Part-time job offer while on EDD - Will quitting affect my benefits?
I was laid off from my full-time job last month and finally started receiving unemployment benefits this week (after that nerve-wracking eligibility interview!). I've been applying everywhere and actually got hired somewhere, but there's a problem - they initially told me it was full-time, but now they're saying it's only 15 hours per week. I really need full-time work and the benefits that come with it. If I decline this part-time offer or start but then quit, will that mess up my EDD benefits? I'd rather keep looking for something full-time that can actually pay my bills. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? What's the right move here?
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Mei Wong
This happens more than you'd think! Legally, you're required to report ANY work and earnings when certifying, but you're not obligated to accept part-time work if you're seeking full-time employment. EDD recognizes "good cause" for refusing work, and a significant reduction in hours from what was promised during hiring can qualify. Just make sure when you certify that you accurately report you declined the job and WHY - specifically mention you were hired for full-time but they changed it to part-time after offering the position. Document everything - save emails or texts showing the original offer if possible.
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GalaxyGlider
•Thank you! That's really helpful. So I should definitely mention the bait-and-switch with the hours when I certify? I'm worried because I keep hearing that turning down ANY job can get your benefits cut off.
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Liam Sullivan
BE CAREFUL!!!! EDD is LOOKING for reasons to deny ppl benefits!! I had something similar happen and they hit me with a "false statement penalty" for 5 WEEKS just because I didnt explain well enough why I turned down a job. The interviewer was super hostile and acted like I was lying about everything. The system is rigged against us!!!!
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Amara Okafor
•While I understand your frustration, there's no need to panic the OP. What matters here is being truthful and detailed when certifying. The key is to be specific that the job materially changed from the original offer (full-time to part-time). EDD generally expects you to accept suitable work, but suitable means comparable to your previous employment in hours, wages, etc. If you previously worked full-time, you're typically allowed to seek similar full-time work.
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Giovanni Colombo
my cousin had this happen n she just took the part time job but kept getting partial benefits cuz she reported her hours every week. worked out ok 4 her
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Mei Wong
•That's a good point - if you take the part-time position, you can still receive partial unemployment benefits if your earnings are below your weekly benefit amount. This is called partial unemployment. You just need to accurately report your work hours and earnings when certifying each week.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Had the exact same thing happen to me in January. I accepted the part-time because I was desperate then found a full-time job two months later. When certifying I just put down exactly how many hours I worked each week and my exact earnings. EDD reduced my benefit amount based on what I earned but I still got something. It was better than nothing while I kept looking.
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StarStrider
•I tried doing partial unemployment last year and it was SUCH a headache. EDD kept messing up my payments and I had to call them like 8 times to fix it. Good luck getting through to an actual person there!
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Dylan Campbell
If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask about this directly, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation and needed to speak with an EDD rep quickly to make sure I wasn't going to lose my benefits. Spent days trying to get through on my own with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. Their service basically navigates the phone system for you and calls you back when they reach a rep. I was skeptical but it worked great. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or check out claimyr.com. Getting a definitive answer from EDD directly gave me peace of mind about my specific situation.
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GalaxyGlider
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call EDD for 2 days now and keep getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. I'll check out that service - I really need to get a clear answer about this from EDD directly.
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Amara Okafor
Here's what EDD actually says about this situation: 1. You can refuse work if it's "unsuitable" compared to your previous employment 2. A significant reduction in hours (full-time to part-time) when you're seeking full-time work can qualify as unsuitable 3. You MUST report the job offer and your refusal when certifying 4. You MUST explain your specific reason for refusing (the hours reduction) I'd recommend taking screenshots of any communications showing they initially offered full-time work. If EDD questions your refusal and schedules a determination interview, you'll want that evidence ready.
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Giovanni Colombo
•is this still true if ur job before was at like target or something entry level? or only for fancy jobs
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Amara Okafor
•This applies to any job type. If you previously worked full-time at Target and are seeking full-time work again, you can still refuse part-time work. What matters is the comparison between your previous work situation and what you're seeking, not the specific job field or pay level.
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GalaxyGlider
I just wanted to update everyone. I called EDD using the Claimyr service that someone recommended (it actually worked!), and the rep confirmed that I can refuse the job offer since I'm looking for full-time work and this was changed to part-time after the initial offer. She said I need to be very specific when certifying and explain exactly why I'm refusing the work. She also warned that I should continue my work search efforts and document all job applications. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Mei Wong
•Great news! Always good to have confirmation directly from EDD. One more tip: keep documentation of your job search activities in case you're ever selected for a random work search audit. They can request proof of your job applications going back several weeks.
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