If you're #SelfEmployed, #freelance or #SmallBusiness, applying for #unemploymentbenefits for the first time, here's what I learned when applying for #PUA from the California #EDD. First of all, you start here and create a new account: ow.ly/7vwt50zxuz0
Once you register for a new account with Benefit Programs Online, you will be able to proceed to "UI Online," then "File a New Claim." Like many self-employed professionals, my income has fallen off a cliff, but not dried up completely. That's OK; you can still file.
Assuming you worked full-time in your business before, enter your previous hours per week as 40 & your annual income as the net income claimed on your Schedule C last year. That's at the very bottom, Line 31. As long as your net income is over $17,368, you qualify.
If you haven't yet filed your 2019 taxes, do the best you can to fill out your own Schedule C, so you know what income number to use. You'll be eligible for $167 per week right away. Answers to some additional FAQs about the process are here: edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coro…
As long as the EDD is paying you $1 per week or more for the weeks from March 29 to July 25, you will also receive an extra $600 per week from the federal CARES act budget. If your net earnings last year justify it, your weekly award from the CA EDD may be increased.
Once you file your original claim, you'll have to wait a couple of days to be able to check the status of the claim online. In my case, two days later, I received an email from the EDD saying my UI Online account was ready, and after that I was able to log in again.
Four days after filing my claim, I got a letter in the mail telling me I had been awarded $167 per week, No other info yet, including important stuff like when would I see any money. Logging into my account online, I could see that same award of $167/wk, plus more.
I could also see online a dollar figure for total benefits, the info that no payment had yet been issued, and a section requesting that I certify for benefits. I'd read somewhere that it wasn't necessary to certify to receive your first payment, but I did it anyway.
I figured certifying might speed things up. Also I I was filing my claim for retroactive dates, back to the first week when I saw an income loss, Mar 22-28. Filling out the certification form was tricky. First, it asks whether you looked for work during the week.
You must answer No, you were not looking for work, and in the "Reason" box below, just enter "COVID-19." You still must be "able and available" for work. Here's a source doc in case anyone questions you on this point: edd.ca.gov/about_edd/pdf/… Page 20
You are required to enter your income for the week. If you're earning nothing, this is easy, but I still have some earnings, although they are greatly reduced. The amount to enter is what you RECEIVED that week, not what you EARNED. This guidance appears on the page.
This is contrary to usual EDD instructions & some EDD reps aren't aware of it. You must also enter a number of hours worked. If you received less than full-time pay, be sure to enter an number of hours less than full time also, or you will make yourself ineligible.
My earnings aren't directly related to hours worked, so I used a formula to figure out a reasonable number of hours to use, based on income received that week. I also receive income of different types. In addition to regular self-employment earnings, I get royalties.
Don't enter these along with the regular earnings. There is a separate bucket to enter residual income, which does NOT count as earnings for determining your unemployment benefit. Review the categories of residual income listed on the page, and enter that separately.
Now comes the really challenging part. You have business expenses to pay, right? I sure do. So if you enter your gross earnings here, but your benefit is based on your net earnings, you are losing out on benefits. I finally found an answer here:
You're supposed to deduct your "costs" from the income received and enter the net amount. Now how the heck do you figure that out? I was unable to find any guidance on this, so what I did was use my 2019 Schedule C. I divided my Line 31 net by my Line 1 gross.
The resulting number is my profit margin. For each week of income received, I multiplied it by my profit margin and entered the result as income received for UI benefit purposes. Seems like a reasonable, justifiable, and consistent approach to me, so I've adopted it.
A day after I entered the certification info for my first 2 weeks of underemployment, UI Online showed that my first payment had been calculated. for the minimum benefit of $167, plus the extra $600. A day later, the system showed that this payment has been issued.
What is supposed to happen next is that I'll receive an EDD debit card in the mail. It's been exactly one week, and I haven't received that yet. Various sources say to expect it in 4-7 days, so I'm hoping it will be in today's mail. A couple more details to know...
For any subsequent week I entered income, a reduced benefit was calculated. But as long as that benefit was $1 or more, the extra $600 was added. To figure out what your reduced benefit amount will be, I found this guide: fisherphillips.com/california-emp…
And finally, if you have questions or need to fix something you already entered, the best way I found to do this was to call (833) 978-2511. This is a special call center open 8 am-8 pm, 7 days per week. If you call early or late, you may be able to get in the queue.
I called this number at 8 am Sunday morning & after 3 tries got past the "we can't take your call" message to a holding pattern. A 20-minute wait got me a live person. These aren't claims agents, they can't change/enter info for you. But they can answer qestions...
...and they are able to take down your info for a callback from a real claims agent. When I requested a callback on Sunday morning, I got a call from an agent before noon on Monday, and she was able to fix my issue.
Of course the exact process will be different if you are not in CA, but hopefully this general info will help #PUA applicants for #unemploymentbenefits in other states. I will update this thread when I have further news. Like an actual payment! /end
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