I'm so glad I found this thread before starting my first certification! Reading through everyone's experiences with that confusing checkbox has been incredibly eye-opening. The "opt out" mental framework that keeps getting mentioned makes so much sense - thinking of it as "Do you want to opt out of tax withholding?" instead of trying to decode that terrible double negative wording. It's honestly shocking how many people have made this exact same mistake. This clearly isn't user error - it's a massive design failure on EDD's part. A simple change to "Check here if you want 10% federal taxes withheld" would eliminate all this confusion instantly, but apparently that's too much to ask from a government agency. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and will make sure to leave that box UNCHECKED when I want taxes taken out. The tip about checking your payment amounts to verify the 10% withholding is working is really smart too - I'll definitely do that after my first certification. Thank you to everyone who shared their costly mistakes and hard-learned lessons. You're literally saving newcomers like me from thousands of dollars in unexpected tax bills. This community is amazing!

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm literally about to file my first unemployment claim next week and had no idea this tax withholding checkbox even existed, let alone how confusing it would be. Reading through everyone's stories really drives home that this is 100% a design problem, not user error. The fact that so many smart, careful people made the exact same mistake shows just how terrible that double negative wording is. The "opt out" mental framework that multiple people mentioned is going to be my lifesaver - thinking of it as "Do you want to OPT OUT of tax withholding?" makes it so much clearer than trying to parse "Do NOT withhold..." I'm definitely going to leave it UNCHECKED since I want the 10% federal taxes withheld (after reading about everyone's tax season surprises, there's no way I'm risking that!). The tip about verifying with the first payment amount is brilliant too - I'll check that the amount received is 10% less than my weekly benefit to confirm I did it right. It's honestly mind-boggling that EDD hasn't fixed this after years of widespread confusion. Like others said, a simple "Yes, withhold 10% federal taxes" option would solve this instantly. Until they fix it, threads like this are literally saving people thousands of dollars. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your hard-learned lessons!

Claim Under" Review is totally normal at this stage -'that s exactly what mine showed for the first week or so! I remember checking mine obsessively (too like every few hours)lol . The system is just doing all the background verification of your wages, work history, and SDI claim details. One thing that helped my anxiety during the waiting period was keeping busy with job applications and networking. Not only does it help distract from the stress, but'you re building up that job search activity log for when they ask about it during the phone interview. Also, if you'haven t already, make sure you have your Social Security Statement (handy you can get it online at) ssa.gov since they sometimes ask about your wage history during the interview to verify the information.'You re doing everything right though - just hang in there! The financial relief is comingsoon.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who made this same transition recently! I was on SDI for about 8 months in 2024 after a car accident, then successfully transitioned to UI when I was cleared to work. The process was smoother than I expected once I understood the key points everyone's mentioned here. One thing I'd add is to make sure you're prepared for the "able and available" questions during your phone interview. They'll ask very specific things like "Can you work full-time hours?" "Can you work any shift?" "Are there any physical restrictions?" Since you mentioned being medically cleared with no restrictions, you should be fine, but practice answering these confidently. Also, Emma, since you mentioned your financial situation is getting desperate - once you get approved, your first payment should come within 2-3 weeks after that phone interview (assuming no issues). It's not instant relief, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! Keep doing exactly what you're doing with the job search documentation and staying available for that call. You've got this! 💪

As someone who went through a similar short-term furlough situation last year, I wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me navigate the process smoothly. First, when you certify for benefits, be very clear about your furlough status - answer "yes" when asked if you're able and available for work, but make sure to note in any comment sections that you have a definite return date. Second, if you have any side income or do any freelance work during the furlough (which some people do to make ends meet), make sure to report it accurately when certifying. Even small amounts need to be reported and can affect your weekly benefit amount. Finally, consider setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it can speed up payment processing once your claim is approved. The fact that your company was proactive about suggesting you file is a good sign that they'll cooperate fully with EDD if contacted for verification. Wishing you a smooth process!

One more thing to consider - if your company offers any kind of supplemental unemployment benefits (SUB pay) during the furlough, make sure you understand how that might affect your EDD claim. Some employers provide partial pay during furloughs, and you'll need to report this when certifying. Also, since your furlough is only one month, you might want to think about whether it's worth the administrative hassle versus just using savings if you have them. However, if this is unpaid time off due to no fault of your own, you've earned those unemployment benefits through your past work, so there's no shame in claiming them! The system exists for exactly these situations. Just make sure to stop certifying immediately when you return to work on April 10th, even if your claim is still active.

So glad you got through and got it resolved! This is exactly why I keep telling people about hidden flags in the system - there are so many technical glitches that create invisible barriers. I've seen the ID.me sync issue multiple times where people think they're verified but EDD's system shows something different. For anyone else reading this who might have similar pending issues, it's also worth asking the rep to check for any "stop payment indicators" or "eligibility review flags" that might not show up on your UI Online account. Sometimes there are multiple layers of holds that need to be cleared. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it gives hope to others dealing with the same nightmare!

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with a similar pending certification issue right now (going on 3 weeks) and reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope that there's actually a solution. I've been doing the endless calling routine like you were, Sean, but I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and also submit that specific "Pending certification with no issues identified" message through UI Online that Nia mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to become detective-investigators just to get our rightful benefits, but at least this community shares the real strategies that actually work. Thank you all for being so detailed with your advice - it's clear everyone here understands the desperation and stress of dealing with EDD's broken system.

I'm currently going through something very similar and this entire thread has been a lifeline. The systematic approach everyone has outlined - from @Malik's professional insights about the legal requirements to @StarGazer101's warnings about employer counter-claims - has completely changed how I'm approaching my situation. What's been most eye-opening is realizing how much documentation and strategic planning is required. I was ready to just quit and hope for the best, but now I understand this needs to be treated like building a legal case. I've started implementing the voice memo technique for immediate post-incident documentation, scheduled a doctor's appointment to get medical evidence linking my anxiety to workplace stress, and I'm gathering positive performance reviews to counter any employer retaliation claims. The wage manipulation angle is something I hadn't fully considered until reading this thread. Looking back at my pay stubs, I can see clear discrepancies between scheduled hours and actual pay that I initially dismissed as administrative errors. Now I realize this could actually strengthen my case significantly. One thing I want to emphasize for others reading this: the level of detailed preparation required is both overwhelming and empowering. It's a lot of work, but knowing there's a proven path forward makes the situation feel manageable instead of hopeless. Thank you @Liam for having the courage to ask these questions, and thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences. This thread has created an incredible resource that's giving so many of us hope and a concrete action plan. The fact that multiple people have successfully navigated this process following these steps proves it's absolutely possible to win these cases with proper preparation.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and gives me so much hope! I'm in a nearly identical situation - toxic manager who screams at everyone, panic attacks before work, and what I now realize might be wage theft too. The strategic approach everyone has outlined is eye-opening. I was about to just quit and hope for the best, but now I see this needs to be treated like building a legal case with proper documentation and following specific procedures. I'm starting to implement the advice from this thread: - Using the voice memo technique after incidents to capture details while fresh - Scheduling a doctor appointment to get medical documentation linking my anxiety to workplace stress - Gathering positive performance reviews to counter any employer pushback - Planning formal HR complaints with specific remedies and deadlines The fact that so many people have successfully gotten benefits after following these steps is incredibly encouraging. Thank you @Liam for starting this conversation and everyone who shared their experiences - this has become an amazing resource for all of us dealing with workplace abuse. One quick question: for those who mentioned filing wage claims with the Labor Commissioner - is there a specific timeframe for when you need to file that in relation to your EDD claim?