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I went through this exact situation 2 months ago! My interview was scheduled for a Tuesday 1-3pm window and I sat by my phone the whole time - nothing. I was absolutely panicking because I thought I'd lose my benefits. Here's what actually happened: They called me 9 days later (the following Thursday) and the rep explained they're massively behind on interviews due to staffing shortages. She said the letters get sent out automatically but the actual interview scheduling system can't keep up with demand. The good news is they won't penalize you for THEIR missed call. When they finally called, the rep could see in their notes that the interview was scheduled and that I hadn't been reached. She actually apologized for the delay! My advice: Don't stress too much, keep certifying as normal, and document everything like others said. If you don't hear anything by next Friday, then definitely try to contact them. But honestly, they'll probably call you within the next week or two.
This is so reassuring to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. Nine days feels like forever when you're worried about your benefits, but knowing they actually apologized and that it's their system issue makes me feel so much better. I'll definitely keep documenting everything and try to be patient. Did your benefits continue processing normally during those 9 days you were waiting, or were they on hold?
I'm going through this EXACT same situation right now! Got a letter for an interview scheduled for yesterday 2-4pm, sat by my phone the entire time with it fully charged and volume all the way up - nobody called. Just like you, when I checked my UI Online account there's absolutely no record of any interview being scheduled. It's like the letter and the online system are completely disconnected! I've been reading through all these responses and it's actually making me feel a lot better knowing this is happening to so many people. It sounds like the EDD is just severely backlogged right now and they're running way behind on these interviews. I'm going to follow the advice here about documenting everything - I already took photos of the letter and screenshots of my UI Online showing no scheduled interview. Planning to keep certifying as normal and give it about a week before trying to contact them through the online system. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this shock - I just went through the exact same thing! Was making $4,900/month as a marketing manager and got my first EDD payment of $340/week last month. The reality check was brutal. What really helped me was immediately calling 211 (as others mentioned) - they connected me to programs I had no idea existed, including emergency utility assistance and a local food pantry that delivers groceries. I also found out my city has a temporary rental assistance program specifically for people on unemployment. One tip that's been a game-changer: I started meal prepping with ingredients from the food bank and buying generic everything. My grocery bill went from $400/month to under $100. Also, if you have any skills you can freelance (writing, tutoring, pet sitting), you can earn up to $25/week without it affecting your benefits - every little bit helps. The hardest part mentally was accepting this is just temporary survival mode, not permanent. Focus all your energy on the job search while utilizing every resource available. You're definitely not alone in this struggle - California's benefit system is completely out of touch with actual living costs here. Hang in there!
This is such invaluable advice, thank you! I never would have thought about calling 211 but it sounds like they're a goldmine of resources. The meal prepping tip is brilliant too - going from $400 to under $100 on groceries is amazing and something I definitely need to figure out. I had no idea about the $25/week freelance earning limit either, so that opens up some possibilities for me. You're absolutely right about the mental shift - accepting this as temporary survival mode rather than trying to maintain my old lifestyle is key, even though it's really hard to adjust to. It's both frustrating and comforting to know so many of us are going through the same reality check with California's benefit system. Thank you for taking the time to share these practical steps and the encouragement - it really helps to have a roadmap from someone who's navigating this successfully!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's such a relief to find this thread! I was making $5,200/month as a software developer before getting laid off six weeks ago, and my EDD weekly benefit is only $425. Like everyone else here, I had absolutely no idea about the benefit caps and was completely blindsided by how little unemployment actually provides. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful - I've already started applications for CalFresh and called 211 yesterday, which connected me to three different local assistance programs I didn't know existed. The mental reframe of viewing this as "temporary survival mode" rather than trying to maintain my previous lifestyle has been crucial for my sanity. One thing I've learned that might help others: if you're in tech like me, there are some industry-specific resources. Organizations like TechStars and local coding bootcamps sometimes have emergency funds or job placement assistance for laid-off developers. Also, some companies are specifically hiring people on unemployment for short-term contract work that stays under the benefit earning limits. The job market is definitely brutal right now, but this community and all the shared resources are helping me stay hopeful. Thank you everyone for being so open about your struggles and solutions - it makes this whole situation feel less isolating!
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Hey Adam, I'm so glad to hear you got this resolved! I'm actually going through a similar situation right now with my claim - submitted weeks ago and stuck waiting after the Notice of Computation. Your experience gives me hope that a phone call might be the key to getting things moving. Did you use Claimyr to get through, or were you able to reach them directly? Thanks for sharing the update - it's really helpful to know there's light at the end of the tunnel! 🙏
Hey Elijah! I'm in a similar boat - submitted my claim about 3 weeks ago and only got the Notice of Computation, nothing since. It's really frustrating being in limbo like this, especially when you're counting on that support. Adam's success story definitely gives me some hope too! I'm planning to call EDD this week to check on my status. Have you tried calling them yet, or are you also debating whether to use a service like Claimyr to get through? Would love to hear how it goes for you!
Hey everyone! I'm a new dad dealing with a similar situation right now. Just submitted my claim last week and already feeling anxious about the waiting period after reading all these experiences. Adam, thanks for sharing your resolution story - it's really reassuring to know that calling EDD directly can actually work! For those still waiting, it sounds like the key is being persistent and not assuming silence means everything is okay. I'm bookmarking this thread and will definitely call if I don't hear back within their stated timeframe. It's crazy how much stress these delays can add during what should be a special time with our newborns. Appreciate this community for sharing real experiences! 👶
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I feel for everyone going through this - the EDD system is absolutely broken and it's infuriating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get our rightful benefits. I went through something similar earlier this year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. The key thing that helped was combining multiple strategies rather than relying on just one approach: 1. I used the 90-second rule religiously - set a timer and called back exactly at 90 seconds after getting the "too many callers" message 2. Alternated between the main number and that 1-833-978-2511 alternate number throughout the day 3. Called at off-peak times: 11:45am, 1:15pm, and 4:15pm were my sweet spots 4. When I finally got through to the automated system, the 1-2-1-1-4 sequence worked for disqualification issues The whole process took me about 8 days of persistent calling, but I eventually got through and got my benefits reinstated. The issue in my case was an unreported address change that flagged my account for review. One more tip: when you do get through to a rep, be super polite and patient even though you're frustrated. They deal with angry people all day and being kind can sometimes get them to go the extra mile to help resolve your issue quickly. Hang in there everyone - this system is awful but don't give up!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Yara! It's really encouraging to hear from someone who actually got through the system and had their benefits reinstated. The combination approach makes a lot of sense - I've been too focused on just trying one method at a time instead of mixing it up throughout the day. I'm definitely going to try your strategy of alternating between the numbers and using that timer for the 90-second rule. And you're absolutely right about being patient with the reps - I know they're just trying to do their jobs in a completely overwhelmed system. Did you have to provide any additional documentation when you got through, or were they able to resolve the address change issue right over the phone? Just want to be prepared with whatever I might need when I finally get connected. Thanks again for the detailed breakdown - it gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off!
Just wanted to jump in and add my experience from last month - I was stuck in the same awful cycle for almost 3 weeks before finally breaking through. What ended up working for me was a combination of the strategies mentioned here: I followed @Nadia's insider tips religiously - especially that 90-second rule and the 11:45am timing. The key breakthrough came when I realized my issue wasn't actually a disqualification but a "pending eligibility review" that got triggered when I reported some freelance income incorrectly on my certification. For anyone dealing with sudden benefit stops, here's what I learned: - Check your EDD account daily for new messages or requests - If you see "disqualification" but no clear reason, it might be an automated hold pending manual review - Keep detailed records of every call attempt (time, number used, result) - it helped when I finally got through - The 1-2-1-1-4 sequence @Nadia mentioned worked perfectly for my situation The whole ordeal was incredibly stressful, especially with bills piling up, but persistence really does pay off. I probably made 200+ calls over those 3 weeks, but when I finally connected with a rep, they were able to resolve everything in about 20 minutes once they understood the issue. Don't give up! This system is designed terribly but your benefits are there waiting once you can get through to the right person.
This is exactly what I needed to hear, Giovanni! I'm currently on day 12 of this nightmare and was starting to lose hope. Your point about it being a "pending eligibility review" rather than a true disqualification is really helpful - my account just shows "benefits stopped" with no clear explanation, so it might be something similar. I love that you kept detailed records of your call attempts - I'm going to start doing that too. It's actually kind of therapeutic to at least feel like I'm tracking the madness! And 200+ calls over 3 weeks sounds about right for what I'm experiencing. Quick question - when you mentioned reporting freelance income incorrectly, did you have to provide additional documentation to fix it, or were they able to correct it just based on what you told them over the phone? I did some gig work a few weeks ago and I'm worried I might have reported those earnings wrong on my last certification. Thanks for sharing your story and keeping the rest of us motivated. It really helps to know that persistence actually does work eventually, even in this broken system!
@Giovanni, your story gives me so much hope! I'm on week 2 of this nightmare and was starting to think I'd never get through. The idea of keeping detailed records is brilliant - I'm going to start a spreadsheet today tracking every call attempt. I'm curious about your freelance income issue - did you have to mail in documentation or were they able to fix it over the phone? I did some Uber driving recently and now I'm paranoid I reported those earnings wrong. Also, when you say "pending eligibility review" - did your online account actually show that phrase, or did you only find out when you talked to someone? Thanks for sharing the success story. Sometimes it feels like we're all just screaming into the void, but knowing that persistence actually worked for someone keeps me going!
Omar Farouk
update us after u get it sorted out! i want to know if it worked out for u
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Freya Christensen
•I definitely will! I'm going to try all these suggestions and report back what works. Fingers crossed!
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Liam Duke
I work as a paralegal at a law firm that handles unemployment appeals, and I can confirm that EDD does accept late appeals when there's good cause. The key is documentation and persistence. A few additional tips that might help: - When you resubmit, include a signed declaration under penalty of perjury stating the date you originally mailed it - If you paid for postage with a card, your bank statement showing the transaction on that date can serve as supporting evidence - Consider sending it via FedEx or UPS with signature confirmation instead of USPS - sometimes gets processed faster - Request an expedited review due to financial hardship when you speak to the Appeals Office The 30-day good cause window Diego mentioned is accurate, so you still have time. I've seen cases where appeals were accepted even 45+ days late with proper documentation of the original submission attempt. Don't give up!
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