One more tip that saved me time - before you spend hours trying to get through to EDD by phone, check if your local state assembly or senate office can help. I was stuck in a similar situation last year and my assemblyman's office actually has a direct line to EDD for constituent services. They were able to get me connected to the right department within 2 days, and the EDD rep was much more helpful when the call came through an official government office. Just call your local representative's office and explain you have an urgent EDD overpayment issue with a garnishment deadline. Worth a shot while you're working on the other options people mentioned!

I went through this exact situation 8 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline and tackling multiple approaches simultaneously since you're working against that 10-day deadline. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1) Download and start filling out the WG-007 form from the CA courts website immediately as your safety net, 2) Call your assemblyman's office first thing Monday (Connor's advice about this is spot-on - they got me connected within 48 hours), 3) Look up the DE 1446W waiver form while you're waiting for callbacks. The key is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Even if you think you might get the waiver or payment plan, having that WG-007 completed and ready to file gives you peace of mind. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers, etc. This whole process taught me that EDD's left hand doesn't always know what the right hand is doing, so having a paper trail saved me multiple times. You've got this - the community here gave you excellent advice and you still have 7 days to work with!

i heard theres a new program for restaurant workers who lost jobs bc of minimum wage increases but my cousin applied and never got approved so maybe its not real

Just wanted to add that while the COVID programs are definitely gone, there are still some other resources that might help supplement your unemployment benefits. Look into CalFresh (food stamps) and your local food banks - many don't have strict income requirements right now. Also check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs. I know LA County and some others still have funds available for people who recently became unemployed. It won't replace those pandemic benefit amounts, but every little bit helps when you're trying to cover $2,100 rent on regular UI. Hang in there!

Just wanted to add something that might be relevant for your commission-based work situation - if you end up needing to file for partial unemployment, be aware that EDD can be pretty particular about how they calculate your "weekly earnings" when you have irregular commission income. They typically look at your earnings for the specific week you're certifying for, not an average over time. So if you have a week where you receive a large commission check but your hours were still reduced, that could potentially disqualify you from benefits for that particular week even if your overall monthly income is down significantly. I learned this the hard way when I was on partial unemployment with irregular bonus payments. One week I got a quarterly bonus that put me over the earnings threshold, so I lost benefits for just that week, then qualified again the following week when I was back to reduced hours with no bonus. It's frustrating but important to understand if you're trying to budget and plan ahead. The weekly certification process doesn't really account well for the reality of commission-based income fluctuations.

One thing I'd add that might help with your planning - if you're still employed but anticipating hour cuts, you can actually start gathering your documentation and preparing your claim information now without filing. Create an EDD online account and familiarize yourself with the UI Online system so you're ready to file quickly when/if you need to. Also, since you mentioned inconsistent commission income, consider reaching out to your current employer's HR department to get a written statement about your upcoming hour reduction. Having this documentation ready ahead of time can really speed up the approval process if you do end up filing for partial benefits. One last tip - if your hours do get cut, file your claim on Sunday if possible. California's benefit week runs Sunday-Saturday, and filing on Sunday means you won't lose any potential benefit days for that first week (minus the one-week waiting period). It's a small detail but can add up over time!

Thank you for the step-by-step! That makes it super clear. I'm going to set mine up for both text and email too.

I've been using the Money Network card for about 6 months now and wanted to share a few tips that might help! First, definitely set up those notifications - they're a lifesaver. But also download the Money Network mobile app if you haven't already. It's way easier to check your balance quickly on your phone than logging into the website every time. The app also sends push notifications which I find more reliable than SMS sometimes. One thing to watch out for - there are ATM fees if you use machines outside their network, so look for MoneyPass ATMs to avoid those charges. You can find locations on their website. Hope this helps!

I went through an almost identical situation 8 months ago - employer fired me for "performance issues" then claimed misconduct to EDD. The appeal hearing was nerve-wracking but I won! Key things that helped my case: - The termination paperwork clearly stated "performance" not misconduct - I had documentation showing I was trying my best under difficult circumstances - The employer couldn't produce half the "evidence" they claimed existed - I stayed calm and just answered questions honestly The judge seemed really focused on whether I was willfully disregarding my duties vs just struggling to meet expectations. Since your sister was handling 1.5 people's workload after that coworker left, that's perfect evidence this was a capacity issue, not misconduct. One tip: if the employer's rep wasn't your sister's direct supervisor, ask them how they have personal knowledge of the day-to-day performance issues they're claiming. Often they're just reading from notes and can't actually testify to specifics. The fake warnings thing is going to backfire on them big time. Judges hate when employers fabricate documentation. You've got this! The truth has a way of coming out at these hearings.

I'm a former EDD appeals representative and I can tell you that cases like your sister's are actually quite common - and winnable when prepared properly. The employer's behavior here (initially saying they wouldn't contest, then fabricating warnings) is a major red flag that will not go unnoticed by the Administrative Law Judge. Here's what I'd focus on for your hearing preparation: **Key Legal Point**: California unemployment law requires "misconduct" to be willful, deliberate, or in substantial disregard of the employer's interests. Simply not meeting performance standards - especially under increased workload - does NOT constitute misconduct. **Evidence Priority List**: 1. That termination letter stating "performance issues" (this is your strongest evidence) 2. The two actual written warnings she received and signed 3. Personnel file showing NO additional warnings exist 4. Documentation of increased workload after coworker departure **Hearing Strategy**: - Let the employer present their case first, then systematically address each false claim - When they can't produce the alleged 6 warnings, ask the judge to note this for the record - Emphasize she was terminated for inability to handle an unreasonable workload, not willful misconduct **Critical**: Make sure she continues certifying for benefits during the appeal process - she can receive back pay for all eligible weeks if she wins. The judge will likely find in her favor given the clear documentary evidence contradicting the employer's misconduct claim. Stay organized, stick to facts, and let the employer's lack of evidence speak for itself.