Good plan! Just wanted to add - when you call your employer, try to get their response in writing (email follow-up) if possible. If they officially terminate your employment, that documentation could be helpful for EDD records. Also, don't forget to report any status changes through your UI Online account right away. The sooner you start your job search intensively, the better - even if you do end up getting called back, having other options lined up gives you more security. Best of luck with everything!

Just wanted to add something that might help - if you've been on furlough for this long, you should also check if your employer has been continuing your health insurance coverage. Sometimes companies will quietly drop furloughed employees from their health plan after a certain period to cut costs. If that's happened, you might be eligible for COBRA or need to look into Covered California for health coverage while you're job searching. Also, some local workforce development centers offer free job search assistance and skills training - might be worth checking out your local One-Stop Career Center. They sometimes have connections with employers who are actively hiring. Hang in there!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a similar nightmare with EDD last year. After being disqualified for "voluntary quit" when I was actually laid off, I spent 6 weeks trying every free method imaginable - calling hundreds of times, messaging through UI Online, even showing up at the local office (they just told me to call). What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my assembly member AND used a paid service simultaneously. The assembly member's office got back to me after 8 business days, but by then the paid service had already gotten me through and my issue was resolved. For those worried about the ethics - I get it, I really do. But when you're facing homelessness because a government system is failing you, sometimes you have to do what you can to survive. The real problem isn't people using these services, it's that EDD has created a system so broken that these services can exist and thrive. @Amina Sow - if you do decide to use a service, make sure they guarantee you only pay if connected, and have your case details, ID, and any supporting documents ready before the call. Also ask specifically for a Tier 2 specialist right away - don't let them transfer you around. The whole situation is maddening, but don't let pride keep you from getting the help you need if free methods aren't working.

I've been in a similar boat and completely understand both your desperation and ethical concerns. After 4 weeks of trying to reach EDD about my pending disqualification, I finally broke down and used one of these services (ended up using EDD Caller after researching several options). Here's what I learned: - They do work, but they're essentially just sophisticated auto-dialers that keep calling until they get through the queue - Cost me $20 but saved probably 20+ hours of my time trying to redial constantly - Got connected to an actual EDD rep in about 45 minutes vs. weeks of failed attempts - The rep was able to see all my uploaded documents and resolve my issue in one call I felt conflicted about paying for what should be free government access, but when you're facing financial hardship and the system is this broken, sometimes pragmatism wins over principles. These services exist because EDD has failed to adequately staff their phone lines or improve their system. My advice: try the free methods others mentioned first (assembly member contact is surprisingly effective), but don't let ethics prevent you from getting help you desperately need. The system is broken - that's not your fault, and you shouldn't suffer because of it. Whatever you decide, make sure you're prepared with specific questions and all your documentation ready when you do get through!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some insights that might help with your situation! I've been researching California UI law extensively due to a similar circumstance, and spousal relocation for healthcare work is actually one of the strongest cases for good cause separation. The key factor EDD looks for is whether the relocation was "necessary" versus "voluntary," and healthcare transfers are typically considered necessary due to licensing requirements and the critical nature of the work. From what I've learned, your 500+ mile distance absolutely meets the threshold for "impractical commuting distance" - California courts have consistently ruled that anything over 2-3 hours each way is unreasonable. With your husband's healthcare transfer being mandatory and the extreme distance involved, you should have a very strong case. One thing I'd suggest is to document not just the transfer itself, but also any conversations you had with your school district about the timing. If you gave appropriate notice and tried to work with them on the transition, that shows good faith effort to minimize disruption to your employer. The fact that you were in your teaching position for 7 years also works in your favor - it shows this wasn't a frivolous decision but a necessary one due to changed family circumstances. Healthcare workers often can't negotiate their transfer timelines, so EDD typically understands the urgency involved. Best of luck with your claim - from everything I've read and researched, your situation should definitely qualify for benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since it's incredibly similar to yours! I just went through this exact process last month when my wife got transferred from San Francisco to Bakersfield for a critical care nursing position. The 280+ mile distance made keeping my job as a school counselor completely impossible. I was really nervous about applying because I had technically "quit," but EDD approved my claim without any major issues. What really helped was having a clear paper trail: my wife's official hospital transfer letter, documentation that I reached out to my school district about transfers (none available in Bakersfield), and emails showing I explored remote work options (obviously not possible for counseling work requiring face-to-face student interaction). During my phone interview, the EDD representative was very knowledgeable about healthcare relocations and said they see these cases frequently. They asked about the timeline, whether the transfer was mandatory, and what alternatives we considered. I was completely honest that we briefly looked into a temporary long-distance arrangement, but it wasn't feasible given the demands of critical care nursing and our family situation. The whole process took about 5 weeks from application to first payment. Your situation with a 500+ mile healthcare transfer is even more straightforward than mine - that distance makes it crystal clear that commuting isn't an option! Just gather all your documentation, be thorough but honest during the interview, and don't stress too much. Healthcare transfers are well-established as good cause. You've got this!

Dont forget that when you file taxes next year, the EDD can cross reference with IRS and see if you had income you didnt report while on unemployment. Better safe than sorry!

I went through something similar last year and ended up calling EDD to get clarity. The rep I spoke with explained it this way: if you're just moving money from one account to another (like withdrawing cash from savings or brokerage), that's not income. But if you made money on investments (capital gains), that IS income and should be reported. Since you mentioned you had $240 in gains, I'd definitely report that amount. It's better to be transparent than risk an audit later. The EDD system can be confusing, but they're really looking for any NEW money you earned, not money you're just moving around between your own accounts.

I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! Here's what worked for me: first, double-check if your benefit year actually expired by looking at the dates in your account summary. If it has expired, you can't reopen - you have to file a brand new claim instead. If your benefit year is still active, try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache, and then logging back in. Sometimes the system just glitches and needs a fresh start. Also, I noticed that certain browsers work better than others - Chrome seemed to work more reliably for me than Safari. If none of that works, the messaging system through UI Online actually got me faster responses than calling. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out soon! 🤞

I had this EXACT same issue a few weeks ago and it was driving me crazy! After spending hours trying to figure it out, I discovered that my benefit year had actually expired without me realizing it. The EDD website doesn't make it obvious at all - you have to dig into your account details to find the benefit year end date. Once I realized it had expired, I had to file a completely new claim rather than trying to reopen the old one. It was actually pretty straightforward once I knew what to do, just frustrating that the system doesn't guide you better. Check your benefit year dates first before trying anything else - that's probably what's causing the issue!