I've been dealing with this exact situation for months now as someone on reduced hours, and I can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - always mark YES if you missed even one day due to illness. I had to learn this the hard way when I initially marked NO for a single sick day and later worried about potential issues when my employer's records showed sick time usage. What I've found helpful is thinking about it this way: the question isn't asking "were you sick all week?" - it's asking if you were too sick to work on ANY day during that certification period. Even if it's just one day, the answer is still YES, and then you specify which day(s). The system really is set up to handle these partial week situations smoothly. I've done this multiple times now and my payments always come through on time, just proportionally reduced for the day(s) I couldn't work. It's actually much less complicated than it initially seems! One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you keep any documentation like doctor's notes or medical records, just in case. I've never been asked for them, but it's good to have that backup if questions ever arise later.

I just went through this exact situation last week! I had a really bad headache and nausea (probably from stress honestly) and had to call out sick for one day. I was so confused about whether to mark YES or NO because it felt like marking YES would somehow flag my account or cause problems. But after reading similar discussions online, I decided to go with YES and specify just that one day I couldn't work. The certification went through completely normally - no delays, no issues, and I got paid for the other 4 days that week. The payment was just slightly reduced for the sick day, which makes perfect sense. What really helped me feel confident about the decision was understanding that EDD wants accuracy above everything else. Even though it's scary to mark YES for just one day, it's so much better than having a mismatch later when your employer submits their records. The whole experience was way less dramatic than I built it up to be in my head! The system really does handle these single-day absences routinely. Hope this helps calm your nerves about it!

Just wanted to add my experience - I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of my work hours and calculating my gross earnings for each certification week. I made a simple spreadsheet with dates worked, hours, and total earnings so I could easily fill out my certifications correctly. Also, don't worry too much about the partial benefits calculation - EDD's system will automatically figure that out for you once you report your earnings accurately. The most important thing is being honest about when you worked and how much you earned (gross, not net). Good luck with the new job!

Great advice from everyone here! I went through this exact same confusion when I transitioned off unemployment last year. One thing I'll add is to make sure you keep all your pay stubs and work records organized - EDD may ask for documentation later to verify the earnings you reported. Also, if your job has an irregular schedule or varying hours, consider setting up a simple calendar or note system to track exactly which days you worked each week. This becomes super important if you ever need to appeal an overpayment notice or if EDD audits your claim. The "report when you earn it, not when you're paid" rule applies to ALL types of work - freelance, contract, part-time, full-time, etc. Congrats on the new job and best of luck with the transition!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see this thread is still active and helping people! I had the exact same issue last week - filed with wrong employer dates and got the classic office runaround. After reading through all the advice here, I finally got through using a combination of tips from this thread. Called on Thursday at 1:15 PM using the 1-2-4, then 3-4 menu sequence. When I got connected, I immediately said "Hi, I need to speak with a Tier 2 specialist to cancel an incorrectly filed claim." The first rep tried to help but confirmed she couldn't do cancellations, so she transferred me directly to Tier 2. Total wait time was about 35 minutes, but the actual cancellation took less than 10 minutes once I got the right person. She gave me confirmation number EDC-2025-0329-4471 and said to wait 48 hours before refiling. Pro tip: Have your SSN, claim number (if you have it), and a clear explanation of what went wrong ready to go. The specialist was super efficient once I had all the info at hand. This thread was a lifesaver - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timing tips! The system is still broken and frustrating, but at least there are ways to work around it if you know the right approach.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim with the wrong last day worked and got sent to two different offices that couldn't help. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to try calling Thursday around 1:30 PM using the 1-2-4, then 3-4 sequence and specifically ask for a Tier 2 specialist right away. One question for those who've successfully gotten through - should I mention upfront that I need a "claim cancellation" or is it better to say I need to "fix incorrect information on my claim"? I'm wondering if certain keywords help get you routed to the right department faster. Also keeping my fingers crossed that the callback feature is available when I call - that sounds like it could save hours of redialing! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific timing tips. It's frustrating that we need this level of strategy just to reach a government office, but at least this community makes the process less overwhelming!

To answer your follow-up question: You should be looking for work in the area where you currently reside (Texas). EDD understands that people relocate, and they expect you to be looking for work wherever you are living. Just make sure you keep detailed records of your work search activities.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last year. I moved from California to Florida for family reasons and continued receiving my EDD benefits for the remainder of my claim period. The key things that worked for me were: 1) Updated my address immediately in UI Online, 2) When certifying, I always answered "yes" to being able and available for work, 3) I documented all my job search activities in Florida (kept a spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, dates, etc.), and 4) I was prepared to explain that I was open to remote work or would relocate back to California for the right opportunity. I did get one phone interview about 3 weeks after updating my address, but it was straightforward - they just wanted to confirm I understood the requirements and was actively seeking work. The whole process was much smoother than I expected. Hope this helps ease your worries!

As someone new to unemployment benefits, I really appreciate all the detailed information everyone has shared here! I'm in a similar situation - just started my claim and was unsure about the tax withholding option. From what I'm gathering, it sounds like keeping the withholding is generally the safer choice, especially if you have dependents. The peace of mind of not potentially owing a large tax bill later seems worth it, even if it means giving the government an "interest-free loan" as someone mentioned. @Logan Chiang - your situation sounds very similar to mine (single parent, kids in daycare while job searching). The tip about keeping detailed records of job search activities for the Child and Dependent Care Credit is really helpful. I hadn't thought about that documentation aspect. Thanks to everyone for making this complex topic easier to understand for those of us navigating unemployment benefits for the first time!

As someone who just went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm that you'll likely get most of your withheld taxes back with two kids! I was a single parent on unemployment for about 6 months and had taxes withheld the whole time. When I filed my taxes, between the Child Tax Credit and my relatively low income for the year, I got back almost everything that was withheld. One tip that really helped me - I used a free tax software that could estimate my refund throughout the year as I entered different income scenarios. It gave me peace of mind knowing I wasn't going to owe anything come tax time. Also, make sure you keep all your EDD documents organized! The 1099-G form they send you will show exactly how much was withheld, and you'll need that when filing. Good luck with your job search - being on unemployment is stressful enough without worrying about tax surprises later!