I experienced this exact same problem and it was driving me crazy! After missing 3 callbacks, I discovered that my phone's "Do Not Disturb" settings were automatically enabled during certain hours. Even though my phone showed it was off, there was a scheduled DND that I had forgotten about. Check your DND settings thoroughly - sometimes there are multiple layers of call filtering that can interfere. Also, if you're using Google Voice or any call forwarding services, those can sometimes cause issues with receiving callbacks. I ended up temporarily disabling all call filtering features and finally got through on my next callback. The relief when that phone actually rang was incredible! Don't give up - there's usually a solution hiding in your phone settings somewhere.

I had this exact same frustrating experience! After missing several callbacks, I discovered it was a combination of issues. First, check if your phone has any "Scam Shield" or similar carrier-level blocking - I called my carrier and they had automatically enabled spam protection that was flagging the EDD number. Second, make sure your voicemail box isn't full or close to full, as this can cause calls to fail before they even ring. Third, try restarting your phone completely before your next scheduled callback - sometimes there are background processes interfering with incoming calls. I also recommend testing by having a friend call you from an unknown number to see if it rings through properly. After fixing these issues, my next callback came through perfectly. It's such a relief when you finally hear that phone ring! Don't lose hope - there's usually a technical solution hiding somewhere in your phone or carrier settings.

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading through similar questions. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation with Shopify affiliate commissions - making around $18-22 per week. Reading everyone's responses has convinced me that reporting is definitely the way to go. The peace of mind knowing I won't have to worry about audits or overpayment notices later is worth way more than the minor inconvenience of reporting small amounts during certification. One question for those who've been through this - when you report affiliate income as self-employment, do you need to provide any additional documentation to EDD, or is just entering the amount during certification sufficient? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating EDD's confusing system!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Making about $15-20 weekly from affiliate marketing and was stressing about whether to report such tiny amounts. This thread has been a lifesaver - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! Just to confirm my understanding: I need to report it as self-employment income during certification, but since it's under $25, my weekly benefit amount won't actually be reduced due to the earnings disregard rule. And even though it won't affect my current payment, reporting it protects me from potential fraud issues down the road when tax season comes. Has anyone here actually had their benefits reduced for amounts right around the $25 threshold? Like if you made $27 one week, would you lose $2 from your weekly benefit? Just want to understand exactly how that math works in practice. Really appreciate how helpful this community is - makes dealing with EDD's confusing rules so much easier when you have real people sharing their actual experiences!

I'm a freelance caregiver and dealt with almost this exact situation a few months ago! My elderly client had a stroke and was in intensive care for 7 weeks, leaving me completely without work since I only get paid for direct care hours. Filed my UI claim in December but didn't get certification weeks until February - long after my client had passed away and I'd started with a new family. The retroactive certification process absolutely works, but you have to be persistent with calling. What helped me was calling at exactly 8:00 AM and having a backup plan - if I couldn't get through after an hour of redialing, I'd try again around 12:30 PM when reps come back from lunch. It took about a week of trying but once I got through, the rep was super understanding and released all 7 weeks for me to certify. Make sure you emphasize that you were genuinely unemployed during those weeks due to circumstances beyond your control, and that you've already reported your return to work. The fact that you filed your claim back in January while actually unemployed shows you were acting in good faith. Don't let EDD's processing delays cost you benefits you legitimately earned!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I work as a private caregiver and my client was in the hospital for 6 weeks starting in early February. Filed my claim right away but just got my first certification weeks yesterday - of course my client is already back home and I'm working again. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though! I was honestly starting to panic that I'd just lose all those benefits completely. The 8am calling strategy sounds like my best bet - I'm definitely going to start trying tomorrow morning with all my dates written down beforehand. It's so frustrating that the system is this broken, especially for caregivers who already deal with such irregular work situations. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - it really helps to know other people have successfully gotten through this process!

I'm currently in a very similar situation - on EDD after being laid off from a logistics job and considering part-time evening classes to boost my skills. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It seems like the consensus is that as long as your classes are in the evenings and don't interfere with your availability for full-time work during business hours, you should be fine. The key points I'm taking away are: 1) Be completely honest when certifying - answer "yes" to school attendance and explain your evening schedule, 2) Keep detailed records of your job search activities (sounds like 3-5 applications per week is the safe range), and 3) Make sure you can demonstrate that your classes don't prevent you from accepting suitable employment. I'm feeling much more confident about enrolling now after seeing so many success stories from people in nearly identical situations. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation! Just enrolled in evening classes at community college (3 nights a week, 6-9 PM) while collecting EDD benefits. When I certified last week, I checked "yes" for school attendance and they asked follow-up questions about my schedule and availability. I was completely honest - explained that my classes are only evenings and weekends, and I'm fully available for full-time work during normal business hours (8 AM - 5 PM). My certification went through without any problems and I received my payment on schedule. The EDD rep I spoke with (finally got through after using one of those callback services) confirmed that part-time evening education typically doesn't affect eligibility as long as you maintain availability for suitable work. Just make sure you're still doing your required work searches - I'm doing 4 applications per week to be safe and keeping detailed records. Don't let fear stop you from improving your skills while job hunting!

Congrats on getting your payment so quickly! I've been dealing with EDD for about a year now and direct deposit is definitely the way to go. One thing I learned the hard way - always screenshot your "Outstanding" payment status and keep track of when it changes. I had one payment that seemed to disappear from my account (turned out to be a system glitch) and having those screenshots helped when I had to call EDD to sort it out. Also, if anyone is still on the fence about switching from the debit card to direct deposit, just do it - the peace of mind is worth it, especially during holiday weeks like this!

Great to hear your payment came through so smoothly! I switched to direct deposit about 3 months ago and have had similar timing - usually 1-2 business days. One tip for anyone still reading this thread: if you're with a credit union instead of a big bank, the timing can be a bit different. My credit union processes ACH deposits overnight, so I actually get my EDD payments faster than when I was with Wells Fargo. Also worth noting that EDD's new direct deposit system seems much more reliable than the old debit card - I haven't had any of the payment delays or card issues that used to drive me crazy. Holiday timing will always be tricky, but at least now we don't have to worry about cards being deactivated or ATM limits during emergencies!