Hey Sergio! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and totally understand the stress. Here's what helped me: EDD certifications always open at midnight on Sundays for the two-week period that just ended. Since you're starting work Wednesday, you'll certify that following Sunday for the week that includes Wed-Sat of work. The key thing is to report your GROSS earnings (before taxes) for those 4 days even if you haven't gotten your first paycheck yet. You can estimate based on your hourly rate x hours worked. EDD will reduce your weekly benefit by (earnings - $25), so if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $200 that week, you'd get $400 - ($200 - $25) = $225. Set a reminder for Sunday morning to certify right away - I always did mine around 6am to avoid any system issues. And seriously, be super accurate with your reporting. EDD's computers eventually catch everything through wage crosschecks, so honesty is the best policy. You've got this!

Welcome to the community! I see you're getting great advice here already. Just to echo what others have said - definitely report those Wed-Sat earnings when you certify on Sunday, even without a paycheck yet. One tip that really helped me when I was in a similar situation: if you're unsure about your exact gross daily rate, it's better to slightly overestimate than underestimate. EDD will adjust things later when they get your actual wage reports from your employer, but underreporting can trigger penalties. Also, keep good records of your hours and pay calculations - screenshot or write down exactly what you reported each week. This saved me during a later audit when EDD questioned some of my partial week certifications. The transition period is always nerve-wracking but you'll get through it!

This thread has been such an amazing resource! I'm currently on week 3 of 5 penalty weeks and was starting to feel really discouraged, but reading Connor's success story and everyone's detailed explanations has given me so much hope. The fact that "waiting period served" actually means you're DONE with everything rather than facing another delay is mind-blowing - EDD's messaging is so backwards! I had been dreading that message thinking it meant more waiting, but now I understand it's actually the best news possible. Only 2 more weeks to go and I'll be watching for that magical status. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community knowledge is way more valuable than anything on EDD's confusing website! Connor, congratulations on finally getting paid after such a long journey!

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm just starting my unemployment journey and had no idea about penalty weeks from old claims or how confusing EDD's messaging system could be. Connor, congratulations on finally getting your payments - your persistence through months of certifying without pay really shows the importance of staying consistent with the process even when it feels hopeless. The explanation that "waiting period served" actually means you're DONE with both penalty weeks AND the standard one-week waiting period is such valuable information that I never would have understood from EDD's official resources. It's crazy how many people are going through similar situations right now! I'm definitely bookmarking this thread in case I run into any issues with my claim. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and creating such a supportive knowledge base for navigating EDD's maze of confusing processes.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Just accepted a contract position yesterday but won't start until early May. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I was worried I might be doing something wrong by continuing to certify. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key principle is really straightforward: you certify based on your actual work status during those specific weeks, not future commitments. Since you weren't working during 4/10-4/23, you should definitely certify for those weeks. One thing that helped ease my anxiety about this was realizing how common this transition must be - people accept jobs while on unemployment all the time, and EDD's system is designed to handle it. The fact that multiple people here have gotten consistent guidance from EDD reps confirms that continuing to certify until you actually start working is the correct approach. For the earnings reporting when you do start, I'm planning to keep a simple spreadsheet tracking dates worked and earnings (even before getting paid) so certification is easier. The advice about clarifying with your employer how they calculate partial week pay is brilliant - I'm definitely going to ask about that upfront. Congrats on landing the contract role after 3 months! It sounds like you're being super thoughtful about doing everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. 🎉

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a nearly identical situation - just accepted a contract position yesterday but won't start until the first week of May. I was getting really anxious about whether I should continue certifying, but reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. What really stood out to me is how consistent the guidance has been from multiple EDD reps that people have spoken with: you continue certifying until you actually START working, not when you accept the job. The distinction between "accepting work" and "performing work" makes so much sense when you think about it that way. I'm definitely going to implement some of the practical tips shared here - keeping detailed records from day one, taking screenshots of certifications, and clarifying with my new employer how they handle partial week payments. The advice about asking whether it's 1099 vs W-2 contract work is something I hadn't even considered but could really affect how I report earnings. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences navigating this transition. It's so much more valuable hearing from people who've actually been through this process rather than trying to interpret the official EDD guidelines alone. You've all made what felt like a confusing situation much clearer! Congrats on the new contract role - sounds like you're approaching everything exactly the right way! 🎉

I just wanted to add that you should consider requesting an IRS PIN for future tax filings. It's an extra layer of protection that prevents anyone from filing taxes using your husband's SSN without the special PIN. It's free and gives you peace of mind knowing that even if someone has his SSN, they can't file fraudulent tax returns in his name.

I went through something very similar last year with my wife's SDI claim. We discovered fraudulent wage reports from employers she'd never worked for right after filing for disability benefits. I was terrified it would mess up her legitimate claim, but here's what actually happened: We reported it immediately to EDD's fraud department and were very clear that we had a pending SDI claim that was legitimate. The fraud investigator was actually really helpful and made notes in the system to keep the two issues separate. Her SDI payments weren't delayed at all - they processed normally while the fraud investigation happened in the background. The key is being upfront about both issues when you call. Don't try to hide the pending SDI claim or wait to report the fraud. EDD deals with this more often than you'd think, and they have processes in place to handle both simultaneously. One thing that really helped us was getting everything in writing. After each phone call, I'd send a follow-up email through their online portal summarizing what was discussed and asking for confirmation. This created a paper trail that proved we were being proactive about reporting the fraud. The whole fraud investigation took about 2 months to fully resolve, but it didn't impact her disability benefits at all. Good luck!

I've been through this exact same frustrating situation! Unfortunately, you absolutely cannot access your funds through the Money Network app without having the physical card first. The card contains unique numbers and security codes that are required during the app registration process - there's no workaround for this security requirement. However, I'd strongly recommend calling Money Network directly at their expedited shipping line (some people have mentioned 855-282-6161) and paying the $15 for overnight delivery if you're facing a rent deadline. When I was in your situation, I explained the urgency and they were able to get me a card next day. You'll need your SSN, DOB, and EDD reference number ready when you call. Also, definitely reach out to your landlord ASAP to explain the situation - most understand that EDD delays are unfortunately very common and may work with you on the timing. Once you do get your card, immediately set up direct deposit through the app so future payments go straight to your bank and you never have to deal with this waiting game again! The system is definitely not designed with people's urgent needs in mind, but there are ways to work around it. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it's so frustrating! Unfortunately, you definitely need the physical Money Network card before you can access anything - no exceptions. The card has security codes and account info that's required for app setup. Here's what I learned that might help: - Call Money Network directly (not EDD) first thing in the morning around 8 AM when wait times are shorter - Ask specifically about expedited overnight shipping for $15 - they can usually do this if you explain the urgent situation - Have your SSN, DOB, and EDD reference number ready when you call - The expedited card will have the same account numbers as the regular one, so you won't get duplicate cards Also definitely talk to your landlord ASAP - most are understanding about EDD delays since they're so common. I got a 5-day extension when I explained the situation. Once you get the card, immediately set up direct deposit through the Money Network app so future payments go straight to your bank account. That way you'll never have to deal with this waiting game again! The whole system is poorly designed but these workarounds help. Good luck!