Will EDD automatically extend my claim when balance runs out before my benefit year ends?

once ur money runs out thats it, benefit year just means thats how long u COULD collect IF u had enough in ur account. they dont refill it lol

The previous comment isn't entirely accurate. Your benefit year is the 12-month period you can collect benefits, but your claim balance is the maximum amount you can receive during that period. Once your balance hits zero, you generally cannot receive more benefits until your benefit year ends, at which point you'd need to file a new claim IF you qualify. There are some exceptions though. If you worked and earned wages during your current benefit year, you might be eligible for what's called an Additional Claim. This isn't an extension - it's for people who returned to work and then had another period of unemployment within the same benefit year.

I WENT THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING LAST YEAR!!! My balance ran out in February but my benefit year wasn't over til June. EDD does NOT automatically refill your balance - when it's gone, it's GONE! You have to wait until your benefit year ends to reapply. It SUCKS because I had a 3-month gap with no benefits. The EDD system is RIDICULOUS!!!

Hey I know this is a bit off topic but has anyone had trouble reaching EDD lately? I needed to ask about this exact situation a few months back (my balance ran out early) and couldn't get through for DAYS. Ended up using Claimyr.com and got connected to a rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep explained that I needed to wait until my benefit year ended before reapplying, but your situation might be different if you worked during your claim period.

Let me clarify a few things about how EDD claim balances work: 1. Your claim balance is the total amount you can receive during your benefit year 2. Once your balance is exhausted, regular benefits end regardless of how much time is left in your benefit year 3. To qualify for a new claim, you typically need to wait until your current benefit year ends 4. If you worked and earned wages during your current benefit year, you may qualify for an Additional Claim (different from an extension) 5. Additional Claims require you to have earned enough qualifying wages during your benefit year If you did work during your benefit year, even just part-time or gig work, I'd recommend contacting EDD directly to see if you qualify for an Additional Claim. You would need to provide information about your employment and earnings during your benefit year.

I totally get your confusion! I went through this same scenario in 2023. When my balance ran out in March but my benefit year wasn't over until July, I panicked. I had some part-time work during my claim period and thought maybe that would help, but when I called EDD (after like 47 attempts), they said I hadn't earned enough to qualify for an additional claim. So I had to wait until my benefit year ended to reapply. My advice: start looking for ANY work now, even temporary stuff, to cover the gap between your balance running out and your benefit year ending. That's what I wish I had done!

Reapplying was actually easier than I expected! It took about 2 weeks to get approved when my benefit year ended. Just make sure you have all your employment history handy and answer the questions honestly. The new application asks for any work you did during your previous claim period, so keep good records of any gigs or part-time work!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I now understand that my claim balance won't automatically refill when it runs out, even though my benefit year isn't over yet. I'm going to try contacting EDD to see if the part-time work I did qualifies me for an Additional Claim, and I'll start preparing for a potential gap in benefits by looking for more work opportunities. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!