I'm also a first-time claimant dealing with this exact same situation right now! Certified on Sunday night, shows "paid" but still waiting for the "issued" status update. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my claim, but seeing so many people going through the identical timeline is incredibly reassuring. The 24-48 hour delay between "paid" and "issued" makes total sense now that everyone has explained it. I had no idea we could call Bank of America directly to check on card status - that's such a brilliant workaround compared to EDD's impossible phone system! Definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. Also setting up those text notifications right now so I'll stop obsessively checking the website every hour. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's amazing how this community comes together to help anxious newcomers like me navigate this confusing process. Will definitely update when my status changes and when I receive my card!

I'm also a first-time claimant going through this exact same situation! Certified Sunday night, shows "paid" but still no "issued" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to panic thinking my claim was messed up somehow. It's amazing how many of us are all dealing with this identical timeline right now! The Bank of America tip is brilliant - I had no idea we could call them directly instead of wrestling with EDD's phone system. Definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow morning. Also just set up the text notifications so I'll stop compulsively checking my account every few hours. Thank you everyone for sharing your timelines and reassuring us nervous newcomers that this delay is totally normal. The waiting game is brutal when you're stressed about bills, but knowing we're all in this together makes it so much more bearable. Will definitely update when my status changes and when my card arrives!

I heard there's a special trick where you press 0 at every prompt and it gets you to a person faster. Anyone try this?

Update: I FINALLY got through! For anyone wondering, I called the 1-800-300-5616 number at exactly 8:01am today, used the 1-2-4 sequence, and after a 47-minute wait, spoke to someone. They fixed my pending certification issue in about 10 minutes. Turns out there was a question about my last employer that triggered a review. The rep removed the flag and my payment should process in 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone for the advice!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread couldn't have come at a better time! My employer just gave me the same ultimatum today - resign during probation or face termination for "not meeting expectations." Reading everyone's experiences here has completely changed my perspective. I was actually leaning toward resigning because I was scared about having a termination on my record, but now I see this is just a manipulative HR tactic to avoid paying unemployment costs. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - it's given me the confidence to let them terminate me instead of falling for their "protect your record" nonsense. I've also been documenting my efforts to improve and asking for additional training, so I feel better prepared now. It's honestly shocking how common this exact scenario is, but I'm grateful to have found this community where people actually share real experiences and look out for each other. You've potentially saved me from making a huge financial mistake!

I'm so relieved I found this thread! I'm literally in the EXACT same situation right now - my employer just gave me the same "resign to protect your record" ultimatum today during my probation period. I was honestly considering taking their offer because I was terrified about having a termination on my record, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I can see this is just a manipulative tactic to avoid paying unemployment costs. It's honestly disgusting how common this practice seems to be. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - you've potentially saved me from making a huge financial mistake. I've been documenting all my requests for additional training and feedback, so I feel much more prepared now to let them terminate me and file for EDD benefits. The specific advice about keeping responses concise during the eligibility interview and using neutral language like "terminated during probationary period for not meeting employer's performance standards" is incredibly helpful. I can't believe how many people have dealt with this exact scenario, but I'm so grateful this community exists where people actually look out for each other!

This is such a common issue for people in irregular work situations! I went through the exact same thing when I first started doing freelance video work. The biggest mistake I made was thinking I needed to close and reopen my claim every time my work status changed. What saved me was finally understanding that UI is designed to be kept active for your entire benefit year (12 months). Now I file once at the beginning of my benefit year and just certify every two weeks regardless of whether I worked. When I have a busy month, I report my earnings and get $0 benefits but keep the claim active. When work is slow, I get my full benefit amount. The system actually handles partial weeks really well once you understand how to use it properly. Don't feel bad about the confusion - EDD's instructions make it sound way more complicated than it actually is!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works in theater tech with a very similar schedule pattern! I made this exact same mistake when I first started claiming UI between shows. The key insight that helped me was realizing that EDD expects you to treat unemployment benefits like an ongoing relationship, not a series of separate transactions. Once I filed my initial claim and started certifying continuously (every 2 weeks without fail), everything became so much smoother. Even during busy seasons when I'm working 60+ hour weeks, I still certify and just report my full earnings - this keeps my claim active for those inevitable gaps between productions. The hardest part is remembering to certify on time even when you're busy working, but it's worth it to avoid the headache you're dealing with now. Also, keep all your paystubs and work records organized - irregular work means more documentation if EDD ever needs to verify your earnings patterns.

I'm currently going through the appeal process myself and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I filed my appeal 6 weeks ago for a misconduct disqualification that was totally unfair - my employer claimed I was "insubordinate" when I simply asked for clarification on conflicting instructions from two different supervisors. My hearing is scheduled for next week and I'm honestly terrified about how it will go. Reading everyone's timelines here is giving me some hope though - it sounds like once you win the appeal, most people see payments within 2-4 weeks which is way faster than I expected. I've been certifying every two weeks even though my claim shows disqualified, and I'm down to about $300 in savings so the stress is real. For those who won their appeals - did you have legal representation or represent yourself? I couldn't afford a lawyer so I'm going in solo with just my documentation. Any last-minute tips for the hearing itself would be amazing!

I represented myself in my appeal hearing last year for a similar misconduct disqualification and won! Here are some tips that helped me: 1) Organize all your documents chronologically and bring multiple copies - one for you, one for the judge, and one for your employer's representative. 2) Stick to the facts and avoid getting emotional, even if your employer's claims make you angry. 3) Be prepared to explain exactly why your actions don't meet the legal definition of misconduct - the judge needs to hear that you didn't willfully violate company policy. 4) If possible, bring any witnesses or character references who can speak to your work ethic. The hearing itself was way less intimidating than I expected - the judge was professional and fair. You don't need a lawyer if you're well-prepared with your documentation and can clearly articulate your side. Good luck with your hearing next week! Keep us posted on how it goes.