Should I just stop certifying EDD benefits when working part-time as a student?

Don't just stop certifying without properly closing your claim! That can cause problems later. You should report your new employment through UI Online and indicate you're working part-time. The system will automatically calculate if you're eligible for partial benefits based on your earnings. If you earn over your weekly benefit amount, you'll just get $0 that week but your claim stays active for when/if you need it during your benefit year.

jst stop certifying if u dont want benefits anymore. thats what i did when i got a job last fall. nothing bad happened lol

The proper procedure is to continue certifying while accurately reporting your work-study income. EDD will reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn. If you earn too much, you'll receive $0 that week. You specifically asked about stopping benefits entirely. You have two proper options: 1. Report that you returned to work full-time when certifying (even though you're part-time, this tells the system you no longer want benefits) 2. Call EDD directly and request to close your claim The second option is more definitive but reaching EDD can be difficult. When I worked at a university while on unemployment, I just reported my earnings each week until I consistently received $0 benefits for a few weeks, then checked the "I returned to full-time work" box.

When you select "returned to work full-time," EDD doesn't immediately close your claim, but they stop expecting certifications from you. Your claim technically remains open until its benefit year ends, but you won't be asked to certify anymore. If your work situation changes again before your benefit year ends, you can resume certifying without filing a new claim.

I was in almost EXACTLY the same situation last semester!!! Federal work-study + Pell Grant while on unemployment. I kept certifying but reporting all my income honestly and eventually my weekly benefit just went to $0. My financial aid counselor told me work-study doesn't even count the same as regular employment since it's a form of financial aid, but EDD still considers it income. It's so confusing!!!!

Yes, I listed my university as the employer because technically they do pay me, even though the funds come from federal work-study. It's super confusing! My financial aid office said it's financial aid for FAFSA purposes but it's still taxable income, so EDD treats it like a regular job. The whole system is a mess honestly.

I had the WORST experience trying to get through to EDD to close my claim last year. Spent literally 3 days calling over and over just to get disconnected. Eventually I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km if you want to check it out. Worth it to get definitive answers directly from EDD about your specific situation with the work-study job. Their website is claimyr.com if you're interested.

WATCH OUT with your Pell Grant!! When I was on unemployment and getting financial aid, EDD tried to say my grant was "income" even though it doesn't count as income for tax purposes!!! So messed up! Make sure you're not reporting your Pell as income when certifying but DO report your work-study earnings!

The safest approach is to contact EDD directly and explain your situation. When you have both work-study and financial aid while on unemployment, there are specific rules about what counts as income. Based on your description, you probably qualify for partial benefits, but if you prefer to stop receiving them, you should formally request to close your claim. If you just stop certifying without proper closure, EDD might contact you later wondering why you stopped, which could potentially lead to complications. Always better to have documentation that you properly ended your claim.

Thank you everyone for all the advice! I've decided to certify one last time and select the "returned to work full-time" option as suggested. This seems like the cleanest way to stop benefits without having to deal with calling EDD directly. I'll make sure to keep all my employment documentation just in case there are any questions later. Really appreciate all the help!

Good choice! That sounds like the most straightforward approach. Just wanted to add - since you're keeping documentation, make sure to save screenshots of your final certification where you select "returned to work full-time" and any confirmation pages. I've learned the hard way that having proof of what you submitted can be really helpful if EDD ever has questions later. Also, if your work-study hours change significantly during the semester and you find yourself working less than expected, you'll know you can potentially reopen your claim without filing a whole new application. Best of luck with school and the new job!

Just want to echo what others have said about properly documenting everything! I made the mistake of not keeping good records when I was dealing with EDD and work-study last year. One thing I'd add - when you do your final certification and select "returned to work full-time," you might get a follow-up question asking for your return-to-work date. I'd suggest using the date you started your work-study position, even though it's part-time. That keeps everything consistent with your story that you're no longer seeking unemployment benefits. Also, don't be surprised if you get a final notice in the mail confirming your claim status change - that's totally normal and actually good documentation to keep! Good luck with school and the new job!