How to get unemployment if you quit your job in California EDD

This is really helpful. I do have texts from my manager about the schedule changes and I saved the email about the relocation. Should I submit all of this to EDD proactively or wait until they ask?

Submit it proactively if you can through UI Online - upload it as supporting documents for your claim. Don't wait for them to ask. Adjudicators are handling huge caseloads and having documentation already there when they review your file can make a real difference. Also make sure you're filing your weekly certifications even while in adjudication - if you get approved, you'll receive back pay for those weeks.

wait you can quit and still get unemployment?? i thought that was only for people who got laid off lol

The 6 week timeline is stressing me out a bit. Did you continue getting any income during that period or were you just waiting it out?

Unfortunately just waiting. I had some savings I burned through. The back pay once I got approved helped but those weeks were rough. That's why I'd really really recommend making sure you're doing your weekly certifications on time every single week even now - those payments come through once the adjudication resolves.

6 weeks omg. I've been in adjudication for 8 weeks now and called probably 50 times with no answer. This system is so broken

wait seriously?? I've been going crazy trying to get through. Gonna check this out tonight

I was skeptical of third party services for EDD stuff but a friend in my apartment building used Claimyr when her claim got flagged and she said it actually worked. Might be worth trying at this point

I'll check that out. At this point anything that gets me to an actual human at EDD is worth looking into.

That's technically correct - EDD does consider the totality of circumstances including commute time, available transportation, and whether the new location is 'reasonably accessible.' The 35 mile figure is more of a general guideline than an absolute threshold. In practice though, 47 miles with no prior agreement to relocate is going to be viewed very favorably for the claimant in most circumstances.

yeah exactly what I meant. Just didn't want OP thinking they automatically win because of the mileage

Good to know - I'll make sure to document the actual commute time too, not just the distance. The new location would have been a 90 minute drive each way with traffic.

The California EDD deadline to file an initial claim is generally within the benefit year from when you became unemployed. Three months is still within the window - you should file now! Go to UI Online at www.edd.ca.gov immediately. You won't get back pay for weeks before you file but you can start a claim now. Please do this today.

filing RIGHT NOW thank you oh my god

Yes go file! Even if you have good cause questions, get the claim started. You can always provide additional information during adjudication.

same i had no idea this was possible

The schedule changes also affected my ability to care for my elderly mother who I help look after. Is that something I should mention to EDD?

Absolutely mention it. Family caregiving obligations that were disrupted by your employer's unilateral scheduling changes can be part of a good cause argument. Document how the old schedule worked with your caregiving duties versus how the new unpredictable schedule made it impossible.

My coworker got denied even though they changed her schedule too. I think it depends a lot on who reviews your case which is frustrating

What you're describing - a drastic reduction in hours - is actually one of the strongest good cause situations. Going from 40 hours to 8 hours is essentially a constructive discharge. EDD treats that kind of drastic hour reduction as being effectively laid off even if you technically 'quit.' Make sure you document the hour reduction with pay stubs showing the change over time. That paper trail will be very useful.

oh thank god. i have all my pay stubs. ok I feel slightly better about my situation now

If your claim has been in adjudication for more than 3-4 weeks and you need to add documentation or check on status, I'd seriously look into using Claimyr to get through to an EDD agent. I mentioned it earlier in the thread - claimyr.com - it saved me a huge amount of time and stress when I needed to actually speak with someone about my voluntary quit claim.

Yes - 100% yes. Keep doing your weekly certifications AND log your job search activities as if your claim is active. California requires three job search activities per week as of the current requirements. If you get approved and back pay is issued, EDD can audit your job search compliance for those weeks. If you weren't logging activities, it could potentially affect your back payments.

omg I have not been doing this. I've been waiting to hear back before doing the job search log stuff. I need to go fix this

Go log what you actually did over those weeks - any applications you submitted, networking contacts, anything. Better to have something documented than nothing. And going forward do it properly each week.

Wait I didn't realize the job search requirement applied during adjudication either. I've been keeping a log just in case but wasn't sure if it was required. Glad I did.

I understand the concern but my personal experience was the opposite - I was approved after quitting due to working conditions. I think the outcome really depends on how well-documented your good cause is. Cases with solid documentation and clear good cause reasons do get approved. It's not a lost cause at all.

Fair enough, maybe my friends just didn't have great documentation. I hope OP gets approved, genuinely.

I appreciate both perspectives. I'm going into this with my documentation organized and realistic expectations. At minimum I'm going to fight for it and appeal if I get denied initially.

This is really good to know. 30 days to appeal - I'll make sure to note that date if I get a denial notice.

The appeals process is also where having talked to an actual EDD agent helps because you understand better why you were denied and can address those specific reasons. Another reason to try to get through to someone on the phone.

I appealed my denial and am waiting for my hearing date. The wait for a hearing is like 3-4 months right now from what I've heard

Honestly, 'difficult boss' alone is generally not enough for good cause in California. EDD expects claimants to try to resolve workplace conflicts before quitting. HOWEVER - if the boss's behavior crosses into harassment, creates objectively hostile conditions, involves disparate treatment, or if you formally complained and nothing changed, that's different. Document any HR complaints you made. The key word EDD uses is 'reasonable' - would a reasonable person have tolerated it and tried to fix it first, and did you do that?

ugh. I did complain to HR twice and nothing changed and the situation got worse. Does that help?

Yes that actually helps a lot. Document those HR complaints - dates, what you reported, what the response was. The fact that you used available channels and the situation didn't improve is relevant to showing you had good cause and didn't just bail without trying to fix it.

I did send a few texts to my manager about the schedule changes. Are texts considered 'written' in the way you're describing?

Texts absolutely count. Screenshot them and save them somewhere outside your phone. They show contemporaneous complaints before you quit which is exactly what EDD looks at to determine if you tried to address the problem before leaving.

This is such good insider info. From the other side of this - when I went through my adjudication, the phone interview specifically asked whether I had raised concerns with management before quitting. I had sent one email and that email became a focal point of the whole interview.

So glad this worked out for you! This gives me hope. I'm going to try Claimyr this week because I really want to know where my claim stands.

Just signed up for Claimyr based on this thread. Nothing to lose at this point. Will report back

ok I'll admit this actually does sound helpful. not a bad option when the normal EDD phone lines are basically impossible

That situation involves potential California Labor Code violations on top of the retaliation, which significantly strengthens your good cause argument. Requiring employees to skip legally mandated breaks is an illegal working condition, and retaliating for complaining about it adds another layer. I'd recommend filing with both California EDD for unemployment AND potentially the Labor Commissioner for the wage and break violations - those are separate processes and you may be entitled to compensation beyond just unemployment benefits.

Oh wow I didn't know I could do both. That's really helpful.

Confirming from the HR side - that's a strong fact pattern for an EDD claim. Document the write-up, any witnesses, and anything you have showing the break denials.

You need to tell the truth. EDD contacts your former employer who will give their version of events. If your stories don't match or your story seems inconsistent, that hurts you. Also providing false information to EDD is fraud and can result in disqualification, repayment demands, and in serious cases criminal charges. Give the real reasons - if they actually support good cause, document them properly. If they don't, manage your expectations.

ok yeah that was a dumb question. I do have real reasons I was just worried they weren't good enough but sounds like they might be actually

This matches what I've read. The appeals hearing is much more formal than people expect but the judges are genuinely trying to make the right call based on the evidence. Going in prepared with documentation and a clear timeline of events makes a huge difference.

Really appreciate all this information about the appeals process as a backup. Hoping I don't need it but good to know the options if the initial determination doesn't go my way.

I'm in the appeals process now and can confirm the ALJ assigned to my case has been fair so far. Just waiting on my hearing date.

Congratulations!! This is really encouraging to hear. Gives me hope for my own claim.

Love seeing this. Good cause cases do get approved. Congrats!

This thread has been so helpful and hearing success stories makes the wait more bearable

I've been trying to be consistent but this is a good reminder to go back and review what I originally stated so my weekly certs line up exactly.

This is really important advice. The certification questions seem simple but inconsistencies in how you answer them over time can trigger additional adjudication flags. Keep notes on exactly how you're answering each week.

Didn't even think about this. Going to review my past certifications to make sure everything has been consistent.