Reporting free housing as income for EDD unemployment benefits - property manager situation

yep u should definitely report that! my cousin did property management and EDD counted her free apartment as income when calculating benefits

This is a great question that comes up frequently with property managers. For EDD purposes, the value of housing provided as compensation (in lieu of wages) IS reportable as income. This is considered "in-kind" compensation. When you file your claim, you'll need to: 1. Report both your cash wages ($600/month) AND the fair market value of the housing ($2,800/month) 2. Have documentation ready - your employment contract showing the arrangement and something showing the market value of similar units 3. Be prepared to explain this arrangement during your phone interview (EDD will likely schedule one) The good news is that including this value should significantly increase your weekly benefit amount compared to just reporting the $600 monthly cash payment.

I was in almost the EXACT same situation last year - worked as property manager with free housing ($2,400/mo value) plus small stipend. When I filed for unemployment, I DID include the housing value as income. Here's what happened: - EDD scheduled a phone interview (took about 3 weeks to get one) - They asked for documentation showing the housing arrangement and value - My weekly benefit amount was calculated based on BOTH the cash wages AND housing value - This nearly TRIPLED my benefit amount compared to just using my small cash wages Don't leave that housing value out - it makes a HUGE difference in your benefit amount!

Yes, the rental value should be reported as income. EDD considers non-cash compensation like housing as reportable wages when it's provided as payment for services. You'll need to provide: - Employment contract showing the arrangement - Documentation of the fair market value (rental listings of comparable properties) - W-2 forms if your employer reported the housing value This is actually beneficial for you since your weekly benefit amount will be based on your highest-earning quarter, and including the housing value will substantially increase this amount. Trying to reach EDD can be frustrating with the call volume. Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to an EDD representative without the endless redial cycle. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. I used their service when I needed to speak with someone about my modified claim and got through within 20 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

Actually, I think everyone here is giving you incorrect information. In-kind compensation like housing is NOT considered wages for unemployment insurance purposes. Only actual cash wages count toward UI eligibility and benefit calculations. I went through something similar (company car instead of housing) and EDD only counted my actual paycheck amount.

Can anyone tell me if I need to report free parking at my job too? I got laid off last week and now Im filling out my edd claim... my office had expensive parking ($400/mo) that I got for free but idk if thats the same thing as free housing??

I want to thank everyone for their helpful advice. I've decided to include the rental value as income on my claim and I'll gather documentation showing the market value of the apartment. For anyone interested, I was finally able to reach EDD using the Claimyr service someone recommended here - got through to a real person in about 15 minutes after trying on my own for days. The rep confirmed that I should include the housing value and said they'll schedule a phone interview to go over everything. They also mentioned I'll need to show proof of the housing arrangement and value through my employment contract and comparable listings.

That's great that you got through to EDD so quickly with Claimyr! I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off from my apartment management job where I had free housing as part of compensation. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. One question - did the EDD rep give you any timeline for when the phone interview would be scheduled? I'm worried about the 21-day deadline for filing and want to make sure I get everything submitted correctly the first time.

This is such valuable information for anyone in property management! I'm currently working as an on-site manager with free housing ($2,200/month value) plus a small salary, and I've always wondered how this would work if I ever needed to file for unemployment. It's really helpful to see that including the housing value actually benefits you by increasing your weekly benefit amount rather than hurting your claim. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I ever need it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through the actual process with EDD!

As someone who's been dealing with EDD for various issues over the years, I just want to add that it's really important to be thorough with your documentation from the start. I've seen too many people have their claims delayed or even denied because they didn't provide enough evidence upfront. For property managers specifically, I'd recommend also getting a letter from your former employer confirming the housing arrangement and its value if possible - this can really help during the interview process. Also, keep copies of everything you submit to EDD because they sometimes "lose" documents and you'll need to resubmit. The fact that you're being proactive about including the housing value shows you're on the right track. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in HR and has helped employees navigate unemployment claims. The advice here is spot-on about including housing compensation. One thing I'd emphasize is to also check if your employer reported the housing value on your W-2 or other tax documents - this can provide additional official documentation that EDD will recognize. If the housing value wasn't reported on your tax forms, don't worry - your employment contract and comparable rental listings should be sufficient. Also, when you do get that phone interview, be prepared to explain WHY the housing was provided (as part of your job duties as an on-site manager) versus just a perk. EDD distinguishes between compensation provided for work purposes versus employee conveniences. Your situation clearly falls under work-related compensation since on-site management requires living on the property. Best of luck with your claim!

I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently job hunting and one of the positions I'm considering is an on-site property manager role with housing provided as part of the compensation package. Reading through everyone's experiences here has really helped me understand how this type of arrangement would work with unemployment benefits if I ever needed them. It's reassuring to know that the housing value actually helps increase your benefit amount rather than complicating things. I had no idea about services like Claimyr either - definitely going to keep that in mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences, especially @Isaac Wright for starting such an informative discussion!