I'm currently in this exact situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's about to certify for the first time since starting classes. I'm a veteran using GI Bill benefits at community college (all evening classes) while on UI after being laid off in February. The school certification question has been keeping me up at night, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped me understand what to expect. Based on all the advice shared, here's my game plan: - Mark "Yes" for school attendance (being honest is clearly the only way) - Use the notes section to explain my evening-only schedule and full daytime availability - Have my job search spreadsheet ready in case they call for an interview - Be prepared to potentially go on pending status but know it's temporary if I'm eligible What really stands out from all these stories is how much preparation and documentation matter. It seems like the people who had smooth experiences were the ones who had everything organized and communicated clearly upfront. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the veterans who went through this with VA benefits. It's reassuring to know that our education benefits don't count as reportable income and that using them while on UI is totally legitimate as long as we remain available for work. I'll report back after my certification to let everyone know how it goes!

I just went through this process successfully last week and wanted to share my experience to help ease some anxiety! I'm also a veteran using GI Bill benefits while on UI after being laid off in January. I marked "Yes" for school attendance and used the notes section to explain that all my classes are online or after 6 PM, and that I remain fully available for full-time employment during standard business hours. I also mentioned my active job search efforts. My payments did go on pending status for about 10 days, which was stressful, but I got a call from EDD much faster than expected. The interview was really straightforward - they just wanted to confirm my class schedule didn't conflict with work hours and that I was genuinely seeking employment. I had my job search log ready (dates, companies, positions applied for) which seemed to help. The EDD rep specifically confirmed that VA education benefits don't count as reportable wages on weekly certifications since they're educational assistance, not employment income. They also noted that taking classes to improve job skills actually looks positive for continued eligibility. All my pending payments were released within 2 business days after the interview. The whole process was much less scary than I'd built it up to be in my head. My advice: be completely honest, have your documentation ready, and don't panic if you go pending temporarily. The system does work when you're legitimately available for work. Good luck everyone!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that I FINALLY got through to EDD using the 833 number at 8:01am sharp this morning! The rep confirmed my card was stuck in some kind of processing queue and hadn't actually been mailed yet despite my payments showing as paid. They've expedited a new card that should arrive in 3-5 business days. Will update again when it arrives. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions - this forum has been more helpful than any official channels!

So glad to hear you finally got through! This gives me hope that the 833 number might be the key. Your situation sounds exactly like what happened to me - payments showing as "paid" but the card was never actually sent out. It's ridiculous that the system shows everything as processed when clearly there's a breakdown somewhere in their workflow. For anyone else dealing with this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Try the 833-978-2511 number at exactly 8:01 AM, 2) Use the Ask EDD feature with specific categories as mentioned above, and 3) Don't give up - the money IS there, it's just stuck in their broken system. Definitely post an update when your expedited card arrives! And yes, direct deposit setup will be my first priority once I get mine sorted out too.

Update: I called EDD using that Claimyr service and got through to someone who explained everything. For anyone else who needs to know: You mark "No" for the days you're at jury duty when they ask if you were able and available for work. Then report the jury pay as income. They said as long as you're honest about it, there's no issue with your claim. Thanks everyone for the help!

Just wanted to add that if you're on a longer jury trial (like 2+ weeks), you might want to contact EDD directly to discuss your situation. I served on a 3-week trial last year and they were actually pretty accommodating - they adjusted my certification schedule so I didn't have to worry about missing deadlines while in trial. The key is being proactive and transparent with them about your jury service dates.

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I had my EDD interview about 2 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most straightforward government calls I've ever been on. The interviewer introduced herself, explained that they just needed to verify some information, and then asked very specific, factual questions. In my case, the issue was that I had reported my separation reason as "laid off" but my employer had told EDD it was a "workforce reduction" - same thing, just different terminology. The whole call took maybe 12 minutes and she was actually quite nice about it. One thing I wish someone had told me: they might ask you to verify your identity at the beginning with your SSN and birthdate, so have that ready. Also, they may reference specific weeks or dates, so having your original claim paperwork in front of you is super helpful. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're incredibly well-prepared. The fact that you care this much about getting it right tells me you're going to be just fine. This community has your back, and we'd love to hear how it goes! Wishing you the best of luck with your interview.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and I completely understand the fear and anxiety you're feeling right now! Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're getting amazing advice and preparing really well. I wanted to share one more tip that helped me: if possible, try to do the interview from a landline or at least make sure your cell phone is fully charged and you're in an area with strong signal. My first scheduled interview got cut short because of connection issues and they had to reschedule, which just added more stress to the whole process. Also, something that really calmed my nerves was realizing that the EDD interviewer has probably done hundreds of these calls - they're not trying to catch you in a lie, they're just working through their checklist to verify information. Most of the time they already know what the discrepancy is before they even call you. From everything you've shared, it really sounds like you've been doing everything right and this is probably just a simple administrative issue. The fact that you've been so thorough in preparing and reaching out for advice shows you have nothing to hide. You're going to do great, and I'm looking forward to hearing your positive update after the interview!

Romeo, I was in almost the exact same situation last month! Filed my claim, got approved with my weekly benefit amount, then waited what felt like forever to certify. In my case, it was 18 days before the certification option showed up in my UI Online account. The waiting is nerve-wracking, especially when bills are due, but it sounds like you're following the normal timeline based on what others have shared. One thing that helped me was setting up a daily reminder to check my UI Online account at the same time each day (I did it with my morning coffee) so I wouldn't obsess over it throughout the day. Since your effective date was April 12th, you're probably looking at being able to certify around April 26th. Hang in there - the backpay will cover those waiting weeks once everything kicks in!

I went through this exact same waiting period about 6 months ago after being laid off from my job. The 15-day wait feels eternal when you're stressed about money, but from what I experienced and what everyone here is saying, you're right on track. My certification didn't show up until day 17, and then I was able to certify for all the back weeks at once. One thing that really helped me during the waiting period was calling 211 to see if there were any local emergency assistance programs for utilities or food while I waited for EDD to kick in. Some counties have programs specifically for people waiting on unemployment benefits. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're documenting any job search activities you're doing now - you'll need to report those when you do start certifying. The wait is frustrating but sounds like you're doing everything right!