Congratulations on the new job! I just want to add one more tip that helped me when I was in your situation - keep records of when you certify and what you report, just in case. I took screenshots of my final certification where I reported my new job earnings. It gave me peace of mind knowing I had documentation showing I was honest about my employment status. Also, don't be surprised if it takes a week or two for your UI Online account to reflect the inactive status - the system isn't always instant with updates. But like everyone said, you're doing everything right by certifying for your final eligible weeks and then stopping. Enjoy the new job and the steady paycheck!

Congratulations on the new job! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and can confirm what everyone is saying here. You absolutely don't need to formally close your claim - just certify for any weeks you're entitled to (including partial weeks before starting full-time) and report all your new earnings accurately. Once your weekly earnings exceed your benefit amount, you'll get $0 and can simply stop certifying. The claim will automatically go inactive after you skip two consecutive certification periods. I was also paranoid about doing something wrong, but the EDD system is actually designed to handle this transition smoothly. Keep documentation of your final certifications for your own records, and don't stress about it - focus on crushing it at your new manufacturing job! The steady paycheck after 4 months of uncertainty must feel amazing.

I've been tracking my call attempts too and can confirm the patterns everyone's mentioning. After 89 attempts over 10 days, I finally got through yesterday at 3:15pm on a Thursday. What worked for me was using the comma trick (dial the main number, then when the menu starts, press 1,2,1 really quickly to skip the long intro). Also noticed that when you get the busy signal, waiting exactly 2-3 minutes before calling back seems more effective than calling immediately. The system seems to temporarily "remember" your number if you call too rapidly. Tuesday-Thursday 2:30-4pm is definitely the sweet spot, and yes, avoid Mondays like the plague. Still took 45+ attempts even during the "good" times, but at least I knew I wasn't wasting my time during impossible hours.

After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced the official hours are basically meaningless. I've been calling for 3 days straight during "business hours" and got nothing but busy signals. The lunch break blackout that nobody mentions officially is particularly infuriating - like why wouldn't they stagger breaks so the phones stay staffed? At this point I'm seriously considering just paying for one of those callback services everyone keeps mentioning. My time is worth more than spending entire days hitting redial. Has anyone here actually gotten through on their first try during the posted hours, or is that just a myth?

Just wanted to add another success story to ease your mind! I was in almost the exact same situation - got a temp job after only receiving one unemployment payment and was super worried about the proper procedure. I just stopped certifying and had zero issues. The beauty of the system is that it's actually pretty straightforward - when you're working full-time, you simply don't certify. No payments get issued, and your claim stays dormant but active for the full benefit year. I ended up not needing to go back on unemployment (my temp job became permanent!), but it was such a relief knowing I could if needed. One thing that helped me feel more secure was logging into my UI Online account and noting down my claim balance and benefit year end date. That way I knew exactly where I stood if circumstances changed. The fact that your manager already mentioned potential for permanent work is a really good sign - sounds like you're in a great position! Don't overthink it, just focus on doing well at the new job.

I was in this exact situation about 8 months ago! Got a full-time temp position after just one unemployment payment and was so stressed about doing the right thing. I ended up just stopping my certifications like everyone else is suggesting, and it worked out perfectly fine. The thing that really put me at ease was realizing that the system is actually designed to handle this - when you're not unemployed, you don't certify. It's that simple. Your claim stays open for the full 52 weeks just in case things don't work out with the temp job. I'd definitely recommend taking a screenshot of your UI Online account showing your current claim status and benefit year end date for your records. Also, since your manager already mentioned the possibility of it becoming permanent, that's a really positive sign! Focus on doing great work and don't stress about the EDD stuff - you're handling it the right way by just stopping your certifications. Good luck with the new job!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you keep track of your benefit year end date! I made the mistake of assuming I had more time left on my claim than I actually did. When my seasonal job ended, I found out my benefit year had expired just two weeks earlier, so I had to file a completely new claim instead of reopening. The new claim used different base period wages and my weekly benefit amount was lower. Really wish I had paid closer attention to that original filing date. Good luck with your contract job - hopefully it leads to something permanent!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation twice! The first time I was nervous about reporting my return to work, but it's actually pretty straightforward. When you do your final certification before starting the job, there's a specific question asking if you've returned to work - just answer honestly with your start date. One tip that saved me headaches: screenshot or print your claim summary page before you stop certifying. It shows your remaining balance, benefit year dates, and weekly amount. That way when you're ready to reopen, you have all the key info handy and can verify everything matches up correctly. Also, don't stress too much about the "reopen claim" process - it's literally just clicking a button in your UI Online account and answering a few questions about your work period. The system is designed for exactly this scenario since temporary/seasonal work is so common. You've got this!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a similar nightmare with EDD last year. After being disqualified for "voluntary quit" when I was actually laid off, I spent 6 weeks trying every free method imaginable - calling hundreds of times, messaging through UI Online, even showing up at the local office (they just told me to call). What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my assembly member AND used a paid service simultaneously. The assembly member's office got back to me after 8 business days, but by then the paid service had already gotten me through and my issue was resolved. For those worried about the ethics - I get it, I really do. But when you're facing homelessness because a government system is failing you, sometimes you have to do what you can to survive. The real problem isn't people using these services, it's that EDD has created a system so broken that these services can exist and thrive. @Amina Sow - if you do decide to use a service, make sure they guarantee you only pay if connected, and have your case details, ID, and any supporting documents ready before the call. Also ask specifically for a Tier 2 specialist right away - don't let them transfer you around. The whole situation is maddening, but don't let pride keep you from getting the help you need if free methods aren't working.

I've been in a similar boat and completely understand both your desperation and ethical concerns. After 4 weeks of trying to reach EDD about my pending disqualification, I finally broke down and used one of these services (ended up using EDD Caller after researching several options). Here's what I learned: - They do work, but they're essentially just sophisticated auto-dialers that keep calling until they get through the queue - Cost me $20 but saved probably 20+ hours of my time trying to redial constantly - Got connected to an actual EDD rep in about 45 minutes vs. weeks of failed attempts - The rep was able to see all my uploaded documents and resolve my issue in one call I felt conflicted about paying for what should be free government access, but when you're facing financial hardship and the system is this broken, sometimes pragmatism wins over principles. These services exist because EDD has failed to adequately staff their phone lines or improve their system. My advice: try the free methods others mentioned first (assembly member contact is surprisingly effective), but don't let ethics prevent you from getting help you desperately need. The system is broken - that's not your fault, and you shouldn't suffer because of it. Whatever you decide, make sure you're prepared with specific questions and all your documentation ready when you do get through!