I've been in a similar boat and completely understand both your desperation and ethical concerns. After 4 weeks of trying to reach EDD about my pending disqualification, I finally broke down and used one of these services (ended up using EDD Caller after researching several options). Here's what I learned: - They do work, but they're essentially just sophisticated auto-dialers that keep calling until they get through the queue - Cost me $20 but saved probably 20+ hours of my time trying to redial constantly - Got connected to an actual EDD rep in about 45 minutes vs. weeks of failed attempts - The rep was able to see all my uploaded documents and resolve my issue in one call I felt conflicted about paying for what should be free government access, but when you're facing financial hardship and the system is this broken, sometimes pragmatism wins over principles. These services exist because EDD has failed to adequately staff their phone lines or improve their system. My advice: try the free methods others mentioned first (assembly member contact is surprisingly effective), but don't let ethics prevent you from getting help you desperately need. The system is broken - that's not your fault, and you shouldn't suffer because of it. Whatever you decide, make sure you're prepared with specific questions and all your documentation ready when you do get through!

I've been reading through this whole thread and wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through this exact situation. Like many of you, I was initially opposed to paying for what should be free government access, but after 5 weeks of failed attempts and facing eviction, I decided to try Claimyr. The service worked as advertised - got connected in about an hour when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. The representative was able to review my case and resolve my disqualification issue in a single call. Was it expensive? Yes, about $25. But it saved me from potential homelessness. Here's what I think we're all dancing around - the real ethical issue isn't people using these services when they're desperate. It's that California has allowed EDD to become so dysfunctional that a cottage industry has sprung up to provide basic access to government services. These companies exist because our state has failed us, not because we're doing anything wrong by trying to survive. That said, definitely exhaust free options first. The assembly member route mentioned here is legitimate and I wish I'd known about it sooner. But if you're facing immediate financial hardship and free methods aren't working quickly enough, don't let guilt stop you from getting help. The system is broken. You didn't break it. Your priority should be getting the benefits you're entitled to, not maintaining moral purity while you go homeless.

As someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times, I wanted to add one more reassuring voice to this thread! I'm a freelance marketing consultant who's navigated several temporary contracts while on UI over the past couple years. The process really is as straightforward as everyone's describing - just keep certifying every two weeks and report your earnings honestly. One thing I'd emphasize that hasn't been mentioned much: don't be surprised if your UI Online account shows $0 payments for the weeks you're working full-time hours. This is totally normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your claim! Your benefit amount will automatically resume once you report lower or no earnings again. Also, since you're in design, definitely keep track of any new skills or software you learn during the freelance gig - this can actually strengthen your job search narrative when you're back to looking for permanent work. The freelance experience shows you're staying current and adaptable in your field. You're making the right call taking this opportunity. Temporary work while on UI is much more common than people realize, and the system is designed to handle it smoothly. Best of luck with your project!

I'm a graphic designer who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Had been on UI for 2 months when I got offered a 5-week branding project. I was so stressed about potentially losing my benefits, but it ended up being completely seamless. Just kept certifying every two weeks, reported all my freelance earnings honestly, and got $0 for the weeks I was working full-time (since my project rate put me over my weekly benefit amount). When the project ended, I went back to regular certifications with no income and my payments resumed automatically the very next certification period - no delays, no interviews, nothing complicated at all. The key really is just being consistent with your bi-weekly certifications and transparent about your earnings. Don't let the fear of bureaucratic complications stop you from taking good work opportunities! The system actually handles temporary freelance situations like this really well when you follow the basic rules.

This exact situation happened to me in February! My UI Online account showed absolutely nothing about my denial - no status change, no notifications, nothing. But I got this thick denial packet in the mail dated almost 2 weeks earlier. When I finally got through to EDD (took forever), the rep explained that their online system and mailing system don't sync properly, especially for determination letters. She said the online account is just a "convenience feature" but all official notices MUST be sent by mail per state law. The really annoying part is that I had been checking my online account religiously thinking that's where I'd see any updates. Turns out I wasted almost my entire appeal window because I trusted their broken system! For your appeal, definitely mention the delayed notification issue - apparently it's so common that there's actually a checkbox on the appeal form specifically for "delayed mail delivery." File ASAP though, you're already pretty deep into that 30-day window from the letter date. Also, going forward, I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery so I can at least see when EDD mail is coming before it actually arrives. Their whole system is stuck in the 90s but we have to work around it somehow!

This happened to me too! Got my denial letter 8 days after it was mailed, with zero indication in my UI Online account. What really helped me was immediately taking screenshots of my online account showing NO denial notification, then keeping the envelope with the postmark as proof of the mail delay. When I filed my appeal (literally the next day), I attached both pieces of evidence and checked the "delayed mail delivery" box that someone mentioned here. The appeals judge actually commented that this is an ongoing issue with EDD's dual notification system and didn't penalize me for the "late" filing. My appeal was successful partly because I had clear documentation that their own system failed to notify me properly. One more tip: when you file your appeal, request that all future correspondence be sent via certified mail. It costs a bit more but ensures you get proper delivery confirmation and they can't claim you "didn't receive" anything. The whole system is broken but you can still work within it if you're strategic about documentation!

One other important thing to know - if you're married and file jointly, your spouse's portion of the tax refund could also be taken unless they file a special form called an "Injured Spouse Allocation" (Form 8379 for federal). This protects your spouse's portion of the refund from your EDD debt.

Just wanted to add another perspective - I had a $3,200 overpayment and was able to get it reduced to $800 through the hardship waiver process. The key is to provide detailed financial documentation showing that repayment would cause serious financial hardship. I submitted bank statements, rent receipts, utility bills, and a letter explaining my situation. It took about 6 weeks to get approved, but it was worth it. Even if you don't qualify for a full waiver, they might reduce the amount significantly. Don't give up without exploring this option!

Congratulations on your successful appeal! That's wonderful news and 16 days is definitely faster than what most people experience. I'm currently going through a similar situation myself - had my appeal hearing about 3 weeks ago for what my employer labeled as "performance issues" but was really part of company-wide budget cuts and restructuring. The waiting has been absolutely nerve-wracking, and I've been obsessively checking my mailbox every single day! Reading your success story gives me so much hope that my decision might be coming soon. It's so encouraging to see someone with such a similar case (performance vs restructuring) get a positive outcome in a reasonable timeframe. Did you feel confident about how your hearing went when it ended, or were you second-guessing yourself like I am? I keep replaying mine wondering if I presented my case clearly enough about the company's financial situation versus their performance claims. The judge seemed fair but didn't give any indication either way. Thanks for sharing your good news with the community and for all your follow-up responses to everyone's questions. This thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us still waiting - it's such a relief to know that positive outcomes do happen and sometimes relatively quickly!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such incredible news and definitely gives hope to everyone going through this nightmare process. 16 days is actually really fast - I've been following this community for months and most people seem to wait 3-4 weeks minimum. I'm in a very similar boat right now - had my appeal hearing about 8 days ago for what they called "performance issues" but was obviously part of company layoffs disguised as individual terminations. The anxiety while waiting for that letter is absolutely brutal! Your success story is exactly what I needed to read today. Quick question - when you were preparing for your hearing, did you focus more on proving the company's financial/restructuring situation or on defending against their specific performance claims? I'm second-guessing whether I struck the right balance during mine. The judge seemed to listen carefully but gave no indication either way. Thanks for sharing this victory with everyone and for being so responsive to all the questions. This community is such a lifeline during these incredibly stressful times. Fingers crossed my mailbox has good news soon too!