I went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago! Here's what worked for me: First, try logging into your SDI Online account and look under "Claim Status" or "Benefit Information" - sometimes the remaining balance is displayed there. If you can't find it online, I'd recommend using the secure messaging feature before calling. I sent a message asking for my remaining SDI balance and got a detailed response within 3 business days showing exactly how much I had left and when my benefit year expires. It saved me from the nightmare of calling and waiting on hold. The EDD representatives are actually pretty helpful through the messaging system. Just make sure to include your full name, claim number, and specifically ask for your "remaining SDI benefit balance and benefit year end date" in your message. Good luck! 🤞

I actually just went through this process last week! The SDI Online portal is definitely your best bet - I found my remaining balance under the "Claim Summary" section. If you're having trouble locating it there, try looking under "Payment History" where it shows your total benefit amount and what you've already received. You can do the math from there. The secure messaging feature is also clutch - I used it to ask about my benefit year end date and got a response in 2 days. Way less stressful than calling! Just make sure you're logging into the official CA.gov SDI site and not any third-party sites. Hope this helps! 💪

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what's actually happening with EDD claims! I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - had my interview 11 days ago and my status changed to "no weeks to certify" about a week ago. Like everyone else here, I was convinced I'd been denied and was starting to panic about my finances. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's experience has been - the exact same status progression from "pending review" to "no weeks to certify" followed by these system flags that need manual clearing. It's honestly mind-blowing that EDD doesn't explain this is their standard process. We're all left here piecing together how their system works from each other's experiences! Reading through Ella's success story and seeing how many others have had their "disqualified" weeks flip to paid status once the flags were cleared gives me real hope. The advice about calling instead of waiting the full timeline seems to be crucial - it's frustrating that we have to be so proactive just to get our own claims unstuck, but at least there's a clear path forward. I'm planning to call tomorrow based on all the success stories here. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support is exactly what people need when dealing with EDD's broken communication system!

This thread has been such a valuable resource for me! I'm currently going through this exact same situation - had my phone interview 8 days ago and my status changed to "no weeks to certify" 4 days ago. Like everyone else here, I was absolutely convinced I'd been denied and was starting to have panic attacks about how I'm going to pay my bills. Reading through all of your experiences, especially Ella's detailed journey and successful resolution, has been incredibly reassuring. The pattern is so consistent across everyone's cases - it's clear that this "no weeks to certify" status after an interview is just EDD's terrible way of saying "we're processing your results" rather than "you've been denied." What really frustrates me is how EDD could easily prevent all this anxiety by simply explaining their process upfront. Instead, we're all left here playing detective with our own claims and supporting each other through what should be straightforward communication from them. Based on all the success stories here about calling and getting these system flags cleared immediately, I'm definitely going to try getting through to someone tomorrow instead of waiting around stressing for weeks. The fact that those scary "disqualified" weeks can flip to paid status once resolved gives me so much hope for getting the back pay I desperately need. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has become a lifeline for navigating EDD's broken system. I'll update once I hopefully get through to someone!

I'm having the exact same issue and it's driving me insane! Been trying for 3 days now and the verification codes just won't come through no matter what I try. I've been reading through all these suggestions and they're super helpful - definitely going to try the website version instead of the app and check my spam folder. One thing that's really bothering me is how unreliable this whole system is when we depend on it for our basic needs. Like, this is our unemployment money and we shouldn't have to become tech experts just to access our own funds! The old Bank of America system had its issues but at least it was more consistent. Going to try calling at 7 AM tomorrow and see if I can get through to someone who can help. In the meantime, I'm also going to look into switching to direct deposit like so many people recommended - seems like that's the best long-term solution to avoid these Money Network headaches altogether. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. It really helps to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!

I'm going through this exact same verification code nightmare right now! Been locked out for over 48 hours and it's so stressful when you just need to check if your payment went through. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about some of these workarounds like using the website instead of the app, checking spam folders, or that you can text "BAL" to 22622 for a quick balance check. The tip about calling right at 7 AM when they open seems to be the most consistent advice I'm seeing. What's really frustrating is how we have to become tech support experts just to access our own unemployment funds when we're already dealing with financial stress. The Money Network system definitely feels less reliable than the old Bank of America setup. I'm going to try the website login and early morning call approach, but I think I'm also going to start the process of switching to direct deposit like so many people have recommended. It sounds like that's the best long-term solution to avoid these recurring app issues altogether. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community support makes dealing with these technical problems so much less stressful when you know you're not alone!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar boat - lost my restaurant management job 5 weeks ago and just got offered a part-time barista position at a small coffee shop (about 15-18 hours/week at $17/hour). I was so worried about messing up my unemployment benefits that I almost turned it down, but reading everyone's success stories here has given me the confidence to accept it. The advice about keeping meticulous records really resonates - I'm going to start using a time-tracking app right away and take photos of my schedule like several people suggested. It's clear that being organized and 100% honest with reporting is what makes this work smoothly. One thing that really stood out to me is how many people mentioned the networking benefits of part-time work. I hadn't considered that working in a coffee shop could lead to connections for full-time opportunities, but it makes total sense - you meet so many different professionals throughout the day. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! This community has been a lifesaver for navigating this confusing system. I'm going to accept the barista job and start building that documentation system everyone recommends. Here's to making more money combined than on unemployment alone while staying active in the workforce!

I've been working part-time while on unemployment for about 8 months now and wanted to share some insights that might help! I started at a local retail store doing 18-20 hours/week after losing my office job, and it's honestly been one of the best decisions I made during this whole unemployment journey. A few things I learned that haven't been mentioned yet: - EDD actually has a "work search waiver" in some cases if you're working sufficient part-time hours AND actively looking for full-time work in your field. Worth asking about during any phone calls with reps. - Some employers are more flexible about scheduling around interviews than others - this is definitely something to discuss early on, especially in customer service roles like cafes where they understand people might be transitioning between jobs. - Keep a simple spreadsheet with three columns: Date, Hours Worked, Gross Pay. Makes certification SO much easier when you have everything in one place. The financial boost is real - I'm making about $180 more per week combined than I was on full unemployment, which has been crucial for covering increased costs of everything lately. Plus having recent work references has definitely helped in my full-time job interviews. Take that cafe job! You're going to do great, and this community will be here if you run into any questions along the way. The hardest part is just getting started - once you establish the routine, it becomes second nature.

I'm a construction worker who went through this same process about 6 months ago after being laid off from a bridge repair project. Just wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring responses you've gotten - this questionnaire is absolutely routine for our industry! The key thing that helped me was understanding that EDD sees construction layoffs due to project completion literally every single day. When I called to ask about the timing (I was also confused since I'd been approved and certifying for weeks), the rep told me it's actually more unusual for construction claims NOT to get these questionnaires. Your situation sounds textbook - laid off after 3 years when the project ended, already approved and certifying successfully. That termination letter stating "end of project" is golden. When I filled mine out, I made sure to be really clear about the temporary nature of construction work and that the layoff was purely due to lack of available projects. One small tip: if your questionnaire asks about "availability for work," make sure to emphasize that you're actively seeking new construction projects/positions. Sometimes they want to confirm you're not just waiting for your old job to call you back. The whole thing was way less scary than I built it up to be. Filled it out, sent it back with tracking, and never had another issue. Since you've got legitimate documentation and a clear-cut layoff situation, you're going to be absolutely fine. Construction workers stick together - you've got this!

As someone who's been in the construction industry for over a decade and has dealt with multiple unemployment claims, I can tell you that what you're experiencing is completely normal. These eligibility questionnaires are basically EDD's standard operating procedure for verifying construction layoffs, especially in the first few months of a claim. The timing you mentioned - getting it after 4 weeks of successful certifications - is actually perfect timing from EDD's perspective. They've processed your initial claim, started your benefits, and now they're doing their routine verification to make sure everything matches up between your account and what your employer reported. Here's what I always tell fellow construction workers going through this: 1. Your "end of project" termination letter is exactly what EDD wants to see - keep a copy for your records and include one with the questionnaire 2. Be specific about the project details (name, location, dates) if you have them 3. Make it clear this was a legitimate layoff due to lack of work, not a quit or termination for cause 4. Don't overthink the questions - they're designed to be straightforward Construction project layoffs are one of the most common unemployment scenarios EDD handles. The fact that you worked for the same company for 3 years before being laid off actually strengthens your case - it shows stability and that this wasn't a pattern of job-hopping. Fill it out thoroughly, send it back quickly with tracking, and try not to stress. You've already done the hard part by getting approved. This is just paperwork to confirm what they already know. You've got this!