How to view my EDD benefit calculation - can't figure out why my WBA is so low
I started receiving unemployment benefits last month, but my weekly benefit amount is way lower than I expected (only $285). I know I made at least $42k last year at my sales job before being laid off, so this doesn't seem right. Is there a way to see exactly how EDD calculated my benefit amount? I checked my UI Online account but can't find any detailed breakdown or calculation. I tried calling but kept getting the 'too many callers' message. I'm wondering if they might have missed some of my income or used the wrong quarter for calculation. Anyone know how to view this information or request an explanation?
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Santiago Diaz
EDD calculates your WBA based on your highest-earning quarter in your base period, not your total annual income. Log into UI Online, then go to 'Claim History' and look for a link called 'View Claim Details' or sometimes 'Determination'. That'll show your base period wages that were used for calculation. If you see incorrect wage info there, you'll need to file a wage protest with documentation of your correct earnings.
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Riya Sharma
•Thanks! I found the section but it only shows the quarters they used, not detailed paystubs. Some of my quarters look way off - like $4k less than what I actually earned. So I need to gather my paystubs and file a wage protest? Do you know if that will delay my current payments?
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Millie Long
ya this happened 2 me last yr. they used my income from 2 yrs ago somehow?? like from when i first started at the company makin way less. had to send in all my pay stubs and tax forms and stuff to get it fixed
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Riya Sharma
•Seriously? That's really frustrating. Did you have to keep certifying while the protest was being processed? And how long did it take to fix it?
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Millie Long
•yep keep certifying! took like 5 weeks to fix but they did backpay me the difference
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KaiEsmeralda
To see exactly how EDD calculated your WBA, you need to look at your Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award letter (DE 429Z). This document shows the breakdown of your base period wages by quarter and explains how your WBA was calculated. If you didn't keep the paper copy, you can request a duplicate through UI Online under "Contact EDD" or by phone. The base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. If your high quarter earnings were around $10,500, that would explain your $285 WBA. However, if your quarterly earnings were higher, definitely file a wage protest using the "Request for Reconsideration" (DE 1326) form within 30 days of receiving your award notice.
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Riya Sharma
•Thank you for explaining! I think I threw away that Notice letter thinking it was just a confirmation. Is there any way to get an electronic copy? Also, when you say file within 30 days - it's been about 5 weeks since I first filed. Am I out of luck now?
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KaiEsmeralda
•You can request a copy of your DE 429Z through UI Online's "Contact EDD" feature or by phone. Regarding the 30-day deadline, you can still submit a late protest with good cause for the delay (like not understanding how to check your benefit calculation). Include a letter explaining why you're filing late and provide all documentation proving your correct wages. They may still consider it, especially if there's a significant discrepancy in your benefit amount.
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Debra Bai
Been there!!! The EDD system is SO BROKEN. I had the same problem and my WBA was calculated at literally half what it should have been. I called like 40 times trying to get through to fix it and NEVER got through. Complete nightmare. The website is useless for fixing anything!
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Gabriel Freeman
•I had the same issue last year and couldn't get through on the phones for weeks. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. Cost some money but saved me weeks of calling and getting nowhere. They have a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The EDD rep was able to review my wage calculation over the phone and start the correction process right away.
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Laura Lopez
lol don't get ur hopes up even if u do file a wage protest... took my friend 3 MONTHS to get his fixed 😠edd is the worst
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Riya Sharma
•3 months?! That's ridiculous. I can't survive on $285/week for 3 months waiting for them to fix their mistake.
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KaiEsmeralda
One important thing to know: even while your wage protest is being processed, you should continue to certify for benefits at your current WBA. If your protest is successful, EDD will issue retroactive payments for the difference between your current WBA and your corrected WBA for all weeks you properly certified. Also, check if you might qualify for the Alternate Base Period (ABP) calculation. If your earnings were higher in more recent quarters that weren't included in your standard base period, you can request an ABP calculation which might result in a higher WBA.
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Riya Sharma
•Thanks so much for this detailed info. I'll definitely keep certifying. I'm not familiar with the Alternate Base Period - is that something I need to specifically request? My most recent quarter before being laid off was actually my highest paying one.
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KaiEsmeralda
•Yes, you would need to specifically request an Alternate Base Period calculation. If your most recent completed quarter had higher earnings, this could significantly increase your WBA. You can request this by calling EDD or including it in your written wage protest. Make sure to mention that you believe you would qualify for a higher benefit amount under the ABP calculation because your most recent quarters had higher earnings.
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Victoria Brown
Make sure you have COPIES of all your paystubs before sending anything to EDD!! I sent all my original documents for a similiar situation and they LOST THEM!!! Had to go back to my employer to get everything reprinted. Such a pain!!
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Riya Sharma
•That's a great tip, thank you! I'll definitely only send copies and keep the originals safe.
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Santiago Diaz
Update from my earlier comment: I forgot to mention that if your benefit amount does get recalculated and increased, make sure to check if you're also eligible for Fed-Ed benefits depending on when your claim started. This can extend your benefit period if you meet the earnings threshold, which you likely will if your WBA increases significantly.
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Millie Long
•fed-ed ended years ago tho?? pretty sure that was just a covid thing
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