Will December bonus check affect my EDD benefits? Just started claim

pretty sure u have to report bonuses. they count as income even if u get it after laid off. i think it only effects the week u get it tho

Yes, you absolutely must report the bonus when you certify for that week. It counts as income for the week you receive it, not when you earned it. During certification, you'll answer "Yes" to the question about receiving other income, and select "Bonus" from the dropdown menu. You'll need to report the gross amount (before taxes). This will likely reduce or eliminate your UI payment for ONLY that specific week, but won't affect your claim going forward. Your benefit year and weekly benefit amount remain the same. Just be 100% honest when reporting - EDD can cross-check with employer tax records and hiding income can result in overpayment notices or penalties.

The EDD system is SO FRUSTRATING with this stuff!!! I had something similar and they somehow flagged my whole claim for review when I reported a final commission check. Took WEEKS to get it sorted out and I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone!!! Keep calling that stupid 1-800 number but it always says "we're experiencing high call volume" NO MATTER WHAT TIME I CALL!!! The system is BROKEN!!!

wait im confused, do bonuses even count if they were earned before you got laid off? i thought it was just regular wages that count against unemployment

I had almost exactly this situation last year. Got laid off from my marketing coordinator position but received a performance bonus two months later. Here's what I learned: 1. Yes, you MUST report the bonus for the week you physically receive it 2. It will likely reduce or eliminate your benefit for ONLY that week 3. Make sure to report the GROSS amount (before taxes) 4. Have documentation ready in case EDD has questions (bonus policy, email confirmation, etc.) 5. When certifying, answer "Yes" to other income and select "Bonus" type After that week, your benefits should resume normally. If your claim gets flagged for an eligibility interview because of it (mine did), just explain that it was a one-time bonus for work completed before separation. The interviewer cleared it right away.

i remember when i was on unemployment in 2018 my employer still had to pay me for my accumulated vacation days after i got laid off. had the same question but my neighbor works for the edd and she told me you gotta report any money that comes from your employer even if your not working there anymore. so yeah your bonus needs to be reported when u certify that week. weird system but thats how it works

Quick question to add to this thread - what happens if the bonus pushes you over your weekly benefit amount? Do you just get nothing that week or does it somehow affect future weeks too?

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to make sure I report the bonus properly when I receive it in December. Really appreciate all the detailed explanations - seems like it will only affect that one week, which is a relief. I'll still document everything just in case there are questions.

Just want to add that you should also check if your employer will be withholding taxes from the bonus. Sometimes they withhold at a higher rate for bonuses (like 22% federal), so make sure you report the gross amount to EDD, not the net amount you actually receive. I made that mistake once and had to clarify it later. Also, if the bonus is substantial, you might want to set aside some of it for taxes since it could bump you into a higher tax bracket for the year. Good luck with your claim!