try contacting them on facebook sometimes they answer there lol

the whole systems rigged they make it impossible to get help on purpose

Does your new job have a probation period? Mine did and I was worried about what would happen if it didn't work out during the first 90 days. My friend told me that if you get let go during probation and it's within the same benefit year, you can sometimes just reopen your claim without filing a whole new application. might be good to know just in case!

Congratulations on your new job! To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Complete your final certification accurately, reporting your employment and earnings 2. After that, simply stop certifying 3. Keep your EDD account information and payment records 4. Your claim remains technically open for the benefit year This approach ensures you receive all benefits you're entitled to while properly notifying EDD of your employment status. Best of luck with your new position!

My cousin works for EDD and says they're extra picky about the transition from disability to unemployment lately. Something about too many covid claims or whatever. Just saying be super careful with all your dates.

I'm so confused now after reading all these responses! Does anyone know if this is different for PFL vs. regular disability? I was on paid family leave not medical disability so maybe it's different rules???

Good luck with nursing school! The job market for nurses is way better than retail anyway. My cousin just finished her LVN program and had 3 job offers before graduation.

Make sure to keep all documentation from this separation - emails, the layoff letter, any text messages discussing the situation. If your claim gets flagged for an eligibility interview (which is common in separation cases), you'll need to provide evidence that you didn't voluntarily quit. Also, be prepared to meet all the ongoing eligibility requirements like being available for work and actively searching while you're in school.

One important detail nobody's mentioned yet: When you call to backdate your claim, explain that you didn't file immediately because you weren't aware of your eligibility. This is considered "good cause" under EDD guidelines for backdating. The representative will need to manually input this reason in their system. Also, prepare for the phone interview they'll likely schedule. This is standard procedure for backdated claims, especially beyond 2 weeks. During this interview, clearly explain: 1. Why you delayed filing (lack of awareness of eligibility) 2. Your job search activities during that month 3. That you were able and available for work during the entire period If you have documentation showing you were actively seeking work during that month (emails, application confirmations, interview invitations), have those ready. The law allows for retroactive claims when there's good cause for the delay, which your situation would qualify for.

Update: I finally got through to EDD today after using the Claimyr service that @profile3 suggested (which worked great btw). They said I CAN file retroactively for January but I need to provide evidence of my job search activities during that time. I've been going through my emails and found confirmation for 7 job applications during those weeks, plus I have my termination letter and final pay stub. They're scheduling me for a phone interview next week to review everything. Fingers crossed this works out! Thank you all for your helpful advice!

wait what exactly is a penalty week? is that the same thing as a waiting week? im about to file a new claim and now im worried

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The specialist confirmed that YES, my weeks with excessive earnings ARE counting toward my penalty weeks. She explained that as long as I'm certifying and meeting all other eligibility requirements (available for work, searching for work, etc.), the weeks will count regardless of whether I would have been paid or not. She did emphasize that I need to keep certifying every two weeks and accurately report all earnings, even during the penalty period. For anyone else dealing with penalty weeks - they DO run concurrently with excessive earnings! One less thing to stress about.

I just want to emphasize how important it is to act quickly on your appeal. The 30-day deadline is strict. Mail your appeal form with delivery confirmation or submit it online through UI Online if that option is available to you. In your appeal statement, be very clear and specific: 1. State that you were laid off due to lack of work/seasonal reduction, not fired for performance issues 2. Note your 15-year work history with the company 3. Mention the positive performance reviews you can provide 4. Explain that you were available for the scheduled phone interview but never received a call Also, during your appeal hearing, if your former employer doesn't show up (which happens frequently), that works in your favor. The ALJ will only have your testimony and evidence to consider.

One more thing - continue certifying for benefits while your appeal is pending, even if your payments show as "disqualified" or stop coming. If you win your appeal, they'll release all those held payments at once. If you stop certifying, you won't be able to claim those weeks later, even if you win.

btw make sure ur reporting the right amount on ur certification! its ur gross pay BEFORE amazon takes out expenses not what hits ur bank account

One more important thing - keep a mileage log for your Amazon Flex work! This won't matter for EDD reporting (you report gross income), but it will help reduce your taxable income when you file taxes next year. The self-employment tax hit can be pretty significant otherwise.

I need to caution about this suggestion. SDI (State Disability Insurance) requires medical certification of a condition that prevents you from performing your regular or customary work. It's not meant as a replacement when UI benefits run out, and applying for it without a legitimate qualifying condition could potentially be considered fraud. Additionally, there's a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and the application process itself can take time for medical verification.

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and 1) called the new company who agreed to start me May 13th instead of the 20th (one week earlier), and 2) finally got through to EDD after using the Claimyr service. The EDD rep confirmed there's no extension available for my situation BUT suggested I apply for CalFresh immediately which could help with groceries for the gap period. She also mentioned I should double-check with my county's General Assistance program which sometimes provides very short-term emergency help. \n\nStill going to be tight financially but cutting one week off the gap helps a lot! Thanks everyone for your suggestions - this community has been so helpful during this stressful unemployment journey!

I used the general EDD fax number (1-866-215-9159) and wrote

Thank you so much! I'll try faxing my documentation tomorrow. Really appreciate the specific advice!