This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat - just got notice of layoff from my nonprofit job (effective Jan 15) but they want me to stay on as a consultant for February to help train my replacement. Reading everyone's experiences here is giving me confidence that I can accept the consulting gig without screwing up my unemployment claim. Quick question for those who've been through this - did any of you have issues with the fact that you're essentially working for the same employer who laid you off? I'm wondering if EDD views that differently than contract work for a completely different company. The pay structure and everything else sounds identical to what OP is dealing with, just curious if the "same employer" aspect creates any complications. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community really is a lifesaver when navigating EDD's complexity!

I'm in a very similar situation - got laid off from my tech job last month and they offered me a short-term contract to help with the transition. I was terrified it would mess up my unemployment claim but reading through all these responses is such a relief! Just want to confirm one detail I'm still unclear on: when you certify for benefits during the contract period and report your 1099 earnings, does EDD automatically calculate whether you get partial benefits or nothing? Or do you have to do any math yourself to figure out what to expect? I'm worried about accidentally reporting something wrong and causing issues with my claim. Also, has anyone had experience with EDD asking for additional documentation about the contract work later on, or do they usually just take your weekly earning reports at face value? Want to make sure I keep the right paperwork just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how to navigate this situation!

Hey, just following up - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious which method ended up working for you.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This thread is super helpful for anyone else dealing with this issue. I'm bookmarking it because I feel like EDD account problems are so common and their error messages are never clear about what's actually wrong. The fact that your account was locked but the system was still pretending to send reset emails is typical EDD - they make everything so confusing. Thanks for sharing the solution that worked!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got hit with a false statement penalty for supposedly not reporting some gig work income, even though I'm pretty sure I did report it correctly. The whole situation is so stressful. @Sean O'Donnell - your update about using Claimyr to actually get through to EDD gives me hope! I've been trying to call for weeks with no luck. I'm definitely going to try that service tomorrow. For anyone else dealing with this, I also found out that you can request a "wage transcript" from EDD that shows exactly what income they have on file for you. Sometimes the discrepancies come from employers reporting things differently than what you expected. I requested mine last week and I'm waiting to see what it shows. The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part of all this. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and resources - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with EDD's confusing system!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the stress of dealing with EDD's false statement penalties is overwhelming. I went through something similar about 8 months ago when they flagged me for supposedly underreporting hours from a temp job. One thing that really helped my case was getting documentation directly from my employer showing exactly what they reported to EDD and when. It turned out there was a delay in how they submitted my hours that created the discrepancy. I also kept detailed records of all my phone calls and attempts to reach EDD (dates, times, what happened) which the ALJ seemed to appreciate during my hearing. Since you've already identified that it was likely a week mix-up with your variable shifts, I'd suggest creating a timeline document that shows your actual work schedule for those weeks versus what you reported. Visual evidence like that can be really powerful in showing it was an honest error rather than intentional fraud. The appeals process is definitely nerve-wracking, but based on what you've shared, it sounds like you have good evidence that this was a mistake. Keep pushing forward - you've got this!

hey OP, did u get ur SDI application submitted? My sister is going thru almost the same thing right now.

Great to hear you got your SDI application submitted! Just wanted to add that you should also start gathering documentation for your future UI claim while you're recovering. Keep records of your layoff date, any severance paperwork, and your doctor's return-to-work clearance. Having everything organized will make the transition from SDI to UI much smoother when you're ready to start job searching again. Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you so much for the professional perspective! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who works directly in workers comp law that the advice in this thread aligns with the actual legal framework. The distinction you made about "indemnity benefits" vs "permanent disability" is super helpful - I'll definitely ask my attorney to use those specific terms when breaking down my settlement so I can report it accurately to EDD. The point about Medicare Set-Aside provisions is something I hadn't even thought about but makes total sense. I'll make sure to get a complete breakdown that identifies every component of the settlement, including any future medical care provisions. It's such a relief to know that EDD has established processes for these situations since they're common. Sometimes when you're in the middle of it, it feels like you're in uncharted territory, but clearly this is something they handle regularly. I feel much more confident about moving forward now - thanks again for the expert insight!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - expecting a workers comp settlement any day while currently on UI. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! One thing I wanted to add that my workers comp attorney mentioned: make sure to ask for a copy of the "Compromise and Release Agreement" (C&R) when your settlement is finalized. This document will have the most detailed breakdown of what each portion of your settlement represents, which is exactly what you'll need when reporting to EDD. My attorney also told me that in California, most settlements these days are structured as lump sum payments that close out the entire case, rather than ongoing payments. This apparently makes the EDD reporting much cleaner since you're just dealing with one week where you report the settlement rather than ongoing monthly payments that might affect multiple certification periods. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD guidelines on your own! I feel much more prepared now for when my settlement comes through.