Reporting retirement distributions when certifying for EDD - yes or no?
I started my unemployment claim over the phone last week (nice EDD rep helped me file) but now I'm stressing about the certification process. I receive a small monthly retirement distribution check (about $430) from a previous employer, and I completely forgot to mention this when filing my initial claim. When I certify for benefits, should I report this as income by checking 'yes' or 'no'? I don't want to accidentally commit fraud, but I also don't want my payments to get delayed because I'm already behind on bills. Anyone know if retirement distributions even count as income for EDD purposes? This is my first time on unemployment and I'm really confused about what needs to be reported.
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Liam Duke
pretty sure u need 2 report it but it dosent mean u wont get benefits. its just deducted from ur weekly amount i think
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Dana Doyle
AuthorThanks for responding! So do I mark yes under the question about receiving income? And will this affect my whole claim or just reduce the weekly amount?
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Manny Lark
Yes, you absolutely need to report retirement distributions when certifying. EDD requires you to report all income, and retirement distributions do count. Check the "yes" box and enter the amount when prompted. It will likely reduce your weekly benefit amount (WBA) using a specific formula, but won't necessarily disqualify you completely. The formula they use typically reduces your weekly benefit dollar-for-dollar after the first $25 (or 25% of your WBA, whichever is greater). So if your WBA is $450 and your retirement is $430, you'd still qualify for some benefits. Not reporting it could lead to an overpayment determination later, which comes with penalties and possible disqualification from future benefits.
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Dana Doyle
AuthorThank you for the detailed explanation! That makes sense. I'll definitely report it when I certify. I'm still a bit nervous about the whole process but at least I know what to do about this part now.
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Rita Jacobs
I went through EXACTLY this same thing!!!! I get a tiny pension ($368/mo) and didn't mention it when I first applied for benefits in Jan 2025. Then I read somewhere that EDD could PENALIZE me so I panicked and called them 46 TIMES trying to fix it!!! Never got through!!!
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Khalid Howes
This is why the EDD system is so broken. How are regular people supposed to know all these technical rules? And then they punish us when we make honest mistakes. Classic government bureaucracy at its worst.
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Ben Cooper
If you're having trouble reaching an EDD representative to clarify this situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with questions about reporting income and couldn't get through for weeks. Used their service and got connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. Saved me so much stress. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Definitely worth checking out if you're struggling to get through the phone lines.
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Naila Gordon
has anyone else actually used this service? seems kinda sketchy to pay for something that should be free
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Cynthia Love
Here's the actual rule directly from EDD: "You must report all income you receive, whether from employment or another source, during the week you earn it, not when you receive the payment." Retirement payments fall under "another source" and must be reported. The important distinction is WHEN to report it. For regular employment, you report when earned. For retirement distributions, you report for the week you receive the payment. You should check "Yes" to receiving income, select "Pension/Retirement" as the source, and enter the amount. The system will automatically calculate any reduction to your benefits. And don't worry about not mentioning it on your initial application. Just report it correctly going forward when you certify. If there's an issue, EDD will contact you for an eligibility interview to clarify the situation.
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Dana Doyle
AuthorThis is so helpful, thank you! I feel much better knowing exactly what to select during certification. I'll make sure to report it properly from now on.
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Naila Gordon
my neighbor had this exact situation and he marked NO on the certification form and got AUDITED six months later and had to pay back like $4000 plus a 30% penalty!!! dont risk it!!
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Rita Jacobs
OMG that's terrifying!!! I'd be completely BROKE if that happened to me! This is why the whole system gives me such anxiety!!
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Liam Duke
wait i think i was wrong before...pensions might be different than retirement accounts? like if ur just taking money out of ur 401k thats not income i dont think
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Cynthia Love
Actually, that's incorrect. Both pension payments and 401k distributions need to be reported to EDD during certification. The key difference is that pension payments typically reduce your benefits, while one-time 401k withdrawals might be treated differently depending on the specific circumstances. But all income sources must be reported regardless.
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Manny Lark
Just to follow up - make sure you're answering all the certification questions accurately. Question #6 specifically asks about pension/retirement income. Mark "Yes" there and enter the amount. Don't overthink this too much. EDD deals with retirement income situations all the time. As long as you're honest from this point forward, you'll be fine. They're mainly concerned with willful fraud, not honest mistakes that you're actively trying to correct.
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Dana Doyle
AuthorThank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all the helpful advice. I'll definitely report my retirement distribution going forward. I feel much more confident about the certification process now.
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Diez Ellis
I'm new to this whole unemployment process too and this thread has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about all these reporting requirements. I don't have retirement income but I do have some dividend payments from stocks - I'm assuming those need to be reported as well? It's honestly pretty overwhelming trying to figure out what counts as "income" and what doesn't. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here, it's really helping those of us who are navigating this for the first time.
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