This is incredibly frustrating but you're definitely not alone! I went through this exact same issue last month when I got laid off. The EDD portal gets completely confused by old COVID-era claims and creates this endless loop that's impossible to escape on your own. Here's what finally worked for me: Call 833-978-2511 (not the main 800 number) at exactly 8:03 AM - seems to be the sweet spot after the initial 8:00 AM rush but before it gets completely swamped. Be prepared to redial multiple times - I had to hit redial about 30 times before getting into the hold queue. When you finally get a rep, use these exact phrases: "I need you to purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date so I can file a new claim." Don't just ask them to "close" it - they need to completely purge it from the system or you'll still be stuck in the loop. Most importantly: Once they clear your old claim, have them walk you through filing the new one while you're still on the phone! Don't hang up and try to do it yourself later because you might hit another glitch. The rep can complete your new filing right then and there. I know it seems impossible right now, but literally everyone in this thread eventually got through. Your persistence will pay off! Make sure you have all your employment info from the last 18 months ready to go. Good luck! 🍀

I'm going through this EXACT same nightmare right now! Just got laid off yesterday and I'm completely stuck in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2020. It's such a relief to find this thread and realize I'm not the only one dealing with this broken system! Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning my attack strategy for tomorrow morning: calling 833-978-2511 at 8:03 AM with all the magic phrases ready - "purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date." I've already gathered all my employment info for the past 18 months just in case I can get them to file the new claim while I'm on the phone. It's absolutely insane that we need a whole battle plan just to access unemployment benefits we're legally entitled to, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works. The fact that this takes a 5-minute fix from their end after we spend days or weeks trying to figure it out ourselves just shows how broken this system really is. Fingers crossed I can break free from this digital purgatory tomorrow! Will definitely report back with results to help anyone else who gets trapped in this loop. Thanks to everyone for the hope and practical strategies! 🤞

I just want to add another perspective as someone who's been through this twice - once in 2019 and again last year. Both times I filed immediately after being laid off despite having severance packages (4 months the first time, 5 months the second time). What I've learned is that EDD actually has really clear internal processes for handling severance situations - it's not some edge case that confuses them. When you file online, there are specific fields for reporting severance, and their system automatically calculates how it affects your benefits. The customer service reps are trained on this scenario because it's incredibly common with corporate layoffs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're doing any freelance or consulting work during your severance period, make sure to report that income separately from your severance payments. They're treated differently for UI purposes. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, even during the severance period when you're getting $0 benefits. EDD can ask for this documentation later, and it's much easier to track as you go rather than trying to reconstruct it months later. The bottom line is that filing immediately gives you maximum flexibility and protection. You can always turn down benefits if you don't need them, but you can't go back and establish your claim retroactively without potentially losing money or facing complications.

As someone who just went through this exact situation 6 months ago, I can't emphasize enough how crucial it is to file immediately! I got laid off with a 4-month severance package and almost waited until it ended to file - thankfully I found advice similar to what's in this thread and filed right away. Here's what actually happened: Filed my claim the week after being laid off, reported my severance during bi-weekly certifications, got $0 benefits during the severance period, then benefits automatically started the week after my final severance payment with no additional steps needed on my part. The biggest eye-opener was when I calculated what would have happened if I'd waited - I would have lost about $220/week in benefits due to the base period shift, which over the remaining months of my benefit year would have cost me nearly $4,000 total! One practical tip: create a simple spreadsheet to track your monthly severance broken down by week so you're consistent when reporting during certification. I divided my monthly amount by 4.33 (average weeks per month) and reported that same weekly amount each time. Don't let the guilt about filing while receiving severance stop you - your employer paid into this system specifically to provide this protection when you lose your job. The timing of when you file establishes your claim and protects your benefit calculation. You're absolutely making the right choice by filing immediately!

I've been on the Money Network card for about 5 weeks now and can add to what others are saying. My timeline has been very consistent: certify Sunday morning around 6am, see "paid" status in UI Online by Monday afternoon, and get the actual deposit Tuesday morning around 9-10am. It's definitely a slower process than BOA's same-day deposits, but the predictability helps once you adjust your planning. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to check that your Money Network account is fully verified. My first payment was delayed an extra day because I hadn't completed all the verification steps they require. Also, their customer service is pretty hit-or-miss if you need to call, so having all your account details ready helps if you do need to contact them. For anyone still frustrated with the timing, I'd definitely recommend looking into direct deposit through UI Online like others mentioned. I tested it for a couple weeks and it was noticeably faster - usually hit my regular bank Monday evening after Sunday certification.

I've been on Money Network for about 2 weeks now and can confirm the slower timeline everyone's mentioning. With BOA I used to certify Sunday morning and have my money by Sunday night, but now I'm seeing a consistent pattern of Tuesday morning deposits around 10am after Sunday certification. What really helped me was downloading the Money Network app and setting up push notifications - at least I know immediately when the deposit hits instead of constantly checking my balance. I also moved my rent payment from Tuesday to Thursday to account for the new timeline. One question for those who've been using it longer - have you noticed any difference in timing during holiday weeks or is it pretty consistent even then? I'm worried about potential delays around holiday Mondays since that seems to be when EDD processes the "paid" status.

This thread has been an absolute godsend! I'm currently waiting for my EDD interview scheduled for next week and have been stressed beyond belief. Nina, your detailed journey from panic to resolution is exactly what I needed to read. What really stands out to me is how you stayed organized with documentation and kept updating us throughout the process - that's incredibly helpful for those of us going through similar situations. I'm in a very similar boat - was laid off in February from a tech startup that had to downsize their entire product team, have been receiving benefits for about 5 weeks, and suddenly got hit with this interview notice. Reading how your employer initially reported the wrong separation reason but everything worked out once you provided proper documentation gives me hope that mine will too. Already reaching out to my former manager to confirm what was reported to EDD, and I've got all my layoff paperwork organized thanks to everyone's advice here. It's amazing how this community comes together to support each other through these stressful situations!

This thread is absolutely incredible and has been such a lifeline for so many people! Nina, I can't thank you enough for documenting your entire journey from start to finish - from the initial panic to the happy resolution. As someone who's completely new to the unemployment system and frankly terrified of dealing with government agencies, seeing your real experience laid out step by step is invaluable. What really strikes me is how common this situation seems to be based on all the responses here. It's reassuring to know that these interviews are often just routine verification rather than signs of serious problems. The fact that your employer initially reported the wrong separation reason but everything got sorted out quickly when you provided proper documentation is exactly the kind of real-world insight that you can't find in official guides. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because the advice here is gold - keep all documentation organized, don't panic about employer coding errors, prepare a clear timeline, and stay calm during the interview. This community really shows how much we can help each other through these stressful processes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and totally understand your stress! The good news is that second-level appeals to CUIAB have a pretty low success rate for employers, especially when the ALJ made strong factual findings like yours did. The board is really just looking for legal errors in how the judge applied unemployment law, not re-evaluating whether they like the employer's story better. The phrase "inconsistent and unpersuasive" is actually really powerful language that shows the judge carefully evaluated credibility - that's exactly the kind of factual determination the board rarely overturns. My employer also appealed after I won my initial hearing (they claimed "misconduct" with zero documentation), and the board upheld my case after about 10 weeks. Definitely keep certifying every two weeks - that's what you're supposed to do during the appeal process. I was worried about overpayment too, but even in the unlikely event the decision gets reversed, you can request a hardship waiver. Most of these second appeals are honestly just employers trying to avoid higher UI tax rates rather than having real legal merit. You've already cleared the biggest hurdle by winning the first hearing with such strong language from the judge. The waiting is brutal, but try to stay focused on job searching and remember that the statistics are very much in your favor. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this additional stress after already winning your first appeal! I went through something very similar about a year ago when my employer appealed to CUIAB after I won my initial hearing. The anxiety is absolutely brutal, but I want to share what I learned that might help ease your mind a bit. The CUIAB board has a much higher standard for overturning ALJ decisions - they're specifically looking for legal errors in how unemployment law was applied, not just disagreeing with the outcome. The fact that your judge used such strong language calling their evidence "inconsistent and unpersuasive" is actually a really good sign. That's the kind of credibility finding that carries serious weight with the board. In my case, the employer claimed I was terminated for "performance issues" but had zero documentation to back it up (sound familiar?). The board upheld the ALJ decision after about 11 weeks, basically saying the judge properly evaluated the evidence and applied the law correctly. Definitely keep certifying and collecting benefits during this process - that's exactly what you're supposed to do. I was terrified about potential overpayment too, but my case worker assured me that's the correct procedure. Even in the unlikely event something gets reversed, hardship waivers are available. Most of these second appeals are honestly just employers trying to avoid higher UI tax rates rather than having real legal grounds. You've already won the hardest battle - try to stay focused on your husband's job search and remember that the odds are very much in your favor. Hang in there!