I'm working again, earning wages, or reduced hours

Updated: Feb 10, 2021

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I worked for a small amount, how will EDD calculate my benefit amount?

To calculate your wages, see "what will I be paid if I report wages" here.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of how the math works or get access to the Tools & Calculators here

1) If you made $101 or more

Formula: benefit amount - (gross wages x .75) = new benefit amount

They only subtract 75% of your gross wages

Ex. Benefit amount is 450, gross income for the week was 400

450 - (400 x .75)

450 - 300 = 150

New benefit amount for that particular week is 150

2) If you made $26 to $100

Formula: benefit amount - (wages - 25) = new benefit amount

The first $25 will not subtracted from your benefit amount

Ex. Benefit amount is 450, gross income for the week was 100

450 - (100-25)

50 - 75 = 375

New benefit amount for that particular week is 375

The calculations above do not include the $600 from CARES. If you qualify for at least $1 in your new benefit amount, $600 should be added to your weekly benefit up until the end of July.

3) If you made $25 or less

Once you hit $26, they will subtract $25.00. If you make less than that, it doesn't count against your benefit amount

Will I be completely disqualified from receiving unemployment if I work or report income?

No, all weeks are independent of each other. You will continue to receive unemployment benefits unless you check off you do not need unemployment, you have found full time work, or you did not meet all eligibility requirements.
Ex: if you had a temporary job for a few days and made $2,000.00. First, the max you can put on a certification is 999.99. Despite making a lot of money, the weeks are still independent of each other. It’s not going to roll over.
Secondly, if it was a temporary job you can put “laid off due to lack of work” and in the notes write “Job completed” (unless another answer suits your situation better).

Do I report money when I received it, or when I worked?

Report money WHEN YOU WORKED. When you got paid is irrelevant. See your paycheck and make sure it correlates with your certification
If your workweek does not match the certification (your paycheck says you are paid Thursday through Friday rather than Saturday to Sunday) then make sure to keep track of the gross amount of money you've earned EACH DAY to make sure you are reporting accurately for the days it asks.
SELF-EMPLOYED: report earnings WHEN you receive. Yes, very confusing, but if you are self-employed, it's different.

Will I still get the $600.00 although I worked?

If you qualify for at least $1 from your benefit amount, you will get the additional 600.00, if you end up with 0.00 for your benefit amount you will not receive the additional 600.00 ($600 from CARES ends 7/25)

What happens if I don't report it?

You could you get a false statement show up on your claim which means you purposefully hid information or withheld information which can be considered fraud. You could potentially have to pay back 30% of your overpayment as well as serve penalty weeks. Penalty weeks is serving time on your claim and not receiving money until those weeks are served.

What if my payroll weeks are different than the certification weeks?

Certification always start on Saturday, end on Sunday. If your payroll weeks are different, make sure to keep track of what you are making each day to correctly report on the certification

How to close your claim?

Simply stop certifying and it will close by itself. See page 6 here.

If my hours are cut, will I qualify?

Depending on how much you make, you can receive a portion of your benefit. It is possible to make too much income for the week and qualify for none of your benefit (excessive earnings).
EDD does not exist to make up for all your earnings, but to meet a minimum requirement. If you qualify for the maximum (450/week benefit) and you make more than 600/week you will have excessive earnings. If this is the case, it may not be beneficial for you to apply for Unemployment Insurance

How are wages defined?

See FAQ on EDD website here.

I did not physically work, but I got paid - what do I do?

Look at your paycheck to determine what type of wages you are receiving. If it is regular wages, you need to report it as regular wages.

If you did not receive any of the wages listed under question #1:

Answer YES to question #6 on your main certification (did you get paid or receive income)
It will take you to a second page for follow up questions. See image:

Question #2 answer YES if you received any type of income that is listed in question #2.

If your type of income is NOT LISTED, still answer YES to #2 and the follow up page will give you a drop down menu that you can select "not listed".

Tags: Returned to work, back to work, working again, asked to work

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