Return to work Thursday after furlough - still file ESD claims for weeks ending 8/25 and 9/1?
Just got called back from furlough (manufacturing sector) and returning to work this Thursday (August 29). I'm confused about my weekly claims - do I still need to file my claim for the week ending August 25 since I was fully unemployed that week? And what about the week ending September 1 when I'll have worked 2 days? Do I report those work days and get partial benefits? My HR just said "follow unemployment rules" but didn't give me specifics. Don't want to mess up and get hit with an overpayment later!
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Zainab Khalil
Yes, you should definitely file for the week ending August 25 since you were completely unemployed that week. For the week ending September 1, you should also file and report your earnings for Thursday and Friday. ESD will calculate a partial benefit based on your reported hours and wages. Make sure you report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the days you work, even if you haven't been paid yet.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thank you! So for the September 1 week, do I just enter the hours worked and estimated gross pay even though I won't get my first paycheck until the following week? And I still need to do the 3 job search activities that week even though I'm back to work?
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QuantumQuest
i was in the same boat back in april!!! yes file both weeks. the first one is easy cuz ur fully unemployed. for the 2nd week make sure u put EXACT hours u work and ur pay rate. they figure out the partial payment. DO NOT SKIP EITHER WEEK or it messes everything up in their system!!
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thanks for confirming! Was worried about messing something up. I'll make sure to be super accurate with my hours and pay rate when I file.
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Connor Murphy
To clarify a bit further - for the week ending September 1, you'll report your return-to-work date as August 29, then report your hours and gross earnings (even estimated) for Thursday and Friday. You DO still need to complete and report your job search activities for BOTH weeks, since you're claiming benefits for both weeks. The fact that you've returned to work doesn't eliminate the job search requirement for the week you're claiming partial benefits. Once you stop claiming completely, then you stop doing job search activities.
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Yara Haddad
•This is technically wrong. If you have a definite return to work date and it's within 4 weeks of your initial claim, you could have applied for standby status and been exempt from job search requirements. But since they're already going back to work, it's probably too late for that now.
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Keisha Robinson
File both! And congrats on getting back to work!!
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Paolo Conti
I was in a similar situation last month and wasted HOURS trying to get through to ESD to confirm exactly what to do. After getting disconnected 6 times, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent confirmed exactly what others are saying - file for both weeks, report your work and earnings for the partial week. Saved me so much stress!
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Amina Sow
•Is this service legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible ESD is to reach
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Paolo Conti
•Totally legit. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days to get through. They don't handle your claim or anything - they just connect you to a real ESD agent so you can ask questions directly.
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Amina Sow
BE CAREFUL when you report your earnings!!!! I went back part time in June and reported my hours wrong (put what I took home instead of gross) and now ESD says I owe them $1,876!!! Fighting it now but what a nightmare. Make sure you put GROSS earnings before ANY deductions!!
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Miguel Ortiz
•Yikes, that's exactly what I'm worried about! I'll double check everything and make sure I report gross, not net. Sorry you're dealing with that mess.
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QuantumQuest
one more thing i forgot to say earlier - when u do ur claim for the week with work days make sure u answer that ur able and available for work even tho ur now employed. sounds weird but thats what esd told me to do for that transitional week.
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Zainab Khalil
Just to follow up on the job search activities question - yes, you still need to complete and document 3 job search activities for both weeks, including the week where you returned to work. It might seem pointless since you already have a job, but it's required if you're claiming any benefits for that week. Once you stop claiming benefits entirely, you can stop doing job search activities.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Got it, thanks. What a pain to do job search activities when I'm already back at work, but I understand the rules are the rules. I'll make sure to do all 3 activities for both weeks.
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Keisha Robinson
anybody know how long it takes to get the partial payment for the week you go back? my last partial took FOREVER compared to my regular claims
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Connor Murphy
•Partial weeks sometimes get flagged for additional review, especially when it's your first partial after full unemployment. Could take 2-3 weeks instead of the usual processing time. If it goes more than 3 weeks, you should contact ESD.
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