If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask questions about your specific situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was stuck in a similar situation with questions about refusing work, and couldn't get through on the EDD lines for days. Claimyr got me connected to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes who explained everything clearly. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Really saved me from making a certification mistake that could have messed up my claim.

To give you a more complete answer: You should mark 'yes' that you refused work, but you should know that medical appointments generally qualify as 'good cause' for refusing work. Regarding whether they'll hold your payment - it depends. Sometimes EDD will process your payment normally and schedule an eligibility interview for later. Other times they might put a hold on your payment until after the interview. If they do schedule an interview, make sure you have: 1. The date and time of your medical appointment 2. The doctor's name and contact information 3. Documentation showing when you scheduled the appointment (to prove it was before the work offer) Be prepared to explain why this appointment couldn't be rescheduled. The fact that it's a specialist with a months-long waiting list will work in your favor.

Something similar happened to my cousin. She works weekends as a server but gets unemployment from her weekday job. She said as long as she reports her weekend income accurately it's fine. I think they just subtract some of your unemployment money but you still get something.

Just certified yesterday and saw how this works! They ask you if you worked and then you put in the hours and money for each week. My check was less but still got something! So yes it definitely works just like everyone is saying.

Something else your daughter should know - the first week is a "waiting period" week where she won't get benefits even if she qualifies. So don't panic when the first payment doesn't come through. That's normal and happens to everyone!

Just to update with the most current information for 2025: When your daughter files, she'll need to use her ID.me account to verify her identity. This is now required for all new claims. If she doesn't already have an ID.me account, she should set one up before starting her application - it will save time in the long run. Also, EDD now primarily issues benefits through the Money Network debit card or direct deposit. She can choose her preference during the application process. One last thing - if she does get approved for partial benefits, make sure she understands that these benefits are taxable income. She can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes (recommended) or pay them later when she files her tax return.

One more thing I forgot to mention - they'll recalculate your weekly benefit amount based on any work you did during your base period. So if you had any employment at all during the last 18 months, even part-time or gig work, make sure you have documentation of those earnings ready. And yes, definitely broaden your job search before the interview. When they asked me why I hadn't found work yet, having examples of applications to various industries and position levels definitely helped my case. The interviewer seemed satisfied once I showed I wasn't just limiting myself to one type of job.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to spend the next few weeks applying to a much wider range of positions and creating a detailed spreadsheet of all my job search activities for the past year. Sounds like the key is showing I'm being flexible with the types of jobs I'm willing to accept at this point. I'll update once I go through the process in case it helps someone else.

anyone else notice their payments come faster at the beginning of the month vs end of month? my last 3 payments that hit in early-mid month came in 2 days after showing paid but end-of-month ones took 4-5 days... wonder if EDD processes diff depending on volume or something??

UPDATE: Money just hit my account this morning! So it took exactly 3 business days from 'paid' status to bank deposit. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance! For anyone finding this thread later with the same question - the process seems pretty reliable once your claim is approved and certified correctly.

Thanks for the reminder! I've been tracking miles in a notebook but a dedicated app would be smarter. Any recommendations for good apps? And do I track miles from my house to delivery areas or just while actively delivering?

I use Stride - it's free and easy. You can track miles from when you leave home if your home is your principal place of business (which for most gig workers it is). So basically when you turn on the app and start accepting orders, start tracking miles until you're done for the day and heading home.

wait so does this mean i have to tell them every time i pick up a side gig? i sometimes do doordash on weekends

Thank you all for the helpful advice! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. I'll answer 'no' on this Sunday's certification since I haven't started working yet 2. On my next certification, I'll answer 'yes' and report all hours/wages even though I might not have received my first paycheck yet 3. I'll check the box to stop my claim since this is full-time employment 4. Probation period has no relevance to EDD reporting requirements I feel much better about this now. Really appreciate all the guidance!

I've had success writing a formal complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about BofA freezing my EDD card. Filed online, took maybe 15 minutes, and suddenly BofA was VERY responsive. My account was unfrozen within 3 days after weeks of getting nowhere with phone calls. Worth a try if you're still stuck after trying the other suggestions here. I think they have regulatory pressure to respond quickly to CFPB complaints.

Update us when you get this resolved! I'm dealing with something similar (though my appeal is still pending) and I'm trying to prepare for what comes next. This system is so broken - why can't the left hand talk to the right hand? It's ridiculous that EDD approves your appeal but doesn't automatically notify BofA to unfreeze your account. Just another example of how they make everything as difficult as possible for people who are already struggling.

When you file your new claim, make sure your separation reason is clearly marked as "layoff" or "reduction in force" rather than anything that might suggest you quit or were fired for cause. This makes a huge difference in how quickly your claim is processed. Also, the first payment on a new claim is often delayed by about 3 weeks even if everything goes smoothly, so plan your finances accordingly if possible.

UPDATE: I filed a new claim yesterday through UI Online. It was actually easier than I remembered - took about 30 minutes to complete. The system confirmed my benefit year had ended from my previous claim. Now I just have to wait and hope it processes quickly. Thanks everyone for the advice and guidance!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - to check when his benefit year ends, your boyfriend should log into UI Online and look at his claim summary. It will show his "Benefit Year" with the start and end dates. This is important because if he's close to the end of his benefit year, the strategy might be different. If he's getting close to the benefit year ending (within 1-2 weeks), he might actually want to wait and file a completely new claim rather than reopening the old one, especially if he's earned good wages during his seasonal work which could potentially increase his weekly benefit amount on a new claim. But if he's still several weeks or months away from his benefit year ending, reopening is definitely the way to go.

Yes, in that specific situation - with his benefit year ending only 3 weeks after his job ends - it might be more advantageous to wait and file a new claim instead of reopening the old one. Here's why: 1. With only 3 weeks left on his old claim, he'd have to file a new claim very soon anyway 2. If his earnings were higher during this construction job, a new claim would likely give him a higher weekly benefit amount 3. Filing a new claim would give him a fresh 12-month benefit year However, there is a trade-off: waiting those extra 3 weeks means no benefits during that period. He needs to decide if potentially getting a higher weekly benefit amount for a full year is worth missing 3 weeks of payments now. One strategy could be to reopen his current claim for those 3 weeks, then immediately file a new claim when the benefit year ends. This way he doesn't miss any payments, though it does mean dealing with EDD twice in a short period.