Maximum weeks for EDD benefits? Regular UI vs extensions in 2025

wait i thought it was 13 weeks??? did they change it???

Thank you so much for this clear explanation! So it looks like I should plan for 26 weeks max unless the economy tanks and they activate those Fed-Ed extensions. Good to know! I'm hoping to find a job well before the 26 weeks are up, but this helps me budget realistically.

That's unfortunate but it's not exactly random - employers have the right to contest claims, and if that happens, EDD has to investigate. But you're right that the appeal process can take a long time. For anyone reading this who faces a similar situation, make sure you continue certifying for benefits each week during your appeal so you can get backpay if you win.

OK so maybe not "random" but it FEELS random when you're the one whose payments suddenly stop!!! And YES definitely keep certifying! That's the only reason I got backpay.

That's a good question! But no, that's not how it works. Your claim has a maximum benefit amount (MBA) which is your weekly benefit amount × 26 weeks. When you work part-time, you're just drawing down your MBA more slowly, but you don't get extra weeks. There's no advantage to trying to stretch out your benefits by working part-time other than the obvious benefit of having both some wages and some UI income during that time. You'll still only get your MBA total regardless of how quickly or slowly you use it.

Ahh I see, that makes sense. Thank you for clarifying!

I had the same problem but then I discovered this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to a live EDD agent without spending all day calling. It automates the calling process so you don't have to keep redialing. Changed everything for me when I needed to resolve an issue with my identity verification. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Seriously worth it when you absolutely need to talk to someone and can't get through the normal way.

After you exhaust your benefits, you can't apply for a new claim until your benefit year ends (which is 12 months from when you first filed). Even then, you need to have earned enough wages in the period after your initial claim to qualify for a new claim. If you're still unemployed after benefits run out, you might want to look into: 1. CalFresh (food assistance) 2. CalWORKs (if you have children) 3. General Assistance/Relief (through your county) 4. EDD's training programs that might extend benefits Also, make sure you're visiting your local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) for job search assistance.

Thank you, this is super helpful information. I'm really hoping I find a job before exhausting benefits, but it's good to know what other assistance might be available just in case.

Yes, that's the California Training Benefits (CTB) program. If you enroll in approved training while on unemployment, you might qualify for a training extension of up to 26 additional weeks of benefits. You need to apply for CTB and get approval from EDD. Not all training programs qualify, but many vocational training programs do. If approved, you can receive benefits while training without having to look for work each week. To apply, you need to submit a DE 8736 form through your UI Online account or by mail.

actually this is real i did this in 2022. took a coding bootcamp and got the extension. it really helped me change careers completely. best decision i ever made tbh

That sounds terrifying. Has anyone actually experienced this conditional payment situation? I'm worried now because I accidentally reported my hours wrong one week (fixed it the next day) and I'm paranoid they're going to flag my whole claim.

While overpayments can certainly happen, the system isn't designed to make people give up. Mistakes (by both claimants and EDD) do occur, which is why there's an appeals process. If you make a mistake in reporting, the best thing to do is contact EDD immediately to correct it, which it sounds like you did. Small corrections like this usually get resolved without major issues. Conditional payments are actually designed to help claimants by continuing to provide some income during investigations rather than cutting off all support. It's not perfect, but it's meant to be helpful rather than punitive.

This is really helpful, thank you for sharing your experience! The point about keeping detailed job search records is especially important - I didn't realize EDD could audit that at any time. I've been pretty casual about tracking my applications so far, but I should probably start being more systematic about it. Also good to know about the one-week waiting period only being at the beginning. I was worried that if I had to miss a week of certification for some reason, I'd lose another week to the waiting period. How detailed do the job search records need to be? Like, do I need to save copies of applications and rejection emails, or is it enough to just keep a list of where I applied and when?

For job search records, I'd recommend keeping more than just a basic list. EDD can be pretty thorough if they audit you. I kept a spreadsheet with: - Company name and position title - Date applied - Method of application (online, in-person, referral, etc.) - Contact person if applicable - Follow-up actions taken - Results/responses I didn't save every rejection email, but I did keep screenshots of online applications and notes about phone calls or networking contacts. The key is showing you're making a "reasonable" effort to find work - quality matters more than just quantity. Also, if you do informational interviews, networking events, or job fairs, document those too. They can count toward your work search requirements and show you're being proactive beyond just submitting applications online. Better to over-document than under-document if they ever question your eligibility!

Thanks for sharing that experience! The work search audit at week 8 is definitely something people should be aware of. I'm only on week 3 of my claim right now, but I've been documenting everything from day one after reading horror stories about people getting caught off guard. Quick question about the part-time work rule - when you say you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without reduction, is that 25% of your total weekly benefit or 25% after taxes? I'm considering taking on some freelance work but want to make sure I understand the calculation correctly so I don't accidentally mess up my benefits. Also really appreciate the tip about being proactive with record keeping. Better safe than sorry when it comes to EDD compliance!