Reporting new job to EDD - do I need to notify them or will benefits automatically stop?
Hey there! Just got hired after 4 months of unemployment - starting my new position this Thursday! Quick question about the proper procedure: Do I need to formally report my new job to EDD somehow, or will they automatically know when I start working and stop my benefits? When I certify next Sunday, should I just mark that I worked and enter my earnings, or is there some special notification process? This is my first time dealing with unemployment, so I'm totally clueless about the proper steps when you finally land a job. Thanks for any guidance! 😊
42 comments


Isaac Wright
Congrats on the new job! You'll need to report this during your bi-weekly certification. When you certify, you'll answer 'Yes' to the question about whether you worked, then enter your hours and earnings for each day. Once your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, EDD will stop paying you benefits. They don't automatically know when you start working - you must report it. Make sure to report ALL earnings during the weeks you certify, even training hours. Keep certifying until your claim fully closes or you go several certifications with $0 payment due to your earnings.
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Maya Lewis
•Thank you so much! That makes perfect sense. So I just keep certifying normally and report my new income. Quick follow-up - do I need to report my gross earnings or after-tax amount when I certify?
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Lucy Taylor
HEY!! make SURE u report ur earnings WHEN u certify! my frind didnt do it rite and got hit with a HUGE overpayment notice like 8 months later and now they want him to pay back $4700!!!! EDD doesnt mess around with this stuff!!!
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Maya Lewis
•Oh no, that's scary! I definitely don't want to deal with overpayment issues. I'll make sure to report everything correctly. Thanks for the warning!
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Connor Murphy
You absolutely need to report your employment. I was in this exact situation last September. When you certify, answer YES to working, enter your gross earnings (before taxes), and provide the employer information. Don't stop certifying until you've reported at least two weeks of full-time work where your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount. If your first paycheck doesn't arrive until after a certification period, you still need to report the hours you worked and estimate earnings. EDD has no automatic way of knowing you're working until quarterly employer tax reports are filed, which is way too late.
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KhalilStar
•EXACTLY RIGHT. EDD has no clue until months later when employer tax info catches up. And by that point they'll hit you with penalties and interest on top of the overpayment. I've been through 3 unemployment claims and this is always how it works.
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Maya Lewis
•Thanks for the detailed explanation! I'll definitely make sure to report my work even if I haven't actually received a paycheck yet. Just to clarify - do I need to report the job immediately somehow, or just wait until my regular certification time?
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Amelia Dietrich
I literally just went thru this last month! When u certify just say YES to working and put down ur hours. REPORT GROSS PAY not net. they'll reduce ur benefits based on what u earn. Once u earn more than ur weekly benefit amount they stop paying. Super easy process!
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Maya Lewis
•That's a relief to hear it's straightforward! Thanks for confirming about reporting gross pay, that's exactly what I needed to know.
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Lucy Taylor
If you're having trouble reaching EDD about this or have any other questions, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an EDD rep within 20 minutes when I had questions about reporting my part-time job last month. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Seriously saved me hours of redial hell.
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Amelia Dietrich
•is that service legit tho? i keep seeing people mention it but sounds kinda sketchy paying to talk to EDD??
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Lucy Taylor
•It's totally legit. I thought it sounded weird too but I was desperate after trying to call for 3 days straight. They just help you skip the phone queue basically. The rep I talked to explained exactly how to handle my situation with partial unemployment.
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Kaiya Rivera
I work in HR and deal with this often. You must report any employment changes when certifying. Important details to know: 1. Always report GROSS earnings (before taxes/deductions) 2. If your job is full-time, your benefits typically stop once you earn more than your weekly benefit amount 3. If part-time, you may receive reduced benefits depending on earnings 4. Continue certifying until officially notified by EDD that your claim is closed 5. Keep documentation of your final certification showing employment started Failure to report properly can result in overpayment notices, penalties, and in serious cases, fraud investigations. EDD regularly cross-references employer quarterly tax reports with claimant certifications.
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Maya Lewis
•Thank you for such a comprehensive answer! This is extremely helpful. I'll be sure to report my full-time employment during certification and continue certifying until they officially close my claim. I really appreciate the detailed explanation!
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Katherine Ziminski
theres a special form u gotta fill out!! i forget what its called but u need to tell them ur starting date and everything or they can make u pay everything back!! happened to my cousin last year and she had to pay back like $2000
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Isaac Wright
•There's actually no special form needed. You just report it during your regular certification. You only need to fill out a special form if you move out of state or have certain other changes, but not for simply starting a job.
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Katherine Ziminski
•oh ur probably right...sorry bout that! maybe my cousin was talkin about somethin else then
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Noah Irving
I started a new job back in January and just answered the certification questions honestly. When it asked if I worked, I said yes and reported my earnings. My claim stayed open for a couple more certification periods but with $0 payments since I was earning more than my benefit amount. After about a month, EDD sent me a notice that they were closing my claim due to return to work. The system worked fine for me!
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Maya Lewis
•That's great to hear such a smooth experience! Sounds like the process is pretty straightforward as long as I'm honest on the certification. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Paolo Marino
Congratulations on landing the new job! Just to add another perspective - I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. The key thing is to be completely transparent during your certification process. When you certify this Sunday, you'll answer "yes" to working and report your gross earnings for any days you worked that week. One tip that helped me: take screenshots of your certification submissions showing you reported the work and earnings. I kept these as proof in case there were any questions later. Also, don't be surprised if your claim stays "active" for a few certification periods even after you start working full-time - this is normal until EDD processes everything and officially closes it. The most important thing is honest reporting. EDD will eventually cross-check with employer records, so any discrepancies will surface months later when it's much harder to resolve. Good luck with the new position!
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Serene Snow
•This is such helpful advice, thank you! I never would have thought to take screenshots of my certification submissions, but that's really smart for keeping records. I'll definitely do that when I certify this Sunday. It's also reassuring to know that the claim staying active for a while is normal - I was wondering if I needed to do something special to close it myself. Thanks for sharing your experience and the encouragement about the new job!
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Max Reyes
Congrats on the new job! I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. You definitely need to report your employment during your regular bi-weekly certification - there's no separate notification process. When you certify this Sunday, answer "yes" to working and report your gross earnings (before taxes) for any days you worked that week. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and earnings for each day, especially during that transition period when you might have partial weeks. This made certification much easier and ensured I didn't miss anything. Also, don't worry if your first paycheck hasn't arrived yet when you certify - you still need to report the hours you worked and can estimate the earnings based on your hourly rate. EDD is pretty understanding about estimates as long as you're being honest and reasonable. Keep certifying until you receive official notice that your claim is closed. Mine took about 3 certification periods after I started full-time work before they officially closed it. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected! Best of luck with the new position! 🎉
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Emma Johnson
•This is incredibly detailed and helpful - thank you so much! The spreadsheet idea is brilliant, I'm definitely going to set that up before I start work Thursday. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this exact process. I was getting a bit anxious about messing something up, but it sounds like as long as I'm honest and report everything during certification, the process should go smoothly. Thanks for taking the time to share all these practical tips! 😊
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Simon White
Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 Just wanted to add one more tip that saved me some headaches - make sure to keep all your pay stubs and employment documentation even after your claim closes. I had to provide proof of my return-to-work date about 8 months later when EDD was doing some kind of audit review. Having everything organized made it super easy to respond to their request. Also, if your new employer has any kind of probationary period, don't panic if you need to reopen your claim later - it's totally doable if things don't work out. But hopefully you won't need that! Wishing you all the best in your new position! 😊
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Abigail Spencer
•That's such a smart tip about keeping all the documentation! I never would have thought about needing to prove my return-to-work date months later for an audit. I'll definitely make sure to keep everything organized - pay stubs, offer letter, start date confirmation, etc. It's also reassuring to know that reopening a claim is possible if needed during a probationary period, though like you said, hopefully I won't need that option! Thanks for the well wishes and the practical advice - this community has been so helpful! 😊
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Micah Franklin
Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 I went through this same situation about a year ago and wanted to share what worked for me. You definitely need to report your new employment during your regular bi-weekly certification - EDD has no automatic way of knowing you started working until much later when employer quarterly reports are filed. When you certify this Sunday, answer "yes" to the question about working and report your gross earnings (before taxes) for any days you worked that week. Even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet, you still need to report the hours worked and can estimate earnings based on your agreed hourly/salary rate. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed notes of my start date, hours worked each day, and gross pay amounts. This made certification much easier and gave me documentation in case any questions came up later. Keep certifying until EDD officially closes your claim - this usually takes a few certification periods after you start earning more than your weekly benefit amount. The whole process was actually pretty straightforward as long as I reported everything honestly during certification. Best of luck with your new position!
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Thank you so much for the congratulations and all the helpful details! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through this exact process. I love the tip about keeping detailed notes - I'm definitely going to start a little log of my start date, daily hours, and earnings to make certification easier. It sounds like the key is just being completely honest during the regular certification process and not overthinking it. I was worried there might be some special form or immediate notification required, but it seems like the bi-weekly certification is really all I need to focus on. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - this community has been incredibly helpful! 😊
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Hunter Edmunds
Congrats on the new job! 🎉 I just want to emphasize what others have said - definitely report your work during your regular Sunday certification. There's no special notification needed beyond that. I made the mistake of overthinking this when I got my job last fall and spent hours looking for some "employment notification form" that doesn't exist! Just answer honestly when they ask if you worked, enter your gross pay, and keep certifying until they stop your benefits. The system is actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Also, don't stress if your first certification feels confusing - you can always call EDD if you make a mistake (though good luck getting through lol). The most important thing is just being honest about your work and earnings. You've got this!
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Daniel Price
•Haha, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who would overthink this! I was literally about to start searching for some special form too. It's such a relief to know that the regular Sunday certification is really all there is to it. Thanks for the reassurance and the encouragement - everyone in this community has been so helpful and it's making me feel way more confident about handling this properly. Fingers crossed the EDD phone lines cooperate if I do need to call, but hopefully the straightforward certification process will be all I need! 😊
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Emma Taylor
Congrats on landing the job after 4 months! 🎉 That's awesome news! Everyone here has given you great advice already, but I wanted to add one small thing that helped me when I was in your shoes last year - when you do your certification this Sunday, take your time filling it out and double-check everything before submitting. I was so excited about my new job that I rushed through my first certification and accidentally put my net pay instead of gross pay. Had to call EDD to correct it (which took forever to get through). Also, if your new job has any kind of training period where you're earning less than your usual rate, make sure to report those actual earnings, not what you'll eventually be making. EDD wants to know exactly what you earned during that specific certification period. The whole process really is straightforward though - just be accurate and honest, and you'll be fine! Best of luck with the new position! 😊
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CosmicCruiser
•That's such a great point about taking your time with the certification! I can totally see myself getting excited and rushing through it, so I'll definitely slow down and double-check everything before submitting. The tip about reporting actual training earnings vs. eventual earnings is really helpful too - I want to make sure I'm being completely accurate about what I actually earned during each period. Thanks for sharing your experience with the net vs. gross pay mistake - that's exactly the kind of thing I'd worry about doing! It sounds like as long as I'm careful and honest, the process should go smoothly. I really appreciate all the encouragement! 😊
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Ravi Malhotra
Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and can confirm what everyone else is saying - you just report it during your regular bi-weekly certification, no special forms needed! One thing I found helpful was to log into your EDD account before your certification period and familiarize yourself with the questions ahead of time, so you're not scrambling on Sunday morning. The key questions you'll see are about whether you worked, how many hours each day, and your gross earnings. Also, don't be surprised if it takes a few weeks for your benefits to actually stop completely. Even after I started earning more than my weekly benefit amount, I had to continue certifying for about 3 more periods before they officially closed my claim. During those periods I just received $0 payments, which is totally normal. Keep all your documentation organized - start date letter, pay stubs, etc. - and you'll be in great shape. The whole process is much more straightforward than it seems at first! Good luck with the new position! 😊
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Liam O'Reilly
•Thank you for the congratulations and such detailed advice! The tip about logging into my EDD account beforehand to familiarize myself with the questions is brilliant - I definitely don't want to be figuring things out on Sunday morning when I'm trying to certify. It's also really helpful to know that it might take a few certification periods before the claim actually closes, even after earning more than my benefit amount. I was wondering if there was something I needed to do to actively close it, but it sounds like the system handles that automatically over time. I'll make sure to keep all my documentation organized from day one. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - everyone here has been so welcoming and helpful! 😊
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Congrats on the new job, Maya! 🎉 Just wanted to add my experience from when I went through this same situation a few months back. Everyone's given you solid advice about reporting during certification, but here's one thing that caught me off guard - make sure you know your exact start date and keep track of it! I started on a Wednesday but got confused about which certification period it fell into and initially reported it in the wrong week. Had to call EDD to straighten it out (nightmare getting through). So when you start Thursday, just remember that goes in this upcoming Sunday's certification period. Also, if your employer does direct deposit, your first paycheck might be delayed by a week or two while they set everything up, but you still need to report those hours worked and estimate the earnings based on your agreed rate. Don't wait for the actual paycheck to hit your account! The whole process really is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Just be honest, report gross earnings, and keep certifying until they officially close your claim. You've got this! Best of luck with the new position! 😊
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Elijah Knight
•This is such a helpful tip about tracking the exact start date and which certification period it falls into! I definitely would have gotten confused about that. Starting Thursday and reporting it in Sunday's certification makes perfect sense when you explain it that way, but I can see how easy it would be to mess up the timing. The point about direct deposit delays is really smart too - I'll make sure to report the hours and estimate earnings even if my first paycheck hasn't actually arrived yet. Thanks for sharing your experience with the timing mix-up, it's exactly the kind of mistake I'd want to avoid! Everyone here has been so generous with their advice - I'm feeling much more confident about handling this properly now. 😊
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Savanna Franklin
Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 I just went through this exact process about 3 months ago, so I totally understand the confusion about what steps to take. The good news is that everyone here has given you spot-on advice - you just need to report your new employment during your regular Sunday certification. There's no special notification form or immediate reporting requirement beyond that. One thing that really helped me stay organized was creating a simple note in my phone with my start date, hourly rate, and a running tally of hours worked each day. This made certification super easy because I had everything right there when I needed it. Also, don't panic if your UI Online account looks a bit weird for the first few weeks after you start working. Mine showed some confusing status updates during the transition period, but everything sorted itself out once EDD processed a few certifications showing my earnings. The most important thing is just being completely honest about your work and earnings. EDD will eventually cross-reference everything with employer tax records anyway, so transparency from day one saves you from any headaches down the road. You're going to do great - both with the proper reporting and with your new position! This community is always here if you have any other questions along the way. 😊
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Thank you so much for the congratulations and all the reassuring advice! 😊 I love the idea of keeping a simple note in my phone with my start date, hourly rate, and daily hours - that sounds like such a practical way to stay organized without overcomplicating things. It's also really helpful to know that the UI Online account might look a bit strange during the transition period, because I definitely would have panicked thinking I did something wrong! Your point about EDD eventually cross-referencing everything with employer tax records really drives home why being completely honest from the start is so important. Everyone in this community has been incredibly helpful and welcoming - I'm feeling so much more confident about handling this properly now. Thanks for taking the time to share your recent experience! 🎉
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Demi Hall
Congratulations on landing the job, Maya! 🎉 Just wanted to add my two cents as someone who recently went through this transition. Everyone's advice here is spot-on - you'll handle everything through your regular Sunday certification, no special forms needed. One small tip that saved me some stress: when you're entering your work hours and earnings during certification, the system will ask for day-by-day details. Since you're starting Thursday, you'll only have Thursday-Saturday to report for this first certification period. Don't overthink it - just enter the actual hours you worked each day and your gross daily earnings. Also, I found it helpful to screenshot my completed certification each time, especially during those first few weeks of reporting employment. It gave me peace of mind having a record of exactly what I reported and when. The transition period can feel a bit nerve-wracking, but you're clearly asking all the right questions and getting great advice from this community. Just stay consistent with honest reporting and you'll be golden! Best of luck with your new position! 😊
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Thank you so much for the congratulations and the helpful tip about the day-by-day reporting! 😊 I hadn't thought about the fact that I'll only have Thursday-Saturday to report for this first certification period - that's really good to know so I don't get confused trying to fill out a full week. The screenshot idea is brilliant too, I'm definitely going to do that for my own peace of mind and record-keeping. It's such a relief to know that even though this transition feels nerve-wracking, the actual process is straightforward as long as I stay honest and consistent. Everyone here has been so welcoming and generous with their advice - I'm feeling much more prepared now! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience! 🎉
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Cynthia Love
Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - you definitely just report it through your regular Sunday certification, no special forms or immediate notifications needed. One thing I wish someone had told me is to keep a simple log of your work schedule for the first month or so. I used a basic notes app on my phone to track which days I worked and for how many hours. This was super helpful not just for certification, but also for getting used to my new routine and making sure I didn't accidentally miss reporting any work days. Also, don't be surprised if the EDD system seems to "lag" a bit behind your actual work status. Even after I was earning well above my weekly benefit amount, my claim stayed technically active for several certification periods before they officially closed it. This is totally normal - just keep certifying honestly until you get that final closure notice. The whole process really is much simpler than it seems when you're overthinking it (which I definitely did!). You're asking all the right questions and clearly want to do everything properly, which is exactly the right approach. Best of luck with your new position - it sounds like you're going to handle this transition perfectly! 😊
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Nora Bennett
•Thank you so much for the congratulations and all the thoughtful advice! 😊 The tip about keeping a simple log in my notes app is perfect - I can see how that would be helpful not just for certification but also for adjusting to the new work routine. It's really reassuring to hear that the EDD system "lagging" behind and keeping the claim active for several certification periods is completely normal. I was wondering if I'd need to do something to actively close it, but it sounds like patience and consistent honest reporting is all that's needed. You're absolutely right that I've been overthinking this - everyone in this community has been so helpful in showing me that the process is actually much more straightforward than I was making it out to be. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and encouragement. This whole thread has made me feel so much more confident about handling everything properly! 🎉
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JaylinCharles
Congratulations on your new job, Maya! 🎉 This is such exciting news after 4 months of searching! Everyone here has given you fantastic advice already, but I wanted to add one quick thing that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year. Since you're starting Thursday, you might want to double-check what time your certification window opens on Sunday. Mine opened at midnight, but I always waited until Sunday morning to make sure I had my thoughts together. Also, when you're reporting your Thursday-Saturday work for this first certification, remember that even orientation or training days count as work days that need to be reported with hours and estimated earnings. The transition can feel overwhelming, but you're clearly approaching it the right way by asking questions and wanting to do everything properly. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding the process shows you're going to handle this perfectly. Just stay honest with your reporting and you'll be all set! Welcome to the employed club - hoping this new position is everything you're looking for! This community is always here if any other questions come up during your transition. Best of luck! 😊
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