When to file for unemployment benefits in California (receive, claim, qualify)

[JJM1590]

Dear forum,
Hopefully someone can help me with the following question:

My unemployment benefits finally ran out in April 5, 2014 and I received a letter from EDD confirming that I am no longer eligible for unemployment benefits because my original filing was back in 2012.

I was able to find a salaried job recently just a month ago, but I was just informed that I might be let go by March 31, 2014. After looking at the EDD brochure on how the Base period is calculated, I'm a little bit confused. When exactly should I filed? Below is the table of my earnings for the last 5 quarters:


Jan 2013 to Mar 2013 = wages earned $8,800
April 2013 to June 2013 = wages earned $0
July 2013 to Sept 2013 = wages earned $0
Oct 2013 to Dec 2013 = wages earned $0
Jan 2014 to Mar 2014 = wages earned $9,800

Thank you in advance for any recommendation and responses to my question.
JJM1590

[katfishgumbo]

Well, those of us who are unemployed on this forum have plenty to say about receiving benefits and/or not receiving benefits, but unless we work for EDD, we really can't give you this kind of information. My advice would be to ask someone at EDD directly. You may be on hold awhile but I think they are the only ones who can answer this question accurately, IMHO.

[JJM1590]

I did called EDD and the lady who I spoke to will not tell me anything. All she said was you have to go online to our website. All the information is there. She said she cannot tell me when to file.

Thanks,
JJM1590

[Chyvan]

This question isn't as tough as it seems. You can't have a claim start while you have an existing one, so the soonest you can file appears to be April 5. That's the beginning of a new quarter. You're not really in a situation where filing quickly or delaying will make any difference.

You should desperately try to keep your job until Jun 30, and then file after July 6, 2014. That will make a world of difference to your UI situation.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by katfishgumbo

unless we work for EDD, we really can't give you this kind of information.

Please don't make UNINFORMED comments about what information is provided here - especially since you NEVER post or read this forum.

You are completely WRONG. Start by reading FAQs - a sticky at the top of this board - and then spend another few hours reading other threads.

Originally Posted by Chyvan

This question isn't as tough as it seems. You can't have a claim start while you have an existing one, so the soonest you can file appears to be April 5. That's the beginning of a new quarter. You're not really in a situation where filing quickly or delaying will make any difference.

You should desperately try to keep your job until Jun 30, and then file after July 6, 2014. That will make a world of difference to your UI situation.

His bye is Saturday, 4-5-2014. He can file on Sun. 4-6-2014 - and have his 3/2014 wages included. CA will use its ABP to qualify him.

Originally Posted by JJM1590

Dear forum,
Hopefully someone can help me with the following question:

My unemployment benefits finally ran out in April 5, 2014 and I received a letter from EDD confirming that I am no longer eligible for unemployment benefits because my original filing was back in 2012.

I was able to find a salaried job recently just a month ago, but I was just informed that I might be let go by March 31, 2014. After looking at the EDD brochure on how the Base period is calculated, I'm a little bit confused. When exactly should I filed? Below is the table of my earnings for the last 5 quarters:


Jan 2013 to Mar 2013 = wages earned $8,800
April 2013 to June 2013 = wages earned $0
July 2013 to Sept 2013 = wages earned $0
Oct 2013 to Dec 2013 = wages earned $0
Jan 2014 to Mar 2014 = wages earned $9,800

Thank you in advance for any recommendation and responses to my question.
JJM1590

Your dates are confusing. What is 4-5-2014???? That date is six weeks from now. Is that the expiration date of your second claim??? Did you first file for benefits in April 2012, and recertified in April 2013, which claim is now expiring?

Be that as it may:

In order for CA to consider your Jan-Mar 2014 wages of $9.800, you file for benefits on April 6, 2014 - NOT before. If you file before that day, CA will exclude the 3/2014 wages - not to mention - if your above dates ARE correct - you can't file a new claim until AFTER your benefit year-end of April 5, 2014.

Filing on April 6 will allow CA to qualify you using its alternate base period which will include the most recently completed quarter - March 31, 2014.

Your wages of $9,800 qualify you for a monetary award of $4,900, with a weekly benefit of $377, paid over 13 weeks. Since you are applying so close to the end of a quarter, check your notice of monetary award when you get it to be sure ALL your March wages are in that quarter. CA's database may or may not be up-to-date and you may need to provide proof of wages if it isn't.

More info, here:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de1275a.pdf

[JJM1590]

Thank you all for such speedy responses. Hopefully I can keep my job for awhile. If I do get terminated, then to make sure, I will file on 4/21.

[katfishgumbo]

Originally Posted by Ariadne22

Please don't make UNINFORMED comments about what information is provided here - especially since you NEVER post or read this forum.

You are completely WRONG. Start by reading FAQs - a sticky at the top of this board - and then spend another few hours reading other threads.

I am entitled by human rights to my own opinions and replies. I thought PERSONAL ATTACKS were against CityData policies, and this was a personal attack. Your comment did not in any way provide valuable information to the poster asking the question and should be deleted. Perhaps you should read the FAQs and spend more time trying to help the poster than attacking others.

[Chyvan]

Originally Posted by katfishgumbo

I thought PERSONAL ATTACKS were against CityData policies, and this was a personal attack.

There was no personal attack. What you said was at issue. You were wrong. One doesn't need to work for EDD to know how this stuff is calculated. Also, try calling EDD yourself. It's a momenumental feat to get through, and you don't want to be wasting your time asking them these types of questions. People that have lived the system are in a much better position to tell someone what might be best. Besides that, we've seen the posts where EDD employees tell people wrong.

At city-data, we see the worst that people go through. We've seen the people that if they had only known to wait until Sunday or later to apply, wait a few more weeks, or just did things a little differently it would have made a huge difference in their weekly benefit amount or the length of their claim.

Ariadne22 has been reading these threads since at least 2010, and she remembers every horror story. She knows this stuff and gives really good answers. You on the other hand must have stumbled on to this thread by mistake, you've never posted here before, I doubt you've ever collected UI in your entire life, and the answer to call EDD was proof of that. People come here to get the answers that EDD will never tell you, to learn about how things unknowingly interact, so that they make the best possible choice.

The unemployment system is more complex than most people realize, and this forum has become the place to come, and calling EDD is almost never the answer. You have to see it in writing, and know it to be true. That's why people win appeals when they come here because people like Ariadne22 know that the initial determintions are wrong. If EDD were right all the time, no claimant would ever win appeal, but they do.

[Ariadne22]

Thank you, Chyvan. Right back attcha'.

Reluctant to dignify that comment with a response, but that level of cluelessness can't be ignored.

Originally Posted by katfishgumbo

I am entitled by human rights to my own opinions and replies. I thought PERSONAL ATTACKS were against CityData policies, and this was a personal attack.

On this board we deal with CORRECT INFORMATION. Calling EDD is a last resort. Last person who called EDD, asking when to file, was told by rep she couldn't give him that information.

I didn't attack you. I told you to read and learn, which clearly you haven't, judging from this:

Originally Posted by katfishgumbo

Your comment did not in any way provide valuable information to the poster asking the question and should be deleted.

Really? This is what my comment said:

1. I told OP to file on or after April 6, 2014.
2. I told him WHY to file on or after April 6, 2014.
3. I provided his weekly benefit amount
   
4. I provided a link to the California Handbook which every claimant should have.

If you call information of that specificity unhelpful, I wonder what you believe helpful might be - since ALL OP's questions were completely answered in detail.

Originally Posted by katfishgumbo

Perhaps you should read the FAQs and spend more time trying to help the poster than attacking others.

This comment would be laughable if it weren't so sad. I am the AUTHOR of FAQS.

And, I will close with this:

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. ~~ Mark Twain

[Kees]

A hilarious thread... I would read it again.

One can't help but wonder though... Are we being trolled? If so it was a pretty bad attempt... 1.5/10