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I'm in a very similar situation right now - been doing some part-time tutoring while on UI and didn't report about $1,400 in earnings over the past month. Reading all these experiences is giving me so much hope! It sounds like the key is really being proactive and honest about it. One question for those who have been through this - when you calculated what you owed back, did you use gross earnings or net earnings after expenses? I had some costs for materials and transportation for the tutoring sessions, so I'm not sure if I should report the full amount I was paid or subtract my business expenses first. Also, has anyone had success reaching EDD by phone recently, or is the Ask EDD online feature really the best way to start this process? I've been calling for two days straight with no luck getting through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helping me work up the courage to come forward instead of just hoping they don't catch it!
For UI reporting purposes, you generally need to report gross earnings before expenses. EDD looks at what you were paid, not your net profit after business deductions. However, when you contact them, you can explain your situation and they may consider legitimate business expenses in their calculation. Definitely mention the materials and transportation costs when you submit through Ask EDD - they have some discretion in how they handle these situations. As for contacting them, the Ask EDD feature has been much more reliable than phone calls lately. Most people in this thread who succeeded used the online method. The phone lines are absolutely swamped right now. I'd recommend going the Ask EDD route and being very detailed in your submission - include all the context about your expenses and be completely transparent about wanting to make this right voluntarily. You're making the smart choice by coming forward! Based on everyone's experiences here, voluntary disclosure really does make a huge difference in how they handle it.
Reading through all these experiences is incredibly reassuring! I was in almost this exact situation about 4 months ago - had some freelance writing work that ended up being way more income than I initially expected while I was collecting UI. Like many others here, I was absolutely terrified about fraud penalties, but the Ask EDD route worked really well for me. I submitted a detailed explanation through my UI Online account, included all my contract documentation and payment records, and emphasized that I was voluntarily coming forward to correct my mistake. The whole process took about 6-7 weeks from submission to resolution. EDD classified it as a non-fraud overpayment since I self-reported, so I only had to pay back the principal amount ($1,890 in my case) with no 30% penalty or penalty weeks. They offered me a payment plan of $180/month which has been totally manageable. The EDD representative I spoke with during the process actually thanked me for being proactive and said it makes their job much easier when people come forward voluntarily rather than them discovering it during audits. My biggest piece of advice: don't wait any longer to start this process. The longer you wait, the more it looks like you were trying to hide it rather than just making an honest mistake. Gather all your documentation, write a clear and honest explanation in Ask EDD, and start the process this week. The anticipation and worry is honestly much worse than the actual resolution!
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To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
The is typically about verifying your for unemployment benefits. They may ask about your work separation (why you left your job), availability to work, job search efforts, or any discrepancies in your information. Since you mentioned having an out-of-state address while claiming California benefits, that could be what they want to clarify. Make sure you have documentation ready about your work history and reason for being out of state. Good luck with your interview!
This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering what kind of documentation would be most important to have ready. Should I prepare pay stubs, my termination letter, and proof of my California residence? Also, do they typically ask detailed questions about job search activities during these interviews?
Yes, definitely have those documents ready! Pay stubs, termination letter, and proof of CA residence are essential. For job search, they usually ask how many jobs you've applied to per week and may want specific company names and dates. Since you're dealing with an out-of-state address situation like the original poster, also prepare an explanation of why you're temporarily out of state but still eligible for CA benefits (like helping family). Having a clear, honest explanation ready will help the go smoothly.
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Hi Gregpry, it sounds like you're dealing with a common review process. Since you already mailed in the pay stubs they requested and now have a phone interview scheduled for June 27th, here's what I'd recommend: 1) Make sure you have copies of all the documentation you sent, including the pay stubs totaling $300, 2) Be available during the entire 2-hour window (10am-12pm) as they can call anytime during that period, 3) Have all your employment history and relevant documents ready during the call. The interview is likely just to clarify the discrepancy they found and verify the information you provided. Since you already sent the requested documentation, this should hopefully be a straightforward verification process. Good luck with your interview!
@Chloe Zhang Great advice! I d'also add that Gregpry should prepare to explain any gaps in employment or unusual circumstances around that $300 in earnings. often flags small amounts like this because they want to make sure it wasn t'unreported work that could affect benefit eligibility. Having a clear timeline of when you worked, how much you earned, and why you initially didn t'report it if (that s'the case will) help the interview go smoothly. Also, don t'hang up if they put you on hold during the call - sometimes they need to verify information in their system.
Hey Gregpry, I went through something similar last year. The fact that you already sent in the pay stubs is good - that shows you're being proactive. For the phone interview, make sure your phone is fully charged and you're in a quiet place with good reception. I'd also suggest writing down a brief timeline of that and the $300 earnings beforehand so you can reference it during the call. The interviewers are usually pretty reasonable if you're honest and have your documentation ready. Since you already mailed the stubs, this is likely just a formality to close out their review. Stay calm and answer their questions directly. You've got this!
@Dmitry Popov That s'really helpful advice about being prepared with a timeline! I m'new to dealing with issues, but I m'wondering - should Gregpry also have backup documentation ready during the call, like bank statements showing the deposits from that job? And @Gregpry Lee Knotts III, did you get any kind of confirmation that received the pay stubs you mailed? Sometimes mail can get lost and it might be worth mentioning during the interview that you sent them on [specific date] just to be safe.
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Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you have a AAA membership, they can sometimes help with DMV account issues at their offices. I had a similar problem where my license was tied to an old account I couldn't access, and the AAA rep was able to call the DMV directly and get it resolved in about 30 minutes. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone yourself! Not sure if they can help with this specific issue, but might be worth a shot if you're a member.
Oh wow, I had no idea AAA could help with DMV stuff like this! I've been a member for years but never thought to ask them about account issues. That's such a smart workaround - 30 minutes vs potentially hours on hold with the DMV sounds amazing. Definitely going to try this first before dealing with the phone nightmare. Thanks for the tip! 🚗
Just a heads up - I had this exact same issue and it turned out my license number was somehow duplicated in their system during a recent address change. The DMV rep told me this has been happening more frequently lately due to system updates they've been doing. When you call, specifically mention that you suspect a "duplicate license number assignment" - apparently using that exact phrase gets you transferred to a specialized team that deals with these technical glitches. Also, if you've moved or updated any info with the DMV in the past 6 months, definitely mention that too as it seems to be a common trigger for this bug. Hope this helps narrow down what might have caused it for you!
@Sophia Clark This is exactly what I needed to hear! I did update my address about 3 months ago, so that could definitely be the trigger. The tip about using the specific phrase duplicate "license number assignment is" brilliant - I ll'make sure to say that when I call. It s'so frustrating that system updates are causing these issues, but at least knowing there s'a specialized team gives me hope. Thanks for sharing what worked for you! 🙏
Emma Anderson
I went through this exact situation last year and want to share some hope! Got fired from my call center job for attendance issues - 6 occurrences in 4 months, all related to my unreliable car and having to take my kids to doctor appointments. HR gave me the same speech about being "fired for cause" and not qualifying. Applied anyway and got approved after the phone interview! The EDD rep was really fair and asked about each specific absence. What helped my case was that I always texted my supervisor when issues came up, and I could show I was trying to be responsible despite the circumstances. The key thing the interviewer told me was that EDD distinguishes between "couldn't work" vs "wouldn't work." Car troubles and transportation issues usually fall under "couldn't work" as long as you're making reasonable efforts to communicate and get to work when possible. Your 2.5 year track record will definitely work in your favor, and the fact that you always let them know about the transportation problems shows good faith. Don't let HR intimidate you - they're protecting their own interests, not giving you accurate legal advice about unemployment eligibility. Apply today!
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Avery Saint
•@Emma Anderson Thank you so much for sharing your story! It s'incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who had almost identical circumstances and got approved. The couldn "t'work vs wouldn t'work distinction" you mentioned really clarifies things - it makes perfect sense that genuine transportation failures would fall under the first category when you re'actively trying to communicate and find solutions. I m'feeling so much more confident about applying now after reading all these success stories. It s'clear that HR departments routinely discourage people regardless of the actual facts, and that EDD actually does a fair evaluation of each case. I m'definitely going to apply first thing tomorrow and gather all my text messages to my supervisor. This community has been incredibly helpful - I was really stressed about this whole situation but now I feel like I have a real shot at getting the benefits I need while job searching. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Yara Khalil
I'm going through something very similar right now - just got fired from my packaging job last week for attendance issues, mostly due to my car being in the shop multiple times and some family emergencies. My HR person told me the exact same thing about not being eligible for benefits because it was "my fault." Reading through everyone's experiences here is giving me so much hope! It's clear that HR departments routinely say this to discourage applications, regardless of the actual circumstances. The pattern I'm seeing is that EDD really does look at each case individually and considers whether the absences were truly within your control or not. @Lilly Curtis - based on all these success stories, it sounds like you have a really strong case. Your 2.5 years of good employment history, the transportation-related nature of your absences, and especially those text messages you sent to your supervisor each time will really work in your favor. The fact that you were communicating about the issues shows good faith effort on your part. I'm definitely applying for my benefits tomorrow after seeing how many people with similar situations got approved. Don't let HR's scare tactics stop you from getting the support you're entitled to while you look for new work. Apply ASAP and be completely honest about everything during the phone interview. Good luck!
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