This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the SDI process myself - my doctor submitted their portion about a week ago and I've been anxiously checking my account daily. Seeing that 16 days is pretty typical really helps set realistic expectations. One question for those who've been through this: did you get any kind of notification when your first payment was issued, or did the money just show up on your EDD card? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important while I'm waiting.

This thread is gold! I'm actually in a similar boat - filed my SDI claim on January 10th and my doctor submitted their part on January 13th. I've been stressing about the timeline but seeing everyone's real experiences here is so reassuring. The 14-21 day window from @Mateo Gonzalez and the actual 16-day example from @Nia Harris gives me a much better idea of what to expect. I should probably stop checking my account obsessively every few hours! 😅 Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is way more helpful than EDD's official resources.

One more important thing to know: if you appeal the overpayment determination and WIN, the penalty weeks will be removed completely. But if you only appeal the number of penalty weeks (accepting the overpayment determination), you're just asking for a reduction in weeks. Two different appeal strategies depending on your situation.

Just wanted to add that timing is crucial with appeals - you only have 30 days from the date on your penalty determination letter to file your appeal. I almost missed my deadline because I was so overwhelmed by the whole process. Also, even if you're appealing, you still need to repay the overpayment amount (or set up a payment plan) separately. The appeal only affects the penalty weeks, not the repayment requirement. Good luck with your appeal - sounds like you have a solid case if it was genuinely a calculation error!

I just wanted to follow up - have you decided what you're going to do? If you do apply now, please come back and let us know what happens. Your experience could help others in similar situations understand how EDD is handling these borderline base period cases.

Just wanted to share my experience since I was in a very similar situation! I had wages from late 2022 and was told conflicting things about when I could file. What really helped me was requesting a "wage and potential benefit inquiry" from EDD - you can do this online or by calling. They'll send you a letter showing exactly what wages they have on file for you and what your potential benefit amount would be if you filed now vs. waiting. This way you can see exactly what the EDD system shows for your earnings history before you actually file a claim. It takes about a week to get the letter but it's worth it for peace of mind. If they show wages that would qualify you now, then you know the rep was right. If not, you'll know you need to wait. Also, that small 2024 freelance work you mentioned could definitely make a difference - even a few hundred dollars in the right quarter can sometimes make you eligible under the alternate base period rules.

I went through this exact process last year! One thing I'd add is that if you do get approved for UI and CTB, keep detailed records of everything - your class schedules, grades, attendance, etc. EDD sometimes does random audits of CTB recipients and they'll ask for proof you're actually attending school and making progress. I got audited about 6 months into my program and had to provide transcripts and a letter from my program coordinator. It was stressful but having everything organized made it much easier. Also, don't be discouraged if your initial UI application gets denied - like others said, the appeals process can work in your favor if you have good documentation about trying to keep your job while starting school.

I'm currently in a similar situation with my RN program! Just wanted to share what I learned from my school's financial aid office - they actually have a liaison who works directly with EDD for students applying for CTB. Might be worth checking if your nursing program has someone like that? They helped me understand which forms I needed and even provided a pre-written letter confirming my enrollment and program requirements. Also, when you apply for regular UI, make sure to mention that your job separation was due to inability to accommodate mandatory educational requirements - apparently that specific wording helps with the initial review. The whole process took about 6 weeks for me from application to approval, but it was worth it! The payments definitely help with living expenses while focusing on clinicals.

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I made the same mistake - told EDD I was "laid off" when I was actually terminated for attendance issues. Got the same disqualification notice last week. One thing I wanted to add that might help: when I called my former HR department to get copies of my termination paperwork, they were actually really understanding about the situation. The HR rep even mentioned that they get calls like this fairly often because people don't realize how specific EDD's language requirements are. Also, I found a sample appeal letter template on the EDD website under the "Appeals" section that gives you a basic structure to follow. It's not super detailed but at least gives you the proper format and headers they expect to see. Keisha, based on what you've shared about the unrealistic sales targets during the pandemic, I think you have a really strong case. That context about the 30% increase in targets when foot traffic was down could be key to showing this wasn't misconduct on your part. Definitely include that detail in your appeal! Hang in there - from everything I'm reading in this thread, these terminology mix-ups are way more common than we realized and many people successfully get them overturned.

I'm so glad you found this community! Reading through all these responses, it's clear you're getting excellent advice from people who've been through similar situations. One additional tip I'd suggest: when you write your appeal letter, consider including a brief statement about your job search efforts since the termination. This shows EDD that you're genuinely unemployed through no fault of your own and actively seeking work, which reinforces that you're not trying to game the system. Also, if you have any performance reviews from before your sales numbers declined, those could be helpful evidence that you were a good employee who struggled with unrealistic pandemic-era targets rather than someone who was habitually underperforming. The 30-day deadline might seem scary, but you actually have plenty of time to put together a strong appeal. Take a few days to gather your documentation, write a solid first draft, then review it with fresh eyes before submitting. You've clearly got great instincts about being proactive and asking for help - that's going to serve you well in this process. Best of luck with your appeal! This community is rooting for you.