Something I wish someone had told me when I went through this - keep ALL your documentation organized from day one! I'm talking severance agreement, termination letter, pay stubs showing your last regular paycheck vs severance payment, bank deposit records, everything. When EDD inevitably has questions or if there's any confusion in their system, having that paper trail ready makes resolving issues SO much faster. I spent hours on hold with EDD trying to explain my situation without proper documentation the first time. Also, screenshot your EDD account after each certification showing exactly what you reported - I've heard of cases where people's reported amounts somehow got entered incorrectly in the system. Better to have the proof and not need it than be scrambling later when you're already stressed about finding work.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add something that might help with the timing confusion - when I was laid off from my startup last year, I called EDD's customer service line BEFORE filing my claim to ask specifically about my severance situation. Even though it took forever to get through, the rep walked me through exactly how to report my severance and what to expect week by week. She even noted my account so if I had issues later, there would be a record of the guidance I received. It was worth the wait because I avoided a lot of the confusion others have mentioned. Also, she told me that tech companies sometimes structure severance in ways that can be tricky to report, so having that conversation upfront helped me ask my HR team the right questions about payment timing and categorization. Definitely recommend this approach if you can get through to someone!

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. What you're going through - losing a parent while also facing financial uncertainty - is incredibly difficult, and my heart goes out to you. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the responses here and I'm genuinely amazed by the outpouring of support and shared experiences. It's clear that so many people have been in your exact situation and have successfully navigated the unemployment benefits process as IHSS caregivers. The consistent message from everyone - including professionals in the field - is incredibly reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits, the family relationship doesn't disqualify you, and you can backdate your claim to account for the time you needed to grieve. Your employer was the county IHSS program (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally. Reading through everyone's advice about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, having documentation ready, and being able to apply online gives me confidence that this process, while potentially overwhelming right now, is definitely manageable. You've been contributing to the unemployment system for over 2 years - these benefits are something you've truly earned. I hope all the support and shared experiences in this thread give you the strength and confidence to apply soon. You deserve this financial assistance during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this community is clearly behind you every step of the way. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate financial concerns while grieving must feel overwhelming. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm genuinely touched by how many people have shared their personal experiences to help you. It's clear that your situation is more common than you might think, and every single person who's been through this has successfully received unemployment benefits. The message from everyone - including professionals in the field - is consistent and reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits as an IHSS caregiver. The county IHSS program was your legal employer (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally, so the family relationship doesn't affect your eligibility at all. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years through your dedicated work - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've rightfully earned. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your circumstances, and you can backdate your claim when you apply. I hope all the support and practical advice in this thread gives you the confidence you need to move forward. You deserve this financial assistance during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this entire community is rooting for you. ❤️

Hey Justin! I totally understand that sinking feeling when you first see "excessive earnings" - I had the exact same panic attack when it showed up on my account for the first time! That terminology is so poorly chosen and makes it sound like you've done something terrible when you absolutely haven't. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - your claim is completely safe! "Excessive earnings" simply means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount that specific week, so you get $0 for that week only. Since you earned $487 and your WBA sounds like it's around $450, that explains the status perfectly. I've been working part-time at a bookstore while on UI for about 7 months now, and I've seen this status probably 10+ times depending on my weekly schedule. Every single time my claim stayed active, and the following weeks when I worked fewer hours, I got partial benefits again. It really is just calculated week by week. What helped me stop panicking was realizing this is actually proof that you're being responsible - you took a part-time job to help support yourself while looking for full-time work, and some weeks that job pays well enough that you don't need UI assistance. That's exactly how the system is supposed to work! Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, keep doing your work searches, and don't let EDD's confusing language discourage you. You're handling everything perfectly, and that warehouse job is smart for keeping you stable during your job hunt!

Hey Justin! I completely understand that heart-stopping moment when you first see "excessive earnings" - I literally thought I had somehow violated the terms of my UI claim when it happened to me! That wording is absolutely terrible and makes it sound so much worse than it actually is. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - your claim is totally fine and will remain active! "Excessive earnings" is just EDD's unnecessarily scary way of saying you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and your WBA is probably around $450, that explains it perfectly. I've been in your exact situation working part-time at a hardware store while collecting UI for about 4 months now. My hours vary between 15-25 per week, and I've seen "excessive earnings" probably 6 or 7 times. Every single time I initially panicked, and every single time my claim stayed completely intact. The following weeks when I worked fewer hours, I got partial benefits again like clockwork. What really helped me was keeping a simple weekly log of my hours and estimated earnings. That way I can mentally prepare for whether I might see "excessive earnings" or receive partial benefits before I even certify. It takes away that surprise factor that causes so much stress. Your warehouse job is actually a perfect strategy - it keeps money coming in while you search for full-time work, and the variable hours mean some weeks UI supplements your income and some weeks you don't need it. That's exactly how the system is designed to work! Keep certifying every two weeks, keep doing your job searches, and definitely don't let EDD's confusing terminology discourage you. You're handling this perfectly!

I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who moved from California to Colorado while collecting EDD benefits! I relocated from Los Angeles to Fort Collins about 8 months ago and it went really smoothly. A few additional tips that helped me: 1. **Consider the time zone difference** - Colorado is one hour ahead of California, so make sure you're aware of certification deadlines in Pacific Time, not Mountain Time. I almost missed my first certification after moving because I got confused about the timing! 2. **Keep your California phone number initially** - I kept my CA number for the first few months in case EDD needed to call me. Some people have reported issues with EDD calling out-of-state numbers, though I never had to test this personally. 3. **Research Colorado's job market in advance** - Start looking at companies and positions in Colorado before you move so you can hit the ground running with your work search activities. Sites like Built In Colorado and Denver Startup Week are great resources. 4. **Don't stress about the "able and available" questions** - As long as you're genuinely looking for work you could accept (whether remote or local), you're meeting the requirements regardless of which state you're in. The move has been amazing - Colorado's tech scene is thriving and the work-life balance is so much better than LA. You're making a great choice! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about the process.

I just moved from San Francisco to Boulder last week while collecting CA EDD benefits and wanted to share my experience since it's so fresh! The whole process was way less stressful than I anticipated after reading horror stories online. Here's exactly what I did: 1. Drove to Colorado on a Tuesday, updated my address in UI Online on Wednesday (the day after I arrived) 2. Set up USPS mail forwarding for 6 months before I left CA 3. Called my bank the day before I moved to let them know I'd be receiving CA unemployment payments from my new Colorado address 4. Started applying for both remote and local Boulder/Denver jobs immediately The address change went through without any issues - no verification messages, no delays, no phone calls needed. I've done one certification since moving and the payment came through exactly as usual. One thing I wasn't expecting - Colorado's job market for remote-friendly positions is incredible! I've already had two phone screens for remote roles that I applied for from my new address. The work search requirement is actually easier to meet here because there are so many opportunities. Having a job already lined up for 6 weeks from now puts you in such a good position. You can focus on settling in and exploring Colorado without the pressure of needing to find work immediately. Boulder and the surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful - you're going to love the move! Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions about the process.

UPDATE: I finally got through! I took the advice about trying late at night (went online at 11:30pm) and turned off all my browser extensions. The site was actually much faster and I was able to complete my entire application! Now it says my claim is processing and I should receive something in the mail within 10 days. Thanks everyone for your help - this community is amazing!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been trying for 4 days straight and keep getting error messages or the site just freezes during the income verification section. It's so frustrating when you desperately need benefits and the system designed to help you is completely broken. Reading through all these responses gives me some hope though - I'm definitely going to try the late night approach and disable all my browser extensions. Has anyone had success with the mobile app version, or is the regular mobile site through a browser better? Also really considering the in-person office visit if I can't get through online by this weekend.