UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I called Money Network again this morning, specifically asked for a provisional credit citing Regulation E, and they're processing it now (should be available in 2-3 business days). I've also filed the police report, submitted the EDD fraud form, and filed a CFPB complaint as backup. Going to try reaching EDD's fraud department tomorrow to see if they can help expedite things further. Will switch to direct deposit immediately once this is resolved. This has been such a nightmare but I'm feeling more hopeful now. Will update again when/if I get my money back!

So glad to see your update! You're doing everything right by being proactive and using the specific legal language. That Regulation E reference is powerful - I wish more people knew about it. Keep pushing if they try to delay the provisional credit beyond those 2-3 days they promised. And definitely document that conversation where they agreed to process it. You've got this! The fact that you're already seeing movement after just one day shows you're on the right track. Hope you get your full amount back quickly!

Just joined this community and I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - my effective date is February 12th but my claim wasn't issued until March 8th, which is almost 4 weeks of missing benefits. I was starting to panic thinking I'd somehow lost those weeks or missed some important deadline. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring and informative. It's absolutely ridiculous that EDD creates these processing delays and then puts the burden on us to figure out how to get the benefits we're legally entitled to! I had no idea I needed to specifically call and request those weeks be added for certification - I assumed they would automatically backdate everything once approved. Based on all the advice here, I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8am with my exact dates ready and specifically ask them to add those missing weeks for certification. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver for navigating EDD's confusing system!

New community member here and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my effective date is January 20th but my claim wasn't processed until February 10th, so I have about 3 weeks of missing benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity on what I need to do. It's absolutely crazy that EDD doesn't automatically make those weeks available for certification when they're the ones who caused the processing delay! I was completely lost on how to handle this until I found this discussion. Planning to call tomorrow at 8am sharp with my dates ready and specifically request they add those weeks for certification. Thank you all for sharing your stories and providing such clear guidance - without this community I would have had no idea I needed to proactively ask for those weeks. Will definitely update once I get through to them!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim last week and got awarded only $174/week when I know I should be getting much more based on my recent earnings. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful - I had no idea about the Alternative Base Period or that you have to specifically request it. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you submitted your appeal, did you include a cover letter explaining your situation, or did you just fill out the DE 1000M form? Also, has anyone tried calling EDD first to see if they can just recalculate it over the phone, or is the formal appeal process the only way? I'm gathering all my Q4 2023 paystubs now and will definitely use that formula someone mentioned to calculate what my benefit should be. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping each other navigate this confusing system!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a newcomer here and had no idea that EDD doesn't automatically use the Alternative Base Period - what a sneaky way for them to minimize payouts. Reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1. File the DE 1000M appeal form ASAP 2. Include detailed documentation (Q4 2023 paystubs, cover letter, calculations) 3. Be crystal clear that you're requesting ABP recalculation 4. Use certified mail AND upload online if possible 5. Keep certifying while waiting for the appeal For those who successfully appealed - did any of you face pushback from EDD initially, or were most appeals approved pretty straightforwardly once you provided the proper documentation? I'm trying to get a sense of how often they actually deny legitimate ABP requests. Also, has anyone dealt with this situation where you had multiple jobs during Q4 2023? I'm wondering if that complicates the calculation at all or if EDD just adds up all the earnings from that quarter regardless of how many employers. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find on EDD's website!

This is such an important thread for exempt employees to read! I'm a software engineering manager and had no idea that this kind of confusion was so widespread. Reading through everyone's experiences really drives home how critical it is to verify benefits information independently. What strikes me most is how consistent this misinformation seems to be across different companies - it makes me wonder if there are outdated training materials or misconceptions being passed down through HR circles. The fact that so many people have had to essentially educate their own HR departments is both frustrating and concerning. I'm definitely going to review my own company's benefits documentation and maybe even proactively ask our HR team about SDI eligibility just to make sure they have the right information. Better to catch any confusion before it becomes an issue when someone actually needs these benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and especially to those who provided the specific legal code references - this thread is going to be incredibly helpful for so many people!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm an exempt HR coordinator myself (yes, the irony isn't lost on me) and I'm honestly embarrassed by how many HR departments seem to be spreading this misinformation. In my experience, a lot of this confusion stems from outdated training materials and the fact that employment law is constantly evolving. Many HR professionals learned the basics years ago and haven't kept up with current regulations or clarifications. What really bothers me is that this isn't just an innocent mistake - when employees are denied benefits they've been paying into through payroll deductions, it can have serious financial consequences during already stressful times. I'm going to use this thread as a case study to review our own department's benefits training and make sure we're giving accurate information. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's a good reminder that even HR professionals need to continuously educate themselves and verify information rather than relying on assumptions or outdated knowledge. For anyone dealing with similar situations: always ask to see the specific policy or regulation that supposedly disqualifies you. If HR can't provide it, that's a red flag that they might be operating on incorrect assumptions.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Been job hunting for 6 months with similar feedback - either overqualified or missing specific skills. I've been hesitant to start any training because I was scared EDD would cut me off, but reading all these success stories is really encouraging. A few questions for those who've been through CTB approval: 1. Do you have to wait until the program actually starts to answer YES to the training question, or can you do it once you're enrolled but before classes begin? 2. If you get a job offer while in the training program, are you required to take it and drop out of school? 3. Has anyone had issues if their program runs slightly longer than their remaining benefit weeks? Like if you have 10 weeks left but the program is 12 weeks? I'm looking at a digital marketing certification that starts next month and these details would really help me plan. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is so helpful!

I'm currently going through the CTB process myself and wanted to share some recent updates that might help! I submitted my DE 3100 form about 10 days ago for a project management certification program and just got word that it was approved. A couple things I learned that weren't mentioned yet: 1. **Documentation timing matters** - I made sure to submit the DE 3100 form on the same day I received it. The faster you respond, the faster they can process your request. 2. **Be specific about employability** - In my form, I didn't just say "this will help me get a job." I listed 3-4 specific job titles I was targeting, average salaries in my area, and exactly which skills from the program matched the job requirements I'd been seeing. 3. **Program format is key** - Your evening data analytics program is perfect because it shows you can still accept full-time employment. Make sure to emphasize this in your application. One heads up: even though my program was approved, I still had a brief phone interview where they asked about my commitment to job searching while in training. Just be honest that you'll continue applying and interviewing - that's exactly what they want to hear. Your situation sounds very similar to mine (long job search, skill gap feedback from employers) and data analytics is definitely in the "high-demand" category EDD looks for. I'd say go for it! The worst case is a few weeks of pending payments, but the upside of getting those skills could be huge for your job prospects.