Partial Unemployment Benefit Calculator
Picked up some hours while you're on unemployment? See what EDD will still pay you for the week.
You can work part time and still get California unemployment. EDD ignores the first $25 or 25% of your gross weekly earnings, whichever is more, and subtracts the rest from your weekly benefit amount, rounding up to the next dollar. At the $450 maximum benefit, you keep getting a partial payment until you earn about $600 in a week.
Enter your weekly benefit amount (it's on your Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award) and your gross earnings for the week.
Partial Unemployment Benefit Calculator
EDD Payment for This Week
Earnings + Benefit
Payment Stops At
How this is calculated
Unemployment Insurance Code 1279 sets the formula. For any week you work:
Payment = weekly benefit amount − (gross earnings − the greater of $25 or 25% of earnings), rounded up to the next whole dollar and never below $0.
Below $100 of earnings the $25 is larger, so every dollar over $25 reduces your benefit by a dollar. Above $100, you keep 25% of what you earn and the other 75% comes off your benefit. Examples at the $450 maximum benefit:
| Gross earnings | EDD payment | Total for the week |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $450 | $450 |
| $50 | $425 | $475 |
| $200 | $300 | $500 |
| $400 | $150 | $550 |
| $600 | $0 | $600 |
The weekly benefit amount itself ($40 to $450) comes from your highest-paid quarter in the base period and hasn't changed its $450 cap since 2005 (Unemployment Insurance Code 1280).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I collect unemployment while working part time in California?
Yes. If you work fewer than full-time hours and earn less than your weekly benefit amount allows, EDD pays a reduced benefit. The first $25 or 25% of your gross weekly earnings, whichever is more, isn't counted. The rest is subtracted from your weekly benefit amount.
How much can I earn and still get unemployment in California?
It depends on your weekly benefit amount. At the $450 maximum, you get some payment until your gross earnings reach about $600 a week. With a lower weekly benefit amount, the cutoff is lower.
Do I report earnings when I work or when I get paid?
When you do the work. EDD asks for gross earnings (before taxes and deductions) for the Sunday through Saturday week on your certification, even if your paycheck comes later.
Do I still have to look for work if I'm working part time?
Usually yes. You must stay able and available for full-time work and meet the work search requirements. The exception is a partial claim: if your employer cut your hours and gave you a Notice of Reduced Earnings (DE 2063), you aren't required to look for a new job.
What counts as earnings?
Wages, tips, commissions, self-employment and contract income, and other income such as vacation pay, holiday pay and severance. Report all of it; EDD decides how each type affects your benefit.
This tool provides an educational estimate only. EDD decides eligibility and payment amounts; pensions, severance and other income can be treated differently from wages. Always report all work and earnings on your certification.