How to tell California EDD unemployment you got a job and stop your claim

That's a relief, I was worried there was some separate form or phone call required. So basically the weekly cert handles everything automatically?

yep exactly, the system figures it out when u report earnings. just make sure u report GROSS wages not what you take home after taxes or it'll come back to bite you

This is correct. The weekly certification is your official reporting mechanism. Failing to report wages accurately is what causes overpayment issues down the line, so just be thorough on that final certification.

Yes, California EDD uses a partial benefit formula. If your weekly wages are less than your weekly benefit amount plus $25, you may still qualify for a reduced payment. Definitely worth certifying accurately for that transition week.

ugh wish i had known this 6 months ago when i went back to work... can you go back and certify for weeks you missed?

You can request to backdate missed certifications but it requires contacting EDD directly and explaining why you missed them. Not guaranteed they'll approve it but worth trying if the amount is significant.

I've been nervous about calling EDD too so this might be worth checking out. Did the agent say anything specific about timing, like does the cert need to be filed within a certain window?

She said you have up to 2 weeks after a certification period ends to still file it, but after that you'd need to request a late certification. So don't wait too long on that final week.

does claimyr actually work or is it one of those things that sounds good but doesnt deliver

It worked for me, got a callback within like an hour and a half. Beats sitting there hitting redial for 3 hours straight.

Good call on the gross vs net distinction. I would have definitely reported my take-home pay without thinking about it.

the signing bonus thing is a good point too. technically it's income but the timing of when to report it is tricky

When I called EDD about my signing bonus situation they told me to report it in the week I received it. But ask your specific situation because the rules on one-time payments can be complicated.

Wait the claim stays open?? I thought you had to close it out somehow. So if I get laid off from this new job I don't have to reapply from scratch?

Correct, as long as you're still within your benefit year (12 months from when you opened the claim) you can restart certifying. You'd just go back to UI Online and resume filing. EDD may ask you some requalification questions but it's much simpler than starting fresh.

This is accurate. The benefit year is key. If you're beyond your benefit year you'd file a new claim. But within that window reopening is straightforward and you don't lose your remaining balance.

This is genuinely the most useful thing I've learned today. Bookmarking this thread.

Oh I hadn't even thought about those questions. I always just kind of rushed through them. Good reminder to actually read each one carefully.

yeah the questions about whether you were able and available to work each day are important too. if you were sick one day before starting the job that could affect your partial week benefit

This is super helpful because my offer letter has a different date than my actual start. Good to know the physical start date is what matters.

does orientation count as a work day? i remember being confused about this when i started a job mid-claim a while back

Yes, if you're being paid for orientation it counts as a work day and those wages need to be reported. Even if it's just a few hours at your new hourly rate.

Same! I felt embarrassed asking but clearly a lot of people go through this. Good luck with the new job!

you too!! we made it through the unemployment gauntlet haha

congrats to both of you. getting off unemployment for a job is always a good day

THE EDD WEBSITE IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I swear they design it to be confusing on purpose. Half the links are broken and the other half take you to documents from 2019 that may not even be current policy.

The UI Online portal is actually more straightforward than the main EDD site for most things. If you log into your claim account directly the certification interface walks you through the questions clearly. The public-facing website is indeed a maze.

yeah UI Online is better but getting there requires knowing where to go first lol. they should just put a giant button on the homepage

I was skeptical too but after spending literally 4 days trying to get through to EDD on my own about a different issue I finally tried it and got through same day. Wish I hadn't wasted those 4 days first.

okay you've convinced me to at least check out the video

EDD phone lines are a disaster. Any tool that helps you actually get through is worth knowing about. I've had calls disconnect after 45 minute waits more times than I can count.

Great question and yes, this matters. California law requires that accrued vacation pay be treated as wages when paid out upon termination. EDD considers this reportable income and it can affect your benefit eligibility for the week(s) it covers. You should report it in the week you received it.

Ugh that's annoying but good to know. I have about a week's worth of PTO coming. At least now I'll report it correctly instead of getting an overpayment notice later.

The rule is that if the payout is equivalent to X weeks of wages, EDD may consider you 'employed' for those weeks. It can delay when your benefits start or create a reportable income week even after separation. Reporting it accurately is definitely the right call.

Your coworker is incorrect. You report wages through the weekly certification form. As long as you certify accurately and report your earnings, EDD calculates everything correctly. There's no separate letter or notification required for returning to work.

okay good because i was panicking a little. my coworker went through this years ago so maybe the process was different back then

yeah the process has changed a lot especially since everything moved online. old advice from even a few years ago can be outdated for how EDD works now

Oh this is a really practical tip. I actually closed the account I had linked during my initial filing and opened a new one. Going to update that right now.

Yeah it took me like 3 weeks to get it sorted out. EDD doesn't make it easy to update banking info after the fact.

Good to know so I don't freak out if it takes longer than usual. Thanks for setting that expectation.

This happened to me too! Thought something was wrong but it cleared on its own. Nerve wracking to watch but it resolved.

EDD always makes you sweat even when you're doing everything right. The pending status for reviewed certs is definitely a thing.

Yeah I actually just logged in and checked. My current period ends Sunday so my first week of work will fall entirely in the next certification period which makes things cleaner.

perfect, that's the ideal situation. less math involved when the work start date falls at the beginning of a new cert period

Oh my gosh yes. I had a moment last week where I realized I'd been scheduling my whole week around certification days and job search documentation. It's such a weird headspace to be in.

Completely relate to this. The mental load of staying on top of EDD requirements on top of job searching is exhausting. Ready to just focus on work.

the toxic relationship comparison is perfect actually lol. frustrating, draining, but you still needed it to survive

Really good advice. I hadn't thought about potential audits down the road. Going to download everything before I start Monday.

Seconded on keeping records. California EDD does conduct periodic audits and overpayment notices can come seemingly out of nowhere even for people who followed all the rules. Documentation is your best protection.

Can you actually download your full claim history from UI Online? I didn't know that was possible.

Yes, log into UI Online and look under your claim details. You can view and print/save your payment history and certification records. Not the most intuitive interface but it's there.

This is a good cautionary tale. I would have assumed the same thing — why bother reporting if I won't get any benefit anyway. But you're right, it's about accuracy not just getting money.

Exactly. And when I tried to call EDD to explain it was an honest mistake the hold times were brutal. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through and the agent was actually really understanding once I explained the situation. Didn't eliminate the overpayment but they did waive the penalty. The video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 shows how the service works if anyone's dealing with something similar and can't get through.

The overpayment + penalty combination is the nightmare scenario. Glad you got the penalty waived at least. EDD can be reasonable when you actually get a human on the phone and explain yourself.

Oh this is a good distinction to make. I think a lot of people assume the same rules apply to 1099 work and that's definitely not the case.

Correct. Self-employment income has specific reporting requirements and there are different thresholds that affect benefit calculations. If you're going back to any form of freelance or contract work, the standard 'just report wages on your cert' advice needs to be applied more carefully.

Mine is a standard W2 job so I should be in the straightforward camp thankfully. Good warning for others though.