What to do when unemployment runs out 2020 - California EDD options explained

How do you even know if you have enough new wages? Like is there a calculator somewhere?

EDD's site has an Unemployment Benefit Calculator that can give you an estimate. Your weekly amount would come from your highest-earning quarter in the base period, and it has to be at least $1,300 in that quarter to have a valid claim at all. If you worked any events this year, those wages might be enough to open something new.

The training benefits option is real and worth looking into, especially for anyone in a field that's contracting. It lets you keep collecting without doing the regular work search while you're in an approved program, and there's a possible training extension on top of that.

That's actually really helpful to know someone got actual info from an agent. Did they say anything about what counts as enough wages for the new claim?

The agent looked at my specific base period and told me which quarter was going to be counted. She didn't promise I'd qualify, just said to file once I had a few more gigs on record and EDD would calculate it. The DE 429Z I'd get would show the real number.

Stuck in a similar loop with my benefit year closing next month, been dreading this. Might try that to find out if my part-time catering work adds up to anything.

wait so if i worked a few big events this year that could count even if the rest of the year was slow?

Exactly. Even one strong quarter with $1,300 or more can be enough to open a new claim. The weekly amount comes from whichever quarter paid you the most, so a few good-paying gigs could matter more than you'd think.

Does filing a new claim reset the 26-week clock completely? I always assumed once you hit 26 weeks that was your lifetime limit or something.

Each claim is a fresh 52-week benefit year with its own 26-week maximum. As long as you have qualifying wages in the new base period you're not locked out permanently, it's not a lifetime cap.

I told my roommate the wrong thing about this for months, she thought she could never file again. Really wish I'd known it resets.

I had no idea about the 16th week deadline, that's a really important detail. So I'd need to apply for it pretty early in a new claim, not at the end when I'm panicking?

Yes, applying early gives you time to find an approved program and get EDD's sign-off. Waiting until week 20 is too late. If you're seriously considering retraining, ask about it right when the new claim opens.

What kinds of programs does EDD actually approve? Like would a certificate course count or does it have to be a full degree?

The specifics of which programs qualify are worth confirming directly with EDD because it depends on the field and the school. It's not limited to degree programs but you do need approval, not every certificate is automatic.

Checked just now and mine says the benefit year ended last Sunday. So it's definitely fully closed. Good call though, I hadn't thought to look at that date specifically.

Reopening versus filing new is confusing to a lot of people. I went through this last year and accidentally filed a new claim when I should have reopened, took a few extra weeks to sort out.

Calling right at 8am sharp and then trying again at 8:02 sometimes works better than constantly hitting redial. Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be slightly less jammed than Mondays. Live chat through the Help button in UI Online is also an option from 9 to 2 on weekdays if you're already logged in.

I didn't even know about the live chat, I'll try that tomorrow morning.

The live chat can have a queue too but it's usually shorter than the phone. Worth doing both at once honestly.

Retirement or pension income based on past work can reduce what EDD pays out, yes. How much depends on the specifics and EDD makes that call, there's no flat rule I could give you. Best to have your dad ask EDD directly when he files or reopens so they can apply it to his actual numbers.

Okay that makes sense, I'll tell him to flag it when he calls.

That's genuinely encouraging to hear. Three weeks total is not as bad as I feared. Did you have any adjudication hold or did it go pretty smoothly?

No adjudication, I was laid off from the temp assignment so there was no question about why I stopped working. If you quit or got fired from your last gig EDD would probably schedule a phone interview first.

This is the kind of real experience answer that actually helps. Good to know three weeks is a reasonable timeline.

Does everyone have to do CalJOBS or just some people? I've seen conflicting things online.

EDD decides claim by claim, they tell you if you're required to. Most people are but there are exceptions. The notice will make it clear.

CalJOBS registration is one of those things that feels bureaucratic and easy to push aside but it really can hold up your money if you ignore it. The 21-day window goes fast.

I did not know unemployment was taxable at all until I got the 1099G and panicked. Definitely setting up withholding if I ever end up back on a claim.

Good reminder, I actually forgot to set withholding last time and owed in April. Will do it differently if I open a new one.

i always thought you had to log contacts somewhere in UI Online or CalJOBS, is that not a thing?

EDD doesn't have a built-in tracker in UI Online for work search contacts that I know of, keeping your own spreadsheet or notes is the practical approach.

My first week I was so confused about this, I thought I had to upload proof of job applications. Good to know it's self-tracked.

ID.me verification causing holds is something I didn't even think about with a new claim. Good to know that's something an agent can actually see on their end.

Had an ID.me issue on my first claim too and it held things up for almost two weeks. Annoying but fixable once someone actually looks at the account.

This is a real issue, I saw someone in another thread blindsided by a deduction they had no idea was coming. If there's a Notice of Overpayment in your pile of old EDD mail, read it carefully and check if the appeal deadline has passed.

Can you even appeal an overpayment after the 30-day window? I have one from a couple years ago I never responded to.

A late appeal needs you to explain why you missed the deadline, it's not automatic. Worth contacting EDD to ask about your options because the alternative is usually repayment or having it taken from future benefits.

I'd actually forgotten those exist. Is it just walk-in or do you need to make an appointment first?

Depends on the specific location, some are walk-in and some prefer appointments. EDD's Office Locator on their site shows the ones near you and usually has contact info to check.

Went to one in my county when I was first laid off and they had a resume workshop that same week. Free and actually helpful.

Getting disconnected at the menu is the worst, usually trying right at 8am and not pressing any extra keys during the initial greeting helps. Also check if the live chat through the Help button in UI Online is open, it runs weekdays 9am to 2pm.

Tried the live chat twice and got a "no agents available" message. I'll try again first thing tomorrow.

Contract job wages absolutely can count in your base period, they go in like any other employer wages. The question is whether your base period quarter with those wages hits the minimum. An agent seeing your actual account is the fastest way to know.

I always assumed severance meant you couldn't file for weeks, good to know you can file right away and EDD figures it out from there.

Severance is on EDD's list of things to report when you certify. The rule on how it actually affects payments is EDD's to calculate, not something anyone here should state as a fixed number. File when you're out of work and report it honestly.

I hadn't even thought about CalFresh as a bridge option, that's a really practical point. The gap between claims can be three weeks or more based on what people are saying above.

Applied for CalFresh during my last unemployment stretch and it helped a lot. The process was pretty quick through BenefitsCal.

The county handles the CalFresh determination, not EDD, so the timelines are separate. Apply as soon as you know there's going to be a gap in income, don't wait until you're out of money.

CalJOBS syncing with EDD taking extra time is something I had no idea was even a thing. Good to know that's a thing to check if weeks stay pending after you've registered.

So there's a lag between when you register on CalJOBS and when EDD sees it? That explains so much about my current situation.

I haven't gotten any denial notices, my situation is more that the claim just ran its full course. But good to know for anyone who does get a denial when they try to file new.

Makes sense. For a fully-exhausted claim that just ran the 26 weeks there's nothing to appeal, it's just finished. The new-claim-filing route is exactly the right path in that case.

I mixed up the phone interview and the appeals hearing in my head for so long. The interview is just EDD asking questions before they decide, the hearing is a whole separate thing if you're fighting a denial after the fact.