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I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my first unemployment claim about 10 days ago and certified this past Sunday. My payment has been stuck on pending for 3 days now and I was starting to get really worried, especially since I've never been on unemployment before and didn't know what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like the 7-10 business day wait for first payments is completely normal due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. I had no idea they had to verify identity, check with employers, and do all these additional reviews for the initial payment. It's frustrating when you're already stressed about finances, but at least now I know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Going to try to be patient and wait the full 10 business days before panicking. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it really helps to know what's normal!
@Aisha Abdullah I m'in the exact same boat as you! Just certified for my first payment 4 days ago and have been anxiously checking the portal constantly. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about all the verification steps EDD does behind the scenes for first-time claimants. It s'crazy how much more complex the unemployment system is compared to regular job payments. The waiting is definitely the hardest part when you re'already dealing with the stress of being unemployed, but knowing that 7-10 business days is totally normal makes me feel so much better. We ve'got this - just a few more days to go!
I'm going through the exact same thing! Just submitted my first certification 4 days ago and my payment is still pending. I've been checking the portal obsessively which is probably making my anxiety worse. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea that first payments take so much longer due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. It makes total sense that they need to verify identity, check with previous employers, and review everything before releasing that initial payment. The 7-10 business day timeline that everyone mentions gives me hope that mine should come through soon. It's definitely nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about finances, but knowing this is completely normal helps a lot. Thanks for posting this question - I was wondering the same thing and was starting to panic!
@TommyKapitz You're definitely not alone! I just went through this same anxiety spiral about 2 months ago with my first unemployment payment. The obsessive portal checking is so real - I was refreshing that page like every hour which just made everything worse. What helped me was setting specific times to check (like once in the morning and once in the evening) instead of constantly refreshing. The verification process really does take time, especially for first-time claimants like us. My payment ended up switching to "paid" on day 8 and hit my bank account the next day. Hang in there - those 7-10 business days feel like forever when you're stressed about money, but it really is just the normal process working its way through the system!
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OP, what was the last thing you did before this happened? Did you miss certifying a week or something? Sometimes that can trigger automatic closures.
I certified my last week as usual. That's what's so confusing. Everything seemed normal until I logged in and saw it was closed 🤷♂️
Huh, that is weird. Definitely sounds like a glitch in their system then. Hope you get it sorted soon!
I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! It's incredibly frustrating. In my case, it turned out their system had a glitch that automatically closed claims that had been open for a certain period, even if everything was current. I was able to reopen online like Sara mentioned, but I also called to make sure there wasn't an underlying issue that would cause it to close again. The rep I spoke to confirmed it was a system error and made a note on my account. Definitely try the online reopen first, but don't hesitate to call if you want peace of mind. Also, screenshot everything while you're going through this process - it helped me when I had to reference what happened later.
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to know it was just a system glitch. I'm definitely going to try the online reopen first thing tomorrow morning. The screenshot tip is brilliant - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense to document everything. Did you end up having to wait long for your payments to resume after reopening?
Really appreciate you sharing this! It's such a relief to hear it was just a system glitch and not something I did wrong. I'm definitely going to try reopening online first thing in the morning. The screenshot advice is genius - I'll make sure to document every step. This whole situation has been so stressful, but knowing others have been through the same thing and got it resolved gives me hope. Thanks for taking the time to explain your experience! 🙏
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I went through something similar last year. First thing - definitely appeal ASAP if you believe the denial was wrong. You can usually do this online through your EDD portal or by mailing in the appeal form. In the meantime, try calling the PFL phone line early in the morning (like 8am sharp) - you'll have better luck getting through. Also, gather all your documents again (medical forms, employment records, etc.) in case there was something missing they didn't clearly communicate. The whole process is frustrating but don't give up! Many denials get overturned on appeal.
Document everything! Take screenshots of your denial notification and keep copies of all the paperwork you submitted. When you do get through to someone (whether by phone or appeal), having everything organized will help your case. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if the first person you talk to can't help - sometimes they have more authority to look into what went wrong. Hang in there!
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I had this exact problem in 2024!! They ended up taking 25% of each payment but I called (took FOREVER to get through) and explained my situation with rent and kids and stuff and they reduced it to 15% for 6 months. So it's worth trying to negotiate but prepare for hell getting through to someone who can actually help. Make sure you have all your financial documents ready to prove hardship when you call.
That's really helpful to know they might be flexible with the percentage. I've got medical bills too so maybe they'd consider reducing it. I'll try calling tomorrow morning.
Just wanted to add that you should also check if your overpayment has any appeal rights still available. Sometimes people don't realize they can still challenge the original overpayment determination even if it's old. I had a friend who successfully appealed a 2022 overpayment in 2024 and got it reduced significantly. The appeal process is separate from the waiver process, so it's worth looking into both options. You can find appeal forms on the EDD website under the "Forms" section. Even if the deadline has passed, you might be able to file for "good cause" to extend the appeal period if you have a valid reason for the delay.
This is really good advice! I didn't even think about appealing the original overpayment. My situation back in 2023 was pretty confusing - I was getting conflicting information from different EDD reps about my eligibility, and I think that's how I ended up with the overpayment in the first place. Do you know if there's a time limit on filing the "good cause" extension? I'm wondering if being given wrong information by EDD staff would count as good cause for missing the original appeal deadline.
Ella Harper
one time i certifyd late on a tuesday and it took til friday to get my money so maybe certifing on time helps it go faster? just a thought
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Logan Chiang
•You're right - certification timing can affect payment speed. Sunday certifications typically process faster than mid-week ones. The EDD system runs certain batch processes on specific days, so certifying early in the window (Sunday-Monday) often results in faster payment processing.
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Abigail Spencer
UPDATE: My payment just hit the Money Network card! It came through at 11:15pm tonight. So that was about 48 hours after certification. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance. Looks like the holiday might have caused a slight delay but it's all good now!
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Ravi Malhotra
•@Andre Laurent @Keisha Taylor @Chloe Harris @Alice Coleman @Elijah Jackson @Yara Sayegh Hey everyone! I just joined this community after stumbling across this thread while frantically googling EDD payment delays sound familiar? 😅 . I m (in my first)month of'unemployment and just certified for the second time yesterday. Reading through all your experiences has been SO much more helpful than anything I ve found on the official EDD'site or other forums. It s such a relief to find'people who actually understand the stress of waiting for payments when you have bills due! Thanks for creating such a welcoming and informative space - I m already feeling less anxious about'the whole process knowing there are real people here who can share actual timelines and experiences.
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Bruno Simmons
•@Andre Laurent @Keisha Taylor @Chloe Harris @Alice Coleman @Elijah Jackson @Yara Sayegh @Ravi Malhotra Welcome everyone! I m also relatively new here and just'wanted to echo what others have said - this community has been a game changer for navigating EDD. I was so lost when I first started my claim, but the real-world experiences shared here have helped me understand the actual timeline patterns and what s normal vs. what needs follow-up. It's incredible how much clearer everything becomes'when you have people sharing their genuine experiences rather than trying to decode the vague official guidance. Looking forward to learning from all of you and hopefully being able to help others once I have more experience under my belt!
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