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i think ur overthinking this. just apply! worst they can say is no lol. ur not getting paid so how is that even work? my nieghbor volunteers at a charity 15hrs a week and still gets unemployment because volunteering isnt a job. ur basically volunteering for ur husband
There's a significant difference between volunteering for a charitable organization and working unpaid for a family business. EDD treats these situations very differently. Family businesses receive extra scrutiny because there's often an expectation of eventual compensation or non-monetary benefits. Volunteering at a registered non-profit is a clearly defined relationship.
UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used Claimyr to reach an EDD representative yesterday after failing to get through on my own for days. The rep was really helpful and told me I should definitely apply but make sure to report the unpaid hours when certifying. She said I'll likely get an eligibility interview, but as long as I'm honestly reporting everything and actively looking for work in my field, I should be eligible. I'm going to file my claim today and make sure I keep detailed records of all my job search activities. Will update again after my interview!
That's great news! Glad you were able to get some official guidance. Definitely keep detailed records of your job search activities - names of companies, dates of application, any follow-ups, interviews, etc. This will be extremely helpful during your eligibility interview. Good luck with your claim!
Quick update to what I said earlier - I just remembered something that might help you. When you do get your hearing notice, it'll come with instructions for requesting an expedited hearing due to financial hardship. If you can document that you're at risk of eviction or utility shutoff, they might be able to move you up in the queue. I didn't qualify for this since I was staying with family, but the judge mentioned they do prioritize these cases when possible.
i got my decision in 12 days but that was back in 2021, might be different now idk. they just sent a letter in the mail. i was so nervous i checked the mailbox like 3 times a day lol. hope u get good news!!!!
Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like I should expect to wait 2-4 weeks for the decision by mail. I'll make sure my address is updated correctly. Really appreciate all the insights - helps calm my nerves a bit. I'll update this thread when I finally get my decision letter for anyone who might be searching for this info in the future.
not to get off topic but is anyone else having issues with the certification questions? the new wording on question 3 about "reasonable efforts to maintain benefits" is so confusing. i never know if im answering right
One option that many people don't know about: If you report your income correctly but it's significantly lower than your weekly benefit amount, you may still receive partial unemployment benefits. This is called partial UI. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $450 and you earn $200 in a week, after the standard earnings disregard, you would still receive some benefits. This is a legal way to maximize your income while maintaining honest reporting.
Alina Rosenthal
btw when he certifies every 2 weeks he HAS to report his part time income accurately!!! my roomate got caught underreporting and now has to pay everything back PLUS a penalty. not worth it!!!
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Taylor To
•This is critical advice! Penalties for unreported income can include a 30% penalty on top of the overpayment and potential disqualification from future benefits for fraud. Better to get a smaller benefit check than risk these consequences.
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Mohammad Khaled
Just want to follow up - has your son started his application yet? If he's having trouble, remember that getting through to an EDD rep can be really helpful. I used Claimyr and it saved me hours of frustration. The rep I spoke with was able to backdate my claim by 6 weeks because I explained I didn't know I qualified while working reduced hours.
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Fiona Sand
•Yes! He started his application yesterday but got stuck when trying to enter information about his part-time job. We've been trying to call EDD directly with no luck. I think we'll try Claimyr today based on your recommendation - sounds like it could really help with getting the claim backdated too. Thanks for checking in!
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