Will California EDD unemployment benefits affect my Social Security payments?

Oh wow that is such a relief to hear. My neighbor had me completely paranoid. So there's no reporting requirement either? Like I don't need to tell Social Security I'm getting unemployment?

You don't need to report your California EDD unemployment benefits to the SSA for retirement purposes. They're tracked separately. Just make sure you're filing your weekly certifications with EDD on time and reporting any wages you earn while on UI.

This is correct. I'm a retired HR manager and dealt with this question constantly. Unemployment does not offset Social Security retirement. The confusion sometimes comes from SSDI (disability) which has different rules, but regular retirement benefits are unaffected.

Wait so I should have filed weeks ago?? I've been waiting because I was so confused about all this

Yes file TODAY. You can request backdating when you apply but you'll need to explain why you didn't file sooner. The sooner you get your application in the better your chances of getting those weeks covered.

this happened to me too, waited like 3 weeks to file because i was worried about messing up other benefits and then had to fight to get those weeks backdated. just file immediately and sort out the questions after

I'm going to look into that Claimyr thing because I really do want to talk to an actual EDD agent about my specific situation before I file. Thank you

claimyr worked for me too when i needed to talk to edd about my claim status. got through in like 45 minutes instead of the usual getting hung up on situation

Does Claimyr work for asking general questions or only if you already have a claim open?

I used it before I even had a claim open, just to ask questions like OP. The agent I talked to was super helpful and answered everything I needed to know before I filed.

Yes it's definitely retirement benefits, I started taking them early at 62. So based on everything here I'm completely fine to file for California EDD unemployment at the same time.

This breakdown is really helpful. I've seen so many people get confused between SSI and regular Social Security retirement. They're completely different programs with different rules.

wait so if someone is on SSI and files for unemployment it actually reduces their SSI check?? that seems really unfair

Unfortunately yes, SSI is income-based so receiving unemployment benefits would reduce your SSI payment dollar for dollar above the first $20. It's a different situation from retirement benefits though.

Haha I appreciate this perspective honestly. Sometimes I overthink things.

I overthink EVERYTHING when it comes to government benefits. The anxiety is real. But in this case it really was fine.

That's a really good point I hadn't considered at all. I should probably talk to a tax person. But at least it won't reduce the actual payments themselves.

This is accurate and a good point. You can also opt to have federal taxes withheld from your California EDD payments (10%) to avoid a surprise tax bill. You'd select that option when you file your claim.

Yes exactly — there's a federal tax withholding option in the California EDD application. I'd recommend taking it especially if you'll be collecting both Social Security and UI simultaneously.

Yes the phone situation is what's been making all of this so stressful for me too. Can't get answers and can't get through.

Seriously look into Claimyr if you're struggling to reach EDD agents. claimyr.com — it was the only thing that actually worked for me after weeks of failed attempts.

i've seen people mention claimyr a few times in these forums. might actually try it at this point because i'm losing my mind trying to get through the normal way

Does being on Social Security affect the 'able and available to work' question at all? Like does receiving retirement income count as something I need to disclose?

Social Security retirement income does not affect your able and available status. That question is about whether you're physically capable of working and actively looking for work. Receiving retirement income doesn't change that. You just certify honestly each week.

Also make sure to keep a job search log! California EDD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and you need to document them. If you ever get audited or go into adjudication they'll ask for your records.

This is really reassuring to hear from someone whose family member actually went through it. Thank you for sharing.

yeah she wishes she'd filed sooner honestly. she waited almost a month worrying about it and lost those weeks of potential benefits

Thank you so much for this professional perspective. The earnings limit thing is also useful to know — I was worried that if I got a part time job while on unemployment it might mess up my Social Security but it sounds like I need to earn quite a bit before that kicks in.

Correct — for 2025 the Social Security earnings limit for people under full retirement age is around $22,320 annually. Above that, SSA reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 earned. But again, unemployment payments are NOT earnings for this purpose, so your UI won't count toward that limit.

This is exactly right. Unemployment insurance payments are not 'wages' or 'earnings' under Social Security rules, so they bypass the earnings test entirely. Great clarification.

California EDD requires 3 job search activities per week but they don't scrutinize whether the jobs are 'appropriate' in that sense. Your dad should apply to jobs in his field and at his experience level. There's no requirement to apply to jobs below his qualifications. As long as he's making genuine attempts to find work and documenting them in a job search log he'll be fine.

ok that's helpful thank you. he was worried they'd deny his claim if he wasn't applying to like entry level stuff which would be ridiculous anyway

Oh no this is my other fear — that even if I file correctly something random will trigger a delay and I'll be stuck waiting forever for benefits I need now.

I mean it can happen but most people don't get flagged. And even when it did happen to me, having Claimyr to actually reach an agent made it fixable. Without being able to talk to someone I honestly don't know how long I would have been stuck.

Adjudication flags happen but they're not the norm for straightforward layoffs. File your claim, do your weekly certifications consistently, keep your job search log, and most people get through without issues.

SSDI and UI together is genuinely more complicated. The main issue is that SSDI has a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) — if you're able to earn above a certain amount, SSA may question whether you're still disabled. Receiving UI benefits can sometimes raise a flag because UI requires you to certify that you're 'able and available' to work, which can conflict with SSDI's premise that you're disabled. I'd strongly recommend talking to a disability attorney or advocate before filing UI if you're on SSDI.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Thank you for the honest answer though, better to know before I do something that messes up my SSDI.

Yes please get professional advice before filing UI if you're on SSDI. The interaction is complex and the wrong move could trigger a continuing disability review. Your local SHIP or legal aid office can often help for free.

Good luck!! Please do update, I'm definitely going to file this week now that I feel more confident about it.

Will do! The UI Online system was actually pretty intuitive. Just have your work history and last employer info ready before you start.

Okay yes I'm taking this personally lol but you're 100% right. My neighbor was so confident too which made it worse.

neighbors are the worst source of benefits information 😅 they always know someone who had something happen but the details are always wrong

my coworker told me unemployment would affect my 401k somehow. like... what?? no. it doesn't work like that at all

Great news!! Keep filing your weekly certifications every week even while you wait for the initial determination — it shows you're continuing to certify and keeps your claim active. Good luck!

Fingers crossed on the backdating request. Make sure your explanation clearly states that the delay was due to uncertainty about program interactions, not unwillingness to work or file. That's a legitimate reason for delay.

You've got this! And if you run into any issues during adjudication or need to talk to an agent, remember Claimyr (claimyr.com) is there — it saved me weeks of frustration when I needed to reach EDD. There's also a walkthrough video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 if you want to see how it works beforehand.

Thank you everyone seriously. I'll post back when I hear on the determination!