This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a playground supervisor and have been in this exact situation for the past two summers. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to check if your district uses any third-party contractors for support staff. In my case, I technically work for a staffing company that contracts with the school district, which actually made my UI claim easier since the "reasonable assurance" rules are less strict for contractor employees. Also, if anyone is struggling with the work search requirement during summer, don't overlook seasonal opportunities that align with your schedule - summer school positions at other districts, camp counselor jobs, tutoring through companies like Kumon or Sylvan, and even substitute teaching can all count. I found that showing diverse job search efforts (both in education and outside) really strengthened my case during the eligibility interview. One last tip: if you do get approved, keep a folder with all your documentation handy throughout the summer. Sometimes EDD will do random eligibility reviews even after you've been approved, and having everything organized makes responding to any requests much faster. The key takeaway from everyone's experiences seems to be: apply immediately after your last day, document everything, emphasize the uncertainty of your position, and don't be discouraged by initial denials. The appeal process really does work if you have the right documentation!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times as a school custodian, I want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - timing your application matters beyond just applying on your last day. Since you mentioned your final paycheck comes in June for work already completed, make sure to clarify this during your eligibility interview. EDD sometimes gets confused and thinks you're still receiving "current" wages during the break period. Also, I'd suggest reaching out to your local union representative (if you have one) or employee association BEFORE you apply. They often have template letters or documentation that specifically addresses the "reasonable assurance" issue for support staff. My union rep provided a letter explaining that custodial positions are subject to budget cuts and enrollment changes, which was crucial evidence during my appeal. One more thing - if your district has had ANY layoffs or position eliminations in recent years (even in other departments), document that too. It helps establish that employment truly isn't guaranteed year to year. I kept newspaper clippings about district budget issues and referenced them in my application. The process is definitely stressful, but reading through all these success stories should give you confidence. Support staff have different employment situations than teachers, and EDD recognizes that once you get past the initial screening. Good luck!

This thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who works in employment law, I can confirm everything everyone is saying here is absolutely correct. The key thing people don't realize is that California unemployment insurance is designed as a safety net that activates the moment you lose your job - NOT when your income stops. Your severance is considered deferred compensation for work already performed, while UI benefits are insurance against job loss. These are completely separate things in the eyes of the law. I've seen too many clients lose significant money by waiting to file. The base period quarters shift every three months, so timing really matters for your benefit calculation. Also worth noting: if you're in a union or have any kind of employment contract, sometimes there are specific clauses about UI eligibility during severance that you should review. But for standard at-will employment with severance packages, filing immediately is always the right move. The guilt about "double-dipping" is totally understandable but misplaced - you've earned both benefits through different mechanisms. Your employer paid UI premiums specifically so you'd have this protection when laid off.

I just want to add another perspective as someone who's been through this twice - once in 2019 and again last year. Both times I filed immediately after being laid off despite having severance packages (4 months the first time, 5 months the second time). What I've learned is that EDD actually has really clear internal processes for handling severance situations - it's not some edge case that confuses them. When you file online, there are specific fields for reporting severance, and their system automatically calculates how it affects your benefits. The customer service reps are trained on this scenario because it's incredibly common with corporate layoffs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're doing any freelance or consulting work during your severance period, make sure to report that income separately from your severance payments. They're treated differently for UI purposes. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, even during the severance period when you're getting $0 benefits. EDD can ask for this documentation later, and it's much easier to track as you go rather than trying to reconstruct it months later. The bottom line is that filing immediately gives you maximum flexibility and protection. You can always turn down benefits if you don't need them, but you can't go back and establish your claim retroactively without potentially losing money or facing complications.

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

I've had this exact issue before! Usually when you get the "technical issue" message at a BOA ATM, it's either the machine is temporarily out of cash or there's a connection problem with the card network. Since there's only one BOA in your town, I'd suggest trying a different bank's ATM that accepts your card (most unemployment debit cards work at multiple ATM networks). You can also try going inside the bank branch when they're open - the tellers can usually do a manual withdrawal even when the ATM is having issues. If it keeps happening, definitely call the customer service number on the back of your card to make sure there aren't any holds or restrictions on your account.

My partner just went thru this. U cant use the old bofa card but all ur money will be on the new card when it comes. they sent it priority mail for him and took like 5 days

Just went through this exact situation two weeks ago! Your old BofA card is completely inactive now - EDD switched everyone to Money Network in July 2023. The "paid" status means your money is already allocated to your new Money Network card account, you just need to wait for the physical card to arrive. Mine took exactly 8 business days and came in a plain white envelope (almost threw it away thinking it was junk mail!). Once you get it, activate it immediately through the Money Network app - way easier than calling. Pro tip: As soon as you activate the card, go into UI Online and set up direct deposit for future payments. That way you won't have to deal with waiting for card transfers again. The whole process becomes much smoother after that first payment hurdle. Your money is safe and waiting for you - just hang tight for a few more days!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's dealt with this before - the direct URL workaround Miguel shared is gold! I've had this exact same login button issue multiple times over the past year and that method has worked every single time. Pro tip: I'd recommend everyone bookmark that direct login URL now while it's working, because this seems to be a recurring problem with EDD's main page. Also, if you're on mobile, sometimes switching between the mobile site and desktop version can help too. Really glad people were able to get their certifications done! Missing those deadlines is so stressful when you're already dealing with financial pressure.

I'm so glad to see this thread with all the helpful solutions! I've been lurking in this community for a while as someone who's had to navigate EDD issues, and this is exactly the kind of collaborative problem-solving that makes such a difference. The direct URL workaround is brilliant - I just bookmarked it myself even though I'm not currently having login issues, because based on what everyone's saying, this seems to be a recurring problem. It's really frustrating how these technical glitches always seem to happen at the worst possible times when people are already stressed about finances. But seeing everyone jump in to help each other with different solutions (Edge browser, disabling adblockers, direct URLs, phone certification) really restores my faith in community support. For anyone still having issues, I'd also suggest trying to clear your browser's SSL state/certificates if the other solutions don't work - sometimes that can resolve certificate-related login problems too. You can usually find this under your browser's advanced security or privacy settings.