I went through something very similar about 4 months ago - terminated for "performance issues" with absolutely no prior documentation or warnings. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify for benefits, but I want to give you some hope: I was approved! The process took about 6 weeks total. My employer contested the claim (which seems pretty standard), and I had to do a phone interview with an EDD representative. The interview was actually much less intimidating than I expected - maybe 20 minutes of straightforward questions about whether I had received warnings, performance improvement plans, written disciplinary actions, etc. Since I could honestly answer "no" to all of these, the lack of proper progressive discipline worked strongly in my favor. A few things that helped my case: - I had saved a few positive emails from my supervisor (lucky timing) - I was able to show that my termination was sudden and without the typical warning process - I remained factual and professional when describing the situation, never badmouthing my former employer The waiting period was financially stressful, but try to stay positive. Based on what you've described - no warnings, no negative reviews, sudden termination - your employer is going to have a very difficult time proving misconduct. California's standard for unemployment eligibility is actually quite reasonable for situations like yours. Keep documenting your job search from day one, and don't hesitate to reach out to former coworkers for potential references if needed. You've got a solid case - hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - sudden termination is incredibly stressful! Based on everything I've read here and my own experience helping family members with EDD claims, your situation actually sounds very promising for approval. The fact that you had no warnings, no negative reviews, and the termination was sudden really works in your favor. A few key points that haven't been fully covered yet: **During the application process:** When describing your separation, stick to objective facts. Something like "terminated for alleged performance issues without prior documentation or progressive discipline" is perfect. **If you get an eligibility interview:** The questions are usually very straightforward - they want to establish whether proper procedures were followed before termination. Things like "Did you receive written warnings?" "Were you placed on a performance improvement plan?" "Did you violate any specific company policies?" The lack of documentation from your employer will likely work strongly in your favor. **Timeline expectations:** Even with employer contestation, most people in similar situations see resolution within 4-8 weeks. I know that feels like forever when bills are due, but it's actually pretty standard processing time. **Financial bridge:** While waiting, definitely look into emergency assistance programs in your county. Many have rapid response funds specifically for people dealing with sudden job loss. Keep your head up - multiple people here with nearly identical situations got approved. Document everything, stay organized, and try not to let the waiting period stress you out too much. You've got this!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been on unemployment for about a month now and just had my first late certification moment yesterday - certified on Monday instead of Sunday because I was helping my elderly neighbor with some emergency house repairs and completely lost track of time. I was absolutely panicking thinking I might have messed up my entire claim or delayed my payment for weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief! The clarification about the 14-day certification window is mind-blowing - I had no idea there was actually that much flexibility built into the system. Like so many others have mentioned, the EDD materials really make Sunday sound like this hard deadline when there's apparently much more wiggle room. Just checked my UI Online portal and it's still showing "pending" but based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like I should see it change to "paid" within the next day or two. Definitely going to implement all the great tips people have shared - setting up recurring phone reminders, downloading the UI Online app, and getting those Money Network text alerts set up. It's honestly frustrating that we have to crowdsource this basic information through community forums instead of getting clear guidance from EDD upfront. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences and help each other navigate these systems. Thanks everyone for the peace of mind!

I'm really glad this thread helped ease everyone's anxiety about late certification! As someone who's been dealing with EDD for about 7 months now, I can confirm that certifying one day late is really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. The system is definitely more forgiving than they make it seem initially. One additional tip I'd share is to screenshot your certification confirmation page right after you submit - not just for peace of mind, but because sometimes the UI Online portal can be glitchy and it's helpful to have proof that you actually certified on a specific date if any issues come up later. I learned this the hard way when my portal showed conflicting information once and having that screenshot saved me a lot of headache when I had to call EDD. Also, for anyone who frequently forgets due to busy weekends or family obligations, I've found it helpful to certify on Saturday mornings when possible. That way even if Sunday gets chaotic, you're already covered. The certification window opens at midnight on Saturday anyway, so there's no need to wait until Sunday if you can remember earlier in the weekend. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive discussion - it's threads like this that make dealing with unemployment a little less isolating!

I just wanted to share another approach that worked for me after reading all these helpful responses! I was stuck for about 2 weeks and tried most of the suggestions here - library scanner, incognito browser, different times of day, etc. What finally did it was going to a local FedEx Office location. They have professional scanners and the staff there actually helped me get the settings right (300 DPI, PDF format). Cost me about $5 but it was totally worth it to avoid more weeks of frustration. The quality was perfect and it went through immediately. Just wanted to add this option for anyone who might not have access to a good library scanner or if the library route doesn't work out. Sometimes paying a small fee is worth your sanity! Also, the FedEx locations tend to be open later than libraries if you're trying to upload during off-peak evening hours. Hope this helps someone else get unstuck! 💙

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with the same verification nightmare! Just wanted to add that if you're using a smartphone to take photos, try using the "document scan" mode in your camera app if you have it - it automatically adjusts contrast and removes shadows. Also, I discovered that if you have an Apple device, the Notes app has a really good document scanner built in that produces cleaner images than the regular camera. For Android users, Google Drive has a similar scan feature. These might be good alternatives if you can't get to a library or FedEx right away. The key seems to be getting that crisp, shadow-free image quality that the system can actually process. Still working on getting mine approved, but these phone scanning apps have definitely given me better image quality than my previous attempts!

does anyone know if u need a lawyer for these appeal hearings? i keep getting mail from lawyers offering to represent me but idk if its worth the $$$

I just went through this process and won my appeal in January! My timeline was about 7 weeks total - 3 weeks to get the hearing notice, hearing scheduled 2 weeks later, and decision came 2 weeks after that. The good news is that once I won, I got ALL my back payments within a week, which really helped after months of financial stress. A few things that helped me: I created a simple timeline document with dates of everything that happened leading to my termination. I also got a letter from HR confirming it was a layoff (even though my manager had initially reported it wrong to EDD). During the hearing, I stayed super calm and just stuck to the facts - let my documentation do the talking. The judge seemed to appreciate that I was organized and prepared. Hang in there - I know the waiting is brutal but if you were truly laid off and have any proof at all, you should be fine. The system is slow but it does work when you have the facts on your side!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stressful situation - having to choose between your health and job security is awful, and it's even worse when your employer pressured you to delay necessary surgery in the first place. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about waiting until you're fully medically cleared before filing for unemployment. I wanted to add one more thing that might help: when you do file your claim, be prepared for EDD to ask detailed questions about why you couldn't return to work by April 15th. Having a clear timeline ready will be helpful - something like "I had surgery in January that was delayed for almost a year due to employer requests, developed complications that extended recovery beyond the original timeline, and was medically unable to return by the FMLA deadline." Also, if possible, try to get some kind of written acknowledgment from your employer that they understand you're being separated due to inability to return from medical leave (not for performance or attendance issues). Even a simple email confirmation of what HR told you could be valuable documentation. The fact that you have 6 years of excellent performance reviews strongly supports that this separation is purely medical-related, not performance-based. That's going to work in your favor when EDD reviews your case. Hang in there - focus on getting healthy first, and know that you have a strong case for benefits once you're cleared to work again!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation - it's so frustrating when you try to be accommodating to your employer and then face these consequences! Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when you're ready to file: When you get your medical clearance letter, ask your doctor to be very specific about the dates. Something like "Patient is cleared to return to full-duty work effective [date] with no restrictions" is much better than vague language. This precision really helps with EDD. Also, keep a simple log of your job search activities starting from when you're cleared - EDD will ask about this during your weekly certifications. Even if it's just updating your LinkedIn profile or browsing job boards initially, document it. One more thing - if your employer offers COBRA continuation for health insurance, make sure to sign up if you can afford it. Having continuous coverage during this transition period could be important, especially since you're still recovering. You've gotten such great advice here about documentation and timing. The main thing is don't let your employer rush you into anything, and remember that after 6 years of excellent service, you deserve to be treated with respect during this difficult time. Wishing you a smooth recovery and successful unemployment claim when you're ready!