This thread has been super helpful! I'm in almost the exact same boat - warehouse job cut my hours from 32 to 18 per week and I just filed for partial UI last week. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to mark YES for work search when I certify this Sunday. My plan is to keep it simple like @Amaya Watson suggested - browse job sites weekly, save some postings, maybe check with temp agencies since warehouse work is pretty common through them. I don't want to risk having my claim flagged by marking NO, especially after seeing what happened to @Jasmine Quinn. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just guessing!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my retail hours dropped from 35 to 22 per week. I was so confused about the work search requirement too! After calling EDD (took forever to get through), the rep explained that partial unemployment still requires you to mark YES for work search because the goal is to help you get back to full employment. What I did was pretty simple - I'd spend maybe 45 minutes once a week looking at job boards, bookmarking positions that seemed interesting, and occasionally reaching out to friends in retail about openings at their stores. I kept a basic spreadsheet with dates and activities just in case EDD ever asked for it. My hours did eventually get restored after about 10 weeks, and I never had any issues with my certification. The key is showing you're making some effort to find additional work, even if you're hopeful your current job will increase your hours soon. Don't overthink it - just document whatever search activities you do and you'll be fine!

Yes, EDD payments are on a strict biweekly schedule! You'll certify every two weeks and typically receive payment within 24-48 hours if there are no issues with your claim. One thing that really helped me when I started was downloading the EDD mobile app - it sends helpful push notifications for certification reminders. Also, I'd recommend setting up both email and text notifications in your UI Online account under "Notification Preferences" as a backup. Since you're budgeting carefully, keep in mind that bank holidays can sometimes delay payments by a day, so factor that into your planning. The predictability really does help with financial planning once you get into the routine. Congrats on getting your first payment - the waiting period is always the worst part!

Congrats on your first payment! That relief is so real - I remember that feeling! Yes, EDD payments are definitely biweekly once you're in the system. You'll certify every other Sunday for the previous two-week period, and if everything goes smoothly, you should see payment within 1-3 business days. Since you certified Sunday and got paid Wednesday, that's pretty typical timing. Just a heads up that the exact day can vary slightly depending on bank holidays, system maintenance, or if there are any issues with your claim that need review. I'd recommend setting calendar reminders for your certification dates and maybe even expected payment dates so you can quickly spot any delays. The biweekly rhythm becomes second nature after a few cycles - you've got this! Make sure to keep track of your job search activities too since you'll need to report those when you certify.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement after reading your story! I just successfully won my second appeal about 3 months ago for almost the exact same issue - work search documentation while doing part-time work. My overpayment was $5,200, so I totally understand that financial stress you're dealing with. What really helped me was creating what I called a "comprehensive evidence narrative" that went beyond just listing job applications. I documented not only WHERE I applied, but also HOW my actions consistently showed I was prioritizing full-time work over my part-time gig. Key elements that made the difference: - Screenshots of job alerts I had set up specifically for full-time positions in my field - Email threads with recruiters discussing full-time opportunities - Documentation of times I requested time off from my part-time job for interviews - Evidence that I was willing to relocate or take a pay cut for the right full-time position The CUIAB took about 12 weeks but completely reversed the ALJ's decision. They specifically mentioned that the original ruling had "applied an overly narrow interpretation of work search requirements" and that my evidence clearly demonstrated "sustained efforts to secure full-time employment." Reading all these success stories in this thread should give you real confidence. The fact that you already have more detailed records to submit puts you in a strong position. With $7,800 at stake and the patterns we're seeing with work search documentation appeals, I genuinely believe you have an excellent chance of getting this overturned. Don't give up - the second appeal process really does provide a fair, fresh review of your case!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my voice to all the encouragement here! I just successfully won my second appeal about 2 months ago for the exact same issue - insufficient work search documentation while doing part-time work. My overpayment was $6,400, so I completely understand that overwhelming financial stress you're experiencing. What made the biggest difference for me was realizing that the CUIAB isn't just looking for more paperwork - they want to see the complete picture of your genuine job search efforts and availability for full-time work. I created what I called a "holistic evidence package" that included: - Detailed spreadsheet with every application (company, date, position, method, follow-up actions) - Screenshots showing my active engagement on job boards over time - Email confirmations and recruiter correspondence - Documentation of how I communicated with my part-time employer about my job search priorities - A clear written statement explaining how each piece of evidence demonstrated my availability for full-time work The key was addressing each specific point in the denial letter and showing how the ALJ had misinterpreted my evidence. The Board took about 10 weeks and completely overturned the decision, noting that the original determination had "failed to recognize the comprehensive scope of claimant's job search activities." Based on all the success stories in this thread and the fact that you have additional detailed records, I'm genuinely optimistic about your chances. Work search documentation appeals seem to have good success rates when presented systematically. With $7,800 at stake, this is absolutely worth pursuing. The second appeal really does give you a fresh, thorough review. Don't give up hope!

I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago and it was driving me absolutely crazy! The "must have registered before" error message is so poorly worded - it really should say something like "complete your account setup" instead. What's happening is when you file by phone, EDD creates what they call a "partial account" or "skeleton account" in their system, but you still need to complete the online registration process. The system thinks you should already know about this account, hence the confusing error message. Since you mentioned filing 8 days ago and having a hyphenated last name, I'd bet money that's the issue. Their phone system frequently records hyphenated names incorrectly - sometimes as two separate words, sometimes without the hyphen entirely, or even all caps with no punctuation. Here's what worked for me: I called the technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning. Got through after about 25 minutes on hold. The rep could immediately see how my name was recorded in their system (they had "Smith-Johnson" recorded as "SMITH JOHNSON" with just a space) and helped me complete the registration using their exact format. While you're waiting to get through, try registering with different variations of "Doyle-Martinez" - maybe "DOYLE MARTINEZ", "Doyle Martinez", or even "DOYLEMARTINEZ" as one word. Sometimes you get lucky and find the exact format they used. Don't stress about certification timing - you won't be able to certify until 2-3 weeks after filing anyway, and they'll notify you when it's available. You have plenty of time to get this sorted out!

Welcome to the community, Riya! You're absolutely right that this thread is incredibly helpful - I wish I had found something like this when I was dealing with my registration issues. The middle name situation you mentioned could definitely be the culprit! EDD's phone system is notorious for recording names inconsistently, especially when people give their full legal name during filing but then try to register online using a shorter version (or vice versa). A few tips based on what I learned from my own experience: When you call that technical support line tomorrow, have your claim confirmation number ready if you received one when you filed by phone. Also, be prepared to verify your identity with info about your previous employer and wages - they sometimes ask for that to locate your account. The rep will be able to see exactly how your name was entered in their system and help you register using their exact format. If you don't get through on your first try, don't give up! I had to call three times before I got through, but it was totally worth it. The technical support reps are generally much more helpful than the regular claims line, and they understand this specific registration issue really well. Good luck tomorrow morning - you've got this!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Had a UI overpayment that got paid off through tax intercepts last year, and now I need to file for SDI due to a chronic health condition. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful - it sounds like most people eventually got their SDI benefits without major issues, even if there were some initial delays or system glitches. The advice about being proactive and having documentation ready makes a lot of sense. I'm planning to gather all my paperwork showing the overpayment was satisfied before I file, and maybe try calling the SDI line first to give them a heads up like Arjun suggested. It's reassuring to know that even when there were problems, people were able to get them resolved. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's making me feel less anxious about moving forward with my claim!

I'm a former EDD employee and want to clarify something important that hasn't been mentioned yet. When you file for SDI, make sure to check if your overpayment included any "false statement" penalties. Even if it wasn't classified as fraud, false statement penalties can create a flag in the system that might delay your SDI claim while they verify everything is resolved. You can check this by logging into your UI Online account and looking at the overpayment details - it should show if any penalties were included beyond just the benefit overpayment amount. If there were penalties, make sure you have documentation that ALL penalties were satisfied, not just the base overpayment. This is often overlooked and can cause unnecessary delays. Also, the SDI waiting period is actually a good thing in your case - it gives their system time to process and verify that your UI account is clear before your benefits start.