I just went through this same situation last month! I was on PFL for 6 weeks after having my baby, then returned to work for about 2 months before getting laid off in a company restructuring. I was so confused about the wages section too - the EDD application really isn't clear about what they consider "wages." After reading through all the responses here and calling EDD (finally got through after using one of those callback services), I can confirm what everyone is saying: DO NOT include PFL or SDI payments as wages. Only report your actual employment earnings - basically what you'd see on your W-2 from your employer. The EDD rep told me they already have all your wage history from employers, so including benefit payments could actually flag your application and cause delays. I only included my actual paychecks from when I was working and my claim went through smoothly. There are other sections in the application where you can mention if you received PFL/SDI benefits, which is important for them to know, but it shouldn't go in the wages section. Hope this helps and good luck with your application!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I was on SDI for about 8 weeks after a workplace injury, then worked for another 4 months before getting laid off last week. The EDD application is so confusing - I was staring at that wages section for like an hour trying to figure out what to include! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. The consensus is super clear: only include actual wages from employment, not benefit payments like PFL or SDI. The way someone explained it as "earned income" vs "replacement income" really made it click for me. I feel so much better about filling out my application now knowing that so many people have been in similar situations and handled it this way successfully. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's confusing forms! I'll definitely stick to just my actual employment wages and mention the SDI in the other benefits section where appropriate.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed a new claim in early March after my previous one expired, and just like you, my first week went straight to PAID status instead of the usual waiting period. I've been checking my account obsessively wondering if this was some kind of system error. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - sounds like EDD is actually doing this intentionally for people in our situation. I guess the lesson here is that EDD changes policies all the time without making big announcements about it. Thanks for posting this question because I never would have known this was happening to other people too!

This is really interesting to read about! I'm currently on my last few weeks of unemployment benefits and was dreading having to file a new claim because of that awful waiting week. My benefit year ends next month, so if this temporary policy is still in effect, it could really help me avoid that financial gap. Does anyone know if there's a way to find out if you'll qualify for the waived waiting period before you actually file the new claim? I'd love to plan my finances accordingly instead of just hoping for the best. Also wondering if this applies to all types of separations or just layoffs - I was laid off from my previous job due to company downsizing.

For anyone reading this thread in the future, I wanted to compile all the key takeaways in one place since there's so much valuable info scattered throughout: **Immediate steps for lost replacement card:** - Call Money Network at 1-866-320-8699 (try early morning/late evening for shorter waits) - Be specific it's a "replacement for a replacement card" - Verify your address multiple times during the call - Ask about expedited shipping ($15 extra, 3-4 days vs 7-10 days) - Ask about cardless ATM withdrawal if you need emergency access **Fees to expect:** - $10 replacement card fee (standard, rarely waived) - $15 expedited shipping fee (optional) **Once you get the new card:** - Take a photo (blur security code) and store securely - Test immediately with small purchase/ATM withdrawal - Set up direct deposit in UI Online under "Payment Methods" - Keep old EDD documentation for reference numbers **If you need help while waiting:** - Contact landlord early about payment delays - Call 211 for emergency assistance resources - Look into local food banks/rental assistance programs Really hope this helps future folks dealing with the same frustrating situation!

Just wanted to add something that might save others from future headaches - if you're dealing with a lost replacement card situation like this, you can also call Money Network and ask them to put a temporary hold on your account while you wait for the new card. This prevents anyone from potentially using your lost card if they find it, and gives you peace of mind knowing your funds are secure. I had to do this once when my replacement card was stolen from my mailbox, and the customer service rep was actually really helpful about it. They can lift the hold as soon as you receive and activate your new card. It's a small extra step but worth it for the security, especially when you have a significant amount like $3,800 sitting on there!

I'm also dealing with unemployment and unexpected expenses right now, so this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! The complexity around base period employers and retirement withdrawals is something I never would have understood without reading everyone's experiences here. @Sofía Rodríguez - I'm really hoping the 401k loan option works out when you call Meridian on Monday! That seems like it could solve your transportation issue without any of the tax penalties or EDD complications that everyone's warned about. What strikes me most about this discussion is how many resources exist that most of us probably don't know about - the 2-1-1 hotline, United Way programs, CalWORKs Emergency Aid, professional association grants, and EAP benefits for former employees. It makes me realize how important it is to exhaust all these options before touching retirement savings, especially given the potential tax implications. For anyone else in similar situations, I think this thread shows why it's so crucial to get official guidance from EDD before making any major financial decisions. The conflicting experiences people have shared really highlight how individual circumstances can lead to very different outcomes. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this kind of community support makes navigating unemployment so much less isolating. Please keep us updated on how things work out!

This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's also navigating unemployment, I had no idea about the complexity around base period employers and retirement withdrawals. The distinction between different types of retirement accounts and how EDD treats them is something that really should be more clearly explained on their website. @Sofía Rodríguez - I'm really pulling for you with the 401k loan option when you call Meridian on Monday! After reading everyone's breakdown of the tax implications (potentially losing $4-5k for a $3,100 repair), that loan route seems like it could be a perfect solution if it's available. What I find most valuable about this thread is the comprehensive list of alternative resources that people have shared: 2-1-1 hotline, United Way's Wheels to Work programs, CalWORKs Emergency Aid, professional association grants, EAP benefits for former employees, auto shop financing partnerships, and community college assistance programs. These are resources I never would have known to look for, and they should honestly be compiled into a resource guide for this community. The emphasis everyone's placed on getting official EDD guidance and documenting everything is also crucial advice. Given the conflicting experiences people have shared, it's clear that individual circumstances can lead to very different outcomes, and having a paper trail seems essential. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - both the success stories and the cautionary tales. This kind of community support makes navigating these stressful situations so much more manageable. Please keep us posted on how everything works out!

Just wanted to follow up on this thread after trying several of these strategies today. The 833-978-2511 number with the # trick worked like magic! Called at 8:12am as suggested by Emma, pressed # immediately, then 1-2-1, and got through to a rep in about 15 minutes. The rep was super helpful with my certification question and even explained why I was having issues - apparently there was a glitch in the system that was affecting people who filed their initial claim in late February. She fixed it on the spot and said my next certification should process normally. For anyone still struggling, I'd also recommend keeping a log of which numbers/strategies you try and when - the rep mentioned that calling patterns can sometimes trigger their spam filters, so spacing out your attempts might help too. This community is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing these tips! Without this thread I'd probably still be stuck in phone tree hell.

This entire thread is a masterclass in community problem-solving! As someone who just started dealing with EDD issues this week, I'm bookmarking this whole conversation. The fact that we've collectively figured out multiple workarounds - alternate numbers, specific timing, different departments, even using different phone numbers - shows how broken the main system really is. I'm particularly intrigued by the Claimyr service and the DI transfer trick. It's honestly shameful that people who are already struggling financially have to become system hackers just to access their own benefits. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their hard-won knowledge instead of keeping it to themselves. Going to start with the 833 number tomorrow and work through these strategies systematically. Thank you all for turning what should be EDD's job into a community effort!