I just wanted to add that if you do end up having to call EDD, another trick that's worked for me is calling right at lunch time (around 12:30-1:00pm). Most people call first thing in the morning, so midday can sometimes have shorter wait times. Also, make sure you have all your info ready - SSN, claim number, the specific weeks you certified for vs. the weeks you meant to certify for, and any confirmation numbers from your original certification. Having everything organized will make the call go much smoother if you do get through. But honestly, based on what others are saying about the UI Online messaging system, that sounds like your best bet. Good luck getting this sorted out!

I actually just dealt with this exact situation about 3 weeks ago! The stress is real when you realize you've certified for the wrong weeks. Here's what saved me: instead of trying to call (which was impossible), I went to my UI Online account and used the "Ask EDD" feature under the Contact section. I wrote a really detailed message explaining exactly what happened - which weeks I accidentally certified for, which weeks I actually should have certified for, and included all the specific dates. I also mentioned that I caught the error before receiving any payments. They got back to me in 6 business days and were able to completely reverse the incorrect certification and allow me to re-certify for the proper weeks. The whole thing was resolved within about 10 days total. The key is being super specific about the dates and acting quickly. Don't wait - the sooner you contact them, the easier it is to fix. You've got this!

I wanted to add some practical advice about gathering your documentation for the appeal. Since you mentioned your mom's surgery and medical situation, make sure to get: 1. **Hospital discharge papers** showing the dates of surgery and recovery period 2. **Doctor's orders** or care instructions that required your presence/assistance 3. **Any correspondence with your mom's medical team** from that time period Also, create a detailed **daily schedule** showing how you balanced caregiving with job search activities. Even if you could only search for jobs certain hours of the day, that can still demonstrate availability for work. I've helped several people prepare these appeals through my work with a local workforce center, and the judges really appreciate seeing organized, chronological documentation. The fact that you resumed receiving benefits shows your underlying eligibility was never in question - you just hit a temporary availability issue during a medical crisis. One last suggestion: when you write your appeal letter, frame it as "I maintained reasonable availability for work despite temporary caregiving responsibilities" rather than focusing on being unavailable. The distinction matters in how they evaluate your case.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I was disqualified for 5 weeks earlier this year due to "insufficient work search" when I was actually searching but didn't document it properly while dealing with my dad's hospitalization. Like you, I'm back to receiving benefits but those weeks just disappeared. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the DE 1000M form or that you could appeal specific weeks without affecting your current claim status. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about gathering medical documentation and creating a timeline of events. One question for the group - has anyone had success appealing when the issue was work search documentation rather than availability? I was definitely looking for work during those weeks, I just wasn't keeping detailed records because I was so focused on my dad's medical crisis. I have some email confirmations from job applications, but not the comprehensive logs EDD apparently wanted. Thank you so much for posting this @Yara - sometimes it really helps to know you're not alone in dealing with EDD's confusing processes!

Almost everyone on my shift got cut. They said something about

I went through something similar when I was working part-time at a grocery store last year. The EDD formula can be really harsh when you're right at that threshold. What helped me was keeping detailed records of my hours and earnings each week so I could predict when I might qualify for benefits. Also, even though you didn't qualify that particular week, make sure you're still reporting your earnings accurately when you certify - being honest about your wages is super important even if it means getting $0 that week. The system is frustrating but at least now you know exactly where the cutoff is for your situation.

Fellow film industry worker here! I just successfully filed my claim a few weeks ago after dealing with this same confusion. The advice about treating each payroll company as ONE employer is absolutely correct - that's the key insight that made everything click for me. One thing I'd add that helped me specifically: when calculating your average hours, don't stress too much about getting it perfect to the hour. EDD understands that entertainment industry averages will look low compared to traditional jobs. I had worked about 800 hours through Entertainment Partners over 18 months, which came out to roughly 10 hours per week average. Felt weird putting such a low number, but it was accurate and they accepted it without question. Also, definitely keep digital copies of everything! I scanned all my paystubs and organized them in folders by payroll company on my computer. When they called for my eligibility interview, I could pull up any document they asked for instantly. Made the whole process so much less stressful. The film industry employment pattern is more common than you think, so don't worry about being flagged as suspicious - they're used to seeing our weird work schedules!

I'm also in film production and went through this headache about 6 months ago! The confusion about payroll companies vs actual productions is so real - I initially tried to list every single show I worked on as separate employers and it was a total mess. Here's what worked for me: treat the payroll service as your employer, period. So if you worked through Entertainment Partners, Cast & Crew, and Central Casting over the past year, that's three employers max, not dozens of different productions. For the hours calculation, I know it feels wrong to put such a low average, but that's genuinely how our industry works. I worked 1,200 hours through various payroll companies over 2 years, which averaged to about 12 hours per week when I divided by total weeks. Seemed ridiculously low, but EDD didn't bat an eye. One thing that really helped: I created a simple table with columns for payroll company, first date worked, last date worked, and total hours. Made filling out the application so much easier and I had everything ready when they called for my eligibility interview (which they definitely will - almost all entertainment workers get flagged for review, but it's routine, not suspicious). Good luck with your claim! The film industry unemployment process is confusing but totally doable once you understand the payroll company principle.

I missed my EDD interview about 2 years ago due to a family emergency (had to rush to the hospital with my mom) and went through the whole appeal process. Here's what I learned: The appeal hearing is way less intimidating than it sounds! It's just a phone call with an Administrative Law Judge who asks pretty basic questions - why you missed the interview, if you're available for work, your job search efforts, etc. The judge I had was actually really professional and fair. A few practical tips: - Write down your explanation ahead of time so you don't ramble during the hearing - Have your job search records handy in case they ask about it - Make sure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception for the call - The hearing usually lasts 15-30 minutes max Since you're being honest about just mixing up the dates (which happens to everyone!), you should be fine. Simple human error is way different from deliberately avoiding the interview. I got approved and received about 8 weeks of back pay once the decision came through. Keep your head up - this is definitely fixable!

Hey there! I just went through this same situation about 3 months ago - missed my EDD interview because I had COVID and was basically delirious with fever (completely spaced on the appointment). The whole process was way less terrifying than I built it up to be in my head. A few things that really helped me prepare: - I called the Appeals Office directly (not the main EDD number) about a week before my hearing to confirm the time and phone number they'd be calling from - I practiced explaining my situation out loud beforehand so I wouldn't stumble over my words - I made sure I had all my job search documentation organized just in case they asked The actual hearing was super straightforward - the judge asked why I missed the interview, confirmed I was looking for work and available to work, and asked a couple questions about my last job. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Got my approval letter about 2 weeks later and all my back payments hit my account within a few days after that. Since you're being upfront about an honest mistake with the dates, I think you'll be totally fine. The judges deal with people who try to game the system all the time, so genuine human error is refreshing for them to hear! You've got this - just stay calm and be honest during the hearing!