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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Just wanted to add my experience - I was in the exact same situation last year. I certified for the weeks before starting my new job, then continued certifying for about 3 more periods reporting my full wages. Each time I got $0 in benefits (since my new salary exceeded the weekly benefit amount), but it created the proper record with EDD that I was employed. After those few certifications showing consistent full-time work, I stopped certifying and never had any issues. The key is making sure EDD knows you're working through the certification process, not just disappearing. Good luck with the new job!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through this process. It's reassuring to know that following the proper steps (certifying for a few periods after starting work) worked out fine for you. The fact that you got $0 benefits but still created the paper trail is exactly what I was wondering about. Definitely makes me feel more confident about doing this the right way instead of just stopping abruptly.
Great question and congrats on the new job! I went through this exact situation a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: I certified for all the weeks I was eligible for BEFORE starting work (you've earned those benefits), then I continued certifying for about 2-3 more periods after starting my new job, reporting my full wages each time. Even though I got $0 benefits once I started working, it created the proper documentation that I had returned to work. This way EDD has a clear record of your employment transition and you won't risk any overpayment issues later. Whatever you do, don't just stop certifying without reporting your new job - that can trigger fraud flags. The certification system is designed to handle this transition smoothly when you report your earnings properly.
This is exactly the advice I needed to hear! I was getting worried about the "right" way to handle this transition, but your step-by-step experience really clarifies things. It makes total sense to keep certifying for a few periods after starting work even if you get $0 - better to have that clear paper trail than risk EDD thinking you just vanished. I'm definitely going to follow this approach. Did you have to do anything special when you finally stopped certifying, or did you just stop after those 2-3 periods of showing consistent work income?
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I just went through this exact situation two months ago with an online Excel course while collecting unemployment after being laid off from my accounting coordinator position. I was absolutely terrified about the certification question, but I'm so glad I answered honestly! Here's what happened: I answered "Yes" and my payments went to pending for about 8 days. Then I got the eligibility interview call - the EDD representative was actually really supportive and said they appreciate when claimants are proactively improving their job skills. She asked three main questions: 1) How many hours per week (I said 5-6 hours), 2) Could I start work immediately if offered (yes, absolutely), and 3) How does this relate to my job search goals. I had prepared by saving screenshots of accounting job postings that specifically mentioned "proficient in Excel" or "advanced Excel skills required" - there were SO many! The interview took maybe 7 minutes and she approved me on the spot. All my pending payments came through within 24 hours. The Excel skills have genuinely helped me in interviews since then - I can confidently talk about pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis now. Carmen, your situation sounds identical to mine. Answer truthfully, prepare examples of accounting jobs requiring Excel, and emphasize that it's a flexible online course that won't interfere with work availability. The temporary stress is absolutely worth avoiding fraud issues, and you're making a smart career investment that EDD actually views positively!
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! I just started week 2 of an online QuickBooks course while on unemployment and I've been losing sleep over whether to answer "Yes" to the certification question. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that honesty is definitely the way to go, even though the pending payment period is stressful. What really stands out to me is how consistently positive the EDD interviews have been when people are prepared and can clearly explain the connection between their training and job search goals. I love all the advice about documenting job postings that require these skills - I've already found dozens of bookkeeping positions that specifically mention QuickBooks proficiency as required. Carmen, your Excel course for accounting work is such a smart move! Based on everything I've read here, I'm going to answer "Yes" on my next certification and prepare talking points about how QuickBooks skills directly support my bookkeeping career goals. The temporary inconvenience of an eligibility interview is nothing compared to the risk of fraud penalties, and it sounds like EDD genuinely appreciates when people are upskilling strategically. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! Your QuickBooks course sounds like an excellent strategic move - those skills are in such high demand for bookkeeping positions. It's amazing how many people are going through similar situations right now, and seeing all these positive outcomes when people answer honestly really reinforces that we're all making the right choice. I love that you're already finding dozens of positions that specifically mention QuickBooks proficiency - that's going to be such strong evidence for your eligibility interview if you get called. The consistency of everyone's positive experiences with EDD representatives who appreciate strategic upskilling has completely changed my perspective on this whole process. I was initially viewing it as something that might work against me, but now I see it as an opportunity to demonstrate that I'm being proactive about improving my employability. Good luck with your QuickBooks course and the certification process - it sounds like you're well-prepared to handle whatever comes next!
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This thread is so helpful! I'm in the same boat - just got married and need to update my name with EDD for my disability benefits. I've been putting it off because I was dreading dealing with their phone system, but seeing all these success stories and specific strategies gives me hope! The 1-800-300-5616 number and Tuesday/Wednesday 8am timing advice seems to be the golden ticket based on everyone's experiences. I'm definitely going to follow the roadmap: update Social Security first (already in progress), get my certified marriage certificate ready, and have my EDD account number and all docs organized before calling. The tip about asking for an emailed checklist is genius - I never would have thought to request that but it makes total sense to have everything in writing. Also planning to make copies of everything and use certified mail like everyone recommended. One quick question - did anyone have issues with the name change affecting their existing claim or did you have to restart anything? I'm hoping it's just an account update and doesn't mess with my current benefits timeline. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. You've all made this process seem way less overwhelming! 🙏
Hey Connor! From what I've seen in this thread and my own experience, the name change shouldn't affect your existing claim at all - it's just an account update, not a new application. Your benefits should continue normally throughout the process. Several people mentioned their payments weren't interrupted, which is really reassuring! The roadmap you've outlined sounds perfect based on everyone's advice. That 1-800-300-5616 number really does seem to be the secret weapon for getting through. Just make sure when you call to mention you're updating for "official records consistency" (saw that tip earlier) and definitely ask them to confirm your mailing address is correct in their system. You've got this! The hardest part is just getting through on the phone, but once you do, the reps are usually pretty helpful. Good luck! 🍀
This thread has been absolutely amazing! I'm about to start this process myself - just got married 3 weeks ago and have been dreading the EDD name change process. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has given me such a clear roadmap and honestly made me feel way less anxious about the whole thing. The consistency in advice is incredible - especially the 1-800-300-5616 number and the Tuesday/Wednesday 8am strategy. I'm definitely going to follow the step-by-step plan that's emerged: update Social Security first (appointment scheduled for next week), get my certified marriage certificate, organize all my documents including EDD account number, then call using the timing strategy everyone's recommended. The tips about asking for an emailed checklist, making copies of everything, and using certified mail are all going straight into my game plan. I would have never thought of half these things on my own! One thing I'm curious about - for those who completed this process, did you notice any difference in how quickly EDD processed other requests after your name was updated? Just wondering if having everything consistent across systems makes future interactions smoother. Thank you all so much for creating such a supportive and informative discussion. This community is incredible and you've probably saved me weeks of trial and error! 🙌
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I switched to direct deposit about 2 months ago and can confirm the 3-5 business day timeline everyone mentioned. Since you switched yesterday and have a Monday payment, definitely expect that one to still hit your Money Network card. The good news is that once direct deposit kicks in, it's SO much better - no more worrying about lost cards, ATM fees, or delays in the mail. I actually kept my Money Network card active for about a month after switching just to be safe, and I'm glad I did because there was one random payment that ended up going there due to a system glitch. Just be patient with the transition period - it's worth it in the long run!
That's really smart advice about keeping the Money Network card active for a while after switching! I wouldn't have thought about potential system glitches causing payments to randomly go back to the old method. I'm definitely going to keep mine open for at least a month or two after my direct deposit is fully active, just to be safe. It's reassuring to hear from so many people that the switch is worth the temporary hassle - dealing with those ATM fees and constant card delays has been exhausting. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I'm going through this exact same process right now! Just switched to direct deposit yesterday after getting tired of the Money Network card fees and delays. Based on all the helpful responses here, it sounds like I should expect my upcoming payment to still go to the card since the 3-5 business day processing time won't be complete yet. It's really reassuring to read everyone's experiences and know that the switch is definitely worth it once it's fully processed. The faster payment timeline with direct deposit compared to waiting for the card sounds amazing. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - this thread has been super helpful for setting expectations!
Amun-Ra Azra
I know everyone's saying you'll lose your balance, but I actually managed to get an extension last year through a special program when my regular UI ran out. You might want to specifically ask about extensions when you talk to EDD. Different rules apply in different situations.
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Angel Campbell
•That's a different situation. Extensions are for when you exhaust your claim balance BEFORE your benefit year ends. The poster is asking about having money left when the benefit year expires, which is different. Extensions aren't available in that scenario - a new claim must be filed after the benefit year ends regardless of remaining balance.
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NightOwl42
I went through this exact situation a few months ago and it's really frustrating! Lost about $2,200 when my benefit year ended. One thing I wish I had known - make sure you have all your wage documentation ready before you file the new claim. Since you mentioned doing gig work, gather all your 1099s, bank statements showing deposits, and any other proof of earnings. EDD can be really picky about gig work documentation and having everything organized upfront will save you headaches later. Also, if you do qualify for a new claim but the weekly amount is much lower than your current one, don't panic - sometimes there are calculation errors that can be fixed if you can prove higher earnings.
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Ava Thompson
•This is really good advice about having documentation ready! I never thought about organizing bank statements for gig work deposits. Do you know if screenshots from apps like DoorDash or Uber showing earnings would count as valid documentation, or do they prefer official statements? I'm worried about what counts as "proof" since most of my gig work has been through apps.
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