Laid off due to job relocation to another state - can I get EDD benefits?

Yes, you should be eligible for unemployment in this situation. Being asked to relocate to another state is considered a \

Thank you so much for this clarification! I was worried they'd say I quit voluntarily by not going to VA. Should I wait until I'm officially let go before applying for benefits? And what if they say I declined other opportunities by not interviewing for other positions?

i had something simlar happen last yr. company moved to arizona and i couldnt go. EDD approved me no problem but they did call my employer to verify. just be honest about everything and save any emails they sent u about the restructuring as proof

That's reassuring to hear someone else went through this! Did you interview for other positions before they let you go or did you just take the severance? I'm trying to figure out the best approach here.

MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!! My company tried to pull this same trick by saying they \

This is excellent advice. For the original poster: The legal standard in California is whether a \

When you apply for unemployment, make sure to use the exact phrase \

my brother works for edd and says they see this all the time. companies try to make it look like u quit but really theyre laying u off. OP should def apply for benefits once let go

So frustrating trying to reach EDD to ask these kinds of questions! I was in a kind of similar situation last year and spent DAYS trying to get someone on the phone. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Totally worth it because the EDD rep explained exactly what I needed to do and say on my application to make sure I didn't get denied.

Thanks for the tip! I've heard the phone lines are impossible. I'll definitely check this out if I need to talk to someone. Did EDD give you any specific advice on how to phrase things on the application? I want to make sure I don't mess it up.

To address your specific questions:\n\n1. This is NOT considered voluntarily quitting. Under CA unemployment law, if your only options are to relocate out of state or lose your job, that's considered a layoff.\n\n2. You should interview for the other positions if you're interested in them. This shows good faith on your part. If you don't get them, it strengthens your unemployment claim.\n\n3. Wait until you've been officially separated before applying for benefits. When you apply, clearly state that your position was eliminated and relocated to Virginia, which was not feasible for you due to family obligations.\n\n4. If they offer you the severance, review the agreement carefully. Sometimes severance agreements include language that could impact your unemployment eligibility. You can usually negotiate this language if needed.

This is incredibly helpful information! I'll definitely interview for the other positions to show I tried to keep working there. I'm also going to start documenting everything now. If I get a severance agreement, is there specific language I should watch out for that might affect my unemployment claim?

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, definitely watch for language in the severance agreement that says you're

this is so true!! my sevrance paper tried to say i \

Random but important question - when all this happened to me, my employer tried to say I had to pay back training costs if I didn't accept their relocation offer! Completely illegal in CA! Just a heads up if they try to pull anything shady like that. They're just trying to bully you into not claiming unemployment or taking severance!

That's a very good point. California has strong worker protection laws. Unless you signed a legitimate, legally-binding repayment agreement for specialized training (which is rare), they cannot legally demand repayment of training costs as a condition of not relocating. If they try this tactic, consult with an employment attorney immediately.

u might also qualify for partial benefits if they offer u a job at lower pay than what u make now. my friend got reduced from 40hrs to 28hrs and got partial unemployment to make up some of the difference. just something to think about if they offer u something part time or lower pay

I didn't even know partial benefits were a thing! That's good to know in case they only offer me something with significantly lower pay or hours. This whole situation is so stressful, but all this advice is making me feel more prepared for whatever happens. Thank you everyone!