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 feel your frustration Norman - the EDD system is notoriously difficult to navigate and it sounds like you got caught in the endless loop that so many of us face. The 1-3-3-0 sequence rarely works during peak hours. Have you tried calling very early in the morning (around 8:00-8:02 AM) or using the Spanish line option which sometimes has shorter wait times? Also, some people have had success with the 833-978-2511 number instead. Don't give up - many of us have been in your exact situation and eventually got through. Keep trying different strategies and times of day.

I'm new to this community and just went through almost the exact same situation! My EDD appeal results came back mixed about two weeks ago - some weeks showing PAID and others showing excessive earnings. I was initially terrified about potential overpayments, but after reading through all these helpful responses, I finally understand the difference. The 'excessive earnings' designation simply means you earned more than your weekly benefit amount during those specific weeks, so you weren't eligible for benefits. Since EDD never paid you for those weeks in the first place, there's absolutely nothing to repay. It's completely different from an actual overpayment situation. For the weeks showing as PAID, that's great news! It means the appeal judge reviewed your case and determined you were wrongfully denied benefits. In my experience, those payments processed to my EDD debit card about 8 business days after the status changed in the portal. I know the waiting is stressful, especially when you can't get through to EDD by phone (I tried for literally two weeks straight!), but the official determination letter really does explain everything clearly when it arrives. Hang in there - it sounds like your appeal was largely successful!

I'm new to this community and just went through a very similar situation with my EDD appeal! My portal updated about a month ago with the same mixed results - some weeks showing PAID and others showing excessive earnings. I was absolutely terrified about potential overpayments until I found threads like this one. What really helped me was understanding that 'excessive earnings' just means you made more than your weekly benefit amount during those specific weeks, so you weren't eligible for benefits. Since EDD never actually paid you for those weeks, there's nothing to repay - it's completely different from an overpayment situation. For your PAID weeks, that's fantastic news! It means the appeal judge found you were wrongfully denied benefits. In my case, those payments showed up on my EDD debit card about 9 business days after the status changed in the portal. I also couldn't get through to EDD by phone for weeks (their system is terrible!), so I ended up just waiting for the official determination letter. When it finally arrived, it explained exactly why each week was approved or denied, which gave me so much peace of mind. Hang in there - it sounds like your appeal was mostly successful! The waiting is the hardest part, but you're definitely on the right track.

I went through almost this exact same situation when I got laid off from a tech company in 2022. I made the mistake of filing too early while still receiving severance and it created a huge headache with EDD. They made me repay benefits I had already received and it took months to sort out. Definitely wait until after June 14th to file - you're technically still employed until then since you're receiving regular salary. One thing I wish someone had told me is to take screenshots of your Tesla employee portal showing your termination date and severance details before you lose access. EDD sometimes asks for proof of these dates later and it's much easier if you have the documentation saved ahead of time. Also, start job searching now even though you can't file for benefits yet. The job market is pretty competitive right now and getting a head start on applications won't hurt. Good luck!

Hey Emma, really sorry to hear about the Tesla layoffs - I know it's been hitting a lot of people lately. I went through something similar with a different company about a year ago. The consensus here is definitely right - wait until after June 14th to file. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand exactly how your benefits will be calculated. Since you've been at Tesla for 9 years, your benefit amount will be based on your highest-earning quarter from the past 12-15 months, so it should reflect your recent salary level. Also, keep in mind that once you do start receiving UI benefits, you'll need to certify every two weeks and actively search for work (though given your tech background, you probably already know this). The waiting period after filing can feel long when you're anxious about finances, but it sounds like you're being smart about timing everything correctly. Better to wait and do it right than create complications that could delay your benefits for weeks or months.

Just a heads up for everyone - I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now and I noticed that if you receive any overpayment notices or have to pay back benefits during the year, that can affect your 1099G amounts too. My friend had to repay some benefits from early 2024 due to an eligibility issue, and her 1099G showed the net amount (what she actually kept) rather than the gross amount initially paid out. So if you've had any overpayment situations, don't be surprised if your 1099G doesn't match your mental math of all the payments you received throughout the year. Just something to keep in mind when you're reviewing the form!

Does anyone know if there's a way to get email notifications when the 1099G becomes available? I keep forgetting to check UI Online and would love to get an alert rather than having to log in every few days starting mid-January. I looked through the notification settings but couldn't find anything specific for tax documents. It would be so much easier than constantly checking manually!

I actually had this exact same issue a few months back and the panic is so real! Here's what ended up working for me: I completely gave up on trying to call (spent hours on hold for nothing) and instead used the UI Online messaging system that everyone's mentioning. Under the "Contact EDD" section, there's an "Ask EDD" feature where you can send them a detailed message. I explained exactly which weeks I had certified for by mistake, which weeks I should have certified for instead, and included all the specific dates. I also mentioned that I hadn't received any payments yet for those weeks. They got back to me in about 7 business days and were able to reverse the incorrect certification completely. Then I was able to go back in and certify for the correct weeks like nothing ever happened. The whole thing was resolved in under 2 weeks. The key is definitely being super specific about the dates and getting that message sent as soon as possible. This is way more common than you'd think - EDD deals with this kind of mistake all the time and they have a clear process to fix it. Don't stress too much, you'll get this sorted out! 💪

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been following EDD issues for a while - the UI Online messaging system that everyone's recommending really is your best bet! I've seen so many people in this community successfully resolve certification week errors that way. The phone lines are basically impossible, but the messaging system actually works. One thing I'd add is to take screenshots of your original certification and any confirmation pages before you send your message to EDD - that way you have documentation of exactly what happened. Also, don't be surprised if it takes the full business week to hear back, but they do respond and they can definitely fix this. Hang in there, you're definitely not the first person to make this mistake and you won't be the last! 👍