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I just went through this exact situation about 2 months ago - wrongful misconduct disqualification during probation that was completely bogus. My timeline was pretty typical: received the favorable decision letter 10 days after my hearing, then payments started hitting my account 6 days after that. So about 2.5 weeks total from hearing to getting paid. A few things that really helped me: First, I downloaded the EDD mobile app and enabled push notifications - you'll get instant alerts when your payment status changes which is way less stressful than constantly checking the website. Second, I called EDD the day after receiving my decision letter to confirm they had processed it in their system (sometimes there's a disconnect between appeals and payment processing). Third, I kept a simple daily reminder to check UI Online rather than obsessively refreshing it all day. The backpay was substantial after waiting so long - over $7,200 covering about 4 months. Just mentally prepare for that financial windfall after being down to your last dollars! Also consider setting aside about 20% for taxes since that lump sum could affect your bracket. Based on your lawyer's confidence and how well the hearing went, it sounds like you have a really strong case. Keep certifying every two weeks - all those weeks will get paid retroactively once they lift the disqualification. You're almost at the finish line! This whole process is a nightmare but they do make it right eventually for people who legitimately deserve benefits.
This is really encouraging to hear! 2.5 weeks total sounds very manageable compared to what I was fearing. I definitely need to download that EDD mobile app - getting instant notifications sounds so much better than constantly refreshing the website and driving myself crazy. The tip about calling EDD the day after getting the decision letter is really smart too, especially if there can be delays between the appeals office and payment processing. I hadn't thought about the tax implications of getting such a large lump sum either - setting aside 20% for taxes is great advice since I haven't been having anything withheld while unemployed. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who went through almost the exact same wrongful misconduct situation during probation. Really hoping I get similar results! Thanks for sharing your timeline and all the practical tips.
I went through a very similar situation last year - misconduct disqualification during probation that was completely unfounded. My timeline was: received favorable decision letter 8 days after hearing, then payments started 11 days after that. So about 2.5-3 weeks total from hearing to money hitting my account. A few tips that really helped: Download the EDD mobile app and enable notifications - you'll get alerts immediately when your payment status changes. Also, call EDD 1-2 days after you receive your decision letter to confirm they've processed it properly in their system. Sometimes there are delays between the appeals office and payment processing that require manual intervention. The backpay will likely be substantial after waiting 4+ months - mine was over $6,800. Just be prepared for that financial relief! Also consider setting aside about 20% for taxes since the lump sum could bump you into a higher bracket. Based on your lawyer's confidence and how the hearing went, it sounds like you have a strong case. Keep certifying every two weeks - all those weeks will get paid retroactively once they remove the disqualification. You're so close to the finish line now! This whole process is incredibly stressful but they do make it right eventually when you legitimately deserve benefits.
I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation, but I'm really glad you found this thread with all the excellent advice! I went through something very similar about a year ago - same probation period pressure, same manipulative "resign to protect your record" offer from HR. It's such a common tactic and honestly pretty disgusting how they prey on people's fears about future employment just to save money on unemployment insurance costs. I let them terminate me and my EDD benefits were approved without any major issues. During my eligibility interview, I kept it simple and factual - just explained that I was let go during my probationary period because my employer said I wasn't meeting their performance expectations despite my efforts to improve. The interviewer was actually very understanding and professional about it. Your instinct to save those emails documenting your requests for training and clarification is spot-on - that kind of documentation really helps show you were making good faith efforts and this is just a probation/fit issue, not misconduct. When you file your claim online, keep the explanation neutral and factual, something like "terminated during probationary period for not meeting employer's performance standards." You're absolutely making the right choice by not letting them manipulate you out of benefits you've earned through your previous work history. Stay strong and don't let their guilt trip work - you've got this!
@Toot-n-Mighty Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through this exact situation and came out okay. I'm definitely feeling more confident about my decision now after reading everyone's stories. Your point about keeping the explanation neutral and factual is so important - I was worried about how to word it without making it sound worse than it actually is. "Terminated during probationary period for not meeting employer's performance standards" is perfect phrasing that doesn't throw myself under the bus. It's honestly mind-blowing how many people have dealt with this identical manipulation tactic from employers. This community has been such a lifeline for navigating this stressful situation - I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their real experiences and advice!
I'm currently in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! My employer just approached me today with the same "voluntary resignation to protect your permanent record" offer during my probation period. After reading everyone's experiences here, I can see this is clearly a widespread manipulation tactic designed to avoid paying unemployment costs. It's honestly appalling how common this practice is! I've been keeping documentation of all my requests for additional training and feedback, so I feel much more prepared now to let them terminate me instead of falling for their guilt trip. The specific advice about using neutral language like "terminated during probationary period for not meeting employer's performance standards" when filing the EDD claim is incredibly helpful. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - you've potentially saved me from making a huge financial mistake. This community really shows the power of people looking out for each other against these predatory corporate tactics!
Have you considered reaching out to your state representative's office for assistance? I had a similar childcare situation with my nursing job and their constituent services helped me navigate the EDD process. They can sometimes expedite reviews or provide guidance on documentation. Also, check if your company has a family leave policy or if you qualify for any California family leave protections before quitting - sometimes there are options HR doesn't mention. Document everything with dates and keep pushing for written responses. Good luck!
That's a really smart suggestion about contacting your state rep! I never would have thought of that. Do you know if they actually have staff who understand EDD rules, or do they just help you get through to someone faster? Also wondering about the family leave angle - I thought those protections were mainly for medical issues, but maybe there are childcare provisions I don't know about. Did your representative's office help you get approved faster?
I'm going through something very similar right now! Single mom with a 6-year-old and my retail job keeps changing my schedule last minute. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every interaction - not just emails, but also notes from verbal conversations with dates, times, and who said what. I also found out that California law requires employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for childcare needs in some cases. Have you looked into whether your company has any written policies about schedule consistency for parents? Sometimes they have policies they don't advertise but are required to follow if you formally request them. Also, before you quit, you might want to send one final certified letter to corporate HR (not just store level) requesting accommodation - that creates a paper trail that EDD really values during their review process.
Congratulations on the new marketing position! 🎉 This thread has such fantastic advice - I'm definitely saving it for reference too! One thing I wanted to add that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider setting up Google Alerts for marketing industry keywords relevant to your new role. Activities like "reviewed Google Alerts for 'content marketing trends 2024'" or "analyzed Google Alerts for 'marketing automation best practices'" count as legitimate work search activities. Plus, you'll stay on top of industry news which will be super valuable when you start! I also found it helpful to create a simple routine where I'd do one work search activity each on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday - spreading them out made it feel less overwhelming than trying to do all three at once. And definitely agree with everyone about being super specific in your documentation. EDD loves details! The bureaucratic stuff is annoying, but this community has shown how you can turn it into genuine professional development time. You're going to be so well-prepared when you start in June! Best of luck with everything! 🚀
Congratulations on the new job, Nathan! 🎉 This thread has been such a goldmine of practical advice - I'm actually bookmarking it too! I wanted to add something that really helped me when I was in your exact situation last year: consider using your local library's online resources as part of your work search activities. Most libraries offer free access to LinkedIn Learning, industry databases, and professional development courses. Activities like "completed marketing analytics module through [Library Name] LinkedIn Learning access" or "researched marketing salary data using library's Bureau of Labor Statistics database" are totally legitimate work search activities. What I loved about this approach was that it felt productive AND it was completely free. Plus, librarians are amazing at helping you find industry-specific resources you might not have known existed. I discovered some fantastic marketing research databases through my library that I still use in my current role. The key is documenting everything specifically - date, resource used, specific topic studied, and time spent. I kept a simple Google Doc that I'd update right after each session. You're going to absolutely crush it at your new marketing position! Using this waiting period for targeted skill-building is such a smart way to turn EDD requirements into career advancement. Best of luck! 📚✨
This is such a brilliant suggestion about using library resources! I had no idea that most libraries offer free LinkedIn Learning access - that's incredible and definitely something I'm going to look into this week. The idea of using their industry databases and BLS resources for salary research is perfect too. I love how you've found yet another way to turn these EDD requirements into genuinely valuable professional development. And you're so right about librarians being amazing resources - I haven't utilized my local library nearly enough for professional stuff. Thanks for sharing this creative approach! I'm going to call my library tomorrow to see what marketing-related resources they have available. This thread really has become the ultimate guide for navigating this situation productively! 📚
Lucy Taylor
For those who are still having issues after the system comes back up, sometimes your browser stores corrupted cookies from the failed login attempts. Try these steps: 1. Clear browser cache and cookies specifically for edd.ca.gov 2. Restart browser completely 3. Try incognito/private browsing window 4. Check that your internet connection is stable I've found that doing a full browser reset helps 90% of the time when these login glitches happen.
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KhalilStar
•I just tried your suggestion and it worked! I was still getting errors even after others said the system was back up. Clearing the cookies specifically for EDD (not everything) did the trick.
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StarStrider
This is exactly why I always try to certify on weekdays when possible! I learned the hard way that Sunday mornings are the worst time to use the EDD site. I've been dealing with UI claims for almost a year now and I've noticed the system is much more stable Tuesday-Thursday between 10am-2pm. I know it's not always possible to avoid your assigned certification day, but if you have flexibility, those are the golden hours. Also, bookmark the mobile version of the site (m.edd.ca.gov) as a backup - it sometimes works when the main site is down because it runs on different servers.
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Emma Wilson
•This is super helpful advice! I'm new to the unemployment system and had no idea there were better times to use the site. I've been trying to certify whenever I remember, which is usually Sunday mornings like today when I have time. Definitely going to try those weekday hours you mentioned. Quick question - do you know if there's a way to change your assigned certification day, or are you stuck with whatever day they give you initially?
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