This thread is absolutely incredible - I wish I had found it when I first filed my claim! I went through the exact same confusion about the waiting period timing. Filed on a Tuesday and couldn't understand why the previous Sunday was showing as my claim start date. I actually drove myself crazy for days thinking EDD had made an error with my application. The "weekly buckets" explanation is pure gold - it should honestly be the first thing EDD tells people when they file. Instead of all their confusing legal language about "benefit weeks" and "claim effective dates," they should just say "we use Sunday-Saturday buckets and you get sorted into whichever bucket covers the week you file." Would save everyone so much stress! One thing I learned that might help others: when you do your first certification (which will cover both your waiting week and your first payable week), don't be surprised if it feels overwhelming with all the questions. Take your time, answer honestly about any work or income during both weeks, and remember that even though the waiting week won't be paid, completing that certification is crucial for your overall claim timeline. The second certification is SO much easier once you've been through it once!

This thread has been absolutely life-saving! I just filed my claim this morning (Friday) and was already spiraling into anxiety when I logged into UI Online and saw this upcoming Sunday listed as my benefit year start date. I kept refreshing the page thinking there was a glitch or that I had somehow filed incorrectly. The "weekly buckets" explanation is brilliant - it finally makes sense why EDD uses these Sunday dates that seem to come out of nowhere. It's like they have these pre-made weekly containers running Sunday through Saturday, and no matter what day you actually file, you automatically get sorted into the current week's Sunday bucket. So my waiting period will start this Sunday even though I just filed today. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread because the official EDD explanations are absolutely useless compared to real people sharing their actual experiences. Thank you all for taking the time to break this down so clearly - you've saved me from what would have been days of stress and probably dozens of frustrated phone calls to EDD! Now I know to expect my first certification to cover both the waiting week and my first potentially payable week, and most importantly, not to skip certifying for that waiting week even though I won't get paid for it.

I had this exact same problem 3 weeks ago and it was so stressful! What finally worked for me was a combination of the tips everyone's shared here. First, I tried the live chat on the Money Network website (thanks to whoever mentioned that!) and got through in about 20 minutes. The chat agent was actually really helpful and explained that my card had been automatically flagged because I made purchases at 4 different stores in one afternoon - apparently their system thought it was fraud. She was able to remove the block immediately, but she also gave me a pro tip: if this happens again, I can call their automated line and say "fraud alert" when prompted, which routes you directly to the security department instead of going through the general customer service maze. She said that's the fastest way to get these blocks removed. Also, definitely set up direct deposit as soon as you can! I switched over last week and it's such a relief not having to worry about card issues anymore. The money just goes straight to my checking account now. You can do it through the UI Online portal under "Payment Method" - takes about 2 weeks to take effect but so worth it. Hang in there, you'll get this resolved!

I just went through this nightmare last week and wanted to share what worked for me since I see lots of great advice here already! After trying all the phone tricks (which do work but took forever), I discovered you can also try texting "HELP" to 22622 from the phone number associated with your Money Network account. It's their SMS support line and sometimes they can help with basic account issues including temporary blocks. The text support won't work for everything, but if your card is just temporarily flagged like mine was, they can often remove simple security holds via text. They'll ask you to verify some info and then send you a confirmation if they're able to unlock it. If not, they'll tell you to call, but at least you'll know for sure what the issue is before spending an hour on hold. Also want to echo what others said about direct deposit - I switched over immediately after this happened and it's been such a relief. No more card drama! The UI Online portal makes it pretty easy to set up, just have your bank routing and account numbers ready.

I'm so sorry you're going through this Katherine - EDD bank levies are absolutely brutal, especially when you're already struggling financially. The panic of having your account frozen right before rent is due is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. All the advice here about the WG-007 form is spot on, and I wanted to add one thing that really helped me when I went through this last year: when you're filling out the expense section, don't forget to include things like laundry costs, transportation to/from work (gas, bus passes), phone bill, and even small things like household supplies. Every legitimate expense helps paint the picture of your financial situation. Also, if you have any automatic payments set up (Netflix, gym membership, etc.) that might try to process while your account is frozen, try to cancel or pause those ASAP to avoid additional overdraft fees piling up. The hardest part is the waiting and feeling helpless, but you're taking all the right steps. Most people in your situation do get relief within a few days of submitting the hardship paperwork. Keep us posted on how it goes - this community is rooting for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this Katherine - bank levies are absolutely devastating when you're already living paycheck to paycheck. I went through a similar situation with EDD about 6 months ago and the terror of seeing your account frozen is something I'll never forget. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the WG-007 form, which is definitely your fastest path to relief. I wanted to add a few things that helped me get through the immediate crisis while waiting for the levy to be processed: 1. Contact your bank's customer service and ask if they can provide you with a detailed breakdown of exactly how much was levied vs. how much remains frozen - sometimes there's a small amount still accessible for basic necessities. 2. If you have any cash back rewards on credit cards or apps like Rakuten, now's the time to cash those out for immediate funds. 3. Consider reaching out to local churches or community centers - many have emergency assistance funds specifically for situations like this, even if you're not a member. 4. Some food delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats) offer daily cash-out options if you can do a few hours of delivery work to get some immediate cash flow. I was able to get my levy released in 5 business days with a $125/month payment plan. The key was being incredibly detailed about every expense and following up daily until it was resolved. You're going to get through this - the system is scary but there are protections in place for people in your exact situation. Stay strong and keep advocating for yourself!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation with my benefits expiring in about 6 weeks. I've been taking some free coding courses on freeCodeCamp and was worried I'd have to start over completely. After reading all these responses, I'm planning to visit my local AJCC office next week to explore the community college and Calbright options mentioned here. One additional resource I found that might help others - the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office has a program locator tool on their website where you can search for career education programs by field and location. I used it to find several data analytics and computer programming certificates in my area that are likely on the ETPL list. It's at cccco.edu if anyone wants to check it out. Also wanted to thank @Oliver Zimmermann for posting this question originally - your situation sounds almost identical to mine and this thread probably saved me from making the same Coursera mistake! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and resources here.

As someone who just went through this process, I wanted to add that timing is absolutely critical! I made the mistake of waiting too long to start the paperwork and almost had a gap in my benefits. Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: 1. Start the process AT LEAST 6 weeks before your benefits expire if possible 2. Have backup options ready - I applied to 3 different programs just in case one fell through 3. Keep detailed records of all your communications with EDD, AJCC, and schools - you'll need to reference them later 4. Some AJCC offices are way more helpful than others - if yours isn't responsive, try calling a different location in your area Also, for anyone considering the community college route - many offer "short-term career training" programs that are 6 months or less and specifically designed for UI recipients. These are often fast-tracked for ETPL approval. I ended up in a 4-month cybersecurity program that got me both the benefits extension AND landed me a job before I even finished! Don't give up if the first person you talk to says "no" - keep pushing and asking to speak to supervisors. The system is confusing but it absolutely works if you're persistent!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully reapplied last fall - one thing that really helped me was keeping a weekly journal of my job search activities throughout my entire benefit year, not just when I was getting ready to reapply. I wrote down every application, every networking contact, every skills course I took, etc. When they asked for documentation during my eligibility interview, I had everything organized by week which seemed to impress the interviewer. Also, if you haven't already, consider signing up for some free online certification courses (like through Coursera or LinkedIn Learning) in areas related to retail management or adjacent fields. They specifically asked me what I was doing to improve my skills while unemployed, and having concrete examples of courses completed really helped show I was being proactive about my career development. The whole "continuous improvement" angle seemed to resonate well with them. One last tip - start applying to jobs at lower salary ranges now, even if you don't really want them. Having those applications in your records shows you're willing to be flexible about compensation, which they definitely look for in second-year claims.

I'm about to go through this same process next month - my benefit year ends in April and I've been unemployed the whole time too. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful but also pretty nerve-wracking! It sounds like they really scrutinize second claims much more heavily than first-time applications. Based on what everyone's shared, I'm going to start preparing now by: - Creating a detailed spreadsheet of every job application I've made over the past year - Expanding my job search to include positions outside retail management and at lower pay rates - Signing up for some relevant online courses to show I'm working on skill development - Gathering all my wage documentation from the past 18 months Has anyone dealt with the situation where you've been doing occasional gig work (like DoorDash or Instacart) during your benefit year? I've done some food delivery when I really needed extra money, but I'm worried about how that might complicate things. Did you report those earnings during your weekly certifications, and if so, did it affect your reapplication process? Also wondering if anyone knows whether the eligibility interview is always required for reapplications or if some people skip that step? Trying to mentally prepare for what sounds like a pretty intense questioning process!