I'm really sorry you're going through this situation - it sounds incredibly frustrating to get fired over what was clearly an honest mistake, especially when you immediately tried to fix it! Based on all the excellent advice shared here, it sounds like you have a very strong case for unemployment benefits. The key factors working in your favor are really compelling: your 9-month clean employment record, the fact that you immediately self-reported the error, your good faith attempt to resolve it through Costco's appeal process, and most importantly - you were trying to take UNPAID time off, not steal time. One additional tip I'd suggest: when you have your EDD phone interview, consider bringing up how this termination was disproportionate to the "offense." Most employers would issue a verbal warning or write-up for a first-time accidental time clock error, especially one that was immediately self-reported. The fact that Costco went straight to termination for someone with your clean record actually supports your case that this was an overreaction, not justified discipline for misconduct. Also, make sure to keep detailed notes of your phone interview with EDD - write down the interviewer's name, date, time, and what questions they asked. If for some reason your claim gets delayed or there are issues later, having that documentation can be really helpful. You've gotten such great advice from this community, and it's clear everyone is rooting for you. Stay confident in your case - you deserve those benefits and this whole situation will be behind you soon!

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - what an awful way to lose your job over such an obvious accident! After reading through everyone's responses, I'm convinced you have an excellent case for unemployment benefits. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should consider documenting the exact steps you took when the error occurred. If possible, try to recreate (without actually submitting anything) the process you went through on the time clock system - which screen you were on, where the VTO button was located versus the clock-in button, etc. This kind of detailed explanation during your EDD interview can really help the adjudicator understand how easy it would be to make this mistake accidentally. Also, since you mentioned you were rushing to handle a family obligation, that context is important too. When people are in a hurry, user errors become much more understandable and clearly unintentional. The combination of your clean record, immediate self-reporting, and the fact that you were literally trying to take UNPAID time off makes this such a clear-cut case of an honest mistake rather than misconduct. Costco's decision to terminate you over this seems incredibly harsh and unreasonable. File that claim as soon as possible and stay confident - you've got this! This community is rooting for you and based on all the experiences shared here, EDD should definitely see this situation for what it really was.

I experienced this exact same problem and it was driving me crazy! After missing 3 callbacks, I discovered that my phone's "Do Not Disturb" settings were automatically enabled during certain hours. Even though my phone showed it was off, there was a scheduled DND that I had forgotten about. Check your DND settings thoroughly - sometimes there are multiple layers of call filtering that can interfere. Also, if you're using Google Voice or any call forwarding services, those can sometimes cause issues with receiving callbacks. I ended up temporarily disabling all call filtering features and finally got through on my next callback. The relief when that phone actually rang was incredible! Don't give up - there's usually a solution hiding in your phone settings somewhere.

I had this exact same frustrating experience! After missing several callbacks, I discovered it was a combination of issues. First, check if your phone has any "Scam Shield" or similar carrier-level blocking - I called my carrier and they had automatically enabled spam protection that was flagging the EDD number. Second, make sure your voicemail box isn't full or close to full, as this can cause calls to fail before they even ring. Third, try restarting your phone completely before your next scheduled callback - sometimes there are background processes interfering with incoming calls. I also recommend testing by having a friend call you from an unknown number to see if it rings through properly. After fixing these issues, my next callback came through perfectly. It's such a relief when you finally hear that phone ring! Don't lose hope - there's usually a technical solution hiding somewhere in your phone or carrier settings.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this nightmare! I finished a 15-week penalty period last summer (yeah, 15 weeks - longest penalty possible for false statement). The key thing everyone's saying is correct - no additional waiting period after penalties end. You just pick up where you left off with regular certifications. BUT here's what nobody mentioned yet: make sure to log into your EDD account a few days before your next certification date to check if there are any notices or requirements. Sometimes they'll post additional forms or questionnaires that need to be completed before you can certify again. I almost missed my certification deadline because I didn't see a "return to work" questionnaire they posted. Also, pro tip: if you haven't already, screenshot or print your penalty completion notice from your account. I had to reference mine later when there was confusion about my payment status. The EDD system sometimes glitches and shows old penalty info even after it's completed. You've survived the worst part - 10 weeks of financial stress is no joke! Just stay on top of all the requirements and you should be getting paid again soon. 💪

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're in the clear! No additional waiting period after penalty weeks. I went through an 8-week false statement penalty last fall and was terrified about the same thing. The moment my penalty period ended, I certified on my regular schedule and got paid for both weeks within the normal timeframe. One thing I'd add that helped me mentally prepare: don't panic if your first payment after penalties takes an extra day or two to hit your account. Mine took 4 business days instead of the usual 2-3, but EDD told me that's normal as they do a final review on post-penalty payments. Just wanted you to know in case yours is slightly delayed too. You've made it through the hardest part! Those penalty weeks feel endless when you're living on fumes, but you're about to get back to regular payments. Make sure to keep being extra careful with your certifications going forward - they definitely keep a closer eye on accounts that have had penalties.

This whole discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim after being let go from my marketing job last week, and I had absolutely no idea about this waiting period policy. Reading through everyone's experiences here has definitely saved me from what would have been a lot of unnecessary panic and confusion. It's honestly mind-blowing that EDD doesn't clearly explain this during the application process - like so many others have mentioned, a simple disclaimer would prevent so much stress for people who are already dealing with the anxiety of job loss. I really appreciate how this community comes together to help each other understand these confusing policies. Now I can go into my application knowing exactly what to expect for that first week and can budget accordingly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

This thread is absolutely amazing! I'm in week 3 of my claim after getting laid off from a retail management position, and I had the exact same confusion about that "waiting period served" status. I actually spent an entire afternoon trying to figure out if there was an error with my account because I couldn't find any clear explanation on the EDD website. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - it's incredible how many of us went through the same panic thinking we did something wrong! The analogy of it being like a deductible really helps put it in perspective. I wish I had found this community sooner instead of stressing about it for days. EDD really needs to step up their communication game and explain this basic policy clearly during the application process. A simple "Note: Your first week will be an unpaid waiting period as required by California law" would save so many people from unnecessary anxiety. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and helped make this confusing process a little clearer for newcomers like me!

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading through similar questions. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation with Shopify affiliate commissions - making around $18-22 per week. Reading everyone's responses has convinced me that reporting is definitely the way to go. The peace of mind knowing I won't have to worry about audits or overpayment notices later is worth way more than the minor inconvenience of reporting small amounts during certification. One question for those who've been through this - when you report affiliate income as self-employment, do you need to provide any additional documentation to EDD, or is just entering the amount during certification sufficient? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating EDD's confusing system!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Making about $15-20 weekly from affiliate marketing and was stressing about whether to report such tiny amounts. This thread has been a lifesaver - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! Just to confirm my understanding: I need to report it as self-employment income during certification, but since it's under $25, my weekly benefit amount won't actually be reduced due to the earnings disregard rule. And even though it won't affect my current payment, reporting it protects me from potential fraud issues down the road when tax season comes. Has anyone here actually had their benefits reduced for amounts right around the $25 threshold? Like if you made $27 one week, would you lose $2 from your weekly benefit? Just want to understand exactly how that math works in practice. Really appreciate how helpful this community is - makes dealing with EDD's confusing rules so much easier when you have real people sharing their actual experiences!