Glad you got it sorted out with EDD directly! Just want to add one more thing that might help others in similar situations - when you're documenting your job search, make sure to save copies of job postings that clearly state "full-time" in the requirements. If EDD ever questions your work search efforts, having evidence that you're actively applying to appropriate full-time positions that match your career goals really strengthens your case. It shows you're genuinely seeking suitable work and not just being picky about offers.

Really glad to see you got this resolved! For anyone else who might be in a similar situation, I'd also recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet or document tracking all your job applications - date applied, company name, position title, whether it was full-time/part-time, and any responses you got. I learned this the hard way when EDD asked me to provide my work search log during a phone interview. Having everything organized made that conversation so much smoother. Also, if you do end up taking part-time work while continuing to look for full-time, remember that your work search requirement doesn't stop - you still need to keep applying and be available for full-time work to maintain your benefits eligibility.

Just went through this exact same situation last month as a paraprofessional through Educational Staffing Solutions! Filed my claim on my last day before Thanksgiving break and got approved within a week. The key things that helped me: 1) Got a written layoff notice from my staffing company (not the school), 2) Made it super clear on the application that I work for ESS, not the district directly, and 3) Selected "temporary layoff - lack of work" as my reason. One heads up though - even with guaranteed return date, you still have to do work searches. I focused on searching for educational aide positions and tutoring opportunities to keep it relevant. The unemployment payments definitely helped cover rent and groceries during that unpaid period. Don't let anyone scare you away from applying - third-party contractors have different rules than direct district employees!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when your benefits actually start. Even though you file on December 13th, there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits kick in, so your first payment might not come until after Christmas. Just something to plan for financially! Also, if you have any unused vacation or sick time with your contracting company, make sure to ask about that before you file - having paid time off during your "layoff" period can sometimes complicate your unemployment claim. Better to use it up before the break or save it for when you return.

To clarify some misinformation in this thread: You are absolutely eligible for partial unemployment benefits in California when your hours are significantly reduced. Here are the facts: 1) File your claim online at edd.ca.gov 2) When certifying, report ALL hours worked and earnings accurately 3) If your weekly earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive the difference (minus a small deduction) 4) There is no specific hour threshold - it's based on earnings 5) Your employer cannot legally prevent you from filing or retaliate if you do The current maximum weekly benefit amount in California is $550, so if you're earning less than that in your reduced schedule, you'll likely qualify for some assistance. Finally, keep detailed records of all communications with your employer about the hour reduction. This will help if there are any disputes about your claim.

I'm in a similar situation with my restaurant job - they cut me from 35 hours to just 12 hours per week and told me the same thing about not being eligible. Reading all these responses is really helpful because I was starting to believe my manager! I'm definitely going to file online tonight too. It's frustrating that employers try to discourage us from getting benefits we're legally entitled to. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it gives me confidence to move forward with my claim.

I'm also in film production and went through this headache about 6 months ago! The confusion about payroll companies vs actual productions is so real - I initially tried to list every single show I worked on as separate employers and it was a total mess. Here's what worked for me: treat the payroll service as your employer, period. So if you worked through Entertainment Partners, Cast & Crew, and Central Casting over the past year, that's three employers max, not dozens of different productions. For the hours calculation, I know it feels wrong to put such a low average, but that's genuinely how our industry works. I worked 1,200 hours through various payroll companies over 2 years, which averaged to about 12 hours per week when I divided by total weeks. Seemed ridiculously low, but EDD didn't bat an eye. One thing that really helped: I created a simple table with columns for payroll company, first date worked, last date worked, and total hours. Made filling out the application so much easier and I had everything ready when they called for my eligibility interview (which they definitely will - almost all entertainment workers get flagged for review, but it's routine, not suspicious). Good luck with your claim! The film industry unemployment process is confusing but totally doable once you understand the payroll company principle.

As someone who's been working in film/TV for over a decade and has filed multiple UI claims, I can confirm everything the others are saying is spot-on. The payroll company IS your employer - this is the most important thing to understand. Here's my step-by-step approach that's worked every time: 1. **Gather ALL paystubs first** - organize them by payroll company (EP, Cast & Crew, PES, etc.) 2. **Create one employer entry per payroll company** - use the very first date you worked through them as start date, most recent as end date 3. **Calculate true average hours** - total all hours worked through that specific payroll company, divide by total weeks in your date range (yes, it'll be low - that's normal!) 4. **Use the payroll company's corporate address** - not the production locations 5. **Select "work completed" or "lack of work"** as separation reason The eligibility interview is almost guaranteed for entertainment workers, but don't stress - it's routine. They just need to verify our unusual work patterns. Having your paystubs organized by payroll company and being able to clearly explain the intermittent nature of film work makes it smooth. I've never had a claim denied following this method. The key is understanding that EDD knows how our industry works - they see these patterns all the time. You're not trying to trick the system, you're just accurately reporting how entertainment employment actually functions. One last tip: start gathering your work search documentation now too. For our industry, agent submissions, casting calls, union hall visits, and networking events all count as valid work search activities.

Hey Kennedy! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - got laid off right before a pre-planned trip to visit family. Everyone here is giving you solid advice about filing ASAP, but I wanted to add something that really helped me: when you file tonight, make sure to note down the exact date you became unemployed (your last day of work) because EDD will ask for this info later when you certify. Also, just a heads up - when you return and do your first certification, you'll need to report any severance pay you received during those weeks. It might affect your benefit amount temporarily, but it's better to be upfront about it than have issues later. The good news is that once you're back and available for work, the benefits process is pretty straightforward. You'll certify every two weeks online and if everything goes smoothly, you'll get paid within a few days. Enjoy your family reunion and don't stress too much about this - you're handling it the right way by filing before you leave!

One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - make sure you have your Social Security card and driver's license handy when you file tonight. The online application will ask for these details and it's much easier to have the physical documents in front of you rather than trying to remember exact numbers. Also, if you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, you'll need their information too (company names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for leaving each job). I'd also recommend checking that your contact information is current in the system - phone number, email, and mailing address - because EDD will use these to communicate with you about your claim status. You don't want important notices going to an old address while you're traveling! One last thing: when you return from vacation and start certifying, remember that you need to be actively looking for work to continue receiving benefits. Keep records of your job search activities because EDD can audit these at any time. But for now, just focus on getting that claim filed before you leave. You've got this!