This is incredibly helpful information! I've been stuck in the interview queue for about 8 weeks now and my situation is getting desperate. A few questions if you don't mind - when you say "hardship documents," what specific types of paperwork did you include? I have medical bills, notice from my landlord about late rent, and some utility shut-off notices. Also, when you called back after faxing, did you specifically mention the fax number (714-736-3103) to help them locate your documents faster? I'm definitely going to try this approach - thank you so much for sharing what worked for you!

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been stuck waiting for an interview for 3 months now and my savings are completely depleted. Just to make sure I understand correctly - you fax everything to (714) 736-3103 with a cover letter that includes your account number, then call back in 1-2 days asking to speak to a tier 2 rep about the hardship documents you faxed? Did you have to explain your whole situation again over the phone or did they already have your fax when you called? Also, roughly how long did it take from when you faxed to when you actually got your backpay? Thank you so much for giving us hope!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I want to reassure you that you're handling this perfectly! I made the same mistake on my first certification last year - got confused about when my benefit week actually started and reported no work when I had actually worked several days. The fact that your claim is still "pending for review" is actually the best possible scenario. It means the system caught the discrepancy between your certification and your employer's wage report before issuing any payment. This is exactly how it's supposed to work! Here's what worked for me: - I called at 8:00 AM sharp on a Wednesday and got through after about 15 minutes on hold - The EDD rep was super understanding and said this happens constantly with new claimants - I provided my exact work dates and gross earnings, and she updated everything immediately - She put detailed notes in my file showing I self-reported the error before payment - No penalties, no fraud issues, and my claim processed normally afterward Don't let the fraud fears get to you - those situations involve people who collect benefits they shouldn't have and try to hide it. You're doing the complete opposite by proactively trying to fix this before getting paid. Keep trying those early morning calls and have your May 6-9 work dates and earnings ready. The EDD reps deal with these honest mistakes all the time and they'd much rather fix it now than later. You're going to be fine!

Just wanted to add my experience as another data point for you! I made almost the exact same mistake about 8 months ago - reported no work on my certification when I had actually worked the last few days of that benefit week. I was absolutely terrified about fraud accusations and potential disqualification. Here's what happened when I finally got through to EDD: - Called at 8:05 AM on a Tuesday and got connected after about 20 minutes on hold - The rep immediately put me at ease, saying "Oh, this happens all the time with new claimants - don't worry, we can fix this easily" - She had me verify my work dates and gross earnings, then updated my certification in real-time - She specifically noted in my file that I had self-reported the error before any payment was issued - The whole process took maybe 12 minutes What really surprised me was how routine this was for them. The rep explained that the benefit week system is genuinely confusing for people who are new to unemployment, and they much prefer when people call to correct mistakes rather than letting them slide. Your "pending for review" status is actually perfect timing - it likely means your employer's wage report already flagged the discrepancy, so when you call to correct it, everything will align properly in their system. Don't let the stress consume you - you're being proactive and honest, which is exactly what EDD wants to see. Have those May 6-9 dates and earnings ready, and keep trying those early morning calls. You'll get through soon and this will all be behind you!

I actually just went through this same situation a few months ago! EDD won't have any issues with duplicate appeals - they'll just process whichever one arrives first and note in their system that it was received via multiple methods. The important thing is that you get it submitted within that 30-day window. I ended up faxing mine and then mailing a copy the next day just to be extra sure, and the EDD rep I spoke with later said that was totally fine. One thing I'd also suggest - when you fax it, call EDD a day or two later to confirm they received it. Sometimes fax machines can be finicky and you want to make sure it actually went through properly. The peace of mind is worth the extra effort when you're dealing with something this important!

I'm dealing with a similar employer date dispute right now! One thing that really helped me was gathering ALL possible documentation before submitting my appeal. Beyond just the final paystub, I also included my timesheet from that last week, any text messages or emails about my last day, and even printed out my work schedule showing I wasn't scheduled after April. The more evidence you can provide upfront, the stronger your case will be. Also, when you write your explanation on the DE 1000M form, be really specific about what your employer got wrong - don't just say "they're lying about my end date" but explain exactly what they claimed vs. what actually happened. I know the paper process is frustrating, but hang in there! The key is being thorough with your documentation.

This is exactly the kind of detailed info I wish I had when I first started working part-time on unemployment! The conversion formula is straightforward once you get it - just divide minutes by 60. But honestly, keeping that cheat sheet handy like @Caleb Bell suggested is genius. One additional tip - if you use a time tracking app on your phone for personal use, many of them can export your hours in decimal format automatically. I started using one called Toggl when I began my part-time job and it saves the conversion step entirely. You just start/stop the timer when you begin/end work and it calculates everything for you. Also want to echo what others said about consistency being key. Whether you round to nearest quarter hour or calculate exact decimals, just pick one method and stick with it. EDD cares way more about honesty and consistency than they do about whether you reported 3.33 vs 3.25 hours.

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I just got hired for a part-time position and was completely lost on the time conversion thing. The divide-by-60 rule makes perfect sense now, and I love all the practical tips everyone shared. Quick question though - does anyone know if there's a specific time limit for how long after your work week ends you need to report those hours? Like if I work Monday-Friday, do I need to update my certification immediately or can I wait until my regular certification date? I don't want to accidentally miss a deadline and mess up my benefits. Also definitely going to try that Toggl app suggestion - anything that can automate the math sounds amazing to me!

Hey, did you end up getting through to EDD? Just curious which method worked for you. I had a similar situation last month (though mine was a phone interview not video) and it took me forever to cancel it properly.

Great to hear you got it sorted out! For future reference for anyone else in this situation, you can also try calling the EDD Employer Services line at 1-888-745-3886 - they sometimes transfer you to the right department and the hold times are often shorter than the main number. Also worth noting that if you have a CalJOBS account, you can update your employment status there too which helps keep everything synchronized across their systems.