Is SSI the same as unemployment? California EDD benefits explained

Oh thank goodness. I was so worried. So I don't need to do anything with Social Security at all then?

Correct - Social Security and California EDD are entirely separate. As long as you're able-bodied and were laid off from a job, the California EDD unemployment insurance claim you filed is where you need to be. Just keep your job search log updated and certify on time.

this is right. my cousin made the same mistake thinking they were the same thing and almost filed for the wrong one

This breakdown is super helpful thank you!! So when I certify every two weeks I need to log 3 job search activities per week?

Exactly right. California EDD requires 3 job search activities per week while you're receiving UI benefits. These can be things like submitting applications, attending job fairs, creating profiles on job sites, networking contacts - keep records of all of it in case EDD ever asks for your log.

wait I didn't know it was 3 per week I thought it was just 1?? I've only been logging one each week and I've been getting benefits for a month omg

The current California EDD requirement is 3 work search activities per week. I'd strongly recommend updating your records going forward and if you're worried about past weeks you may want to contact EDD to clarify your situation before it becomes an issue.

I felt the same way!! The websites are not beginner friendly at all

fr the SSA website and the EDD website both use so much jargon it's impossible to know where to start if you've never dealt with this before

Oh interesting - I didn't even think about calling EDD directly. Is it hard to get through to someone?

Getting through to California EDD by phone can be really frustrating - the lines are often busy and you can get disconnected after waiting a long time. That's why I found Claimyr useful. But for general questions like yours, the EDD website FAQ section is actually decent. Calling is more useful when there's something specific going on with your claim like a hold or adjudication issue.

I've heard of claimyr - my coworker used it when her claim got flagged and she said it worked well for actually getting a live person on the phone

Ok NOW I understand the difference between SSI and SSDI too because I was confused about those as well. Thank you!

good breakdown. people also confuse EDD disability insurance with all of these too lol the alphabet soup is real

oh yeah California EDD also has State Disability Insurance (SDI) which is for when you're still employed but temporarily can't work due to a medical condition or pregnancy. That's yet another separate program from unemployment UI. EDD runs both UI and SDI but they're completely different benefits.

my head is spinning reading this thread lol

That's a legitimate question and you don't need to worry about it triggering a review just from asking. Generally speaking - if you become unable to work due to a medical condition while collecting UI, you would no longer meet the 'able and available to work' requirement for unemployment benefits. You could then potentially file for California SDI (State Disability Insurance) instead. The two programs aren't meant to overlap but there can be a transition period. I'd recommend calling EDD to discuss your specific situation before the surgery so you know exactly what to expect.

ok that's really helpful, thank you. I guess I need to get on the phone with EDD at some point to figure out the transition. Dreading that call tbh

If you're dreading the EDD phone call, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier in the thread is genuinely useful for exactly that - getting through to an actual California EDD agent without the hours of hold time. claimyr.com - made a stressful call way less stressful for me

Coming from someone in HR this is really reassuring, thank you!

wish employers would explain this stuff when they hand out the separation paperwork honestly

We actually do include a California EDD information sheet with all our separation packets now specifically because of how much confusion exists. Some companies don't bother though which is frustrating.

Some employers are also required to provide the 'For Your Benefit' pamphlet (DE 2320) when an employee is separated - it explains California EDD UI eligibility. Not all employers follow through on this.

Unfortunately you can't edit a submitted certification in UI Online after it's been processed. If you provided incorrect information on your weekly certifications, you should contact California EDD to self-report the error. I know that sounds scary but it's much better to correct it proactively than to have EDD discover a discrepancy and potentially issue an overpayment notice. Be honest with them - they generally work with claimants who come forward on their own.

ugh ok I'll try to call them. Getting through to EDD is such a nightmare though

same situation here I only logged 1 per week for like 3 weeks. this is stressful

For anyone stressing about needing to reach California EDD by phone - seriously look into Claimyr (claimyr.com). There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10. I know it sounds weird to use a third party service to call a government agency but when you literally cannot get through any other way it's a lifesaver. I used it to sort out a certification question and got connected to an EDD agent within a reasonable wait instead of calling for days getting busy signals.

Yes! This is called partial unemployment in California. If your hours were reduced significantly you can still file for California EDD UI benefits. When you certify you report any wages you earned that week and EDD calculates a reduced benefit amount. There's a formula involved but basically you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction, and wages above that reduce your benefit dollar for dollar. Definitely file - reduced hours is exactly what partial UI is designed for.

oh wow I didn't know that was a thing. I've been not filing thinking I wasn't eligible since I'm still technically employed. I need to file asap

Yes file immediately - and note that you can only backdate a California EDD claim by a limited amount of time so don't wait. Partial unemployment is a legitimate and very common claim type.

Same, glad I asked when I did! The comments here have been so helpful

this forum has genuinely taught me more about California EDD benefits than any government website has lol

Good point. The overlap scenario is rare but real - someone who is, say, partially disabled AND lost a part-time job might be navigating both systems. In that case yes the UI payments would be counted as unearned income by SSA and could reduce SSI benefits. Definitely recommend consulting with a benefits counselor if you're ever in that dual-program situation.

That scenario doesn't apply to me thankfully but good to know for the future

I feel this in my soul. 4 hours is insane. I've had multiple days where I called 30+ times and never got through once.

I'm going to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. At this point I'll try anything to not spend another full day trying to reach EDD

Please do try it - claimyr.com. It genuinely changed my EDD phone experience. You still have to talk to an EDD agent at the end of it but at least you actually GET to talk to one, which is more than the regular phone line offers half the time.

The California EDD phone system has been overwhelmed for years. It genuinely doesn't work the way it should. I hope they eventually fix the infrastructure but until then workarounds like Claimyr are what people have to rely on.

Oh wow I had no idea EDD payments were taxable. Good to know for tax time!

Yep - and you can actually opt in to have California EDD withhold federal taxes automatically from your payments if you want to avoid a surprise at tax time. You can set this up in your UI Online account settings.

This is a great point. California state income tax also applies to UI benefits in California. The withholding option in UI Online is 10% federal and a smaller percentage for state - worth setting up if you don't want a tax bill in April.

Adjudication is NOT the same as an appeal - don't panic. Adjudication just means EDD is reviewing your claim to determine eligibility before approving it. It's triggered automatically by certain responses on your initial claim (like if your separation reason needed clarification, or if your employer disputed the claim). An appeal is something you file AFTER EDD makes a decision you disagree with. Adjudication = EDD reviewing before a decision. Appeal = you challenging a decision EDD already made. Two weeks is not unusual for adjudication - it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on claim volume.

Ok that makes me feel better. I've just been sitting here imagining I accidentally committed fraud or something

omg I thought adjudication meant I was in trouble too when it happened to me. It really is just a review step, I eventually got approved after about 3 weeks in adjudication

Good to know others went through it and came out fine. Did you have to do anything while waiting or just sit tight?

Thank you so much, this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring. I went from being really anxious about having filed wrong to feeling confident I did the right thing. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond.

Good luck with the job search! Make sure you're meeting those weekly job search activity requirements and certifying on time every two weeks and the California EDD UI process should be pretty straightforward from here.

Good luck OP!! The first few weeks are the most confusing but it gets easier once you're in the rhythm of certifying and job searching.

I didn't know 211 covered this kind of thing, I thought it was just for food and housing resources

Nope, 211 is for all kinds of social services and benefit navigation including employment-related benefits. Really underused resource honestly.

saving this tip too. this thread is a goldmine