I'm in a similar boat right now - just started a temp welding job that's paying way more than my weekly benefit amount. Reading all these responses has been super helpful! It sounds like the consensus is crystal clear: keep certifying no matter what. I was actually leaning toward stopping certification to "save myself the hassle" but now I realize that would create WAY more hassle later. It's good to know that EDD's system is designed to handle these temporary work situations and that the transition back to benefits is automatic when you're honest about your earnings. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating EDD's confusing processes!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with a temporary electrical work contract! Everyone here is giving you solid advice - definitely keep certifying. I was making around $3200/month during my temp job, way over my $380 weekly benefit amount, but I certified every two weeks like clockwork. Just reported my earnings honestly and got the expected $0 payments, but my claim stayed active the whole time. When that job ended after 5 weeks, I literally certified the next week with no work and my benefits resumed immediately - no delays, no paperwork, no phone calls to EDD. The system worked exactly as designed. The key is being consistent with your certification schedule and accurate with your earnings reporting. Trust me, those few minutes every two weeks to certify are SO much better than potentially weeks of waiting to reactivate a claim later!

This whole thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm in week 3 of waiting for my initial claim to be processed and have been so stressed about the timeline. Reading everyone's real experiences - especially that most people get their money within 2-3 business days after authorization - is incredibly reassuring. The EDD website doesn't give clear timelines so having actual community experiences is invaluable. I'm bookmarking this thread for when (hopefully!) my payment gets authorized. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories instead of just doom and gloom - it really helps us newcomers know what's normal!

This thread is so encouraging! I'm currently dealing with the same situation - my payment was authorized yesterday and I've been anxiously checking my bank account every few hours. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should see the money by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. It's such a relief to read actual timelines from real people rather than trying to decipher the vague information on the EDD website. The fact that most people are getting their direct deposits within 2-3 business days after authorization gives me so much peace of mind. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for those of us navigating unemployment for the first time!

I'm in almost the exact same situation right now - just got laid off from my tech job last Friday with a 5-month severance package. I was planning to wait until the severance ended to file, but after reading through all these responses, I'm totally convinced that would be a huge mistake! The information about protecting your base period calculation is something I never would have thought of, and hearing about people losing thousands of dollars by waiting is eye-opening. I was feeling guilty about the idea of filing while getting severance payments, but everyone's explanations about how the system is designed to handle this situation really make sense. One question - when you report the severance as "other income" during certification, do you need to specify that it's severance pay, or do you just put it in as general other income? I want to make sure I'm being as clear as possible with EDD about what type of payment it is. Filing my claim first thing Monday morning! This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and preventing me from making what would have been a very expensive timing mistake.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got laid off from my consulting job three days ago with a 6-month severance package and was completely torn about when to file. I was leaning toward waiting until the severance ended because it felt "wrong" to file while getting paid, but reading through all these responses has completely changed my mind. The base period protection issue is something I had no clue about - the fact that waiting could cost thousands of dollars due to quarterly shifts is honestly shocking. I was focused on the ethics of filing while receiving severance and totally missed the financial mechanics of how benefit calculations work. What really sealed it for me was hearing from the employment lawyer about severance being "deferred compensation for work already performed" versus UI being "insurance against job loss." That distinction makes it crystal clear that these are separate entitlements, not double-dipping. I'm filing my claim tomorrow morning and will report my severance as other income during certification. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this thread literally saved me from what would have been a very expensive mistake. The consensus is overwhelming: file immediately to protect your benefit year and base period calculation, even if you feel weird about it initially. The system is designed exactly for this scenario!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - the stress of getting that letter must be overwhelming! Your situation with protecting your 6-week-old newborn during those terrifying early weeks of COVID actually sounds like you have excellent grounds for appeal. I went through something very similar with my 2020 claim being questioned in 2023. What really helped my case was emphasizing the specific timeline and circumstances. In your appeal, make sure to highlight: - Your baby was born just 6 weeks before the pandemic hit - March 2020 was when we knew virtually nothing about COVID risks to infants - Childcare facilities were mandatorily closed by government order - You initially thought it would blow over quickly (shows good faith, not trying to abuse the system) - You only applied when it became clear you truly couldn't return to work The fact that you didn't apply immediately actually works in your favor - it shows you weren't trying to game the system but genuinely needed help when circumstances became impossible. Start gathering any documentation from that time period you can find - your baby's birth certificate, records of childcare closures, even pediatrician communications about COVID precautions for newborns. Every piece helps build your case. File your appeal as soon as you get the overpayment notice (usually arrives within 1-2 weeks), and definitely don't make any payments until you've exhausted all appeal options. Many of us are winning these delayed COVID appeals - you're not alone in this fight!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone new to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD nightmares, I wanted to jump in and offer some encouragement. Your situation with quitting to protect your 6-week-old newborn in March 2020 actually sounds like you have really strong grounds for appeal. That was literally the scariest time of the entire pandemic - we had no vaccines, no treatments, and hospitals were overwhelmed. The idea of exposing a newborn to potential COVID by continuing to work in a restaurant (high public contact!) was absolutely terrifying. The fact that you didn't apply immediately actually works in your favor - it shows you weren't trying to game the system but genuinely thought the situation would resolve quickly. When it became clear that childcare facilities were closed and you couldn't safely return to work, applying for PUA was exactly what you were supposed to do. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the key things to emphasize in your appeal are: - The specific timeline (6-week-old baby in March 2020) - Unknown COVID risks to infants at that time - Mandated childcare facility closures - Good faith application when other options became impossible Don't let the 5-year delay intimidate you - if anything, it shows how chaotic their system was during COVID. You deserve to have your case heard fairly, and it sounds like many people are successfully appealing these delayed disqualifications. You've got this! The advice from the legal experts here is excellent - definitely look into those legal aid resources and file that appeal as soon as your overpayment notice arrives.

I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 29 and just got laid off from my job at a nonprofit. I've been on regular Medi-Cal for about a year, but now I'm worried about how my upcoming unemployment benefits might affect my coverage. What I'm finding confusing is the timing of everything. I applied for unemployment but haven't received my first payment yet - should I report to Medi-Cal that I'll be receiving UI benefits before I actually start getting them? Or do I wait until the first payment hits my account? Also, I'm wondering about the interaction between different types of income. I have a small amount coming in from a rental property (just $300/month from renting out a room in my house) - does that get calculated differently than unemployment benefits for Medi-Cal purposes? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical tips. It's scary navigating these systems when you're already stressed about job loss, but reading everyone's stories gives me confidence that there are solutions out there. Planning to call my county office tomorrow morning armed with all the great advice from this thread!

I'm new to this community but currently navigating a very similar situation! I was just laid off from my job as a pharmacy technician three weeks ago and I'm in the process of applying for unemployment benefits. I also receive partial disability benefits for a back injury I sustained a few years ago. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly informative and reassuring - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs available beyond the basic one I'm currently on. The information about income deductions, the ABD program, and especially the Working Disabled Program options gives me hope that I'll be able to maintain coverage. I'm particularly interested in what Mateo mentioned about the $20 general income deduction and the health insurance premium deductions. I currently pay about $180/month for supplemental coverage, so knowing that can be deducted from my countable income is huge! My question is: if I'm already on regular Medi-Cal and my unemployment benefits push me over the income limit, do I need to reapply for a different program or will they automatically check my eligibility for other programs like ABD? I want to make sure I don't fall through any cracks during the transition. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to share experiences and practical advice. Planning to call my county office first thing tomorrow morning with all the great tips from this thread!