I've been through this process twice in the past few years, and I wanted to add one important detail that might help you sleep better at night: when you do those final certifications with your new job earnings, you'll actually see the system acknowledge your work status. On the certification form, there's a question about whether you worked during those weeks, and when you answer "yes" and report earnings above your weekly benefit amount, the system will literally show "$0.00" as your payment amount with a note that it's due to excess earnings. This creates an official record that you returned to work - it's not like you just vanished into thin air. I kept screenshots of those final certifications just for my own records, and I'm glad I did. When I had to reopen my claim later (thanks, COVID layoffs), the EDD rep could see exactly when and why my benefits stopped the first time. Made the whole reopen process take about 10 minutes instead of potentially weeks of back-and-forth. Construction work can be unpredictable, so having that safety net properly maintained is worth the extra few minutes of paperwork. Good luck with those job leads!

I'm new to unemployment benefits and this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently employed but my company has been hinting at layoffs, so I'm trying to understand the system before I potentially need it. One thing I'm curious about from reading all these responses - when you're reporting earnings during those final weeks, do you report gross wages or net wages? And does it matter if you get paid weekly vs. biweekly vs. monthly at your new job? I imagine the timing of when you actually receive your paycheck might not align perfectly with the EDD certification weeks. Also, for someone who's never dealt with EDD before, is there anything else I should know about how the certification process works in general? This community seems to have a wealth of practical knowledge that goes way beyond what's on the official website. Thanks in advance - hoping I won't need this info, but better to be prepared!

As someone new to this community dealing with the exact same frustrating situation, I can't express how helpful this entire thread has been! I have an EDD card from 2020 that I completely forgot about until I desperately needed it for some medical bills last week. Bank of America gave me the same runaround about a "security hold" with zero useful details. Reading through everyone's experiences has been like finding a survival guide for this bureaucratic nightmare. The multi-pronged strategy that's emerged from all your shared wisdom - CFPB complaint + UI Online callback + early morning phone calls + documentation - seems like the only way to actually get results from this broken system. I'm particularly grateful for the specific phone numbers, the 8am calling strategy, and that brilliant Disability Insurance transfer trick. The tip about getting email confirmations from EDD with reference numbers is genius - I never would have thought of that but it makes perfect sense for avoiding the typical blame game between EDD and BofA. It's both infuriating and reassuring to see so many people dealing with identical situations. Infuriating because the system is clearly broken, but reassuring because you've all proven that persistence pays off and the money IS recoverable. Starting my own battle Monday morning using everything I've learned here. Will definitely report back with my results to help the next person stuck in EDD limbo. Thank you all for not giving up and for sharing the strategies that actually work!

As a newcomer to this community dealing with this exact same issue, I wanted to thank everyone for creating such an incredibly helpful resource! I have a 2021 EDD card that I forgot about and just discovered is locked with a "security hold" when I tried to access it for some unexpected expenses. Reading through all these experiences has been like finding a detailed battle plan for fighting this bureaucratic nightmare. The multi-pronged approach that's emerged from everyone's shared wisdom is brilliant - simultaneously filing a CFPB complaint against Bank of America while using the UI Online callback feature and implementing the strategic phone timing everyone's discussed. I'm particularly grateful for those specific phone numbers (especially that Disability Insurance transfer trick!) and the crucial advice about documenting everything and getting email confirmations with reference numbers. It's both maddening and comforting to see so many people dealing with identical situations. Maddening because it shows how broken this system is, but comforting because you've all proven that persistence works and the money IS still there waiting to be recovered. I'm starting my own process this week using the comprehensive strategy outlined in this thread. Will definitely report back with my results to help continue building this amazing knowledge base for others stuck in EDD limbo. Thank you all for refusing to give up on your money and for sharing the tactics that actually get results!

I'm currently going through the WIOA process myself after my EDD benefits ended two months ago. Here's what I've learned so far that might help: The intake process is definitely slow - took me about 3 weeks to get my first appointment, then another 2 weeks for the career assessment. But once you're in the system, things move faster. My counselor was actually really knowledgeable and helped me understand that my previous warehouse work experience could transition into logistics/supply chain management. One tip that's helped me: when you call to schedule your initial appointment, ask specifically about their current training program availability and wait lists. Some programs (like healthcare) have 3+ month waits, while others (like office administration or basic IT) might start within 4-6 weeks. Also, they do offer some emergency assistance for people who've exhausted UI benefits - I qualified for a small amount of gas money and help with phone bills while waiting to start training. It's not much, but every bit helps when you're in that gap period. The key seems to be treating it like a part-time job itself - staying on top of appointments, following up regularly, and being flexible about training options. My program starts next month (medical administrative assistant), so I can't speak to job placement success yet, but the process has been legitimate so far. Hang in there - it's frustrating but there does seem to be real help available if you can navigate the bureaucracy!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your real experiences! I'm in a somewhat similar boat, having exhausted my UI benefits last month after working in hospitality for 8 years. The industry has been so unpredictable since COVID, and I'm ready for a career change into something more stable. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like success with WIOA really depends on three key factors: 1) finding a well-managed local office, 2) getting a good career counselor, and 3) being persistent with the process. The variation in experiences between counties is pretty eye-opening. @Alexander Zeus and @Eli Butler - your detailed accounts of the actual process are exactly what I needed to hear. It's encouraging that there are legitimate success stories, even if the bureaucracy is frustrating. The emergency assistance during the gap period that Eli mentioned could be a lifesaver. @Isabella Ferreira made a great point about documentation - I learned that lesson the hard way with EDD, so I'll definitely be keeping detailed records of everything. I'm planning to contact my local America's Job Center tomorrow morning. Based on what I've read here, I'll ask specifically about program wait lists, approved training options, and any supportive services during the transition period. Has anyone had experience with programs related to digital marketing or customer service? Those seem like they might be good fits for someone coming from hospitality management.

This is such a stressful situation but you're not alone! I went through something similar last year where EDD claimed I had unreported wages that were way higher than what I actually earned. A few things that really helped me: 1. Document EVERYTHING - not just paystubs but also your work schedules, timesheets if you have them, and any communication with your employer 2. The fact that you found another employee with a similar name is HUGE - that's probably exactly what happened 3. Don't wait for the appeal if you can help it - keep trying to reach EDD directly as others mentioned One thing I learned is that when employers use automated payroll systems, name mix-ups happen more often than you'd think, especially in large companies. Your HR department should be able to provide a letter confirming the error and your actual wages. Stay strong and don't give up! The appeals process worked for me even though it took forever. You clearly have your documentation in order and a legitimate explanation for the discrepancy.

I went through almost this exact same situation about 6 months ago! EDD said I had earned $3,800 that I never reported, but I was only working part-time at a grocery store making maybe $1,200/month. Turns out it was a payroll system glitch where my wages got combined with someone who had a similar employee ID number. Here's what saved me: I immediately contacted my HR department and asked them to pull my wage records and compare them to what they reported to EDD. They found the error within 2 days and submitted a corrected wage report. The whole thing got resolved without even needing the formal appeal process. Since you found that other employee with a similar name, definitely start there with HR. Get them to confirm your actual wages and ask them to check if there was any mix-up in their reporting. Sometimes fixing it at the employer level is way faster than going through EDD appeals. Also keep all your documentation ready just in case, but hopefully HR can resolve this quickly. Don't let this stress eat you alive - these mistakes happen more than you think and most get resolved once the right people look into it!

I'm 60 and was in your exact situation about 6 months ago - laid off from my supervisor position at a packaging company and terrified that unemployment would mess up my retirement plans. I spent weeks researching this and even called AARP's helpline to get clarification. The answer is definitively NO - unemployment benefits will not reduce your Social Security retirement benefits in any way. They're completely separate programs with different funding sources. Social Security is calculated from your highest 35 years of earnings where you paid SS taxes, and unemployment doesn't count as earnings for this calculation. What helped me most was actually creating the my Social Security account online and seeing that my projected benefits stayed exactly the same throughout my 5 months on EDD. With your 40 years of work history, a few months of unemployment won't even be a blip in your Social Security calculation. The only real impact is the temporary pause in retirement savings contributions, but that's manageable. Don't let this worry steal your peace of mind - you've got enough stress with job hunting. Your retirement security is intact!

I'm 57 and went through this exact same fear when I got laid off from my office job about 4 months ago! I was convinced that collecting EDD benefits would somehow reduce my Social Security payments when I retire. After losing sleep over it for weeks, I finally did what several others here mentioned - I created a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and looked at my actual projected benefits. Even after being on unemployment for months, my estimated retirement benefits were exactly the same as before I lost my job. It really drove home what everyone's saying - these are completely separate systems that don't affect each other at all. The Social Security calculation is based on your lifetime earnings where you paid SS taxes, not on whether you collected unemployment at some point. With decades of work history like you have, a temporary period of unemployment is basically invisible in the calculation. The only real impact is missing out on 401k contributions while you're between jobs, but that's not permanent damage. Don't waste your energy worrying about this like I did - put it all into your job search instead. Your retirement benefits are safe!