Hi Jasondra! You're absolutely right to ask about this - it's a common concern. Yes, you can definitely provide a reasonable estimate for the quarter where you're missing the W2. The DE 2557 form is designed with the understanding that applicants may not have every exact document available. Here are some ways to make your estimate more accurate: - Check your bank statements for direct deposits from that employer - Look for any saved pay stubs (even photos on your phone) - Try to remember your hourly rate and approximate hours worked that quarter - Contact the employer's HR or payroll department if possible EDD has access to employer wage records through their systems, so they can verify your information independently. They're much more focused on establishing your eligibility and work history than getting every penny perfect. Just be honest that it's an estimate rather than leaving the field blank. Don't let this hold up your disability claim - submit your best good faith estimate and keep moving forward. Minor discrepancies can always be clarified later if needed. Good luck with your claim!

Hi Jasondra! Yes, you can absolutely use a reasonable estimate on the DE 2557 form for any quarter where you don't have exact wage information. EDD is very understanding about these situations since they know people don't always have perfect documentation on hand. To make your estimate as accurate as possible, I'd suggest: - Checking your bank account history for direct deposits from that employer during the missing quarter - Looking through old emails for any digital pay stubs you might have saved - Trying to recall your hourly rate or salary and estimating hours worked - If you're comfortable, calling that employer's HR department - they might share the wage info over the phone The important thing is to make a good faith estimate rather than leaving it blank. EDD has their own systems to cross-reference wage information with employers, so they can verify details independently. They're primarily concerned with establishing your eligibility and work history, not perfect accuracy down to the last dollar. Don't let that missing W2 delay your disability claim - submit your best estimate and move forward! If there are any significant discrepancies, they'll typically just ask for clarification rather than create problems for your claim. Good luck!

Hi everyone, just made a video about how to call the EDD and reach a live human agent: https://youtu.be/-R4SqP7_JUA

I've been dealing with the same frustrating issue! The system seems to automatically disconnect calls after a certain period, even when you're still holding. From what I've experienced, it usually happens during peak call times when their system is overloaded. One thing that's helped me is calling right when they open at 8 AM - the success rate seems much higher then. Also, make sure you're not on speakerphone or using Bluetooth as sometimes the system interprets audio delays as a disconnected call. Keep trying - I know it's incredibly frustrating but persistence eventually pays off with EDD.

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to stay at this new job for a while, you might want to consider slightly over-withholding for the rest of the year rather than trying to hit the exact amount. This way you'll get a refund instead of owing, which can be nice for peace of mind. You can always adjust your withholding back down next year once you're caught up. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits might have pushed you into a different tax bracket temporarily, so the effective tax rate on those benefits might be higher than your regular income tax rate. Good luck with everything and congrats again on the new job!

One more tip that really helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you use tax software like TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA, they usually have mid-year tax estimators that can help you figure out exactly how much extra withholding you need. I plugged in my UI income and my new job salary, and it gave me a pretty accurate estimate of what I'd owe. This helped me avoid both under-withholding and over-withholding too much. Also, if you're using a tax professional, it might be worth scheduling a quick consultation now rather than waiting until filing season - they can help you set up the right withholding strategy and it's usually much cheaper than a full tax prep session.

I was in the exact same boat a few months ago! The CalJobs registration is definitely just part of the work search requirements - it's not an indicator that your benefits are coming soon, unfortunately. It's basically EDD's way of making sure you're actively job searching, which is required to keep receiving unemployment. The timing of getting that request along with issues about payments is probably just coincidence, but both need to be addressed. I'd suggest registering for CalJobs ASAP to stay compliant, and then tackle the payment issue separately by calling EDD. Those YouTube links Tom shared are gold - I used similar methods and finally got through to a real person. Hang in there, the system is frustrating but you'll get it sorted out!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this exact situation! The CalJobs registration requirement definitely threw me for a loop at first too. Like others have mentioned, it's part of the work search requirements that came back after the pandemic pause - not necessarily a sign that benefits are coming soon. I actually found CalJobs pretty useful once I got the hang of it, and it helps keep all your job search activities organized in one place. The key thing is to stay compliant with the work search requirements while you sort out any payment issues. Don't let the registration stress you out too much - it's just another hoop to jump through in the EDD process. Good luck getting everything resolved!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to jump in with another option that worked for me recently. If you have access to a printer, try going to UI Online and looking for the "Benefit Payment Details" section (it might be under a different menu depending on when you're reading this). Sometimes there's a "Print Summary" or "Generate Report" button that creates a more official-looking document than just screenshotting the payment history page. Also, I've had success explaining to landlords that EDD switched to the Money Network card system specifically to make payments faster and more secure, so there literally aren't traditional paper stubs anymore. Most reasonable property managers understand when you explain it's a modernized government system, not just some random payment method. If you're still stuck, try reaching out to your local state assembly member's office - they sometimes have staff who can help expedite EDD requests for constituents dealing with housing issues. It's a long shot but I've heard success stories! Good luck with your apartment application!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My apartment complex is asking for "official paystubs" and won't accept the basic payment history from UI Online. Reading through all these suggestions has been so helpful - I had no idea there were this many different approaches to try. I'm planning to start with calling EDD first thing tomorrow morning using the 8:01 AM trick that Brooklyn mentioned, and while I'm waiting for that I'll check my UI Online inbox for any benefit statements I might have missed. The Money Network statements idea also makes a lot of sense since those show the actual deposits with EDD as the source. Has anyone had success with the local EDD office visit approach recently? There's one about 45 minutes from me but I want to make sure they're actually helping with walk-ins before I drive out there. Also super curious about the Award Letter option - that sounds like it might be exactly what I need if it shows the official EDD branding and benefit amounts. This thread has honestly been a lifesaver because I was starting to panic about my application timeline. It's crazy that something as basic as proving you receive unemployment benefits can be this complicated!