I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago with a $14k settlement from a rear-end collision. Here's my step-by-step experience that might help: 1. Called EDD BEFORE depositing the check (this was crucial) 2. Asked specifically for a tier 2 representative who handles income determinations 3. Had my settlement agreement and lawyer's breakdown ready 4. Clearly stated it was for "personal injury - medical expenses and pain/suffering only, no lost wages" 5. The rep put detailed notes in my file and gave me a confirmation number When I certified that week, I reported it as "other income" with the note "PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENT - CONFIRMED WITH REP [confirmation number]" Result: Zero reduction in my weekly benefits. The rep explained that CA specifically excludes personal injury settlements from UI income calculations because they're compensatory damages, not earnings. The key is being proactive and getting proper documentation. Don't stress too much - if it's truly for medical/injury damages (which yours sounds like it is), you should be fine. Just make sure to call them first and get everything properly noted in your file!

I'm in a very similar boat - just received word that my $16,800 personal injury settlement from a workplace accident (not workers' comp, just regular slip and fall on premises) will be coming through in about 2 weeks. I've been losing sleep over whether this will mess up my UI benefits since I'm maxed out at $450/week and literally cannot afford any reduction. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief! The consistent message seems to be that personal injury settlements for medical bills and pain/suffering should NOT affect UI benefits, but the key is getting ahead of it with proper documentation. I'm planning to call EDD this week before the settlement arrives and follow the excellent step-by-step advice shared here: ask for tier 2 rep, have all settlement docs ready, emphasize it's medical/pain damages only, get everything documented with a confirmation number, then reference that when certifying. Has anyone dealt with EDD questioning the timing between when the accident happened versus when you received the settlement? My accident was 14 months ago but the settlement is just coming through now due to lengthy negotiations. Wondering if that timing gap raises any red flags with them or if it's pretty normal for these cases. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating this stressful situation!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the SDI process myself - my doctor submitted their portion about a week ago and I've been anxiously checking my account daily. Seeing that 16 days is pretty typical really helps set realistic expectations. One question for those who've been through this: did you get any kind of notification when your first payment was issued, or did the money just show up on your EDD card? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important while I'm waiting.

This thread is gold! I'm actually in a similar boat - filed my SDI claim on January 10th and my doctor submitted their part on January 13th. I've been stressing about the timeline but seeing everyone's real experiences here is so reassuring. The 14-21 day window from @Mateo Gonzalez and the actual 16-day example from @Nia Harris gives me a much better idea of what to expect. I should probably stop checking my account obsessively every few hours! 😅 Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is way more helpful than EDD's official resources.

One more important thing to know: if you appeal the overpayment determination and WIN, the penalty weeks will be removed completely. But if you only appeal the number of penalty weeks (accepting the overpayment determination), you're just asking for a reduction in weeks. Two different appeal strategies depending on your situation.

Just wanted to add that timing is crucial with appeals - you only have 30 days from the date on your penalty determination letter to file your appeal. I almost missed my deadline because I was so overwhelmed by the whole process. Also, even if you're appealing, you still need to repay the overpayment amount (or set up a payment plan) separately. The appeal only affects the penalty weeks, not the repayment requirement. Good luck with your appeal - sounds like you have a solid case if it was genuinely a calculation error!

I just wanted to follow up - have you decided what you're going to do? If you do apply now, please come back and let us know what happens. Your experience could help others in similar situations understand how EDD is handling these borderline base period cases.

Just wanted to share my experience since I was in a very similar situation! I had wages from late 2022 and was told conflicting things about when I could file. What really helped me was requesting a "wage and potential benefit inquiry" from EDD - you can do this online or by calling. They'll send you a letter showing exactly what wages they have on file for you and what your potential benefit amount would be if you filed now vs. waiting. This way you can see exactly what the EDD system shows for your earnings history before you actually file a claim. It takes about a week to get the letter but it's worth it for peace of mind. If they show wages that would qualify you now, then you know the rep was right. If not, you'll know you need to wait. Also, that small 2024 freelance work you mentioned could definitely make a difference - even a few hundred dollars in the right quarter can sometimes make you eligible under the alternate base period rules.

I went through this exact process last year! One thing I'd add is that if you do get approved for UI and CTB, keep detailed records of everything - your class schedules, grades, attendance, etc. EDD sometimes does random audits of CTB recipients and they'll ask for proof you're actually attending school and making progress. I got audited about 6 months into my program and had to provide transcripts and a letter from my program coordinator. It was stressful but having everything organized made it much easier. Also, don't be discouraged if your initial UI application gets denied - like others said, the appeals process can work in your favor if you have good documentation about trying to keep your job while starting school.

I'm currently in a similar situation with my RN program! Just wanted to share what I learned from my school's financial aid office - they actually have a liaison who works directly with EDD for students applying for CTB. Might be worth checking if your nursing program has someone like that? They helped me understand which forms I needed and even provided a pre-written letter confirming my enrollment and program requirements. Also, when you apply for regular UI, make sure to mention that your job separation was due to inability to accommodate mandatory educational requirements - apparently that specific wording helps with the initial review. The whole process took about 6 weeks for me from application to approval, but it was worth it! The payments definitely help with living expenses while focusing on clinicals.