Will reporting school attendance to EDD affect my benefits if I'm also getting VA education pay?

You do need to report that you're in school to EDD. However, as long as your schooling doesn't interfere with your ability to look for and accept full-time work, it shouldn't affect your benefits. The key questions EDD asks are: 1. Are your classes during normal work hours? 2. Would you quit school to accept a job? 3. Are you still able to look for work while attending school? If your answers are: mostly evenings/online, yes you'd quit for a job, and yes you're still job searching - then you should be fine reporting your school attendance. The VA education benefits are separate and shouldn't impact your UI eligibility.

i was in EXACTLY the same situation last year!!! marked YES for school on my certification and they put my payments on pending for like 6 weeks it was a NIGHTMARE. they scheduled me for a phone interview to "determine eligibility" but kept rescheduling it. eventually got through but stressful af

I worked as an EDD specialist before. Here's what you need to know: Yes, you must report that you're attending school. However, the key factor isn't just attending school - it's whether your school schedule affects your availability for work. EDD follows the "able and available" rule. When you mark "Yes" to attending school, they'll likely schedule an eligibility interview to determine if your schooling interferes with your ability to work full-time. Be prepared to explain: 1. Your class schedule (showing it doesn't conflict with standard work hours) 2. Your continued job search efforts (keep detailed records) 3. Your willingness to prioritize work over school if needed The VA education benefits are separate income and don't directly impact your UI eligibility, though you should still report any income as required. Hope this helps!

When I had this same issue in 2023, I marked "yes" for school and got put on pending immediately. EDD scheduled an eligibility interview but it was 5 weeks out! I tried calling EDD every single day but you know how that goes - "we're experiencing high call volume" and instant disconnects. I finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD rep after trying for weeks. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep was able to see that my school schedule didn't interfere with work availability and pushed my payments through without waiting for the interview. Might be worth checking out if you end up in pending purgatory.

wait i thought u cant get unemployment if ur a student?? my brother tried last year and they denied him cuz he was in school. said he wasnt available for work or somethin

I HATE how the EDD system is set up!!! It's like they WANT to trick you into making mistakes so they can disqualify you. The question about school doesn't even explain the consequences or give context. And then when you answer honestly they put you on pending forever!!! The whole system is designed to make people give up on benefits they're entitled to. I've been through FOUR eligibility interviews this year for various things and each time they restore my benefits because I WAS ELIGIBLE THE WHOLE TIME. Meanwhile I'm stressed to the max wondering how I'll pay rent!!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - when you answer "Yes" to attending school, be prepared for these additional steps: 1. EDD will likely schedule an eligibility interview (usually by phone) 2. You may see a delay in payments until that interview is completed 3. Have documentation ready showing your class schedule 4. Be prepared to explain how you're maintaining your job search While this process can be frustrating, it's important to always answer honestly on your certification. False reporting can lead to much worse consequences including penalties, disqualification, and potential overpayment assessments that you'd have to pay back.

This is so confusing! I think the rules changed for school attendance during the pandemic and then changed back? I remember my roommate was getting UI while in online classes during 2021 with no problems at all but my other friend had issues in 2022. Maybe call EDD and ask before you certify? Good luck with that phone system tho lol

Thanks everyone for your advice! I'm going to answer the certification questions honestly and report that I'm in school. I'll gather all my documentation showing my evening/online class schedule and proof of ongoing job search activities in case they schedule an eligibility interview. I'm still nervous about payments potentially going on hold, but lying on the certification would be way worse in the long run. I'll update this thread after my next certification to let you know what happens!

def update us!! im curious what happens since i might be starting classes in fall too