Adding to what others have said - I'm currently going through this exact situation! Got laid off from my office job in January, did Uber/Lyft for about 10 weeks, then the gig work basically disappeared. Filed for unemployment last week and the EDD rep was super helpful when I called (surprisingly got through on my second try). A few things that might help: - When you certify for those weeks you did gig work, you'll need the gross amount BEFORE the apps took their commission/fees - They asked me for a letter or email from my W-2 employer confirming the layoff date and reason - For the gig work ending, I just explained it in the weekly certification - didn't need special documentation The rep told me that since my layoff was involuntary and the gig work was just temporary income while looking for full-time work, it doesn't affect my eligibility at all. Actually might work in your favor since it shows you were actively trying to support yourself! Hope this helps ease some of your stress.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you absolutely did NOT mess up by trying to work! I was in almost the exact same boat last summer. Got laid off from my marketing job, did Instacart for about 2 months to pay bills, then applied for unemployment when those gigs dried up too. The EDD rep actually complimented me for trying to stay employed instead of immediately going on benefits. Your benefit amount will be based on your W-2 wages from the base period, and any gig work you did just gets reported during weekly certification for those specific weeks. One tip that saved me headaches: when you certify for those gig work weeks, round UP to the nearest dollar if you have cents. The system doesn't handle partial dollars well and it can cause payment delays. Also make sure you report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid - this is SUPER important for gig work since there's often a delay between when you work and when the money hits your account. You should be fine going forward! The hardest part is usually just getting through to talk to someone if you have questions, but it sounds like you're on the right track.

I'm in a similar situation - had my interview 8 days ago and still waiting on a decision. My case was also a layoff due to company downsizing, so I thought it would be straightforward. The uncertainty is really getting to me, especially with bills coming due. I've been checking my UI Online account multiple times a day hoping for any change in status. It's reassuring to hear that some people are getting approved after 10-13 days, but also concerning that others are waiting 6+ weeks. The lack of communication from EDD about timelines or what's causing delays is really frustrating when we're all dealing with financial stress.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same timeline - had my eligibility interview 9 days ago for a layoff situation and still showing pending. The financial stress is real when you're waiting this long with no communication from EDD. Reading through these responses, it seems like there's such a huge variation in wait times even for similar cases. Some people get approved in 2 days, others wait 6+ weeks - there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I've also been checking my UI Online account obsessively and calling EDD with no luck getting through. At least seeing that @Clarissa Flair just got approved after 13 days gives me some hope that mine might come through soon too.

Hey Katherine! I've been following this thread and wanted to add a few thoughts since I work in workforce development and see situations like yours fairly often. The advice about focusing on contracts that are naturally ending is spot-on. What matters to EDD is the reason for separation from your most recent work, so if you have legitimate contract endings (where renewal wasn't offered or available), that's your strongest foundation for a claim. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that you should also look into your county's job training programs. Many counties have their own funding streams separate from state programs that can provide support during career transitions. They often move faster than EDD programs too. Also, since your apprenticeship is starting in just 3 weeks, you might want to have a backup plan ready. Even if everything goes perfectly with EDD, there could be delays. Consider reaching out to local food banks, community assistance programs, or even seeing if you can pick up some short-term gig work that won't interfere with your training schedule. The electrical apprenticeship through IBEW is an excellent choice - those programs usually have strong job placement rates and good wages once you complete them. It's worth the temporary financial stress to get into that field. Best of luck navigating all the bureaucracy!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully navigated a similar situation last year. I was doing freelance graphic design work and got accepted into a coding bootcamp. Here's what worked for me: First, I documented EVERYTHING about my contract endings - emails, project completion dates, whether clients offered renewals or not. This was crucial when EDD asked for details during my phone interview. Second, I applied for UI as soon as my legitimate contracts ended, BEFORE starting my training program. Got approved first, then applied for California Training Benefits. The key was establishing that valid UI claim first based on actual job loss, not voluntary departure. The CTB application was intense - they wanted detailed career plans, labor market research showing demand for my new field, and proof the training would lead to "suitable employment." But it was worth it because once approved, I could focus on learning without the weekly job search requirements. One tip: when you talk to EDD, emphasize how the electrical field has strong job prospects and how this apprenticeship will make you more employable. They like seeing that you're training for in-demand work, not just any random program. Also, definitely reach out to your local Building Trades Council if there is one. They sometimes have emergency funds specifically for people entering electrical apprenticeships. The financial stress was real, but getting through that unpaid period was so worth it. You're making a smart investment in your future!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! I was a full-time teacher for 2 years and also tutored students on weekends (1099 income). Got laid off in February and EDD immediately flagged me as "self-employed" even though tutoring was maybe 15% of my total income. What's really helped me so far is being super organized with my documentation. I created a simple spreadsheet showing month-by-month income from my teaching job vs tutoring, and it makes the income disparity really obvious. Also, if you still have access to your work email or any HR communications about your layoff, save those - they help prove you were a legitimate employee who got terminated. The frustrating part is that this seems to be happening to a lot of people with any side income at all. It's like their system automatically assumes any 1099 makes you self-employed. Definitely file that appeal ASAP and don't let them discourage you - your income numbers clearly show you were primarily an employee!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Was a full-time software engineer making $72K and did some freelance web development on weekends that brought in maybe $8K total. EDD immediately denied me saying I'm "self-employed" which is absolutely ridiculous given the income split. What's really helped me so far is gathering EVERYTHING that proves my employee status - not just W-2s and paystubs, but also my employee handbook, company org chart showing my position, even Slack screenshots showing I was part of the engineering team. I also wrote a detailed letter explaining that the freelance work was clearly supplemental income that I only did 5-10 hours per week max. The thing that's driving me crazy is how their system seems designed to automatically flag ANYONE with mixed income as self-employed without actually looking at the numbers. Like, how is $8K out of $80K total income considered "primary self-employment"?? I filed my DE 1000M appeal last week and I'm keeping copies of literally everything. Stay strong and definitely appeal this - your case is even stronger than mine with that income breakdown!

Hey everyone! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I moved from Stockton to Modesto. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially when rent is due! From my experience, the key things that helped were: 1) Making sure both documents clearly showed my full name and new address, 2) Double-checking that I updated my contact info in the UI Online portal (not just uploading docs), and 3) Being persistent with calling. It took about 10 business days for mine to process, but like others mentioned, they do backpay everything once it's resolved. @Mateo Rodriguez so happy to see your update that it got fixed! For anyone still waiting, don't lose hope - the system is slow but it does work eventually.

I'm going through something similar right now - submitted my address verification docs to EDD about 5 days ago after moving from San Francisco to Berkeley. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It's good to know that @Mateo Rodriguez got it resolved by calling, but also concerning that @Yuki Tanaka had to wait a whole month. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that was mentioned - has anyone else here used it successfully? Also want to double-check that I updated my contact info properly in the portal after reading @GalaxyGuardian's tip about those being separate steps. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this community is so helpful for navigating EDD's confusing processes!