Just got laid off in company RIF - Do I qualify for EDD benefits?

sorry to hear that man. ya u definitely qualify for UI if ur laid off cuz of RIF. thats what EDD is for. wait till ur last day 2 file tho

Thanks for the reply! Do you know if my severance will affect the benefits? HR was really vague about the whole unemployment thing.

I'm sorry to hear about your layoff. Yes, you absolutely qualify for unemployment when you're laid off due to a RIF (Reduction in Force). This is considered a job loss through no fault of your own, which is exactly what UI benefits are designed for.\n\nHere's what you need to know:\n\n1. Wait until after your last actual working day to file your claim. Don't wait until after your severance ends though.\n\n2. Important: Your severance will impact your benefits. You'll need to report this income when you certify. EDD may reduce your weekly benefit amount during weeks you receive severance, but you should still file right after your last day.\n\n3. Make sure you have your employment history ready for the past 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates of employment).\n\n4. When filing, select \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! So even though I'm getting paid for an additional month after my last day plus severance, I should still apply right after my last working day? I was worried I'd have to wait until all payments from my employer stopped.

Yes, file right after your last working day. You'll report any continued wages or severance when you do your bi-weekly certifications. The EDD system has specific fields for reporting severance payments. This way you're already in the system, and once your severance ends, your full benefits can begin without delay. Just make sure to report all income accurately during certification to avoid overpayment issues later.

DONT LISTEN TO THE PERSON SAYING WAIT UNTIL AFTER SEVERANCE!! I did that and it cost me THOUSANDS!!! File as soon as your last day is done. Severance doesn't disqualify you!!! The EDD won't backdate your claim if you wait. I learned this the hard way!!!!

Just to clarify, I didn't suggest waiting until after severance ends - I specifically said to file right after the last working day and not to wait until severance ends. We're giving the same advice here.

sorry! wasnt directed at u just saw someone else said to wait & got triggered cuz thats what HR told me & it was WRONG. lost 8 weeks of benefits i could have gotten!

I went through almost the same situation back in January. Company did a RIF and I was completely surprised since my performance reviews were great. It totally sucks, I know.\n\nWhen you apply, make sure you have your termination letter or something in writing that says you were laid off due to reduction in force. I had issues because my employer initially reported it as \

Thanks for sharing your experience. HR is supposed to email me official documentation tomorrow. I'll make sure it specifically says RIF or reduction in force. Did you have any issues with the work search requirements? I'm in tech so my job hunt might take a while.

For the work search requirements, just make sure you keep a detailed log of everything. I'm in marketing and my job search took about 4 months. EDD wants to see that you're applying to jobs, doing networking activities, updating your resume, etc. I tracked everything in a spreadsheet - date, company, position, application method, follow-ups. I never got audited but better safe than sorry. And yeah, don't worry if it takes time - that's what unemployment is for, to support you while you find the right next opportunity.

If you're having trouble reaching EDD after you apply (which is pretty common), try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an actual person when my claim was stuck for weeks. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km \n\nI was skeptical at first but when I couldn't get through after 17 calls in one day, I tried it and got connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. The rep was able to fix an issue with my RIF claim that would have taken weeks to resolve otherwise. Just thought I'd mention it since contacting EDD can be incredibly frustrating.

i tried calling EDD like 30 times when my claim was pending!!!!! either busy signal or it hung up on me saying \

Yeah, the \

Quick question - does anyone know if participation in a RIF affects your unemployment eligibility if you were given the option to apply for other positions at the company but chose not to? My cousin is in this situation but different from OP sorry for the tangent

This is a bit complicated. If your cousin was offered a comparable position (similar pay, similar role) and declined it, EDD might consider that refusing suitable work, which could affect eligibility. However, if the offered positions were at significantly lower pay, different locations, or required very different skills, then declining might not impact eligibility. Your cousin should document exactly why the offered positions weren't suitable if they apply for unemployment.

thanks ill let them know! the positions were all like 30% pay cut so sounds like they should be ok

Hi there - I handle unemployment claims as part of my HR role, so I can provide some insights from the employer side:\n\n1. RIF layoffs absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits. This is considered a layoff due to lack of work or business necessity.\n\n2. The correct timing is to file your claim after your last physical working day (not when your severance ends).\n\n3. California has specific rules on severance reporting. When you certify for benefits every two weeks, you'll need to report any severance payments received during that period. The EDD will then calculate any partial benefits you're eligible for. Once severance ends, you'll receive full benefits.\n\n4. Make sure your employer properly codes your separation as a RIF/layoff and not something else that might trigger an eligibility interview.\n\n5. Start your base claim as soon as possible after your last working day, even if you won't receive full benefits immediately due to severance.\n\nOne common mistake I see is people delaying their claim because they're receiving severance. This can result in lost weeks of eligibility since EDD claims cannot generally be backdated without special circumstances.

Thank you for the detailed explanation! This clarifies a lot. Should I tell EDD that I'm receiving severance when I first file the claim, or just when I do the bi-weekly certifications? And is there a specific way I should categorize the severance pay when reporting it?

You'll be asked about severance during the initial application process, so answer truthfully there. Then when you certify bi-weekly, report your severance payments as income for the weeks you receive them. The EDD form specifically asks if you received \

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I just got my official termination letter and it clearly states \

The ID.me verification was actually pretty smooth for me, just make sure you have your driver's license or passport ready and a decent camera for the selfie verification. It took about 10 minutes total.\n\nFor job search activities, I report at least 3 activities per week. Be specific - company name, position, date, how you applied, any contact info you have. Mix it up between actual applications, updating your LinkedIn, attending networking events, etc. I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for all this info so certification is easy.\n\nOne tip: set a reminder for your certification days! They're always the same 2 weeks apart, and if you miss the window it can delay your payment.

This is super helpful - thank you! I'll start a spreadsheet today to track everything. And good tip about the certification reminders, I definitely don't want to miss those.