CA EDD unemployment - Benefit year end 07/27/13 - New State claim approved

[jhoffschein]

I'm so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I received an updated form from EDD saying my high quarter earnings were $870.59 for the period in which they reviewed me for a new CA claim. I thought I only earned $760.54 for my last three days of work, but since payment for those days was lumped into my final check for my last pay period, I'm not sure. If I did receive a new claim, I earned enough in that standard base period that my weekly benefit amount would be $450.

The $870.59 that EDD says I earned, based on info they received my past employer, is just shy of the $900 needed for a new claim. Within the standard base period for which I would receive a new claim if I were eligible, I received a check for $40 for a survey I did about a medical procedure I received. At the time I did the medical procedure, five years ago, I agreed to do a yearly survey for the following decade. I don't think this is considered "work" but I"m not sure. Anyways, I haven't deposited the check and didn't claim it as earnings on my claim form, because I was afraid it would raise a hornets nest with EDD, and I still don't know if taking a survey about a personal medical procedure is considered "work" or not. Now I'm wondering if it's worth telling them about the $40 and depositing the check, if it's the difference for me between a new CA claim or not.

So sorry if I'm beating a dead horse, here, but it's proving so hard for me to find work, if I'm able to get another CA claim, I want to look into all my options.

Does anyone know if taking a survey is considered "work" and if I should try to receive a new CA claim? I hope they wouldn't turn around and say I owe them back for all the EUC I've received. I just finished up Tier 2.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by jhoffschein

I'm so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I received an updated form from EDD saying my high quarter earnings were $870.59 for the period in which they reviewed me for a new CA claim. I thought I only earned $760.54 for my last three days of work, but since payment for those days was lumped into my final check for my last pay period, I'm not sure. If I did receive a new claim, I earned enough in that standard base period that my weekly benefit amount would be $450.

The $870.59 that EDD says I earned, based on info they received my past employer, is just shy of the $900 needed for a new claim.

Did you not read this?

Originally Posted by Ariadne22

Also, you had to have earned $1,300 that last week you worked in order to be eligible for a new claim now.

LAG earnings of $900 - ARE NOT SUFFICIENT for a new claim.

You need LAG earnings of $1,300 that LAST WEEK YOU WORKED - for new claim eligibility at your bye.

Or,

You need NEW EARNINGS OF AT LEAST $900 - plus whatever is in your LAG (irrelevant) for new claim eligibility.

Report the $40 when you next claim - although it will hold up your benefits - or don't report them.

If these survey people don't have your SSN and don't report these earnings on 1099, the delay in payments from CA may not be worth reporting that small amount. Your only concern would be if the income turned up in CA's wage database - unlikely unless these are reported to the IRS w/a SSN.

[jhoffschein]

Thank you Ariadne! I didn't understand the difference between lag earnings vs new earnings. I do now. Thank you for explaining!