Taking community college classes while on EDD - will it affect my benefits?

ur fine just say no on the school question its only 1 class not like ur a fulltime student

I've been through this exact situation. When you certify, you need to answer YES to the question about attending school or training. But don't panic! This doesn't automatically disqualify you. After you submit your certification, EDD will likely schedule a phone interview to determine if your class interferes with your availability for work. Be prepared to explain: 1. The class is only one evening per week 2. You're still available for full-time work during normal business hours 3. You would quit or adjust the class if it interfered with a job offer In my experience, they approved my benefits because my night class didn't prevent me from accepting suitable work. Just make sure you're honest on your certification - marking NO when you are attending classes could be considered misrepresentation and potentially lead to overpayment issues later.

THEY WILL DEFINITELY FLAG YOUR ACCOUNT!!!! I took ONE class last year and checked YES on the school question and my payments were STOPPED for 6 WEEKS while they "reviewed" my case!!! The EDD system is BROKEN and they punish people for trying to BETTER THEMSELVES!!! I had to BORROW MONEY from my parents to pay rent because these idiots couldn't process a simple interview!!!

Yes they FINALLY approved it after I had to EXPLAIN MYSELF like a criminal that I was only taking one night class and still available for work!!! But those 6 weeks without money were HELL!!

This reminds me of when I was on unemployment back in 2023 and decided to take a bookkeeping course at the adult education center. I was so nervous about reporting it that I actually called EDD first to ask if it would be a problem. Of course, I couldn't get through to anyone for 3 days straight. My neighbor said her cousin got disqualified for going to school while on unemployment, but then my brother-in-law said he took classes with no issues, so I was really confused. I ended up just being honest on my certification and nothing happened - no interview, no delay, nothing. I think it really depends on who processes your claim and whether the system flags it.

There's actually a formal process for this called the California Training Benefits (CTB) program. If your class qualifies, you can be approved to attend school/training while receiving benefits without having to look for work during that time. However, for a single evening class, you probably don't need to go through the full CTB program. Here's what you should do: 1. Answer YES to the school/training question when certifying 2. Be prepared for a phone interview (they may or may not schedule one) 3. Continue your work search requirements as normal Since your class doesn't interfere with standard work hours, EDD will likely determine you're still available for work. Just be prepared to show your class schedule if asked. If you're having trouble reaching EDD on the phone to discuss this, I recommend checking out Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to EDD representatives much faster than calling directly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. This can help you ask questions about your specific situation before you start the class.

I used Claimyr last month when my account was locked after identity verification. Got through to EDD in like 25 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. Totally worth it.

To directly answer your question: yes, even one class counts as "attending school" for EDD certification purposes, and you must report it accurately. The key factor isn't how many classes you're taking, but whether your education interferes with your ability to accept full-time work. EDD evaluates school attendance based on these criteria: 1. Does it prevent you from being available for work? 2. Would you quit or adjust the class for suitable employment? Since your class is only one evening per week, it shouldn't affect your eligibility as long as you're able to work full-time during normal business hours. However, you must answer "Yes" to the school question, as answering incorrectly could result in an overpayment determination later. When you answer yes, one of three things will happen: 1. EDD may process your certification without issue 2. They might automatically flag your certification for additional review 3. They could schedule a determination interview If they schedule an interview, continue certifying as normal while you wait. Explain during the interview that your class doesn't affect your ability to accept full-time work. Bring documentation of your class schedule if possible. This is a common situation, and as long as you're truthful and the class doesn't interfere with work availability, your benefits should continue without interruption.

bro i still think ur overthinking this lol. one class isn't school school

I'm taking two online classes right now and still getting my benefits! Just make sure you tell them you're still available for work and would drop the class if needed for a job. That's what I said in my interview and it was fine.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to go ahead with enrolling in the class and make sure to answer YES to the school question when I certify. I'll be prepared for a possible phone interview and have my class schedule ready to show it's just one evening class per week. I appreciate all your help and experiences!