Just want to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to EDD, try calling right at 8:00 AM when the lines open - literally have your phone dialing at 7:59:59 AM. I've had better luck getting through in the first 15 minutes than any other time of day. Also, if you do end up filing your appeal without the original letter, make sure to write down EVERYTHING you remember about your claim - dates, reasons you think they might have disqualified you, any communications you had with EDD, etc. The more detailed information you can provide, the better your chances at the hearing. And definitely keep calling to try to get that letter even after you file the appeal - you can always submit it as additional evidence later!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you have any family members or friends who work in government or legal fields, they might be able to help you navigate this faster. My sister works as a paralegal and she knew to check something called the "Notice of Computation" in addition to the determination letter. Apparently EDD sometimes issues multiple documents for disqualifications and they don't always show up in the same place online. Also, when you do file your appeal, consider including a statement about how the lack of proper notice has prejudiced your ability to prepare a defense. Administrative law judges take notice issues seriously since due process requires adequate notification. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are people who genuinely want to help you get through this!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here - this thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm new to the community but have been dealing with unemployment issues for a few months now. Reading through all the advice and real experiences, especially @Nia Thompson's successful resolution, really shows how important it is to be proactive and honest when mistakes happen. The consensus seems clear: document everything, keep trying to contact EDD, and be completely transparent. It's reassuring to see that while the system can be frustrating, they do differentiate between honest mistakes and intentional fraud when you handle things properly. For anyone else who might stumble across this thread in the future dealing with similar issues - don't panic, but definitely act fast. The stories here prove that self-reporting before EDD completes their review process can make a huge difference in avoiding fraud penalties. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to share their advice and experiences!

This entire thread is such a great resource for anyone dealing with unreported income issues! As someone who's been navigating the EDD system for the past year, I can confirm that being proactive really is everything. I had a minor income reporting mix-up early in my claim (nothing as complex as your situation, @Nia Thompson) and the anxiety was overwhelming. What I learned from my experience and what everyone here is saying is spot-on - EDD's automated systems will eventually catch income discrepancies through quarterly wage matching, but how they handle it depends largely on whether you self-report or they discover it first. The fact that you got through and they're treating it as a non-fraud overpayment is exactly what should happen when someone handles it properly. For future readers: save this thread! The advice about documenting call attempts, using services like Claimyr, and being completely transparent is gold. Also keep ALL your employment documentation - paystubs, offer letters, anything that shows your work history and income. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories here. Community support like this makes dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares so much more manageable!

Hey Cynthia! Huge congrats on getting to paid status! 🎉 I know exactly how you're feeling right now - I went through this same rollercoaster just a few months back. The Money Network card typically arrives within 7-10 business days, but definitely warn your mom to look out for a super plain envelope from "Conduent" - it literally looks like those annoying credit card offers you usually throw away! I almost missed mine because of how generic it looked. The "waiting period served" message is actually fantastic news - it means you've completed California's mandatory unpaid first week that all new claimants have to serve. Nobody gets paid for that first week (it's just how the system works), but now you're eligible for actual payments starting with your second week of certification. Once you get that card, my biggest recommendation is to immediately set up the Money Network mobile app and enable notifications so you'll know the instant funds are loaded. Even better - set up direct deposit through the app ASAP! It's a total game changer and cuts your wait time from days down to next business day for all future certifications. You're so close to the finish line now! The hardest part of navigating all this EDD confusion is behind you. Hang in there! 💪

Hey Cynthia! Congrats on reaching paid status - that's such a huge relief! 🎉 I just went through this exact same situation about 8 weeks ago, so I totally get the mix of excitement and anxiety you're feeling right now. Your Money Network card should arrive within 7-10 business days (mine took exactly 9), but here's the critical thing everyone's mentioned that I want to emphasize - it comes in the most generic white envelope from "Conduent" that looks exactly like junk mail! I literally had it sitting on my counter for 2 days thinking it was a credit card offer. Please give your mom a heads up about this - maybe even ask her to open anything that could possibly contain a card for the next couple weeks just to be safe. The "waiting period served" message is actually great news! It means you've successfully completed California's mandatory unpaid first week that every new claimant has to serve. You won't receive payment for that week (nobody does - it's state policy), but you're now eligible for actual payments starting with week 2. You're doing everything right! Once your card arrives, activate it immediately and download the Money Network app. Set up notifications so you'll know the instant funds are loaded, and definitely set up direct deposit ASAP - it's a total game changer for future certifications. You're almost at the finish line! 💪

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Had my interview scheduled for Tuesday between 10-11am and sat there with my phone the entire time - nothing. It's now Thursday and still pending. Reading all these comments about EDD's phone system issues actually makes me feel a bit better knowing it's not just me. I've been beating myself up thinking I somehow missed the call or did something wrong. @Sophia Carson your update about getting paid without the interview gives me hope! I'm going to wait until early next week before trying to call them. The stress of these pending payments is unreal - I've got bills piling up and was counting on this money weeks ago. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - missed interview on Monday and payments still pending. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful, especially knowing about the technical issues with EDD's phone system. It makes sense why so many people are having the same problem lately. @Sophia Carson your update about getting paid without the interview is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm going to follow the advice here and wait a few more days before trying to call. The stress of pending payments is real but at least now I know it's not just me. Thanks everyone for sharing - this community really helps when dealing with EDD chaos!

I'm in a similar situation - UI benefits ending in about 6 weeks and struggling to find work in marketing/advertising. This thread has been incredibly helpful! A couple of follow-up questions for those who've successfully gotten extensions: 1) Do freelance/gig work attempts count toward the work search requirements? I've been applying for some contract positions on Upwork but wasn't sure if that qualifies. 2) If you get denied for the extension initially, is there an appeals process? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know there might be options beyond the regular 26 weeks!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I was in a similar situation 3 months ago when my UI benefits were about to exhaust. I'm in cybersecurity and the job market has been brutal. What really helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet tracking all my work search activities - not just job applications but also LinkedIn networking messages, informational interviews, and even online certification courses I completed. When I applied for the FED-ED extension, having that comprehensive documentation made the process much smoother. The EDD rep was impressed with how organized my records were and approved my extension within 2 weeks. Also, don't just limit yourself to traditional job boards - I found that reaching out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn had a much better response rate than applying through company portals. The extension gave me the breathing room I needed to eventually land a position. Keep your head up - the tech job market is slowly starting to recover!