresholds. Part time work takes longer to accumulate but 7 months part time often qualifies too depending on your hourly rate. File your claim and let the system calculate it - you'll find out definitively much faster than trying to estimate it yourself.

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This is excellent practical advice. The 'just file and find out' approach is usually best because the eligibility determination involves your actual wage records from your employer and EDD has those on file already.

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Do employers report wages to EDD automatically? I always wondered if I needed to do something to make sure my wages were on record.

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Yes - employers who pay into UI tax are required to report wages to EDD quarterly. So your warehouse employer's records should already be in the EDD system when you file your claim. You don't need to track down pay stubs or W2s to file (though having them handy is useful if there are any discrepancies).

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OP also make sure you know WHY you were let go because that matters almost as much as whether you worked enough. Laid off due to downsizing = good, you'll get benefits. Fired for misconduct = California EDD will likely disqualify you. Quit voluntarily = also likely disqualified unless you had 'good cause.' The number of days worked question matters but so does your separation reason. Just want to make sure you don't get surprised by an adjudication notice.

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Yeah I was definitely laid off - they eliminated my whole shift actually. They even gave us letters saying it was a business decision and not performance related. Is that letter something I should keep?

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KEEP THAT LETTER. Seriously save it everywhere - email it to yourself, take a photo, whatever. If EDD ever questions your separation reason or your former employer contests your claim that letter is gold. It directly supports your eligibility.

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Excellent advice on the separation letter. Documents like that can make adjudication much smoother if any questions arise about why you separated from the employer.

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I went through this exact thing six months ago and was so stressed about the days/weeks requirement. Turns out my 5 months at a food distribution company was more than enough to qualify. My weekly benefit amount ended up being around $420 which covered most of my rent. The thing that stressed me out MORE than qualifying was the weekly certification - you have to certify every two weeks that you're still looking for work, available to work, and report any earnings. Miss a certification and your payments stop until you catch up.

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Oh I didn't realize you have to certify every two weeks. So it's not just a one time application? How many job search activities do you have to do per week?

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You have to certify every two weeks on UI Online and report any work or earnings during that period. For job search requirements you need to do 3 job search activities per week - these can be applications, interviews, attending job fairs, stuff like that. You're supposed to keep a log but EDD doesn't always ask to see it. Still keep it though.

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the weekly cert thing trips so many people up. i know multiple people who lost weeks of benefits just because they forgot to certify on time

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CALIFORNIA EDD IS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE I don't care how many days you worked you could have worked there 10 years and they'll still find a reason to put you in adjudication for months with no explanation. My cousin worked at a company for 3 years, clearly qualified, and sat in adjudication for SIX WEEKS before anyone contacted him. The system is broken don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

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The adjudication delays are real and frustrating. That's actually one of the main reasons I'd recommend having Claimyr's info handy (claimyr.com) - if you do end up in adjudication limbo and need to actually talk to someone about what's holding up your claim, getting through to EDD by phone is nearly impossible without help. The video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 shows how it works.

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adjudication is where claims go to die honestly. hope OP doesn't end up there but if you do, good luck getting anyone on the phone without losing your mind first

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This is scary to read. Is adjudication common even for straightforward layoffs? I have a letter from my employer saying it was a business decision...

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With a clear layoff letter and no wage discrepancies, your chances of getting stuck in long adjudication are relatively low. Adjudication is more common when there are questions about why you left, conflicting information from the employer, or unusual work situations. Straightforward layoffs with documentation often process without issues.

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Going back to the original question about how many days do you have to work to get unemployment in California - I want to give you a real world example. Someone earning $18/hour working 40 hours a week would make roughly $2,340 per month. After just ONE quarter (3 months) they'd have earned about $7,020 which is way over the $1,300 threshold. Even part time at 20 hours a week that same person makes $1,170 per month, so after one quarter they're just under the single threshold but would easily meet it with a second quarter of work. At 7 months full time warehouse work you are almost certainly fine. Your weekly benefit amount will be roughly 60-70% of your average weekly wage depending on your earnings.

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The 60-70% of average weekly wage calculation - is that before taxes or after? And does California tax unemployment benefits?

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California does NOT tax unemployment benefits at the state level which is nice. The federal government does tax them though, so you'll owe federal income tax unless you opt to have taxes withheld from your payments. California EDD gives you the option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you set up your claim - I'd recommend doing that to avoid a tax bill in April.

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This is correct and an underrated tip. A lot of people get surprised by a federal tax bill the following spring because they didn't withhold during their claim period.

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wait does the 7 months include any time you were on like medical leave or vacation? asking because my job counted those weeks toward my seniority but wondering if EDD sees it differently

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Great nuance question. For EDD purposes what matters is wages reported by your employer, not necessarily calendar time employed. If you were on paid leave your employer likely reported those wages to EDD normally. Unpaid leave wouldn't contribute wages to your base period but also usually doesn't create problems with your claim - it just means fewer wages in the calculation.

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ok that makes sense so paid leave is fine unpaid leave just means lower wages in the calculation. got it

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Just want to share my experience since this thread is really helpful. I was laid off last fall from a logistics company after 8 months and filed my claim within a week. Got approved in about 12 days with no adjudication. The key things that I think helped: I filed immediately, I had my separation letter ready, and when EDD sent me an eligibility questionnaire about my separation I answered it clearly and factually. Don't overthink it, just be honest and accurate on everything.

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12 days from filing to approval is actually really fast! That gives me a lot of hope. Did you have to do anything special or just fill out the initial application accurately?

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Just filled everything out carefully and honestly. Made sure my employer info and dates were exactly right. I think a lot of delays happen when information doesn't match what the employer reports so double check everything before you submit.

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this is the way. accuracy on the initial application is everything

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one thing nobody mentioned - if you worked at multiple jobs during those 7 months ALL of those employers' wages can potentially count toward your base period. so if you had your warehouse job AND a part time second job both sets of wages get added together in the eligibility calculation. just make sure you list all employers when you file

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Oh this is really relevant for me - I did have a part time job at a grocery store for about 3 of those 7 months. Should I list that even though it wasn't my main job?

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yes definitely list it! more wages = higher benefit amount potentially. list every employer you worked for during the base period period

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Absolutely list all employers. Your benefit amount is calculated on total base period wages from all covered employers. Omitting a job is both a potential mistake and could be seen as misrepresentation on your claim even if accidental.

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I spent a week trying to get through to EDD on the phone to ask basically this same question - how many days do you have to work to qualify for unemployment. Finally found Claimyr and got connected to an agent pretty quickly. The agent confirmed I qualified and actually caught that I was eligible for a higher benefit amount than I'd estimated because I'd miscalculated which quarter was my highest earning quarter. Sometimes just talking to someone who actually knows the system is worth it.

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The highest earning quarter thing is something people miscalculate all the time. Good catch by the agent. These seemingly small details can affect your weekly benefit amount significantly.

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Is it pretty common to miscalculate your own benefit amount? I've been trying to estimate what I'd get but the calculations on the EDD website are confusing.

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Very common. The EDD website has a benefit calculator but you have to input your quarterly wages correctly and most people aren't sure exactly which quarters to use. An agent can pull your actual wage records and give you a much more accurate estimate.

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ok super late to this thread but for anyone googling 'how many days do you have to work to get unemployment' in the future: the answer is that days dont really matter directly its about the money you earned. work full time for 3+ months at any reasonable wage and youre almost certainly going to qualify in california. part time workers might need 5-6 months or more depending on their hourly rate. hope this helps someone

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Good summary for future searchers. The only real edge case is very low wage or very part time workers where it might take longer to accumulate enough base period wages, but for typical employment situations three to six months of work usually does it.

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wish someone had told me this in simple terms when i was trying to figure out if i qualified. would have saved hours of googling

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UPDATE: I filed my claim this morning using UI Online! Listed both my warehouse job and the part time grocery store job. The system accepted my application and said I should receive a determination notice within 2-3 weeks. I requested backdating to try to recover the weeks I lost by waiting. Fingers crossed everything processes smoothly. Thank you everyone in this thread - I came in asking how many days do you have to work to get unemployment and I'm leaving with a complete understanding of the base period system. Will report back when I hear something!

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Great news! Good luck with your claim. The backdating request is smart - make sure you also start your weekly certifications on the schedule UI Online gives you so you don't fall behind on those. Rooting for you!

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Awesome! If for any reason you do hit a snag or land in adjudication and need to reach an actual EDD agent, remember claimyr.com is there. Saved me a lot of phone frustration. Fingers crossed you won't need it though!

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Great move filing with both employers listed. Keep that layoff letter safe and check your UI Online account and mail regularly for any EDD correspondence. Sometimes they send questionnaires that need fast responses or your claim can stall.

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good luck honestly hope your claim goes smooth. the system CAN work sometimes lol

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