Working Reduced Hours but Making too Much For State Unemployment and Extra Stimulus Payment (#UIShole)

$600 Unemployment for Part Timers

Received the following comments from some higher income people who have fallen into what I call the Unemployment Insurance Stimulus Hole (#UIShole). Yes, I know how it sounds and it is intentional because people who face this situation probably want to use a word that rhymes with #UIShole for the politicians that passed the enhanced unemployment provisions that allowed this hole in the legislation.

 I am working half my hours now, make too much for state UI weekly max, still file my claim every week. I am still not making enough to cover my bills. Will I get the $600 per week because my hours are reduced (Christine)

Has anyone determined if workers that are on partial furlough and are making too much on their reduced pay to qualify for unemployment will get the 600.00 anyway?

Part Time Workers getting UIC + $600

The Department of Labor (DOL) guidance is pretty clear that you have to qualify for a partial or nominal amount of UI compensation to qualify for the entire $600 weekly unemployment stimulus payment. Or as stated in the DOL guidance, even if the individual is eligible to receive at least one dollar ($1) of underlying benefits for the claimed week, the claimant will receive the full $600 FPUC.

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So even though some workers are seeing a significant drop in income by having to work fewer hours due to a partial furlough or having to go part time, their income over the last year (or relevant qualifying period) in many states will still be far higher than the partial payment they could get from unemployment insurance. What can be more troubling to many is that if they do get a new job part time or go back to work in a reduced capacity, they could lose current enhanced benefits if their weekly wage goes above state thresholds.

Now many states, like PA and CA, offer Partial Unemployment Benefit Credits and provisions to offset the impacts of the part time unemployment hole, but in many higher income states this won’t make much of an impact. Also with the $600 stimulus payment now in play, many people who don’t qualify for even $1 of unemployment insurance won’t get this supplementary payment for the next four months it is in effect. Which could make them worse overall.

Here is an example based on a reader comment. California’s maximum state unemployment is $450 and has a provision (section 1279) where the first $25 or 25 percent (which is greater) of the wages allocated to a week will be disregarded in unemployment benefit calculations. The amount remaining (i.e., earnings over $25 or 75% of the earnings, whichever is smaller) is deducted from the claimant’s weekly benefit amount.

For example, if you earned $100 in a week, the CA EDD would not count the first $25 of your wages against your UI benefit and would only deduct $75 from your weekly benefit amount. So for someone who gets the maximum weekly benefit amount of $450, would be paid a reduced amount of $375.

So how much can I earn part time before losing all my UI benefits? Using the CA example, where the current maximum UI benefit is $450, the most you could earn per week is $600 ($400/0.75) before losing all UI benefits. Anyone earning more than $600 p/week or $32,000 per year would not be eligible for regular state unemployment and hence not eligible for the additional $600 FPUC payment.

You can see this article for more detail on part time income/UIC eligibility by state and also see some specific state unemployment pages to provide information on filing or checking the status of unemployment benefits – FLCAILTXNJMACOPANJ.

The recently approved CARES Act also has some additional programs designed to keep part-time workers entitled to assistance if their hours are cut for reasons due to Coronavrius or COVID-19. But you will need to file a claim and check with your state unemployment’s office to see how their part time provisions affect you. I will write more about these in an upcoming article. But feel free to share your thoughts below of let me know if I missed something.

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203 thoughts on “Working Reduced Hours but Making too Much For State Unemployment and Extra Stimulus Payment (#UIShole)”

  1. Hi,

    Thank you for this article and so much feedback from those on the same boat with part-time furlough. I was also approved, and the first time certifying the last two weeks of work, a notice came back with “excessive Earnings” I was stumped. With losing an average of $600 a week, this will have serious financial challenges in the long run. I am fortunate to have saved some money; however, I can see the loop-holes with qualifying for PUA. I sent an email to my local congressman to see if there is anything that can be done to assist working families through part-time furlough that makes more than the EDD max benefits. I would recommend anyone receiving the lack of support through EDD contact your local elected officials to bring light to the subject.

    Reply
    • That’s an awesome idea! I will have to look into which elected official is in charge of the city I live in.

      Reply
  2. So I’m a dealer at a small tribal casino in Washington. We went from working 40 hours a week to unemployed, now we’re back working 1 to 2 days a week with minimal tables and dealers. Our tips are pooled and paid every 2 weeks so we have no idea what the tipped rate will be for 2 weeks. I only worked 1 day this week but since I have to claim the high toke rate for 3 days of work it screws me out of my maximum benefit so I’ll loose the 600. Even though my paycheck is half of what it was. They need to do something to change how the 600 is credited to everyone. It should be if you were working full time and now your working less than 32 hours a week then you get the 600. Just to make it fare to us middle class workers who always get shafted

    Reply
    • I totally agree with you. As a bartender here in Louisiana, being open during stage one and only allowing 25% capacity In the building. Working two shifts a week, I just went over my unemployment allotment by $30 (247.00)so I get NO benefits this week! Disgusted!

      Reply
    • I know!!! That’s how I feel. We aren’t going to make money like we used to and we won’t qualify for edd benefits anymore. It sucks

      Reply
  3. Hi! Thanks so much for the information you’ve taken time to share with all of us. I’ve got a couple questions that I can’t seem to find an answer to. Ok, I’m a bartender and a server at a restaurant. We are going to open up for dine in but at 50% capacity only and the bar won’t be able to be used. Before Covid, I worked my steady 5 days with an average of $130 in tips about 6-7 hours a day. Now, we’re opening up again but working 5 days with 5 hours a day. We are going to get less tables and I won’t be able to have my bar full like I used to. If I work about 8 hours less a week and make less in tips, would I still be able to qualify for edd benefits? I live in California and I’m currently getting the max $450 a week. I’ve stayed employed because we still did orders to go, so I still worked when possible. I know money won’t be the same like it used to before March, and that’s why I’m worried. If we were open at 100% capacity and had those extra hours a week, it be okay, but I’m sure it will affect me when I return. What do you think? Do you think I’d still be able to get partial credit? Thanks you (:

    Reply
    • If you qualify for even $1 of regular state UI, you will get the extra $600 for weeks you qualify. But remember to receive unemployment benefits, you must provide eligibility info every 2 weeks to EDD.

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      • So if I worked 32 hours before and went down to 25, I still qualify? Ima prey but I don’t know how edd works since I’ve never had to file a claim. Someone told me that if I make 450 with my hours and my tips combined a week, I wouldn’t get anything. I don’t get how they’ll average it out or what my limit a week is to work.

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  4. I am from PA, and I am also one of the unlucky ones that fall into this loophole that our government has overlooked. I was a 40 hour per week employee, and paid biweekly. Since the pandemic began my hours have been reduced to 32 per week, so I am missing two days pay off of my paycheck. My co workers and I, all of us that signed up for UC benefits make a little to much to qualify for even a partial benefit check, let alone the additional 600. I am absolutely disheartened and disgusted with the fact that people who are not working during the pandemic (so they are not facing any COVID risks,) are getting their uc benefits plus an additional 600 per week on top of that, and they are making in a week more than I am in two weeks for working eight days. It is truly pathetic and unfair to all of us that fall into this loophole. Something should be done to compensate us for what we have lost. And now there is talk about them paying people to go back to work! Get real! How would these politicians like to try to live on what we make in our disgusting paychecks?

    Reply
  5. I live in Arkansas. I am working for a manufacturing company that says we are essential but not frontline. However, our hours will be reduced by 8-10 hours and we have been offered a program called WorkShare instead of Unemployment insurance. They did not explain this well to us.
    So, if I apply for the WorkShare will the $600 be available?

    Reply
    • I work for a company and we do workshare too. I can tell you that yes, being in this program won’t affect you. You’ll get the 600 because I have for the last 5 weeks

      Reply
  6. Thank you for the article! I have been searching for this explanation for at least a month. I’m in Ohio and fall into the #UIShole as well. It’s extremely frustrating as I am the main breadwinner in our house and losing 20% of my salary has deeply impacted us.

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  7. I am working 20hrs due to cruise lines not operating. In Florida as per unemployment I am not eligible for the $275 since I make more weekly. Do I qualify for the $600?

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  8. I literally laughed out loud when I read higher income people 

    There is a large group of us that have fallen through the cracks that are not high income earners 

    When you’re already living paycheck-to-paycheck losing $400 plus a month is a lot

    My husband’s pay/hours have been reduced. However, since he still makes more than the $240 weekly, which is AZ Maximum benefit. (The second-lowest anywhere in the United States), even a dollar more ($241) disqualifies him for unemployment and PUA. 

    A neighbor of mine who does not have enough work history or enough money paid into unemployment insurance now qualifies for Pua and the 600

    Yet my husband that has worked all these years and paid into UI is not eligible for anything

    Reply
    • this stuff is sad! People that never worked a day in there life is getting $800 a week and we had to go to work thru the whole shut down working reduced hours and get NOTHING!!! this don’t make no since. what we will have a job when its all over? well they will all have there own business with all the money they got!!!!!

      Reply
  9. Thank you for bringing this up! I kept searching online for other people in my situation but couldn’t find anything until now. I live in Texas, and my employer decided to furlough all US employees for two weeks; but our group decided to break this up over a five-week period, working only 3 days per week during that time. Because of this, when I file my unemployment claim, I’m being told my reduced weekly salary is still more than the max unemployment benefit amount, so I get nothing. If I had a consecutive two-week furlough, I think I would’ve qualified for payment, because my weekly salary would’ve been $0. How is this fair? My overall annual earnings has been reduced; why is it determined on a weekly basis?

    Thankfully, I have savings to help out, and I know other people are in worse situations. It just doesn’t make logical sense to me. Oh, and bonus – I was furloughed for another two weeks (this time consecutively), but the company overpaid me, so I think my one shot at getting unemployment benefits just went out the window.

    Reply
  10. WORKED IN AN ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX AND WAS FURLOUGHED FOR HEALTH AND AGE REASONS…..I PUT IN 3 WEEKS OF CLAIMS AND RECEIVED A REPLY FROM MY LAST CLAIM..RELEASE BY 5/26….THERE WAS A 0 NEXT TO THE $$600 RELEASE …WHY DID I GET 0 AMOUNT….??
    also i called in three claims starting 5/4-5/10… 5/11-5/17….5/18-5/24…should’nt my 1st claim be paid first??????

    Reply
  11. I was furloughed from my job but expected to come in and work if needed or get let go. The first 4 weeks i worked approx 6-10 hours. By working 6 hours at my hourly wage disqualifies me for AZ state unemployment which then disqualifies me for the $600 stimulus. So I am making approx 25% of my normal wage. And some at my facility are in the same situation. I am unable to pay my bills but there is nothing I can do since I was partially furloughed. This is a HUGE Loophole! I don’t understand how the heck this got passed thru Congress. The CARES package stated that most that have been cut hours would qualify for the $600. This is so UNTRUE! In AZ you have to make less than $240/week to qualify. So here I am trying to live on $1000/month eating away at my savings. Others that were making minimum wage or even worked part time that make $100-200/week are now making $840/week. And I used to make $1600/week and now making $240/week. How to get this issue to our Governors to fix??

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    • I am in the same boat. I reached out to Kyrsten Sinema’s office and they are supposedly checking into my case with DES. I thought we would qualify for PUA. Have you applied? When I went online to apply, the questions they asked didn’t even apply to people like you and me, who were furloughed to reduced hours. I don’t know how we fell through the loophole while everyone else is being taken care of.

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      • Yes I did try to apply, but since your right, questions were not pertinent and I got to the point I could not continue the application. If you find out anything please please let me know!!

        I have a neighbor that just turned 16 in Nov, got a job at a restaurant approx 8 hours/week making maybe $75/week. She is now making $765/week under PUA. She’s making more than me with a 4 year college degree. Good for her! Its Pretty comical! I just don’t understand how such a huge loophole was missed. But nobody seems to care. I’m hoping if they get enough complaints maybe they will take care of us in the next stimulus.

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    • So True- my husbands Hours/pay has been reduced however since he still makes more than the $240 weekly which is AZ Maximum benefit. (the second-lowest anywhere in the United States), even a dollar more disqualifies him for unemployment and PUA

      Now his coworkers that work for the same company making the same amount of money, same reduction of hours will qualify and be eligible under the PUA Because they live in NJ where the maximum unemployment benefit is $713 a week. Same as if he has a coworker working remotely in Oregon where the maximum is $648,.New Mexico max $511 Wyoming $508 The average is $ 378.00, AGAIN ,

      a simple explanation; if your pay has been drastically reduced but still make $241 a week currently and you apply in Arizona, you’re not eligible to receive anything. Even if it means your pay has been cut 50 60 70%.. 

      Reply
  12. Thank you for bringing attention to this!!!!!!!!!!! As of June 5th, my savings will be gone and I have no way to pay bills or get groceries let alone rebuild a savings or manage an emergency for myself, my dogs, or my Jeep. I have 2 jobs because my job in social services doesn’t pay the bills. Adding the part time job at LA Fitness barely does either, but I didn’t have to worry about homelessness or struggle every day to keep it together and act like everything is fine. I make slightly over the $484/week and thus, do not qualify for IL UI or the additional $600 from the CARES Act. How do we get this issue to our Governors to fix (QUICKLY)?!?!?

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  13. I’m in Texas and receiving $424 + $600 a week, just got a part time time job and getting $210 per week do I still qualify for partial unemployment + the $600 and how much partial unemployment will I get now?

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  14. I live in CA and work part time. I earn $217 per week. Back in March the shelter in place order took effect and my employer said they were temporarily shutting down and no more work until the virus order was lifted. I applied for UI and qualified for $110 per week plus the $600 from the feds. for $710/wk. Shortly after I get a check from my employer each week for the full $217 listed as Admin pay? I asked my employer why they were paying me for not working and was only told it was what HR said to do. I told them I got UI payment that’s more, but they keep paying me. I have asked edd online (several times) how to report the money my employer seems to be just giving me but have gotten no answers. I have not worked or earned any money and feel I should be getting the $710 UI pymts. Which one if any should I pay back?

    Reply
    • I’ve seen some people getting the SBA loan ad the PPP needs to start paying employee. Some had to start right away and their business was not even open. I think its just changing ask your employer if this is the case. They may stop

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  15. I live in California. I have 1 full time job and 1 part time job as a server. I still work my full time job but it barley covers my bills thats why I have a second job. Because of the pandemic, I cant work at the restaurant. I make 50k a year in LA which is nothing $960 a week before taxes ) and I count heavily on my second job. I filed for unemployment and put I didn’t receive any income because Im not sure if they mean overall or for my second job. I was awarded the max $450 plus the $600 but that seams off to me. I dont know what to do and I think its unfair to have my job cut I rely on heavily due to the pandemic and I not be eligible for even $1. Do I qualify for benefits even partially?

    Reply
    • You may. California does give partial credits for part time work. Just be careful of saying you had no income as your unemployment is based on your last 12 months of earnings (wage base). If you overpaid you will at some point be forced to pay if back

      Reply
      • Thank you! I certified my weeks right now and I put my earning and I was awarded $0. I think once I can speak to EDD and explain my situation I can get something.

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  16. Live in NY state. Salary employee making $64,000/yr. My pay is being cut by 10% due to covid-19. Will I qualify for benefits?

    Reply
    • Only if you qualify for regular state UI. File a claim and and under PUA you may get benefits. If you qualify for even $1 of regular state UI, you get the extra $600.

      Reply
  17. I’m working around 28 hours now a week for a pharmacy I work for, I make $17/hour. My hours have been reduced only by a little bit, but I filed for unemployment (Pennsylvania). My weekly benefit rate is $372 + $112 for Partial Unemployment. So if I earn more then $484 a week then I get nothing from unemployment. Problem is, the last couple weeks I have been filing I have been working 28 hours a week x $17/hour, so I would be $476 earnings. 484-476= $8 benefit. But then they would take $7 for federal tax out, and then $1 benefit reduction. So I would be left with $0. How does this work if anyone can please answer? God forbid I could get through to the unemployment on the phone but it’s always busy no matter how many times I call them. It says to get the extra $600 you would have to be getting at least $1 in unemployment to be able to get the extra $600. I should be getting it since I was basically entitled to $8 but I haven’t gotten any payment. If anyone knows anything about this, I would love to hear from you! Thank you !

    Reply
    • It’s the $8 you care about, not how much you actually get paid out. So, you should get the $500 if your state pays you anything. Even on a shared work or partial employment program.

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      • Technically I’m getting $0 because of taxes being taken out. The $8 I was supposed to get, I’m not getting anything at all. Cuz $7 of that is going toward federal tax, and $1 is gone for a benefit reduction. So while I’m entitled to $8, I’m getting a payment of $0 it says. So I don’t know if that would keep me from getting the extra $600. I guess we will see by the tomorrow when I should be getting it. I hope this makes sense what I’m trying to say lol

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        • Hii I’ve been furloughed since March 19 job call me back w/reduced hours I was getting 45hr@wk now 28-30 I have mortgage,car,bills,kids etc don’t think it’s fair to bring us back if you can’t pay hrs we were working shorted over 20+ hrs to feed my family @$15.92 hr basically your stuck with stress if you make to much income to UI claim that’s why people don’t want to go back to wrk I went so they wouldn’t try to say I refused wrk how is this fair can anyone explain Stressed Parent

  18. I too even though working reduced hours do not qualify for 600.00 stimulus even tho I was working as an essential worker before we lost all of our patients. I have an employee who was off before the pandemic even hit and that employee is getting the six hundred extra pay and has been getting it all along even though they were off before the pandemic hit. So now that employee refuses to come back to work. Meanwhile I have been on the front lines risking my life and earning my regular check while the employee stays home and makes three times what they normally would bring home. The whole system surrounding the benefits was clearly not thought out. It rewards people to stay home and do nothing and have no desire to return to work unless you are honest and then you get penalized for it.

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  19. I am a part time server work 27-30 hours a week and due to covid-19 the store temporarily closed. EDD pays me $450.00 + $600.00 per week. Now my boss wants to reopen to do business for Take-out order only. My boss want me back to work . Will I loss the benefit??? Or how many hours should I work and won’t loss the benefit????

    Reply
    • it doesn’t matter how many days you work. as long as your 75% of the week’s total income is less than $450 you will still get (ex. 75% of your paycheck is $425, you will receive $25 and the $600.

      Reply
  20. Question, my full time job reduced my hours to 30 hours a week, however I do postmate , an average of 15 hours a week, am I still elegible for benefits for having my hours cut on my full time job, or because I do post me on the side I’m automatically disqualify for them?

    Reply
    • Nope. If you qualify for even $1 of regular UI in your state (you need to apply) you get the $600. Unemployment benefits are not just when you lose your job, you can also get it if your income has fallen

      Reply
      • Hi Andy, no it’s not true that you will still qualify in California even if your income has fallen. The EDD is messed up. They say you qualify on their website under the COVID pandemic. My income/hours are greatly reduced, I wrote a comment on here on 5/18, not sure where it is. They approved me at first, and paid me for two weeks, plus $600 x 2 weeks. They did not pay me back pay, only from the date I was able to finally get my application submitted on April 19. One of my part-time jobs ended Feb 28, and the other dwindled through Feb, March to nothing in April. When I certified on May 17 for the past two weeks, I entered the earnings from the one remaining job. (Which all of that info and earnings was on my original application when I WAS approved.) I received the message “Excessive Earnings” and payment is zero. I’m awaiting the letter from EDD in the mail, with which I can hopefully appeal. I haven’t even been able to access the two weeks they have paid me for. I received a debit card Friday May 15, and set up transfer of the money to my credit union on the same day in the morning, which hasn’t happened yet as of Tuesday evening, May 19.

        Reply
  21. I am falling into this loophole in NJ. Make too much for partial unemployment benefits and therefore no $600 either. And my pay is hundreds less each paycheck.

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  22. I’m caught in the loop hole. I’ve been working through this entire pandemic at a hotel. My hours have been drastically cut and only making about 150-200 bi weekly…. I finally applied, and they offer me a pathetic $67 per week as my limit… This means, when I’m putting in my amount I make each week, even when I’m not paid, it will always be above the crazy $67 threshold the placed me under…. EVEN on the weeks i’m not paid lol…. I’m on week 12 and still deemed an “Excessive Earner” and haven’t see none CENT of any stimulus money aside the $1200.. It’s obviously an intentional loop hole. But I’m about to say screw it and just put I’m making below $67 each week to force them to pay me. I’m about to exploit becuase I’m literally being forced to… I recommend you all lie to, I think they are deliberately doing this to us, so that they keep all the stimulus finding for themselves….. The fact people like me are getting bent over and screwed on this level, meanwhile others are getting $600 a WEEK for sitting on their asses, is a HUGE joke. Their system is entirely broken for people who have been working through the virus…

    Reply
    • I agree with you. I strongly suggest that they should give the booster check to people that work. This gives motivation to people to work even part-time. Some people make more money sitting around doing nothing because the find reasons not work. It is not fair for some employee that needs to work but makes less.

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    • Same situation here. Yet struggling. They didn’t think about us. Single mom here. Bills and utilities to keep on. Im so pissed.

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    • Hi Cedric, same happened to me in California. Although, I was first approved and paid two weeks. Then certified on May 17 for previous two weeks, and deemed “Excessive Earnings.” I can’t find any information anywhere on how to get this looked at.

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    • I agree they’re sitting on their asses doing nothing we’re out here risking our lives for what an can’t get nothing but shutter on by the government not fair

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  23. I am confused and hoping someone can help. I still have one part time job. I qualified for $450 in california unemployment but when I enter my wages for my other job It says I have excessive earnings. I am making about $1100 gross at my one job which according to this article is less than 25% of 450. The california EDD form only goes up to 999.99. Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong! I am making less than all my friends who aren’t working!

    Reply
    • I’m going through a similar situation in CA. The EDD allows you to file a partial claim if you got your hours reduced and you may even receive a notice at first saying that your weekly amount will be $450, but that’s only in theory. Once you start certifying, if you make above a certain amount each week ($600), you will get $0 in benefits. Specifically, if the weekly wages from your part-time job, when reduced by 25%, exceeds the maximum weekly benefit of $450, you will get nothing in benefits because you have “excessive earnings.” For example, if you make $1,100 a week, reduce that by 25%, and you’re left with $825. $825 is more than $450, so you won’t get anything in benefits. I understand how frustrating this is. I got my hours reduced as a result of the coronavirus in April, took a 40%-45% pay cut, and no longer make enough to pay all my bills, but I make too much to qualify for stimulus checks or unemployment checks. I thought I would get unemployment benefits when I received the notice with my weekly benefit amount, but the certification process said I was entitled to $0 due to “excessive earnings.”

      Reply
    • Actually, 25% is correct. You don’t “deduct” 75% of your wages in California to determine whether you qualify for partial benefits. You deduct 25% of your wages, which leaves you with 75% of your wages. The rule for partial claims is that , if the weekly wages from your part-time job, when REDUCED BY 25%, exceed the maximum weekly benefit of $450, you will get nothing in benefits because you have “excessive earnings.” For example, if you make $1,000 a week, reduce that by 25%, and you’re left with $750. $750 is more than $450, so you won’t get anything in benefits. Basically, if you make more than $600 a week from a part-time job, you will get $0 in benefits ($600, when reduced by 25%, is $450, so it doesn’t exceed the maximum weekly benefit amount of $450).

      Reply
  24. I worked part time and was furloughed. I was collecting $112.00 a week UI benefits from CTDOL plus the $600.00 FPUC payment. Hertz, my employer wants me back part time. I will probably now lose the $600.00 FPUC payment. It’s so unfair.

    Reply
    • Well the FPUC was only intended as a temporary payment for those losing their income due to COVID shutdowns. But even if you get $1 of regular or PUA unemployment you will get the $600

      Reply
    • If you live in Cali,I think you will not lose the $600 FPUC payment if you make less than $148/week when you come back part time.
      In your case, $112 (UI benefit weekly amount)- $148*0.75 (the first 25% of your wages does not count) = $1, so you still get the $600

      Reply
      • Hello! LucyIn Calii Can you please help me too
        For the first 2week my results is Excessive Earning.
        Because I worked 24hour/week rate 13.25$/hour.
        And for this week I work only 8 hour/week.
        My UI benefit weekly is 192$ So! for this week how much I will Qualify if Yes. How much I will get by week and I still Qualify for EXTRA!!! 600$

        Reply
  25. Not sure why this is so complicated…

    Unless I am misunderstanding, for the State of Indiana… if you make $390 or more a week and are working partial hours, you automatically do not qualify for any benefits – state or federal.

    Why didn’t they just add that to their FAQ on the web site? Probably could have saved a ton of call volume, paperwork and headaches.

    Reply
    • Yeah, FAQ! I don’t get it. Virginia keeps sending out emails that are wrong, and then accidentally paid $600 to some people before that program started. It’s a mess. No one knows what they’re doing!

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    • Ryan, I agree, why not just add that information on their site (California), because I too spent so many hours applying. Approved for two weeks, then denied for “Excessive Earnings.”

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      • Yes, I wish the EDD would just screen out those of us who won’t qualify for partial unemployment benefits based on our “excessive earnings,” especially since we are supposed to list our recent weekly wages on our applications. But I think the reason why they don’t automatically deny our partial claims at the outset is that you could make less and less over time from your part-time job (i.e. if your hours are further reduced) and eventually qualify for benefits.

        Reply
    • so…one of my employees normally makes $1000/wk, he was reduced by 10% (4 hours). He filed for unemployment and says he is still claiming the $900/wk income. HE IS GETTING THE $600/WK FUPC. He says he is eligible for $0 IN UI, but the eligible flag makes him eligible for FPUC.

      Reply
  26. I have been furloughed and filed for unemployment in Florida. I’m receiving my weekly amount, plus the $600 fed stimulus check. I now am being asked to work one day a week, sometimes 10 days in between as a bartender in a 25% capacity restaurant with a (closed bar only serving those at a table). I will not make more then my weekly FL unemployment and do not see many tips coming my way as the waitress will be getting those. Do I have to accept? And if so, will this stop my $600 weekly stimulus? I do realize that I have to report any income to the state, but how does that impact my $$’s overall?

    Reply
  27. I have been furloughed and filed for unemployment in Florida. I’m receiving my weekly amount, plus the $600 fed stimulus check. I now am being asked to work one day a week, sometimes 10 days in between as a bartender in a 25% capacity restaurant with a (closed bar only serving those at a table). I will not make more then my weekly FL unemployment and do not see many tips coming my way as the waitress will be getting those. Do I have to accept? And if so, will this stop my $600 weekly stimulus? I do realize that I have to report any income to the state, but how does that impact my $$’s overall?

    Reply
  28. I worked 2 two jobs, Lost full time job in January. When applying for UI I told EDD rep. reporting I was still working at my part time 17 1/2 hrs weekly. I received letter of weekly benefit. EDD Letter does state still working at part time.
    When Certifing For Benefits. Do I need to keep reporting my part time job earnings even though EDD was aware when I applied for UI that I still was and is at my Part time? Thank you:)

    Reply
  29. I work FT as one of about 8 RN’s in a cardiac clinic in Colorado. Everyone’s hours in our clinic were reduced to 24 hours. Some employees who make less are getting the $600 unemployment insurance under the CARES Act. Those of us who still make under $75,000/yr (or whatever the magic number to qualify is) do not get a penny of unemployment insurance. Why? What can we do? I am a single mom and own my own home and need more than I am currently making at 24 hours a week vs. 40. They are saying we are not to work part time elsewhere. Can our employer prohibit us from obtaining other part time work to make ends meet? What options do we have for unemployment insurance? Please help us find answers and understand. Thank you!

    Reply
  30. The above for California is all untrue. If you had your hours reduced by 25% or more you qualify for unemployment benefits. Your earnings before the reduced hours must be below $85,000 per year. Case in point many of Delta Airline workers had their hours reduced by 25%. The EDD has people working right now that do not understand the rules. All the Delta employees who received the dreaded (earnings were too high to qualify notice) are now starting to receive their benefits. It took 2 months. But the good news its all retro. So you will eventually get your benefits. I suggest you speak to an employment attorney so that he or she can explain. Once again…. if you earned less than $85,000 and your hours were reduced by 25% or more…. you qualify and will eventually receive your benefits. You may have to call and clarify with EDD. The word is that EDD is helping those people who have NO earnings at all first. And that if your hours were reduced by 25% or more…. although you qualify….. you are going to be their last in line to be helped. Again…. speak to an employment attorney and express your earnings/hours were reduced by 25% or more, and you earned less than $85,000 annually.

    Reply
    • Can you please tell me where you are getting this information? A website perhaps? I’m not trying to poke holes in what you’re are saying, I would just like to get some more information. Pay-wise I’m in a similar situation as flight attendants, my hours have been reduced by 25% and edd has told me I have excessive earnings. Also I’m in CA

      Reply
      • Speak to an Employment Attorney. I did. He handles a large airline (many thousands of employees), and is very familiar with EDD law. However…. the attorney told me that EDD employees are really REALLY dumb, and don’t know their own laws. I did not believe the attorney as I was denied due to excessive earnings also. The attorney assures me that a reduction in 25% of your hours and as long as you normally earn less than $85,000 YOU QUALIFY. The attorney told me that the EDD employees are not interested in helping those higher earners, but want to help the low income or NO income people first and foremost. So basically….. if you are hard working through this COVID19 lie…. you are screwed if your earnings are “considered” high by the minions working at EDD. But you would win an appeal. It’s complete bullcrap. Low income earners don’t get that 25% of someones income is 25% regardless…. and still leads to homelessness or loosing a home and not being able to feed your family.

        Reply
        • What you said is not correct. You don’t qualify for unemployment benefits in California just because your hours have been reduced by 25% and you normally made less than $85,000 per year. The rule is that, if the weekly wages from your part-time job, when reduced by 25%, exceed the maximum weekly benefit of $450, you will get nothing in benefits because you have “excessive earnings.” For example, if you make $1,000 a week, reduce that by 25%, and you’re left with $750. $750 is more than $450, so you won’t get anything in benefits. The “25%” does not refer to a reduction in hours at all.

  31. I been working here in ohio my hours we reduced from 40hrs to 20-26 hrs a week i qualified for unemployment benefits but i make over the limit and it really stinks because i’m the sole supporter of my house hold.Something needs to be done to help us out as i’m an essential worker have been from day1.

    Reply
  32. My wife and I live in CA. She recently applied for unemployment due to her hours being reduced from 40 to 24. When applying for unemployment and reporting her previous week’s wages it stated to enter $999 if the wages were $1000+.

    Based on the example provided above and using the $999 figure, she should still qualify for unemployment. $450 – $999 * 0.25% = $200, which would also qualify her for the extra $600.

    However when applying she received a warning saying Excessive Earnings. I am wondering why that is the case.

    Reply
    • I am in the same boat. I’m an event coordinator and work 50-55 hours a week. My hours were reduced by 25-30% simply based of not working events currently. I received the same message when I entered the $$ amount earned that week. It’s so unbelievably frustrating and depressing. Meanwhile there are people collecting way more money than they would normally receive.

      Reply
    • I’m in California as well. Based on your wife’s earnings, she wouldn’t qualify for partial unemployment benefits. The rule for partial claims is that, if the weekly wages from your part-time job, when REDUCED BY 25%, exceed the maximum weekly benefit of $450, you will get nothing in benefits because you have “excessive earnings.”

      For example, if you make $1,000 a week, reduce that by 25%, and you’re left with $750. $750 is more than $450, so you won’t get anything in benefits. Basically, if you make more than $600 a week from a part-time job, you will get $0 in benefits ($600, when reduced by 25%, is $450, so it doesn’t exceed the maximum weekly benefit amount of $450).

      Reply
  33. I’m one of the few idiots in my office that didn’t come up with an excuse to avoid coming back to work when they offered us full time again. Most employees are working part time from home and are able to get the weekly $600 from being partially unemployed on top of their check. I got the short end of the stick. Worst thing is my boss was upset for me asking to simply cut my hours from 40 to 30 so I can reap this extra $600 benefit, as if everyone working from home isn’t. I’m so upset

    Reply
  34. Good afternoon, did someone who leaves in CA verified with the EDD office about people who are getting hight income and are not eligible for partial UI and $600? Is there anything else we need to do?

    thank you,

    Jenny

    Reply
    • Contact your Congress Member. Advise them of the EDD shortcomings for part-time furlough employees. A simple email pointing where the discrepancy is all you need.

      Reply
  35. I started a new job full time . then my hours was cut. I work 20-22 hours a week. I signed up for unemployment. But since I make 200-220 a week before taxes are taken out I cant get unemployment. Yet I cant get the 600.00 so why cant people like me at least get half of that to help us.

    Reply
  36. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones here in PA. I make $18.10/hr and was working 40 hours weekly. Bi-weekly take-home pay is usually from $1,100 to $1,300 depending on overtime.

    With the extra $600/wk in play, I have been clearing $1,859 after federal taxes being taken out of my benefits.

    I’ll be taking a pay cut now as I was called to start back to work tomorrow.

    Reply
    • DID YOU STOP WORK ALL TOGETHER OR DID YOU STILL WORK PART TIME?I AM IN PA AS WELL AND MY HOURS WERE RED BUT II DO NOT QUALIFY :( I MAKE CLOSE TO THE AMOUNT YOU MAKE

      Reply
      • SORRY NOT SURE WHY IT SAYS THAT ??? MY HOURS WERE DECREASED BUT I STILL WORK 30 HOURS…I DO NOT QUALIFY AND I NEED AT LEAST PARTIAL.I WONDER WHAT THE LIMIT IS?

        Reply
  37. Thank you for this article it is very helpful in guiding my decision-making during this difficult time. My employer is aware that if I work over 8 hours a week I will earn too much to qualify for my allocated amount of state UI ($119) and get the extra $600. But she is only offering me 10 hours a week which is not nearly enough income to make ends meet (I was formerly full-time before all this started). So I am in a no-win situation where I either am disqualified from UI for earning too much or I am “refusing work and abandoning my position” by not taking the 10 hours she is offering me. I do not want to have to rely on government assistance but I feel that my employer is forcing me to do so by offering so few hours.

    Reply
  38. North Carolina.

    Hotel Industry. just applied last week. (Hotel hasnt gotten the labor loan) making 11.50 per hour, 8 hours per week cut for the past six weeks. Applied for unemployment, it stated that I would draw state 258.00 per week and I can earn 51.00 per week.
    Now how does the federal 600.00 fall into place?
    I did get the 1200.00 check, already gone to pay bills and food. I am expecting another 8 hour cut.
    How do you know that what you will get. This is all to confusing.

    Reply
  39. Hello, my hours have been reduced from 50 to 28 the past couple weeks and will continue to be so the next several weeks at least. I live in Colorado. I have read some articles about applying for unemployment benefits if your hours have been reduced and receiving the additional $600 government benefit. The Colorado unemployment website states: You must be unemployed or your hours are reduced to fewer than 32 hours a week and earning less than the weekly amount unemployment pays you because of COVID-19.” Can someone please elaborate on this? I make $17 an hour if that helps. Thank you for any assistance.

    Reply
      • You can apply for part time unemployment? In that case we would get the additional $600/week? I am in the same boat. Went from fulltime to now 24 hours at a new job and they denied any pay this week. Like most of you I am working the hours and getting paid less than unemployment was paying. Frustrating!

        Reply
  40. We live in Indiana. My husband was furloughed with slashed hours. His payroll was cut 40%. We are caught in this madness. Indiana weekly max is $390. He is also an essential worker. Any insight on his qualifying for UI and Stim$$$?

    Reply
    • Hi all They told me I would not get it for reduction in salary because it wasnt under Indiana WBA so you have to make maximum of 389 to get it a week if you get the max. Its crazy took 20 percent reduction and people with no schooling or who worked part time with no education is making more than essential lab workers.

      Reply
      • so…one of my employees normally makes $1000/wk, he was reduced by 10% (4 hours). He filed for unemployment and says he is still claiming the $900/wk income. HE IS GETTING THE $600/WK FUPC. He says he is eligible for $0 IN UI, but the eligible flag makes him eligible for FPUC.

        Reply
    • I actually thought there was a formula so you could receive a portion of your weekly benefit amount if your wages exceeded. So I was hoping I would receive that portion plus the $600. But I received nothing!

      Reply
  41. My hours were cut due to COVID-19 and I filed for an unemployment claim… I was told that I had to certify for benefits on 04/20/20. Did that, and they told me my benefit amount per week will be $399.00 + $600.00 supplement… However, when I certified and went back online later that day, they gave me a message that said I reported wages of $416.00 which is more than the weekly benefit amount of $399.00. If correct I would need to file another claim…if incorrect I would need to call the IDES (Illinois Dept of Emp Security) but I call and they only give you two options to choose from and neither one is what I need so it just hangs up on me. I cannot get through at all. Illinois truly sucks!!! I am considered an essential worker as per the executive order given by our Governor, the ass that he is, so since I’m required to work and subject myself to this virus and my company reduced our hours, I have to bite that bullet and accept the loss of income.. Our salaried employees are golden… they dont lose anything… it’s hourly earners like me that ALWAYS get the shaft… I have placed a call into the governor’s office and alerted the news media to see if they would do a story and investigate as to why we were the ones left out of this. I doubt I get anywhere with either one!!

    Reply
    • Not all salaried employees are golden! I was changed from salaried to non exempt part time and fall into this exact same situation. I likely worked too many hrs last week to qualify. So I am still getting exposed and if I want to qualify for UI I have to make sure I work as few hours as I possibly can. Trying to make it so I am to working more than like 6 hrs a week as discreetly as possible. I was so confused by everyone telling me its so much better to be on intermittent furlough than continuous. Nope, not at my pay rate!

      Reply
    • Did you get anywhere with this Timothy?? I too was left out and making less working reduced hours than those laid off bringing in more money than me!

      Reply
      • I don’t know if Tim got anywhere, but I have just resolved to do everything in my power to keep my hours under 10 per week so I can qualify. The company says if I wan’t to be full time I should try to “drive business”, I am a physical therapist in OP. No elective surgeries are being done. And when exactly am I supposed to do this marketing?.when I am off the clock?? or clocked in so i again get paid too much. That crap may have worked when I was salaried but as non exempt part timer, sorry I do not work for free or worse at a loss of money!! I didn’t qualify for UI the first week of my furlough on only 14 hrs a week! I normally work ~ 50 hrs. I disagree with trying to drive people to come in for non essential care and I just don’t like my current company enough to be forced to keep their company afloat at my own expense and wind up unable to pay bills unless I eat through all my savings. And now that I know their incentive to ever put me back at full time is low unless I make it happen for free, I am actively applying elsewhere.

        Reply
        • Same boat guys in IL. I’m a salaried employee whose hours were reduced from full time to partime and had to take a 40% pay cut. However, I make too much weekly to qualify for anything. This is very depressing and disheartening

  42. I was in the same boat where I was told that I make too much when I would try to apply for payment, I lost 2 out of my 3 jobs and am currently working part time for my third, however I got and email saying my claim went through and I received payment that week. Is this an error or are some states being more lenient with their UI due to the virus? I am from Rhode Island btw

    Reply
    • My name is Rebecca. I am fighting the same battle! I must maintain 2 jobs to support a disabled mother. Unfortunately, the Maximum Weekly Benefit amount in AL is only $275 GROSS!!! (Which won’t even cover my electric bill…) My company furloughed all non-management employees. I have an official notice from that employer, but my unemployment claim has been denied because I still make more than $275/week. Please help! Did you ever find out what was the triggering factor that allowed you to get the FPUC?

      Reply
      • Hi Rebecca, I honest don’t know how I received payment I do believe you are able to file for partial insurance if you lose multiple jobs but I’m not too sure. This whole scenario is so crazy. I’d probably recommend getting on a call back list and try to talk to a representative about your situation, as that is what I am gonna do. Good luck!

        Reply
    • Sounds as if that week you were paid for fell below the allowed earned income for the week. As you continue to file weeks exceeding allowed will not be paid and if within range will get. Horrible I am on same state… screwed coming and going
      . yet hours reduced and they Ui approved but disqualified because your reduced hrs and pay exceeds allowed weekly earnings. Something has to be adjusted just not fair.

      Reply
  43. I have been collecting unemployment since 3\8. My state is paying the additional $600 per week retroactive to 4\4, and they are paying it out week ending 5\3. My employer got a POP loan and is going to start paying my waves again effective 4\20. Will I still be paid for the three weeks I was eligible for the extra $600? How would I get paid if my claim is no longer active or should I keep it active and report my waves every week so I can get the 3weeks paid out?

    Reply
  44. Yup. If I earn more than $202.50 per week (Idaho), I don’t qualify for unemployment… no $600 supplement either. Would have higher take-home pay if I were laid-off and claimed unemployment with the $600 supplement. Bummer.

    Reply
  45. [disclaimer: this is only my opinion, please verify accuracy independently, thanks]

    The calculations for Mary are not quite right according to CA EDD UI Benefits.
    See: https://www.edd.ca.gov/uibdg/Total_and_Partial_Unemployment_TPU_5.htm

    it says: “2) Any week of less than full-time work, if the wages payable to him or her with respect to the week, when reduced by twenty-five dollars ($25) or 25 percent of the wages payable, whichever is greater, do not equal or exceed his or her weekly benefit amount . . .”

    Mary’s WBA is $450.
    Mary’s weekly earnings are: $1840.
    The reduction of Mary’s earnings by $25 or 25%, whichever is greater is: $25 or 1840×0.25 = $460.
    Between $25 and $460, $460 is greater.
    Mary’s “reduced earnings” are 1840 – 460 = $1380.
    The “reduced earnings”, $1380, exceed the WBA, $450.
    Therefore, Mary is not eligible to UI benefits that week.
    The difference is not just $10. It is $930!!

    For earnings > $100 for a week, the formula to calculate CA partial benefits is: WBA – earnings x 75%. If this number is positive, it is the partial benefits. If 0 or negative, no benefits will be paid.

    With this formula, Mary’s benefits can be calculated like this: 450 – 1840×75% = 450 – 1380 = -930. Therefore, no benefits. The difference is 930!

    Suppose Mary’s earnings reduced from $2,400 to only $596.
    Then, according to formula, the partial benefits are: 450 – 596×75% = 450 – 447 = 3
    Mary will be paid $3 UI benefits for that week.
    Hope that makes sense.

    Reply
    • Does it have to be based off of hours or is it also pay? My salary is being reduced but I will still be working full time.

      Reply
    • (I’m in California) I’m still working full time and make 1,500/wk, but lost my second job of $200/wk. I’ve filed and they have all that info. Now they’ve asked me to certify my first week and if I type in over 999/wk, there is no place for me to tell them there about the 2nd job $ loss. Shouldn’t I get something for losing a job due to Corona furlough without them looking at my other job? Or is it that I make too much elsewhere so California wont consider the second job’s loss? Thanks.

      Reply
      • I live in California as well. Even though you lost your second (part-time) job due to the coronavirus, you still have your full-time job and make $1,500 a week, so I’m almost certain that you won’t qualify for UI benefits based on the loss of your part-time job. When you certify for benefits each week, you’re supposed to report all earnings for the week from all jobs, so they will look at your other job.

        Reply
    • according to the formula you have given, in that case: if mary is making $224.00 working 16 hrs a week and the weekly Benefits mary is receiving is $123.00, will mary be eligible for the Unemployment Benefit according to the formula above.

      And also will she be eligible for the $600.00 stimulus pandemic

      thank you
      your reply is highly appreciated.

      Reply
    • This was my understanding when reading the language on the EDD site. The above article made me hopeful that my wife would potentially get unemployment benefits, but it appears as if that is not the case.

      Reply
    • Alex from MW,

      If Mary applies for PUA due to part-time furlough and still earns more than the maximum weekly benefits ($450 for CA), she will not receive any money from EDD. I just reported my day’s worked, and the pay was higher than the maximum and was denied any benefits for the two week period.

      Reply
  46. I’m in the same situation. Does anyone know if the employer participates in the shared work program, will the employee be eligible for the extra $600, regardless of how much they are making a week?

    Reply
  47. Uff da! I broke my foot at my flight attendant job, so have been out on LOA. And with covid there are no hours to be had now anyway. I began substitute teaching more to compensate. Now lost that job. I applied for unemployment in MN which would pay me 202.00 per week. (I was making 38.00 per hour flying, a lot less than senior flight attendants but more than sub teaching at 17.00 an hour.) I scrambled to find a job and was hired as a group home supervisor (of delayed adults) at 15.15 an hour. Because I work full time and take in a mere 602.00 a week before taxes snd deductions I now get no unemployment. THEN I find out if I had stayed unemployed I would also get an extra 600 a week! Wow, my foot isnt fully healed yet but I may have to return to flying on my days off if I can get any hours. Even then, working two jobs I will make less than a person who is not willing to work in an essential job at less pay.
    I’ll shutup and quit complaining if they give me 600 a week for exposure to Covid while working. Sheesh, what a system!!

    Reply
    • Hi Betty,

      If your still useful you can attempt to look for a career in the adult industry. You foot disability would be an issue. Hope this helps!

      Reply

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