As someone who just joined this community after discovering this incredibly helpful thread, I wanted to share my experience and add to the collective knowledge here! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - an EDD card from 2020 that I completely forgot about until I tried to use it for some emergency dental work last month. Bank of America hit me with the predictable "security hold" story with zero useful details. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much hope and a clear action plan. The multi-pronged approach that's emerged from all your shared wisdom - filing a CFPB complaint against BofA while simultaneously requesting a callback through UI Online and trying the strategic phone timing - makes so much sense. I'm particularly grateful for those specific phone numbers and that brilliant Disability Insurance line transfer trick. The emphasis on documentation and getting email confirmations with reference numbers is genius - I never would have thought of that but it's clearly crucial for avoiding the endless runaround between EDD and BofA. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see so many people dealing with identical situations. Frustrating because it shows how broken this system is, but reassuring because you've all proven that our money IS still there and recoverable with the right approach. I'm starting my own battle next week using all the strategies outlined here. Thank you all for refusing to give up and for creating this amazing roadmap for those of us stuck in EDD bureaucracy hell! Will definitely update everyone on my progress to help keep building this incredible resource.

As someone who's completely new to this community but unfortunately dealing with this exact same nightmare, I wanted to jump in and thank everyone for creating such an incredibly comprehensive guide! I have an EDD card from 2021 that I totally forgot about until I desperately needed it for some unexpected medical bills two weeks ago. Bank of America gave me the same infuriating "security hold" explanation with absolutely no specifics about what actually triggered it or how to resolve it. This entire thread has been like finding a treasure trove of insider knowledge! The multi-pronged strategy everyone's developed - simultaneously filing a CFPB complaint, using the UI Online callback feature, implementing the early morning calling tactics, and maintaining detailed documentation - is absolutely brilliant. I'm especially grateful for those specific phone numbers and that genius Disability Insurance transfer trick that Paolo shared. The tip about getting email confirmations with reference numbers from EDD is something I never would have considered but makes perfect sense for cutting through the typical bureaucratic finger-pointing. It's both maddening and encouraging to see so many people facing identical situations - maddening because it exposes how fundamentally broken this system is, but encouraging because you've all demonstrated that persistence actually works and our money IS still accessible. I'm launching my own battle tomorrow morning using the comprehensive roadmap this community has built. Will absolutely report back with my results to help continue building this amazing knowledge base for others trapped in EDD limbo. Thank you all for not giving up on your money and for turning what seemed impossible into a solvable problem with concrete action steps!

Just wanted to jump in and say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm brand new to the EDD system and have my first interview coming up in two weeks. Reading through @Liam Mendez's experience and everyone's advice has really put my mind at ease. The tips about staying available past the scheduled window, checking phone settings for spam blocking, and having backup options like Claimyr are all things I never would have thought of. It's so refreshing to see a success story where everything worked out despite the initial stress! This community is such a valuable resource for navigating what can be a really confusing and anxiety-inducing process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it makes such a difference for those of us just starting this journey!

This thread is absolutely incredible! I'm dealing with my first EDD claim and have been so stressed about the whole process, especially after hearing horror stories online. Reading through @Liam Mendez's experience from start to finish - from the initial panic about the late call to the successful 10-minute interview - has been such a relief! The practical advice everyone shared here is amazing: keeping your phone available past the window, checking spam settings, having Claimyr as a backup, and just staying patient when they run behind schedule. It's so good to see that the system actually does work sometimes, even if it's not always perfectly on time. This community is such a lifeline for those of us navigating EDD for the first time. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it makes all the difference!

I've been working with EDD claims for about 8 years now, and I want to echo what others have said - your case looks very solid for approval. The 73+ mile distance combined with a documented 35% rent increase creating genuine financial hardship hits all the right criteria for "good cause" quit. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned: if EDD asks about your decision-making timeline, be prepared to explain that you gave reasonable consideration to the rent increase but ultimately determined it was unsustainable long-term, not just temporarily difficult. They sometimes try to distinguish between short-term financial stress versus genuine inability to afford the new terms. Also, since you mentioned having family support in Bakersfield, that actually works in your favor - it shows this was a practical, well-thought-out relocation rather than a desperate last-minute decision. EDD views moves with existing support systems more favorably. The fact that you're both in healthcare admin and IT support is great too - those are stable fields with decent job markets in most CA cities, including Bakersfield. Shows you're not moving somewhere without employment prospects. Keep all that documentation organized and ready, apply immediately after your last day of work, and be consistent in your messaging. Based on everything you've shared and the excellent advice in this thread, I'd expect approval within 4-6 weeks. Best of luck with the move!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted before, seeing this level of detailed, helpful advice is exactly why I value this space. The collective knowledge here about EDD processes, documentation requirements, and real-world experiences is incredible. @Vanessa Chang - your situation really resonated with me as someone also dealing with skyrocketing rent costs. The way you've approached this whole process - moving first, gathering documentation, seeking advice - shows you're handling an incredibly stressful situation with a lot of thoughtfulness. Between the 73+ mile distance, the substantial rent increase, and all the preparation you're doing based on the advice here, your case sounds very strong. For others who might find this thread in the future facing similar situations, the key takeaways seem to be: document everything, understand EDD's distance and "good cause" criteria, be consistent in your messaging, apply immediately after your last day, and be prepared for a thorough interview process. The practical tips about keeping printed documentation, being available during the full interview window, and tracking job search activities are gold. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes these impossible housing situations a little more manageable. Best of luck to everyone navigating these challenges!

I just went through this same situation last month! I was on PFL for 6 weeks after having my baby, then returned to work for about 2 months before getting laid off in a company restructuring. I was so confused about the wages section too - the EDD application really isn't clear about what they consider "wages." After reading through all the responses here and calling EDD (finally got through after using one of those callback services), I can confirm what everyone is saying: DO NOT include PFL or SDI payments as wages. Only report your actual employment earnings - basically what you'd see on your W-2 from your employer. The EDD rep told me they already have all your wage history from employers, so including benefit payments could actually flag your application and cause delays. I only included my actual paychecks from when I was working and my claim went through smoothly. There are other sections in the application where you can mention if you received PFL/SDI benefits, which is important for them to know, but it shouldn't go in the wages section. Hope this helps and good luck with your application!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I was on SDI for about 8 weeks after a workplace injury, then worked for another 4 months before getting laid off last week. The EDD application is so confusing - I was staring at that wages section for like an hour trying to figure out what to include! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. The consensus is super clear: only include actual wages from employment, not benefit payments like PFL or SDI. The way someone explained it as "earned income" vs "replacement income" really made it click for me. I feel so much better about filling out my application now knowing that so many people have been in similar situations and handled it this way successfully. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's confusing forms! I'll definitely stick to just my actual employment wages and mention the SDI in the other benefits section where appropriate.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed a new claim in early March after my previous one expired, and just like you, my first week went straight to PAID status instead of the usual waiting period. I've been checking my account obsessively wondering if this was some kind of system error. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - sounds like EDD is actually doing this intentionally for people in our situation. I guess the lesson here is that EDD changes policies all the time without making big announcements about it. Thanks for posting this question because I never would have known this was happening to other people too!

This is really interesting to read about! I'm currently on my last few weeks of unemployment benefits and was dreading having to file a new claim because of that awful waiting week. My benefit year ends next month, so if this temporary policy is still in effect, it could really help me avoid that financial gap. Does anyone know if there's a way to find out if you'll qualify for the waived waiting period before you actually file the new claim? I'd love to plan my finances accordingly instead of just hoping for the best. Also wondering if this applies to all types of separations or just layoffs - I was laid off from my previous job due to company downsizing.