After reading through all the comments, I want to add one more important point: Even if your backdating request is denied, make sure you still appeal the decision if you believe you had good cause. The appeal process is separate from EDD and handled by administrative law judges who sometimes interpret the rules differently than EDD representatives. Also, regardless of the backdating situation, continue certifying every two weeks to serve those penalty weeks as quickly as possible. Each week you're eligible (even if in penalty status) gets you one week closer to receiving benefits.

I went through something similar last year. Had 10 penalty weeks from an overpayment and tried to backdate by 2 months. The key thing that helped my case was that I had been receiving conflicting information - I called EDD twice in February and got two different answers about whether I could file yet (one rep said wait until my employer submitted paperwork, another said file immediately). I kept notes of both calls with dates and reference numbers. They approved my backdating request, but like others mentioned, you MUST certify for all those backdated weeks and meet all eligibility requirements. I had to provide detailed job search records going back to when I was laid off. The penalty weeks did count during that backdated period, so I essentially served 8 out of 10 penalty weeks during the backdated time. Without documentation of conflicting/incorrect information from EDD or a medical issue, it's really tough to get approved. But definitely still try - worst case they say no and you're in the same situation. Good luck with your interview!

I had a similar issue with "outstanding payment" status. In my case, it turned out there was a verification hold on my account that wasn't clearly communicated. The payment was approved but stuck in processing. After finally getting through to a rep (took many attempts), they were able to release the hold and the payment came through within a few days. Definitely worth calling - sometimes these outstanding payments just need manual processing from their end. Don't give up on trying to reach them!

I've been dealing with this exact issue for months! "Outstanding payment" can be really confusing because it doesn't always mean what you'd think. In addition to what others have mentioned about verification holds, it could also mean: 1. There's a pending identity verification that you might not have received notice about 2. Your bank account info needs updating if you had direct deposit set up 3. There's a wage audit or employer dispute that's holding up payments Since you haven't been paid since March but show 11 weeks paid, definitely call EDD. When you do get through, ask them to check for any "stops" or "flags" on your account. Also ask specifically about ID verification requirements - sometimes they send these requests to your UI Online inbox and people miss them. The fact that you received an email about payment is actually encouraging - it suggests the system is trying to process something for you. Keep documentation of everything and don't give up calling!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year when my nonprofit environmental organization lost their EPA grant funding. I was super worried about UI eligibility too, but it turned out to be no problem at all. Filed online through UI Online just like any other job, got approved within about 10 days. The key thing that helped me was realizing that if you got regular paychecks with taxes taken out (including state disability insurance), your employer was almost definitely paying into the UI system too. Nonprofits that don't participate are usually very small religious organizations or all-volunteer groups - not established programs with paid staff like yours sounds like. One heads up though - when you do your biweekly certifications, make sure you report any volunteer work you might do while job searching. I made the mistake of not reporting some volunteer hours at first because I thought "it's unpaid so it doesn't matter" but EDD considers any work activity relevant. Nothing bad happened but they did ask me about it later during a routine audit. Sounds like you're on the right track! The nonprofit world is small so definitely leverage your network while you're job hunting.

I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my nonprofit homeless services organization had to cut staff due to losing city funding. Like you, I was really confused about whether nonprofit employees could get unemployment benefits. The good news is that I got approved without any issues! The application process was exactly the same as it would be for any other employer. Since your organization was established and had multiple employees, they were almost certainly paying into the UI system - especially if they were receiving government grants, which usually require compliance with employment laws. One thing that really helped me during the waiting period was connecting with other nonprofit professionals who had gone through layoffs. There's actually a pretty supportive community of us dealing with these funding challenges. I ended up finding my current position through someone I met in a nonprofit professionals Facebook group. Also, don't forget to look into any severance or continuation benefits your old employer might offer. Some nonprofits have policies about helping laid-off employees even if they're not legally required to. It's worth asking! Best of luck with your claim and job search - the nonprofit sector needs experienced program coordinators like you!

Hey Elijah! I just went through this exact same thing about 2 months ago and I totally feel your stress about rent being due. Here's what helped me: Call Money Network directly at 1-866-544-7681 first thing in the morning - they can tell you if your card was issued and when it shipped, which is way faster than trying to get through EDD's nightmare phone system. Also, if you're really in a bind financially while waiting, don't hesitate to reach out to local food banks or call 211 for emergency assistance resources. The waiting is the absolute worst part, but at 14 days you're right at the normal timeframe. My card showed up on day 16 in a super plain envelope that I almost threw away thinking it was credit card spam. Hang in there - your money is coming!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My payment has been showing "paid" for 13 days and I'm getting really worried since I need the money for bills this week. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful - I had no idea about calling Money Network directly at 1-866-544-7681 or that the envelope looks like junk mail. I'm definitely going to try calling Money Network first thing tomorrow morning before dealing with EDD's phone system. It's crazy how they don't provide any tracking or timeline when the card ships! For anyone else in this boat, it sounds like most people get their cards between 10-14 business days, so hopefully we're all just at the end of the normal waiting period. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know I'm not the only one dealing with this stressful situation!

Just to add clarity: EDD eligibility interviews are typically scheduled for a two-hour window, but the actual interview usually takes about 15-30 minutes depending on your claim's complexity. If your interviewer is running behind, they're likely dealing with a backlog of cases from earlier in the day. If they don't call by close of business today (usually 5pm, sometimes 6pm during high-volume periods), be prepared to call first thing tomorrow (8am) to request information. Document your attempts to contact them as this can be helpful if your claim is delayed due to their scheduling error.

So glad you got your call and everything worked out! This is such a common experience - the waiting is absolutely the worst part. Your post is going to be really helpful for others going through the same thing. It's good to know that even when they're super late, they usually do still call the same day. Congrats on getting through the interview, and hopefully your claim gets processed quickly!