I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread! I'm in my first week of unemployment and stumbled across this discussion while researching certification requirements. I have a small monthly retirement distribution ($365) from my former employer and was completely confused about whether to report it or not. Reading through all of your real-world experiences has been incredibly valuable - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD documentation. The consensus is crystal clear: report it honestly during certification and mark "yes" for receiving income. I especially appreciate the practical advice about keeping detailed records in a spreadsheet and the reassurance that EDD is primarily focused on intentional fraud rather than honest mistakes. This kind of peer support makes such a huge difference when navigating such a complex and stressful system. It's comforting to know that so many of us are dealing with similar situations and that people are willing to share their knowledge to help others. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to explain their experiences - you've made this process much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I just started my unemployment claim this week and have been completely overwhelmed by all the certification requirements. I have a monthly pension payment ($395) from my old job that I forgot to mention during my initial phone application - I was so nervous and focused on getting all the employment details right that other income sources didn't even cross my mind at the time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring and educational. It's clear that I need to report it during certification and mark "yes" for receiving income, even though it will likely reduce my weekly benefit amount. What really helps is understanding that EDD is more concerned with people who intentionally try to hide income rather than folks like us who are genuinely confused about the complex rules. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records in a spreadsheet like Jessica suggested - having exact dates and amounts documented seems like the smart way to stay organized and avoid any issues down the road. It's both comforting and frustrating to see how many of us are dealing with the same confusion about these reporting requirements. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and real experiences - this community support makes such a difference when navigating such a stressful and complicated system for the first time!

I'm new to this community but dealing with the exact same Money Network notification issues! Been on unemployment for about 3 weeks now and switched to their card thinking it would be more convenient than direct deposit - what a mistake that was. I've tried enabling notifications multiple times but never get any alerts when my benefits are deposited. Reading through all these responses is super helpful though - sounds like there are actually several different fixes to try. Going to start with the dual settings approach (@Omar's suggestion about Account > Communication Preferences AND Settings > Notifications) and if that doesn't work I'll try the simpler email address trick too. It's honestly insane that we have to become tech support experts just to get basic deposit notifications working. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's been driving me crazy! Just got on unemployment benefits last month and switched to the Money Network card thinking it would be simpler than setting up direct deposit. Big mistake - their notification system is completely broken. I've enabled every possible alert setting I can find in the app but still get absolutely nothing when my weekly payments post. Been having to set phone reminders to manually check the app every few days after certifying, which defeats the whole purpose. Reading through all these responses gives me hope though - going to try the dual settings fix first (enabling notifications in BOTH Account > Communication Preferences AND Settings > Notifications) and if that doesn't work I'll switch to a simpler email address without any dots. It's ridiculous that we have to become IT specialists just to get basic deposit alerts working, but at least this community has figured out the workarounds that Money Network's useless customer service couldn't provide. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions!

I just went through this exact same situation and wanted to add my experience! I'm 62 and started collecting Social Security retirement benefits about 3 months ago while still on unemployment. I was completely panicked about whether to report it during EDD certifications. After reading through the EDD handbook multiple times and seeing all the helpful responses in this thread, I can confirm what everyone else has said - Social Security retirement benefits do NOT need to be reported as income when certifying for unemployment in California. I've been certifying without reporting my SS retirement for 12 weeks now and haven't had any issues. The key thing that helped me understand is that Social Security retirement is a federal benefit you've earned through your work history and FICA taxes, not a pension from a specific employer. EDD specifically distinguishes between these types of income - they care about work income, self-employment, and employer-based pensions that might reduce your benefits, but not Social Security retirement. For anyone else dealing with this anxiety - I know how terrifying it is to worry about accidentally triggering an overpayment. But based on my experience and everyone else's here, you can confidently answer "no" to the income questions on your certification if Social Security retirement is your only non-work income. This community has been invaluable for getting real answers when the EDD phone system is impossible to navigate!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and this thread has been so helpful! I just turned 62 and started getting Social Security retirement benefits last month while still on unemployment. I've been so worried about whether I need to report it when certifying - I actually called EDD 5 times trying to get through but never could reach anyone. Reading everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease. I had no idea that Social Security retirement benefits are treated differently from employer pensions or work income by EDD. I was assuming any retirement money would count as income that needed to be reported. It's such a relief to see so many people confirming they've been successfully certifying without reporting their SS retirement benefits. I've been answering "no" to the income questions but was constantly second-guessing myself. Now I feel confident I'm doing it right! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing EDD processes when their phone system is impossible to get through!

Just had my CalJOBS appointment yesterday and wanted to share some current info since I see you're getting great advice but want to add the most recent experience! The link came through both email and UI Online exactly 24 hours before my 2pm appointment. I actually got a bit paranoid and checked every hour leading up to it, but it was right on schedule. My appointment lasted exactly 45 minutes. The counselor was really thorough but not intimidating at all. Here's what we covered: - Reviewed my work search log (I used a simple spreadsheet with company, position, date, application method) - Went through my CalJOBS profile together and made a few real-time updates - Discussed my job search strategy and she gave me some targeted advice - She showed me how to set up job alerts for my specific field Technical stuff: The screen sharing worked perfectly through the browser - no downloads needed. Just make sure you have good internet and know your CalJOBS password by heart! One thing that surprised me: She actually spent time helping me identify transferable skills I hadn't been highlighting. It felt like a genuine career counseling session rather than just a compliance check. The link stayed active for about 15 minutes after my appointment ended (I accidentally clicked it again), but definitely don't count on that buffer time. Bottom line: If you can show you're actively and consistently looking for work, you'll be totally fine. The anticipation is definitely worse than the actual experience. Good luck with yours!

I had my CalJOBS appointment about 3 weeks ago and can definitely help ease your worries! The link came through email exactly 24 hours before my scheduled time - I'd recommend setting a phone reminder to check for it since it can sometimes end up in spam folders. My appointment lasted about 40 minutes and was honestly much more helpful than I expected. The counselor had me share my screen (works right through the browser, no special software needed) to review my CalJOBS profile and work search activities. I kept a simple notes file on my phone with company names, job titles, application dates, and where I applied (Indeed, company website, etc.) - nothing fancy but it showed I was organized. The link stays active for about 15-20 minutes after your scheduled time, but definitely don't rely on that buffer. Join right on time or even a few minutes early. A few tips that really helped me: - Update your CalJOBS profile beforehand - they'll review it with you and suggest improvements - Have your login info written down (I always forget passwords when nervous!) - Document any networking activities too - they count toward work search requirements - Test your internet connection beforehand The counselor was genuinely helpful and gave me advice on improving my resume keywords and told me about job resources I didn't know existed. It felt more like free career coaching than an audit. The anticipation is definitely worse than the actual appointment. As long as you can show you're actively looking for work, you'll be fine. You've got this!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! To update: I spoke with my employer today and they confirmed the reduction starts next Monday. I'm going to apply for partial unemployment as soon as my hours are officially reduced. I also found my past pay stubs showing my consistent 40-hour weeks for the last 9 months. Feeling a bit more prepared now, but still anxious about how long the EDD process might take.

btw when u certify make sure u say YES to the question about looking for work and keep a record of job applications somewhere in case they ask for proof!!! they've gotten really strict about work search requirements lately!