Can I collect UI benefits while employed but not yet paid (monthly pay schedule)?

Unfortunately, unemployment benefits are based on your work status, not your pay schedule. Once you start working full-time, you're no longer eligible for unemployment benefits, even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet. The key question on weekly claims is whether you worked, not whether you got paid. If you report that you worked full-time hours, your claim will be denied for that week.

When you file your weekly claim, you have to report ANY hours worked, even if you haven't been paid yet. ESD will calculate your benefit based on hours worked, not when you get paid. So if you're working full-time (32+ hours/week), you'll be ineligible. If you're working part-time, you might get partial benefits, but they'll be reduced based on your hours worked. Make sure you accurately report your hours each week you claim!

have u tried asking ur new employer for an advance? some companies offer that for new hires especially if u explain ur situation. worth asking HR about it. i was in same boat last year and got a partial advance on my 1st check

The system is so BROKEN!! They expect people to just magically survive for a month with no income?? This happened to me in January and I had to put EVERYTHING on credit cards just to survive until my first check. Then spent months digging out of that debt. ESD should have some kind of transition benefit for exactly this situation!!!

You might want to call ESD directly about your specific situation. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about a different issue and kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. Was worth it to actually talk to someone who could help. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Even though I'm pretty sure the answer will be what others said here, sometimes there are exceptions or other programs they can tell you about.

Just to add to my earlier comment - make sure you still file your weekly claim accurately during this transition period. Report all hours worked honestly. If you're found to have claimed benefits while working full-time, even if you haven't been paid yet, it could result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back. Better to follow the rules now than deal with collections later.

Update: I talked to my new employer's HR department and explained my situation. They actually have a program for new employees that allows a partial advance on the first month's pay! I'll get 40% of my expected monthly earnings next week, which will help me bridge the gap until the full payday. For anyone else facing this issue, definitely ask your employer if they have options - I didn't even know to ask until reading suggestions here. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's fantastic that you found a solution! Your experience really highlights how important it is to communicate with your new employer about financial challenges during the transition period. Many people don't realize that employers often have policies in place specifically for situations like this - whether it's payroll advances, emergency loans, or flexible pay schedules for new hires. It's great that you shared this update because it shows there are practical solutions beyond just the unemployment system. Congratulations on the new job and glad you were able to work out the financial bridge!

Welcome to the community, Ravi! Your situation is actually pretty common - many people don't realize how many employers have these transition support programs until they ask. If you do find yourself in this position, definitely be upfront with HR about your situation during the hiring process or on your first day. Some companies even mention these policies in their benefits overview for new hires. Also, beyond payroll advances, some employers offer things like signing bonuses, earlier start dates for direct deposit, or even connections to local financial assistance programs. The key is being honest about your needs and asking what options might be available. Good luck with your job search!

This whole thread is such a great resource! I'm actually bookmarking it because I know several friends who are job searching right now and this exact scenario could easily happen to them. It's amazing how GamerGirl99's situation went from seeming hopeless to having a real solution just by asking the right questions. I think a lot of people (myself included) would have just assumed they were stuck and tried to tough it out rather than approaching HR about options. It really shows the value of being proactive and advocating for yourself during these transitions. Thanks to everyone who contributed advice here - this is exactly the kind of practical, real-world guidance that makes this community so valuable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community and currently on unemployment myself, so reading about situations like this really prepares me for what I might face during my own job search. It's eye-opening to learn that eligibility is based on hours worked rather than when you actually get paid - that's definitely not intuitive. What really stands out to me is how this discussion evolved from identifying the problem to finding practical solutions. The suggestion about asking employers for payroll advances seems like such valuable advice that I never would have thought of on my own. It's encouraging to see that many employers actually have policies in place to help with these exact transition challenges. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating these systems so much easier!