Just wanted to jump in here as someone who works in HR (though not at EDD) - your former HR person gave you completely incorrect information about the 2-week waiting period. There is NO requirement to wait 2 weeks after termination before filing for unemployment benefits. You can and absolutely SHOULD file immediately. What they might be confusing this with is either: 1. The standard 1-week unpaid waiting period (which starts AFTER you file, not before) 2. The 10-day window employers have to respond to unemployment claims 3. Some internal company policy that has nothing to do with actual unemployment law The longer you wait to file, the more you're potentially losing in benefits. File as soon as possible - don't let misinformation from your former employer delay your claim any further than this technical glitch already has. As for the old claim issue, definitely try that technical support number someone mentioned earlier. In my experience helping employees with unemployment issues, the tech support line often has shorter wait times and they're specifically equipped to handle UI Online problems like yours.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the combination of suddenly losing your job AND having to navigate EDD's broken system is incredibly stressful. I went through something very similar last year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. The old 2020 claim issue is unfortunately super common, especially for anyone who had pandemic-era benefits (PUA, PEUC, etc.). The system just doesn't properly close these out automatically. I tried all the browser tricks (clearing cache, different browsers, incognito mode) but ultimately needed a real person to manually reset my account. Here's my advice based on what actually worked: 1. Try the callback feature on the EDD website first - it's under "Contact EDD" and way less frustrating than sitting on hold 2. When you do reach someone, immediately say "I need a tier 2 specialist to close out my old claim so I can file a new one" - this exact phrasing helps get you transferred to the right department 3. If the callback doesn't work, try that technical support line (855) 327-7057 that was mentioned earlier And please ignore your HR person about the 2-week waiting period - that's completely wrong! You should file immediately. The only waiting period is the standard 1-week unpaid period that starts AFTER you file, not before. The whole process is maddening but it IS fixable once you reach the right person. Usually takes them less than 10 minutes to reset your account. Hang in there!

Pedro, I've been following this thread and wanted to add a few things that might help with your immediate situation: 1. **Emergency cash assistance**: Many counties have same-day emergency funds specifically for rent. In my county (Riverside), they have a "Crisis Intervention Program" that can provide up to $1,500 within 24-48 hours if you meet certain criteria. Call your county's Department of Public Social Services directly and ask about emergency/crisis assistance programs. 2. **Community action agencies**: These are federally funded programs in every county that often have faster processing times than larger state programs. Search "[your county] Community Action Agency" - they usually have emergency rental assistance with shorter wait times. 3. **Unemployment timing tip**: Since you mentioned your first payment won't cover rent, double-check when exactly it's being deposited. EDD payments sometimes hit accounts earlier than expected, especially if you're on direct deposit. You can check your payment status 24/7 on the EDD website. 4. **Immediate documentation**: Start gathering all your paperwork NOW while you're making calls. Having everything ready can literally cut days off processing time when you do get through to someone. The stress is real, but you're already doing the right things by reaching out early. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Pedro, I know this is an incredibly stressful situation, but you're taking all the right steps by reaching out early. I went through something similar when I lost my job during the pandemic, and the combination of strategies people have mentioned here really does work. One additional resource I haven't seen mentioned yet: check if your area has any "211 text services" - you can text your zip code to 898211 and sometimes get faster responses than calling. They'll text you back with local emergency assistance numbers and programs. Also, when you call these programs, ask specifically about "emergency/expedited processing for rent due within 7 days." Many programs have special tracks for imminent eviction situations that can cut processing time significantly. Another tip: if you're comfortable with it, consider posting in local Facebook community groups or Nextdoor for your area. Sometimes neighbors know about hyper-local assistance programs or community funds that aren't widely advertised. You mentioned your landlord gave you a 1-week extension - that was smart to communicate openly with them. When you follow up, you might mention specific program names you're applying to and estimated timelines. It shows you're being proactive and may help them be more patient. Hang in there - between your unemployment payments starting and the various assistance programs available, there are real solutions to bridge this gap!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I'm dealing with a similar situation where EDD isn't considering all my employment history when calculating benefits. From what I've learned, you should definitely push to speak with a Tier 2 representative as Katie mentioned. They have more authority to make corrections to your claim. Make sure you have all your W-2s and pay stubs from both jobs ready when you call. Sometimes it takes multiple calls and escalations, but don't give up - you're entitled to have ALL your qualifying wages included in the calculation, not just the most recent part-time job. Document everything and keep records of your calls. Good luck!

I'm a hiring manager at a mid-size company and we've implemented a few strategies that have helped reduce our no-show rate from about 50% to around 15%. Here's what worked for us: 1. **Pre-interview questionnaire**: We send a short 3-question form asking why they're interested in the role, what their salary expectations are, and when they'd be available to start. People who are just applying to meet EDD requirements rarely fill this out properly. 2. **Video screening first**: We do a quick 10-minute video call before any in-person interviews. This weeds out people who aren't serious, and it's much less time investment if they no-show the video call. 3. **Clear expectations upfront**: We explicitly tell candidates that we're a small team and no-shows waste significant time and resources. Most legitimate candidates appreciate the transparency, while it seems to discourage people who aren't serious. 4. **24-hour confirmation with consequences**: We require confirmation 24 hours before and clearly state that failure to show up without 2+ hours notice will result in being blacklisted from future opportunities with our company. The combination has really helped us focus our time on candidates who actually want to work. It's sad that we have to put these barriers in place, but it's become necessary given the current situation with unemployment requirements.

I'm a former EDD employee and can provide some insight into this issue. During my time there, I saw firsthand how the work search verification process changed, especially post-pandemic. The system really does rely heavily on self-reporting now. What many people don't realize is that EDD has different verification levels based on claim type and duration. New claims typically have lighter monitoring for the first few months, but long-term claimants are more likely to get selected for eligibility reviews where they'd need to show detailed records. The frustrating part for employers is that the current system doesn't distinguish between "applied to job" and "attended scheduled interview" in the work search activities. Someone can legitimately check the box for looking for work even if they ghost interviews, as long as they submitted applications. However, I'd encourage employers to report patterns of no-shows through the fraud reporting system. While individual cases might not trigger action, patterns across multiple employers definitely get flagged for investigation. The more documentation you have (confirmed interview times, no-show patterns, etc.), the more seriously EDD takes these reports.

I'm a case worker who's handled hundreds of these situations, and I want to give you some peace of mind. Your UI overpayment will absolutely NOT affect your PFL baby bonding claim since it's non-fraud and you're actively making payments. Here's what's actually happening behind the scenes: When you have an active payment plan, EDD flags your account as "compliant" which means you're meeting your obligations. This prevents any automatic offsets or garnishments from other programs. The computer systems literally can't touch your PFL benefits while you're current on your plan. The 2-week wait is completely normal - we're actually seeing faster processing times now than we have in years. Your claim is probably sitting in a queue waiting for final review, not because of any issues but simply due to volume. One quick tip: If you want to check status without calling, log into your EDD account and look under "Claim History" - if there are no pending items or requests for additional info, you're just waiting in the normal processing queue. Keep making those monthly payments and enjoy this time with your baby girl. Everything will work out fine!

I'm currently going through a very similar situation! I have a UI overpayment from last year (around $2,100) and just applied for PFL bonding benefits for my newborn son. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful and reassuring. Like you, my overpayment was non-fraud - just a wage reporting discrepancy between what I reported and what my employer reported. I've been on a payment plan for about 5 months now and haven't missed a payment. My PFL claim has been pending for about 10 days so far. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people, including professionals, that these programs are truly separate and that being compliant with your payment plan protects your PFL benefits. The stress of new parenthood combined with financial uncertainty is really overwhelming, but this thread has given me so much peace of mind. Thanks for asking this question - I'm sure there are other new parents out there in similar situations who will benefit from all the great information shared here!