Jun 19, 20202 min read

6/18 News Release - Guide for going back to work

Updated: Feb 9, 2021

Full news release here. Summary below:

Newsletter is basically a guide for workers and employers as businesses start to reopen in California.

Question #4: Did you refuse any work?

A refusal to work legally requires an EDD representative to review the case and follow up before determining whether or not you can continue to receive unemployment benefits.

Good cause provisions for UI eligibility -

EDD will make a case-by-case basis determination whether or not you refusing work are "good cause" for UI eligibility.
Reasons include high risk factors, being over age 65, immunocompromised, or having certain serious health conditions.

Reduced work hours and UI eligibility -

Workers may be eligible for partial UI benefits if you are working reduced hours due to impacts of benefit.
You must report income by answering YES to question #6 on your bi-weekly certification form. To calculate how much you will receive see here

School employees and UI eligibility -

Federal and state law does not permit school employees to be eligible for regular UI benefits during a school recess period, including the summer break.
This is as along as these employees base their claim on their school wages and are scheduled or likely to return to their usual or similar job when break is over. Despite closing early this year, US Dept of Labor is requiring all states to treat this year as any other, therefore EDD must determine on a case-by-case basis whether employees have reasonable assurance they will be returning to work in the fall and if so, deny eligibility for benefits this summer.
Exception: if worker has enough wages during base period that was earned from non-school employment to support alternate weekly benefit amount

Video tutorials provided by EDD to help certification

https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/UI_Online_Videos.htm
Certification article on our website here

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Tools & Resources:

NEW: direct Unemployment Guru Help

We are now servicing people who have claims that have been stuck for months or those who need assistance with appeals. If you have other questions you can ask in our forum which we check periodically.

Tools & Calculators

Unemployment Gurus has tools and calculators to figure out those really confusing questions:

How much can I earn and still qualify for the FPUC $300 from the new stimulus?
Do I qualify for FED-ED?
How much will I get if I work?
What is my standard base period?
Do I qualify for LWA?
Am I eligible for UI?