I'm in a similar situation - UI benefits ending in about 6 weeks and struggling to find work in marketing/advertising. This thread has been incredibly helpful! A couple of follow-up questions for those who've successfully gotten extensions: 1) Do freelance/gig work attempts count toward the work search requirements? I've been applying for some contract positions on Upwork but wasn't sure if that qualifies. 2) If you get denied for the extension initially, is there an appeals process? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know there might be options beyond the regular 26 weeks!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I was in a similar situation 3 months ago when my UI benefits were about to exhaust. I'm in cybersecurity and the job market has been brutal. What really helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet tracking all my work search activities - not just job applications but also LinkedIn networking messages, informational interviews, and even online certification courses I completed. When I applied for the FED-ED extension, having that comprehensive documentation made the process much smoother. The EDD rep was impressed with how organized my records were and approved my extension within 2 weeks. Also, don't just limit yourself to traditional job boards - I found that reaching out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn had a much better response rate than applying through company portals. The extension gave me the breathing room I needed to eventually land a position. Keep your head up - the tech job market is slowly starting to recover!

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim after being laid off from my data entry specialist position due to office closure. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that phone interviews weren't automatic for everyone! Like many others here, I was really worried about potentially missing an interview notification or not knowing what to expect. But seeing all the success stories from people with straightforward layoffs (especially Christian's 11-day approval!) has given me so much hope that my situation will process smoothly too. The practical resources shared here are amazing - I'm definitely going to use that automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) to check my status, and I'll set realistic expectations for the 10-14 day processing timeline. It's such a relief to understand that interviews are only triggered by specific eligibility issues rather than being standard procedure. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and timelines. Having actual data points from people who recently went through this process makes such a difference compared to all the generic information online. This thread has turned what felt like a scary unknown into something much more manageable!

As someone who just filed my unemployment claim yesterday after being laid off from my teaching assistant position due to budget cuts, this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! I was honestly losing sleep worrying about whether I'd automatically need a phone interview - I had no idea they were only required for specific eligibility issues rather than being standard for everyone. Reading Christian's success story and all the similar outcomes from people with straightforward layoffs has given me so much relief. My situation is very similar - clean layoff due to budget cuts, no complications on my application, full availability for work. Based on all the experiences shared here, I'm feeling much more optimistic about potentially avoiding an interview altogether. The practical tips everyone provided are going to save my sanity during the waiting period! I'm definitely going to use that automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) to check my status instead of obsessively refreshing my UI Online account. And knowing that 10-14 days is a realistic processing timeline for straightforward cases helps me set proper expectations rather than panicking if I don't see movement immediately. What struck me most about this thread is how generous everyone has been in sharing their actual timelines and outcomes. It's made such a difference to read real experiences rather than just generic FAQ information. Thank you to everyone who contributed - you've turned what felt like a terrifying process into something much more manageable for newcomers like me!

I've been reading through this entire thread and wow, what an incredibly helpful discussion! As someone who's currently facing rising rent costs in my area, I'm taking notes on all this advice even though I'm not quite at the point of needing to relocate yet. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from a friend's experience - if either of you has any documented health issues that would make a 146+ mile daily commute particularly difficult (back problems from long drives, etc.), that can be additional supporting evidence for why commuting isn't feasible. Obviously only mention this if it's genuinely applicable to your situation. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the Claimyr service earlier. While that might be helpful for getting through to EDD, just be aware that some people have reported mixed experiences with third-party services, so do your research first. Sometimes persistence with the regular EDD line (especially using that 8 AM tip) can work just as well and won't cost you anything. Your preparation level based on all these responses is really impressive. It sounds like you're documenting everything properly and thinking through all the angles. Best of luck with your move and the unemployment application process! This thread has been incredibly educational for all of us dealing with California's housing crisis.

This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who works in HR and has helped employees navigate unemployment claims before, I wanted to add a few final points that might be useful: 1. Keep a printed copy of all your documentation in a folder - sometimes during phone interviews, it's easier to reference physical documents than scrolling through your computer/phone. 2. If EDD schedules your interview, they'll usually give you a specific time window (like "between 2-4 PM"). Be available for that entire window and don't schedule anything else during that time - missing their call can significantly delay your case. 3. Consider writing out a brief summary (1-2 pages) of your situation beforehand with key dates, dollar amounts, and the sequence of events. Having this written outline during your interview can help you stay focused and not forget important details when you're nervous. 4. Both of you should apply on the same day if possible, but don't worry if there's a day or two difference - EDD processes claims individually anyway. Your situation really checks all the boxes for approval: documented financial necessity, distance exceeding EDD's threshold, proper timing of relocation before quitting, and marketable skills in your destination city. The level of preparation you're doing based on this thread puts you in an excellent position. Wishing you both success with the move and a quick return to employment in Bakersfield!

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I had this same issue a few months ago - if you're still having trouble after the 24-hour wait period, try using an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes your regular browser holds onto cached login data that can interfere with the unlock process. Also, make sure you're going directly to edd.ca.gov and not clicking on any saved bookmarks or links from emails, as those sometimes redirect to older versions of the login page that don't work properly. The EDD system is definitely frustrating but these little tricks can save you hours of headaches!

I had this same exact problem a couple weeks ago and was absolutely panicking because I was already cutting it close on my certification deadline! What ended up working for me was a combination of things - I waited about 18 hours, then cleared all my browser data (not just cache and cookies, but everything including saved passwords), restarted my computer completely, and then used a different internet connection (switched from WiFi to mobile hotspot). I know it sounds like overkill but I was desperate! Got right in after that. I think sometimes it's not just the account that's locked but your IP address or device gets flagged too. Also pro tip - once you do get back in, immediately write down your exact password character by character because EDD passwords are SO finicky with those similar-looking characters everyone mentioned. Hope this helps someone avoid the stress I went through!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my support to what everyone else is saying - Santiago, you absolutely must file your claim today! This entire thread has been such an incredible resource. What really stands out to me is the unanimous advice from every single person who has actually experienced this situation. When you have people like Jacob sharing that he would have lost $800 by waiting, Jake explaining the technical details of partial benefits calculations, and multiple others admitting they made the costly mistake of waiting - that's powerful evidence you can't ignore. The key insight I'm taking away is that the EDD system is actually built to handle severance situations through the bi-weekly certification process. You're not trying to game the system or work around it - you're using it exactly as it was designed. Report your severance honestly when you certify, and let EDD calculate the adjustments. What really drives the point home for me is how many people mentioned wishing they had known this information sooner, or regretting that they waited. The pattern is crystal clear: every day you delay potentially costs you money you can never recover. Santiago, you found this community at exactly the right moment. Don't overthink it - file today and get your claim established. The experience and wisdom shared here should give you complete confidence in that decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to the overwhelming consensus here - Santiago, you absolutely need to file immediately! What's really struck me reading through all these responses is how every single person who has actually been through this exact situation is giving you the same advice, backed up with real numbers and concrete examples. When multiple people are sharing that they lost hundreds of dollars by waiting, and others are explaining exactly how the partial benefits work during severance periods, that's not theoretical advice - that's hard-earned wisdom from people who've lived through your situation. I'm particularly impressed by how detailed everyone has been about the technical aspects - the explanations about base periods, the one-week waiting period being back, and how the certification process actually handles severance reporting. It's clear that the EDD system is specifically designed to handle concurrent income situations like yours. The most compelling point for me is that literally no one who has experience with this process is suggesting you wait. Even the person who did wait initially (Mateo) had others explain how that decision cost money. That level of consistency from experienced community members should give you total confidence. Santiago, you stumbled upon this goldmine of practical knowledge at exactly the right time. Don't second-guess this unanimous, experience-based advice - file today and get your claim started!