I'm new to this community and currently on UI benefits myself. This whole discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were such important distinctions between different types of settlement money. The key takeaway for me is that it's not about whether the money came from a lawsuit, but rather what the settlement is compensating FOR. Wage-related settlements (overtime, back pay, meal break premiums, etc.) need to be reported to EDD, while non-wage damages typically don't. Sean, thank you for sharing your complete experience and following up with the resolution - it's really reassuring to see that EDD was reasonable when you proactively reported the issue. For anyone else reading this thread, it seems like the most important thing is to look at the settlement documentation carefully and when in doubt, call EDD to ask. The phone wait times might be brutal, but it's definitely worth getting the right guidance rather than guessing. This community is amazing for breaking down these complex UI rules in such practical terms!

This thread is exactly what I needed to read! I'm currently on UI and just received notice that I'll be getting a settlement from a class action suit against my former employer (a big retail chain) for unpaid wages and overtime violations. The settlement amount is around $2,300 and based on everything discussed here, it's clear I need to report this since it's wage-related compensation. What I'm wondering is - do I need to report it when I actually receive the physical check, or when I get the settlement notice? The notice says checks will be mailed "within 30-45 days" but doesn't give an exact date. I want to make sure I report it for the correct week when I certify. Sean's experience really gives me confidence that being upfront with EDD from the start is the right approach, even if it means reduced benefits for one week. Thanks everyone for such detailed explanations - this community is incredibly helpful for navigating these complex situations!

I had my REASA meeting about 3 months ago and I completely understand your anxiety! I was a nervous wreck beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most helpful conversations I've had during my unemployment period. My interviewer was actually really friendly and started by walking me through what we'd be covering, which immediately put me at ease. We reviewed my CalJOBS work search log together, and she asked thoughtful questions about my approach rather than trying to trip me up. What really surprised me was how much she knew about my industry - she even suggested some companies I hadn't thought to apply to! The best part was learning about services I had no idea existed. She enrolled me in a free career coaching program and told me about virtual job fairs specifically for my field. I actually got two interviews from leads she gave me during that meeting. My preparation tips: - Make sure your CalJOBS profile is 100% complete and current - Have a mental summary ready of your job search strategy (not just a list of where you applied, but WHY you chose those companies) - Think about any obstacles you're facing - they genuinely want to help solve problems, not penalize you for having them You're clearly taking this seriously by preparing ahead of time, which is exactly the attitude they want to see. This meeting could actually be a game-changer for your job search! Good luck!

I had my REASA meeting just two weeks ago and wanted to add my experience to this amazing thread! Reading all these positive stories beforehand really helped calm my nerves. My meeting lasted about 40 minutes and the interviewer was genuinely supportive. She reviewed my CalJOBS work search activities with me, but spent most of our time discussing my career goals and potential training opportunities. What really stood out was when she noticed I had skills that could transfer to a related field with better job prospects - something I'd never considered! The most valuable outcome was getting connected to a local workforce development center that offers free certification programs. I'm actually starting a digital marketing course next month that they're fully funding, which could really open up new opportunities. A few things that helped me prepare: - I organized all my job search activities by date and industry focus - I prepared a brief elevator pitch about my background and what I'm looking for - I made a list of questions about local resources and training programs The biggest surprise was how collaborative it felt. Instead of feeling interrogated, it was more like having a career counseling session with someone who actually understood the current job market challenges. For anyone still feeling anxious - the fact that you're asking questions and preparing shows you're taking your job search seriously, which is exactly what they want to see. You've got this!

Quick update on what you should expect: The "pending" status is totally normal after reporting work for the first time. EDD often reviews these certifications manually to verify the new employment. It typically switches to "paid" within 2-5 days, but can sometimes take up to 10 days. Also, make sure on your next certification you continue reporting your hours worked during each week, even if they span different pay periods from your employer. EDD's certification weeks (Sun-Sat) often don't align with employer pay periods, which causes confusion for a lot of people.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been juggling part-time work and UI for about 6 months now. The key thing is being consistent with your reporting - always report work when you actually performed it, not when you get paid. I use a simple calendar or notes app to track my hours each day so I don't forget when certification time comes around. Also, don't stress too much about small differences between your estimated earnings and actual paycheck - EDD expects some variance and won't penalize you for reasonable estimates. The important thing is that you're being honest about working vs. not working on specific days. Keep all your pay stubs though, just in case they ever ask for documentation later!

Good luck with your nursing journey! Just wanted to add one more tip since you mentioned the program costs $18,500 - look into whether your school offers payment plans that work with the CBT timeline. Some schools will let you pay monthly instead of upfront, which can help manage the cost while you're on unemployment benefits. Also, once you're in the CBT program, keep ALL your paperwork organized - attendance records, grade reports, etc. EDD can ask for verification at any time and having everything ready makes the process much smoother. My friend in an LVN program had to provide mid-term grades and attendance verification about 6 months into her program. One last thing - start networking with other nursing students and professionals now! The healthcare field is all about connections, and you never know who might help you land that first job after graduation. Wishing you the best!

I'm currently going through the CBT application process for a dental hygiene program and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, when you call your school, ask specifically if they have a "CBT coordinator" or someone who regularly handles EDD training benefit students. Some schools have dedicated staff who know the process inside and out, which can save you a lot of headaches. Second, I learned that you can actually submit your DE 3100 form BEFORE you're officially enrolled, as long as you have a conditional acceptance letter from the school. This can help speed up the approval timeline since you won't be waiting for enrollment AND approval. Also, keep in mind that if your LVN program has any prerequisite courses (like anatomy or medical terminology), those might need to be completed separately and may not qualify for CBT coverage. Make sure the 12-month timeline you mentioned includes everything you need for licensure. The healthcare training programs seem to have pretty good success rates with CBT approval since there's such high demand for healthcare workers in California right now. Best of luck with everything!

One thing I'll add that might help future people finding this thread - if you're a returning filer like Diego was, make sure you're not accidentally trying to reopen your old claim instead of filing a new one. I made this mistake and wasted a whole day thinking the website was broken! When your benefit year expires, you need a completely NEW claim, not a reopened claim. The "Reopen Claim" option in UI Online is only for claims that were closed but are still within the same benefit year. It's another one of those confusing EDD distinctions that trips people up. The new claim process through the main EDD website is definitely the right path when your benefit year has ended.

For anyone who might be reading this thread in the future, I wanted to share a quick tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation. If you're having trouble finding the "File a Claim" option on the main EDD website, sometimes it helps to clear your browser's cache and cookies first. I was getting redirected to weird pages and the navigation wasn't showing up properly until I did this. Also, if you're on mobile, the desktop version of the site tends to work better for filing new claims - the mobile version can be pretty buggy. Just switch to "Desktop Site" in your mobile browser settings before starting the application process. Hope this helps someone avoid the headaches I went through!