I'm a substitute teacher who went through this process twice - once successfully and once with complications. The key lesson I learned is that your resident sub status actually works in your favor compared to regular day-to-day subs, but you need to frame it correctly. When I filed my first claim, I made the mistake of emphasizing that I was a "resident" sub, which EDD initially interpreted as having more job security. This led to a denial that I had to appeal. The second time (different school year), I focused on the fact that despite being called a "resident" sub, my contract explicitly stated that work was contingent on enrollment, funding, and operational needs - and that no specific hours or classroom assignments were guaranteed during or after breaks. I also included documentation showing that my pay stopped completely during breaks (no salary continuation), which helped demonstrate that the district didn't consider me to have ongoing employment during non-work periods. The appeal process for my first claim took nearly 8 weeks, so definitely get your language right the first time. Document everything and keep emphasizing the lack of guaranteed work rather than your title or position type.

I'm also a substitute teacher in California and have successfully claimed unemployment during school breaks for the past two years. One thing that really helped my case was getting a written statement from my district's HR department clarifying my employment status during breaks. Even though they were initially vague (like yours), when I pressed them for something in writing, they provided a letter stating that substitute teachers are not guaranteed work during recess periods and that work resumption depends on district needs and enrollment. This became crucial documentation for my EDD claim. I'd suggest going back to your HR department and specifically requesting written clarification about whether you have guaranteed work during winter break - even if they say "no guarantees," getting that in writing can strengthen your claim significantly. Also, make sure to file your claim about a week before winter break starts rather than waiting until the break begins. The processing time can be lengthy, and you want to maximize your potential benefit weeks. Good luck!

One final important note: If your DoorDash earnings reduce your weekly benefit amount, that's actually a good thing in the long run. Each week you receive partial benefits extends your claim duration, effectively stretching your maximum benefit amount over a longer period of time. Many people don't realize this advantage of reporting partial earnings properly.

Just wanted to add something that helped me a lot when I started gig work while on UI - download a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Everlance. Even though you can't deduct expenses on your EDD certification, you'll still need those records for tax time when you file your 1099. DoorDash only tracks your "online" miles, not the miles you drive TO your first pickup or back home after your last delivery. Those extra miles add up and can save you hundreds on taxes. I wish someone had told me this when I first started!

if ur really struggling with the low amount, check if u qualify for the federal earned income tax credit or california earned income tax credit. not the same as higher ui benefits but might help a bit with ur taxes at least

I went through something similar when I got laid off in 2023. What really helped me was requesting a detailed breakdown of my base period earnings from EDD. You can do this through your UI Online account or by calling (though I know calling is a nightmare). The breakdown shows exactly which quarters they used and what wages were reported by your employers. Sometimes there are discrepancies or missing wages that can actually be corrected. It won't change the base period rule, but at least you'll know if they calculated it correctly based on what they had. Also, if you worked multiple jobs during your base period, make sure all employers properly reported your wages - I found out one of my part-time jobs never submitted my earnings to EDD.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I have a monthly pension payment of $525 from my old job and was completely panicked about whether to report it. Like many others here, I didn't mention it during my initial phone application because I honestly didn't think about it in the moment - the whole process happened so fast and I was focused on getting through all the employment history questions. After reading through everyone's experiences, it's absolutely clear that I need to report it during certification and check "yes" for receiving income. What really helped was understanding that EDD is primarily concerned with intentional fraud, not honest mistakes from people genuinely trying to follow the rules. The detailed explanations about the benefit reduction formula were super helpful too - it sounds like most of us will still receive some unemployment benefits even with retirement income. I'm definitely going to implement the spreadsheet tracking system that Jessica mentioned. Having detailed records with exact dates and amounts seems like the smart way to stay organized and avoid any potential issues down the road. It's both frustrating and comforting to know that so many of us are navigating this same confusion. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with such a stressful and confusing system!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread! I'm in my first week of unemployment and stumbled across this discussion while researching certification requirements. I have a small monthly retirement distribution ($365) from my former employer and was completely confused about whether to report it or not. Reading through all of your real-world experiences has been incredibly valuable - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD documentation. The consensus is crystal clear: report it honestly during certification and mark "yes" for receiving income. I especially appreciate the practical advice about keeping detailed records in a spreadsheet and the reassurance that EDD is primarily focused on intentional fraud rather than honest mistakes. This kind of peer support makes such a huge difference when navigating such a complex and stressful system. It's comforting to know that so many of us are dealing with similar situations and that people are willing to share their knowledge to help others. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to explain their experiences - you've made this process much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

Just wanted to chime in with some practical advice for your hearing prep! I went through this same process last year (employer claimed voluntary quit when they cut my hours from 30 to 8 per week). A few things that really helped me during the actual hearing: - Have a glass of water nearby - your mouth gets dry when you're nervous - Write down 3-4 key bullet points on a notecard so you don't forget your main arguments - Practice saying out loud "I did not quit voluntarily, I was forced to leave due to insufficient hours" - having that phrase ready helped me stay focused - If you get flustered, it's totally okay to ask the judge "Can I have a moment to check my notes?" The judge in my case actually asked really straightforward questions like "How many hours were you working before?" and "What happened to make you unable to continue?" Your text evidence showing the schedule changes is going to be huge - that's way better documentation than most people have. My backpay took about 8 days to hit after the decision. The relief when that money finally came through was incredible! You're going to do great on Wednesday - the hardest part is just getting through the waiting. Rooting for you! 🙌

Hey Benjamin! I just went through this exact process about 8 months ago - same situation where my employer claimed I quit when they actually reduced my hours from 38 to 14 per week. Won my appeal and got my backpay! A few things from my experience: - The backpay took about 2.5 weeks to hit my account after the judge's decision. It was longer than some people here mentioned, but still faster than I expected - Definitely organize all your evidence in the order you want to present it. I had my old schedules, pay stubs, and text messages all printed and numbered - The judge asked me very specific questions about my expenses and whether the reduced hours covered basic living costs. Be ready to explain exactly why you couldn't afford to stay with the reduced schedule - Don't stress too much about the phone format - I was worried about not being able to see the judge's reactions, but they guide you through everything step by step Your text evidence showing schedule changes is golden - that's exactly what won my case. Employers rarely have documentation to counter that kind of proof. You've got this! The waiting has been the worst part, but it sounds like you're well-prepared. Sending good vibes for Wednesday! 🍀