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!

I'm so sorry you're going through this Money Network nightmare! I'm new to this community but unfortunately very familiar with their broken system. I went through something incredibly similar about 6 weeks ago - my card declined everywhere for nearly 2 weeks despite having over $1,200 in benefits sitting there. What finally worked for me was a combination of things people have mentioned here: 1. Called Money Network at exactly 7 AM and got a much more knowledgeable rep who found a "merchant category block" that previous agents somehow missed 2. Went to a small local credit union ATM and was able to withdraw $200 when all the big bank ATMs failed 3. Used the virtual card through their app for online purchases while waiting for the physical card issues to be resolved The most important thing though was getting through to EDD's Payment Methods Resolution Team (thanks @Skylar Neal for that tip!). They were able to issue me an emergency paper check within 3 business days AND started the process to switch me to direct deposit. When you call Monday, be very clear that you've been without access to YOUR money for 2 weeks and it's affecting your ability to pay rent and buy food. Use the word "emergency" - it seems to trigger different protocols on their end. Also document every single interaction you've had with Money Network customer service. I ended up filing a CFPB complaint after my situation was resolved and they actually followed up with me about systemic issues. Hang in there - you WILL get through this! The direct deposit option is a complete game changer once you get it set up. Never having to deal with these terrible cards again! 🙏

This is absolutely unacceptable! I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to Money Network disasters. I went through something very similar about 4 months ago - my card was declining everywhere for over 2 weeks while rent was due. What finally worked for me was going to a Walmart MoneyCenter (like @Fatima Al-Qasimi mentioned) and asking them to process a "cash advance" transaction. The associate there was actually familiar with Money Network issues and was able to get me $300 when every ATM and store had been declining my card. There's usually a small fee but it was worth it to finally access my money. I also had success calling Money Network super early (around 6:30 AM) and asking the rep to check for "velocity restrictions" - apparently my account had some kind of automatic limit that was blocking all transactions, but it wasn't showing up as a fraud hold. They were able to remove it immediately once they actually looked for it. Definitely push for that direct deposit option when you call EDD! I switched over as soon as I found out about it and haven't had a single problem since. The whole Money Network system is completely broken and honestly feels intentionally difficult to navigate. Keep detailed notes of every call and don't give up. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to access your own benefits, but unfortunately persistence is the only thing that seems to work with this mess of a system. You've got this! 💪

update us on what happens! im having similar issues with my claim and need all the help i can get

Just wanted to add something important about temp/substitute positions in schools - make sure when you file your claim that you specify you were working as a temporary employee, not a regular school employee. This matters because there are special rules for school employees that might affect your eligibility timing. Regular school employees often can't collect unemployment during scheduled breaks or between school years, but temp workers like TAs and substitutes are usually exempt from these restrictions. The EDD rep you talk to needs to know this distinction. Also, since you mentioned this was a 4-month position, keep any documentation you have about the temporary nature of your employment (emails, job posting, contract if you had one). This will help establish that you weren't a regular school employee subject to the between-terms restrictions. Good luck with your callback! The fact that you were dismissed with "zero notice" for going "in a different direction" definitely sounds like a layoff situation, not misconduct, so you should be fine on that front.

I've been following this thread closely as I'm dealing with the exact same backpay situation. After reading everyone's experiences, I decided to try Claimyr yesterday and wanted to share my results. Used the referral link someone posted above for the $5 discount, paid $15 total. Got my callback in about 1.5 hours and was connected to a Tier 2 rep who was incredibly helpful. She was able to backdate my claim for 8 weeks that I'd been missing and said the payments should process within 3-5 business days. The whole call took about 30 minutes once connected. Honestly wish I'd found this service months ago instead of wasting so much time trying to call 800-300-5616 directly. For anyone still on the fence about the cost - it's absolutely worth it compared to the hours and stress of trying to get through on your own. Make sure you have all your documentation ready when they call back!

I'm in the same boat as everyone here - been trying to get my EDD backpay sorted for months now! Reading through all these success stories with Claimyr is really encouraging. I've probably wasted 40+ hours over the past few months trying to get through to 800-300-5616 directly with zero success. Always busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like Claimyr is definitely the way to go. The $15-20 cost seems totally reasonable when you consider the time and frustration it saves. I'm planning to try it this week - does anyone know if there are better days/times to request the callback, or does it not really matter? Also, for those who got their backpay processed, how long did it actually take for the payments to hit your account after the call? Thanks for all the helpful info everyone - this community has been a lifesaver!

I went through almost the exact same situation with my dad two years ago. I was on PFL for 8 weeks, then had to quit my job as a nurse when he needed 24/7 care during his final months with pancreatic cancer. EDD did approve my unemployment claim based on "good cause" but it took about 6 weeks and required an appeal. The key things that helped my case were: 1) Medical documentation showing the terminal diagnosis and care needs, 2) A letter from my employer confirming they couldn't hold my position longer, 3) Documentation that I was the only available family caregiver, and 4) A letter from his oncologist stating the expected timeline. During the eligibility interview, be very clear that this is a temporary situation with a defined end, and that you fully intend to return to work. I was honest about not being available immediately but emphasized I would be actively seeking employment once my caregiving ended. The process is emotionally draining when you're already dealing with so much, but don't let that discourage you from applying. You paid into the system and have a legitimate reason. My thoughts are with you and your sister.

I'm so sorry about your sister's diagnosis - what you're doing for her is truly compassionate. Based on the experiences shared here, it sounds like you have a solid case for "good cause" since you were already on PFL with medical documentation and your employer couldn't accommodate the extended leave. One additional resource that might help: some counties have caregiver support programs through their Department of Social Services that can provide temporary respite care or connect you with volunteer caregivers. This could potentially give you a few hours here and there to handle the EDD application process or prepare for interviews. Also, when you apply, make sure to mention in your initial application that you resigned specifically due to a family member's terminal illness requiring full-time care. This will help categorize your case correctly from the start rather than it just appearing as a standard voluntary quit. The timeline others mentioned (6+ weeks with potential appeal) is unfortunately realistic, so definitely apply soon even though you're not immediately available for work. The sooner you get the process started, the sooner benefits can begin once you are available again.