I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation really hits home for me - the stress of unexpected benefit exhaustion combined with that high rent must be absolutely overwhelming. After reading through all the helpful responses here, it's clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. Like many others, I had no idea that not everyone automatically gets the full 26 weeks - EDD really should explain this more clearly upfront! Since you mentioned you're in accounting, here are a few additional suggestions that might help bridge the gap until October: 1. Consider reaching out to accounting staffing agencies like Accountemps and Robert Half - with tax season ramping up, they're often desperate for experienced professionals and may have immediate placements 2. Check with local small businesses about temporary bookkeeping help for year-end closes - many get overwhelmed this time of year and are willing to pay well for experienced help 3. Look into freelance tax preparation work - many CPAs hire contract preparers for the busy season, and your accounting background would be perfect 4. Contact your county's 211 helpline for local assistance programs specifically for professionals who've exhausted UI benefits Also, definitely have that conversation with your landlord sooner rather than later. Being proactive about potential payment challenges is usually much better received than waiting until you're behind. Your accounting skills are valuable and the timing could actually work in your favor with tax season approaching. This community seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable - you're definitely in the right place for ongoing advice and encouragement. Hang in there!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation sounds incredibly stressful - that shock of seeing the "all benefits payable" message when you're expecting your benefits to continue must have been devastating, especially with such high rent to cover. After reading through all the helpful responses, it's become clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. I had no idea that the 26 weeks wasn't guaranteed for everyone until reading this thread - it really seems like EDD should explain this more transparently upfront instead of letting people assume they'll get the full duration. Since you mentioned you're in accounting, I wanted to add a few suggestions that might help during this difficult gap period: 1. Reach out to seasonal tax preparation companies like Jackson Hewitt or Liberty Tax - they're gearing up for tax season and often hire experienced professionals for temporary positions 2. Check with local credit unions about emergency hardship loans - some have specific programs for unemployed professionals that offer better terms than traditional lenders 3. Consider posting your bookkeeping services on Thumbtack or TaskRabbit - many small business owners need help with year-end financial organization and are willing to pay well for expertise 4. Look into whether your former employer has any alumni networks or referral programs that might lead to opportunities Also, I'd definitely encourage having that conversation with your landlord soon. Many property managers have seen this situation before and may be willing to work out a temporary payment plan, especially if you can demonstrate you're actively pursuing income opportunities. Your accounting background is definitely valuable, and with tax season approaching, the timing might actually work in your favor for finding temporary work. This community seems incredibly supportive - you're in good hands here for ongoing advice and encouragement!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share another strategy that worked for me after weeks of frustration. I used the EDD's "Contact EDD" online form (not the general inquiry one, but the specific form for claim issues) and marked it as "urgent - financial hardship." While it says they respond within 5-7 business days, I actually got a callback within 3 days from a tier 2 specialist. The key is being very specific about your issue and including your claim number, the exact error messages you're seeing, and dates of when you've tried to call. I also mentioned that I was facing eviction (which was true) and needed immediate assistance. Sometimes the online route can be faster than the phone marathon, especially for complex issues like ID verification that might need a specialist anyway. Worth trying if you're still stuck!

I've been dealing with EDD phone hell for the past month myself, so I really feel for everyone sharing their struggles here. What finally worked for me was a combination of strategies from this thread: 1. I used the tech support number (1-855-327-7057) that @Liam mentioned - got through in about 35 minutes 2. Called on a Wednesday at 1:15pm following @Sofia's insider timing advice 3. Had all my documents ready and specifically mentioned "ID.me verification issue requiring escalation" The rep was actually really helpful and explained that there's been a huge backlog in their ID verification department due to new security measures. She was able to see that my case had been sitting in a queue for 3 weeks without anyone looking at it! For anyone still struggling - don't give up. The system is broken but there are real people trying to help once you can reach them. Also keeping a call log with times/dates helped me when I finally got through - the agent appreciated having specific details about how long I'd been trying. Sending good vibes to everyone still fighting this battle! 💪

I'm in this exact same situation and finding this thread has been such a relief! Had my eligibility interview on April 26th and the interviewer told me everything looked "straightforward" and I'd hear back "within 10 business days." Well, it's been over 2 weeks now and my claim is still stuck in that dreaded "under review" status. I was starting to panic thinking I said something wrong during the interview or that my file got lost, but reading everyone's experiences shows this 4-6 week wait is unfortunately the new reality. It's so frustrating how they make it sound quick during the interview when we're all stuck waiting over a month! I've been certifying every two weeks like everyone suggested, and I'm definitely going to try that UI Online messaging system tomorrow morning. Also going to attempt calling right at 8am like CyberSamurai recommended. If I don't hear anything by next week, I might look into that Claimyr service too. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and tips - it's keeping me sane knowing we're all in this waiting game together. The system is clearly broken but at least we have each other for support! Hang in there everyone! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Had my eligibility interview on April 29th and was told everything looked "great" and I'd hear back "soon." It's only been about 2 weeks but I was already starting to panic thinking something went wrong. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - I had no idea that 4-6 weeks was becoming the new normal! I've been certifying every two weeks and obsessively checking my account multiple times a day, but after reading Isabella's advice I'm going to limit myself to twice daily. Definitely going to try that UI Online messaging system once I hit the 3-week mark, and if needed I'll look into Claimyr too. It's absolutely insane that they make it sound quick during the interview when we're all stuck waiting over a month, but I'm so grateful for this community. Knowing we're all in the same boat makes this so much less isolating. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and tips - we'll get through this together! 🙏

Another option is to check any old paperwork or mail you received from EDD when you first applied - your account number should be printed on award letters, determination notices, or other official correspondence. If you can't find any paperwork, you can also try logging into UI Online with your SSN and see if it automatically pulls up your account, or use the "Forgot Account Number" feature on the login page.

If you're still having trouble after trying the online portal, another tip is to check if you have the EDD mobile app installed on your phone. Sometimes the app stores your account info even if you can't remember it. Also, if you've moved recently, make sure to update your address with EDD first before trying to access your account, as mismatched addresses can cause login issues. The customer service lines are usually less busy early in the morning (around 8 AM) if you need to call.

I'm having the exact same issue! My Money Network card has been useless for the past 3 days - can't transfer to my bank, can't withdraw from ATMs, nothing works. Called their customer service twice and got completely different explanations each time about "system maintenance" with zero timeline. I have my car insurance due Thursday and I'm starting to panic. Thank you everyone for sharing these workarounds - I had no idea about trying the website instead of the app or the cash back option at stores! Going to try the website method right now since several people said it worked for them. It's honestly mind-blowing that we have to troubleshoot their broken system ourselves while their own support staff can't give us straight answers. This whole Money Network setup feels like it's from the stone age - how is this the best system they could come up with for people who literally depend on these funds to survive? Really hoping this gets fixed soon because the stress of having money you can't access on top of being unemployed is just overwhelming.

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to transfer my unemployment benefits from my Money Network card for the past 2 days and keep getting error messages in the app. Went to 3 different ATMs yesterday and all of them declined my card, which was terrifying because I thought something was wrong with my account. Called Money Network customer service this morning and after waiting 50 minutes on hold, they told me it's a "system-wide technical issue" but couldn't give me any specific timeframe for when it would be resolved. I have my phone bill and groceries to pay for this week so this timing is really stressful. Thank you so much to everyone who shared these workarounds - I had no idea that the website might work differently than the app! Just tried it and was actually able to initiate a small transfer that's showing as pending. The grocery store cash back option is also brilliant for getting immediate cash if needed. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to figure out these solutions ourselves when their official customer service can barely tell us what's happening with their own system. This whole Money Network setup feels so unreliable for something we depend on for basic survival needs.