Will paid training hours affect my EDD benefits? Need advice ASAP

Yes, you absolutely need to report this income when you certify. Any earnings during a week you claim benefits must be reported. EDD will deduct a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount - they don't deduct dollar for dollar though. You can earn up to $99 with no reduction, then after that they reduce your benefit. The formula is basically that you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount with no deduction, then anything over that gets subtracted from your payment. So you'll likely get a reduced payment for those weeks, but not zero unless your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount. Also, make sure to answer YES to the question about whether you worked or earned money, even if it's just training.

i did something like this last year. got paid for a week training for hotel job. just put the hours and pay on ur certification and ur fine. edd just reduces ur payment a bit those weeks. i still got partial payment and kept my claim active. dont overthink it!

This is actually a common situation and you need to handle it carefully. Here's what you should do: 1. Yes, report the income when you certify for those weeks 2. When asked if you worked, select YES 3. Enter the hours worked and gross amount earned before deductions 4. When asked if you're available for work, still answer YES (assuming the training doesn't prevent you from accepting full-time work) 5. In the section asking about school or training, I recommend also reporting this training program there too The key issue isn't just about the money - it's about your availability. As long as this training doesn't make you unavailable for regular full-time work, your claim should remain valid. Your benefits will be reduced based on your earnings during those weeks, but your overall claim will stay open. If the training program could potentially lead to regular employment, it's actually a good thing in EDD's view since you're taking steps to become reemployed, which is the whole point of unemployment benefits.

GOOD LUCK getting through to EDD to ask this!!! I spent TWO WEEKS trying to talk to someone about my training program question. Kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and getting disconnected. It's IMPOSSIBLE to get actual help on the phone. If you do try to call, start dialing exactly at 8:00am when they open - that's your only chance. Otherwise you'll waste hours just to get hung up on.

my wife had almost EXACT same situation!!!! she did phlebotomy training that paid $16/hr for 25 hours. she reported everything honestly on certification and EDD just reduced her payment for those 2 weeks. no problems after that and she kept getting full benefits once training ended. just be 100% honest about hours and pay, thats what matters most. EDD actually LIKES when ur trying to improve ur job skills!

Everyone's giving incomplete advice here. What matters is whether this is APPROVED training or not. If it's approved under the California Training Benefits (CTB) program, you remain eligible for full benefits without reduction. If it's NOT approved training, then yes, you report it as work and your benefits get reduced. You should determine if your training qualifies for CTB before you start.

wait im confused... if ur getting PAID for the training isnt that just a JOB? like why is this even a question? obviously report income when u certify lol

Based on all the discussion here, here's what I'd recommend: 1. Report the training as work income on your certification 2. Be prepared for a reduction in your benefits for those week(s) 3. Keep detailed records of the training program (dates, hours, pay stubs) 4. Answer all certification questions honestly For a short 30-hour training program that pays you, this is simply considered work income. Your claim will remain open, and you'll return to receiving your normal benefit amount after the training period ends (assuming you don't move into permanent employment). This type of situation is completely normal and won't negatively impact your overall claim eligibility.

I went through something very similar last year with a paid certification course for IT support. Here's what I learned: definitely report it as work income when you certify, but don't stress too much about it. The key is being completely transparent about the hours and earnings. What helped me was calling it exactly what it is - "paid training" in the work section of my certification. I put down the exact hours and gross pay, and EDD reduced my benefits for those weeks using their standard formula. Once the training ended, my benefits went back to the full amount. One tip: if the training program gives you any documentation (like a training agreement or syllabus), keep copies. I never needed them, but it's good to have proof that this was legitimate skills training, not just regular employment. EDD actually views this kind of training positively since you're actively working toward better employment opportunities. You're doing the right thing by asking ahead of time. Just report everything honestly and you'll be fine!

I actually work for a company that does these kinds of paid training programs! From the employer side, we report participants as temporary employees during training, so from EDD's perspective, you're absolutely correct to treat this as work income. The medical coding field is really solid right now - lots of demand and good pay once you're certified. The fact that they're paying you during training is actually a great sign that they're serious about hiring from the program. Just make sure when you report it that you're clear about the temporary nature. On your certification, when it asks about work, put down your hours and earnings, and if there's a comments section or if EDD contacts you, mention it's "temporary paid training leading to potential permanent employment." This shows you're actively job searching and improving your skills, which is exactly what they want to see from unemployment recipients. Keep all your training documentation - completion certificates, pay stubs, anything showing it's legitimate skills training. And honestly? Even if this specific opportunity doesn't lead to immediate hire, having medical coding certification on your resume is going to open up a lot of doors. Good luck!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through something really similar a few months ago! I did a paid medical assistant training program that was about 40 hours over 2 weeks. Like everyone else has said, definitely report it as work income on your certification. One thing I learned that might help you - when you're filling out your certification and it asks if you were "ready, willing, and able to work," make sure you answer YES as long as the training schedule would allow you to accept a full-time job if one was offered. That's really important for maintaining your eligibility. Also, don't be surprised if your first reduced payment takes a little longer to process. Mine was delayed by about a week because their system flagged the income change, but it all worked out fine once they reviewed it. Just be patient if that happens. The medical coding field is awesome - I have friends who completed similar programs and they're all working now with really good pay. Even if this specific company doesn't hire you right away, you'll have that certification which opens up so many opportunities. You're making a smart move by taking this training!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! I just started a paid customer service training program that's 25 hours over one week at $15/hr. I was terrified about reporting it on my certification, but after reading all these responses, I feel so much better about it. I ended up calling EDD (took me 3 days of trying at exactly 8am) and the representative confirmed what everyone here is saying - report it as work income, expect a reduced payment for that week, but your claim stays active. She also mentioned that as long as the training doesn't prevent you from accepting other full-time work, you should still answer YES to being available for work. The rep actually seemed impressed that I was doing skills training and said it shows I'm actively working toward reemployment, which is exactly what they want to see. She told me to keep documentation of the training program just in case they need it later. One thing she emphasized that I don't think anyone mentioned - make sure you report the GROSS earnings before any taxes or deductions are taken out. That was something I wasn't sure about. Good luck with your medical coding training! From what I've heard, that field has amazing job prospects right now. You're definitely making a smart choice taking this opportunity!