What does EDD 'determination' mean? Confused and need help!
Hey everyone, I just got a determination from EDD and I'm totally lost. What does this even mean? I've been trying to figure it out but I'm so confused. Has anyone else dealt with this before? Any help would be appreciated!
43 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EDD determination confusion issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc3-5-MmZfA
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Katherine Shultz
A determination is basically EDD's decision about your benefits. They look at your info and decide if you qualify and how much you'll get. Did you get any specific details in the letter?
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Alberto Souchard
•Thanks for explaining! The letter is pretty vague, just says 'determination made' but doesn't give me any details. Should I be worried?
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Katherine Shultz
•Hmm, that's weird. Usually they give more info. You might wanna call them to get the full scoop. Better to know what's up than worry about it, ya know?
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Marcus Marsh
•Ugh, calling EDD is the worst. Good luck getting through! 🙄
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Hailey O'Leary
I've been there, dude. EDD can be confusing af. Have you checked your online account? Sometimes they post more details there that aren't in the letter.
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Cedric Chung
Determination could mean a few things: 1. They decided if you're eligible 2. They calculated your benefit amount 3. They made a decision about a specific issue on your claim Without more context, it's hard to say exactly what yours means. Def try to get more info!
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Alberto Souchard
•Wow, thanks for breaking it down! I'll def try to get more details. This helps a lot!
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Talia Klein
•This is actually super helpful. I've been dealing with EDD for months and never understood half of what they were talking about lol
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Maxwell St. Laurent
Pro tip: If you need to call EDD, I found a way to actually get through. I used this site called claimyr.com. It's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. It costs $20, but it worked for me. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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PaulineW
•Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? 🤔
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•Yeah, it actually does! I was skeptical at first too, but I was desperate after trying to call for weeks. It saved me hours of hold time.
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Annabel Kimball
•$20 just to talk to someone? That's ridiculous. The system is so broken 😤
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•I get it, it sucks to pay. But for me, it was worth it to finally get answers. Time is money, ya know?
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Chris Elmeda
edd is such a joke fr 🤡 good luck getting any real answers from them
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Jean Claude
•Fr fr 💯 feels like they make it confusing on purpose sometimes
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Charity Cohan
Have you tried reaching out to your local assembly member's office? They can sometimes help push things along with EDD. Worth a shot if you're stuck!
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Alberto Souchard
•I didn't even know that was an option! How do I find my assembly member?
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Charity Cohan
•Just google '[your city] assembly member' and it should pop up. Most have forms on their websites for EDD help. Good luck!
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Javier Cruz
Hey Alberto! I went through the same thing last month. A "determination" is basically EDD's official decision on your claim. It could be about eligibility, benefit amount, or resolving an issue. The key thing is to log into your EDD online portal - there's usually way more detail there than what they send in the mail. Look for a "Determination" section or check your inbox messages. If it's still unclear, definitely call them (I know, I know... the wait times are brutal). But don't stress too much - determination letters are pretty routine in the process. You got this! 💪
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
Hey Alberto! Don't panic - a determination is just EDD's official decision on your case. It's actually a good sign that they're processing your claim! Like others mentioned, definitely check your online account first since they usually put more detailed info there. If you can't find specifics, try calling early in the morning (like 8:01 AM) - that's when I had the best luck getting through. Also, keep that determination letter safe - you might need it for reference later. Hang in there, the EDD process is confusing but you'll get through it! 🤞
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Layla Sanders
•Thanks Emily! That's really helpful about calling at 8:01 AM - I never thought about timing it like that. I'll definitely try that tomorrow morning. And good point about keeping the letter safe, I almost threw it away because it was so confusing lol. Really appreciate all the encouragement! 🙏
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Samantha Johnson
Hey Alberto! I totally get the confusion - EDD paperwork can be super overwhelming. A determination is basically their official decision on your claim, but here's what helped me: log into your EDD account online and look for a "Determination Details" or "Claim Status" section. They usually break down exactly what they decided and why. Also, if the determination mentions any appeal deadlines, don't ignore those - they're pretty strict about timing. I found that writing down specific questions before calling made the conversation way more productive when I finally got through. Hope this helps!
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Elijah Knight
•This is really solid advice! I'm totally going to write down my questions before calling - that's such a smart tip. I always get flustered when I finally get someone on the phone and forget half of what I wanted to ask. Thanks for mentioning the appeal deadlines too, I hadn't even thought about that being a thing!
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Douglas Foster
Hey Alberto! I've been through this exact same situation and I know how stressful it can be when EDD sends you something confusing. A "determination" is basically their official decision about your claim - it could be about whether you qualify, how much you'll receive, or if there were any issues they needed to resolve. The frustrating part is that the letters are often super vague! Here's what I'd suggest: first, log into your EDD online account and check for more detailed info there. If that doesn't help, try calling right when they open (8:00 AM sharp) - I've had better luck getting through early in the day. Also, don't be afraid to ask them to explain it in simple terms when you do get someone on the phone. You're not alone in finding this confusing - their communication could definitely be clearer! Hang in there! 💪
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Sayid Hassan
•Thanks Douglas! This is super reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it. I'm definitely going to try that 8 AM strategy - seems like multiple people have had success with early morning calls. I really appreciate you mentioning that it's okay to ask them to explain things simply. I was worried about sounding dumb, but you're right that their communication is just confusing in general. Feeling a lot less stressed about this now! 🙏
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JaylinCharles
Hey Alberto! I totally understand your confusion - EDD's language can be really intimidating when you're not familiar with it. A determination is basically their official decision about your claim status. It could mean they've approved or denied your benefits, calculated your payment amount, or resolved some issue with your application. The good news is that getting a determination usually means they're actively processing your case! I'd definitely recommend checking your online EDD account first - they often put way more detailed information there than what they include in the paper letters. If you're still confused after checking online, try calling them early in the morning (around 8 AM) when the wait times tend to be shorter. Don't worry too much - this is a normal part of the process and you'll get it sorted out! 👍
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•Thanks JaylinCharles! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I was getting so anxious thinking something was wrong, but knowing that getting a determination actually means they're processing my case makes me feel so much better. I'm definitely going to check my online account first thing in the morning and then try calling at 8 AM if I need more info. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain this in such a clear way! 🙏
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NebulaNomad
Hey Alberto! I went through the exact same thing a few months ago and totally understand the confusion. A "determination" from EDD is basically their official decision about your claim - it could be about eligibility, benefit amounts, or resolving any issues they found. The letters they send are usually pretty vague, but here's what helped me: log into your EDD online account and look for a "Messages" or "Determination" section - they usually have way more details there than in the paper letter. If you still can't find clear info, try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they open (better chance of getting through). Also, don't stress too much - getting a determination is actually a sign that they're actively working on your case, which is good! The whole EDD process is confusing for everyone, so you're definitely not alone in feeling lost. Hang in there! 🤞
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Luca Esposito
•Thanks NebulaNomad! This is so helpful and reassuring. I was really worried I did something wrong or that my claim was in trouble, but hearing that a determination actually means they're working on it makes me feel way better. I'm definitely going to check my online account first thing tomorrow morning and try that 8 AM calling strategy if I need more details. It's really nice to know I'm not the only one who finds EDD confusing - sometimes I feel like everyone else just gets it and I'm the only one lost! Really appreciate you sharing your experience. 😊
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Marilyn Dixon
Hey Alberto! I totally get how overwhelming EDD communications can be - I was in your exact situation a few months back. A "determination" is essentially EDD's official decision on some aspect of your claim. It could be about your eligibility, your benefit amount, or they might have resolved a flag on your account. The tricky part is their letters are often super brief and don't give you the full picture. Here's what I'd recommend: first, log into your EDD online portal and check the "Inbox" or "Determination" section - there's usually way more detail there than what they mail you. If you're still confused after checking online, try calling them right at 8:00 AM sharp when they first open - that's when I've had the most success getting through. Don't panic though - receiving a determination is actually a good sign that they're actively processing your case! The whole system is confusing by design it seems, so you're definitely not alone in feeling lost. You've got this! 💪
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QuantumLeap
•Thanks Marilyn! This is incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was getting so stressed thinking I'd messed something up, but hearing that getting a determination actually means they're processing my case makes me feel so much better. I love the tip about checking the online portal first - I honestly didn't even think to look there for more details. And the 8 AM calling strategy seems to be the consensus here! Really appreciate you taking the time to explain this so clearly. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who finds their system confusing. Feeling way more confident about dealing with this now! 🙏
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Kristin Frank
Hey Alberto! I totally feel your frustration - EDD letters can be super confusing and vague. A determination is basically their official decision about your claim, but what's annoying is they rarely give you the full story in those initial letters. Here's what worked for me: definitely check your EDD online account first (look under Messages or Claim Details) - there's usually way more info there than what they mail you. If that doesn't clear things up, I've had good luck calling right at 8:00 AM when they first open. Also, don't stress too much about the word "determination" - it just means they've made a decision, which could be good or neutral news! The fact that they're processing your case is actually progress. Keep us posted on what you find out - this community is super helpful when you're navigating EDD's confusing system! 🙂
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Dylan Cooper
•Thanks Kristin! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I was getting really anxious about the whole thing, but you're right that getting a determination is actually progress. I'm definitely going to check my online account first thing tomorrow morning - I keep hearing that there's way more detail there than in the letters. And I'll try that 8 AM calling strategy if I need to. Really appreciate the encouragement and I'll definitely keep everyone posted on what I find out. This community has been amazing! 😊
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GalaxyGlider
Hey Alberto! I just went through this same thing last week and totally understand the panic. A determination is just EDD's way of saying they've made an official decision about some part of your claim - could be eligibility, benefit amount, or just clearing up a routine issue. The letters are always super vague which is so frustrating! Here's what helped me: log into your online EDD account and check the "Determination Details" section - there's usually way more specific info there than in the mail. If you still need clarification, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open (seems to be the magic time everyone's having success with). Don't worry though - getting a determination usually means good news since it shows they're actively working on your case rather than it sitting in limbo. Keep us updated on what you find out!
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Emma Olsen
•Thanks GalaxyGlider! This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it. I was definitely in panic mode thinking something was wrong with my claim, but everyone here is saying that getting a determination is actually a positive sign. I'm starting to feel like maybe I was overthinking this whole thing! Definitely going to check that "Determination Details" section online tomorrow morning and try the 8 AM calling trick if needed. Really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to help out a confused newbie like me. This community rocks! 🙏
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Sean Doyle
Hey Alberto! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago and I know how nerve-wracking it can be when you get that vague letter. A determination is basically EDD's official decision on your claim - it could be about eligibility, your weekly benefit amount, or they might have just resolved a routine verification issue. The good news is that receiving a determination usually means they're actively processing your case! Here's what I'd suggest: first, definitely log into your EDD online portal and look for a "Determination" or "Messages" section - they almost always have way more detailed info there than what they send in the mail. If you're still confused after checking online, try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they first open - that timing has worked best for me and several others here. Don't stress too much though - this is totally normal part of the process and everyone finds EDD confusing at first. You're definitely not alone in this! Let us know what you find out when you check your online account. 😊
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Connor Rupert
•Thanks Sean! This is super helpful and really puts my mind at ease. I was totally freaking out thinking I'd done something wrong or my claim was in jeopardy. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who literally just went through this exact same thing! I'm definitely going to check my online portal first thing in the morning - seems like that's where all the actual useful details are hiding. And I'll absolutely try that 8 AM calling strategy if I need more info. Really appreciate you and everyone else in this community being so supportive and helpful. I'll definitely update everyone once I figure out what's going on! 🙏
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Lily Young
Hey Alberto! I totally get the confusion - I was in the same boat when I got my first determination letter from EDD. It's basically their official decision on your claim, but their wording is always so vague and scary sounding! Like everyone else is saying, definitely check your online EDD account first - there's usually way more detail there than in the physical letter. I found mine under the "Claim Summary" section. If you still need clarification after checking online, the 8 AM calling strategy really does work better than calling later in the day. Don't panic though - getting a determination is actually progress, not a bad thing! It means they're actively working on your case instead of it just sitting there. The whole EDD system is intentionally confusing I swear, but you'll get through it. Keep us posted on what you find out! 🤞
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Victoria Jones
•Thanks Lily! This is really helpful and I'm feeling so much better after reading everyone's responses. I was seriously panicking thinking I'd messed up my application somehow, but it sounds like getting a determination is actually a good sign that things are moving along. I'm definitely going to check that "Claim Summary" section you mentioned - I honestly had no idea there was more detailed info hiding in the online portal. Everyone here has been so amazing and supportive, it's really nice to know I'm not the only one who finds EDD's communication style totally confusing. I'll definitely update everyone tomorrow after I check my account! 😊
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Nathan Kim
Hey Alberto! Don't worry, you're definitely not alone in being confused by EDD's communication - their letters are notoriously vague! A determination is basically their official decision about your claim. It could mean they've approved your benefits, calculated your weekly amount, or resolved some verification issue. The key thing is that getting a determination usually means progress, not problems! I'd definitely recommend checking your EDD online account first - look for sections like "Messages," "Claim Details," or "Determination" where they usually put way more specific info than what they mail you. If you still need clarification after checking online, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they first open - that timing seems to work best for getting through. Don't stress too much though - this is totally normal and everyone finds their system confusing at first. Let us know what you discover when you check your online portal! 😊
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Sarah Jones
•Thanks Nathan! This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was honestly spiraling a bit when I first got that letter. It's amazing how much better I feel just knowing that a determination is actually progress rather than something to worry about. I'm definitely going to check my online account first thing tomorrow morning and look for those specific sections you mentioned. And if I need to call, I'll try that 8 AM strategy that everyone's recommending. Really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to help out - this community is incredible! I'll definitely post an update once I figure out what my determination actually says. 🙏
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Aisha Rahman
Hey Alberto! I totally understand your confusion - EDD's determination letters are like reading hieroglyphics sometimes! 😅 A determination is basically EDD's official decision about your claim - could be about eligibility, benefit amount, or just clearing up some routine paperwork issue. The frustrating part is their letters never give you the full picture! Here's what helped me when I was in your shoes: definitely log into your EDD online account and check the "Inbox" or "Claim Status" sections - there's usually way more detailed info there than what they send in the mail. If you're still confused after that, try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they open (seems to be the magic time for actually getting through). Don't panic though - getting a determination is actually a good sign that they're actively processing your case rather than it sitting in limbo somewhere. The whole EDD system is confusing by design I think, but you'll figure it out! Keep us posted on what you find - we're all rooting for you! 🙌
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