Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through almost the exact same situation! I was laid off from my marketing job and had been doing freelance social media work on and off. The reopening process can feel overwhelming but you're definitely on the right track. One thing I learned the hard way - when they ask about work search activities during the reopening questions, make sure you count ANY legitimate job-seeking efforts, including updating your LinkedIn, reaching out to former colleagues, or even researching potential clients for your freelance work. I initially thought it only meant formal job applications and almost got dinged for "insufficient work search." Also, once you start certifying again, be prepared that they might ask for additional documentation about your self-employment. I had to provide bank statements showing my freelance payments and a brief explanation of my work situation. Having everything organized beforehand made the process much smoother. The good news is that California is generally pretty understanding about mixed employment situations like ours where you're doing contract work while looking for full-time employment. Just be honest and thorough in all your responses!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently in a similar situation where I've been doing some freelance writing work between unemployment periods. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a much clearer picture of what to expect when I need to reopen my claim. I especially appreciate the detailed breakdown of how to report contract earnings correctly - the timing of when you get PAID vs when you do the work is something I definitely would have messed up without this guidance. And the work search activity clarifications are gold! I had no idea that freelance proposals and networking activities counted toward the requirement. One quick question for the group - has anyone had experience with EDD asking for proof of your work search activities during an eligibility interview? I want to make sure I'm keeping the right kind of records in case they ever request documentation. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories here. This community really makes navigating the EDD system so much less stressful when you know others have successfully gotten through similar situations!

When I filed in January my waiting week was showing as "pending" for over a month after all my other weeks were paid. Had to call EDD three different times before someone fixed it and explained it would always show as $0 even after it switched from pending to "waiting period" status. Their system is so confusing! But yeah, the rep gave you correct info about when to file.

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact same situation last year! The EDD rep told me to file the day before my last day of work, and I also panicked when I saw that first week was $0. I thought I had messed something up or that there was an error with my claim. But everyone here is right - the waiting week is just how the system works. It's basically California's way of making sure people don't file frivolous claims for really short periods of unemployment. Even though it's frustrating when you're already stressed about money, you didn't lose anything by following the rep's advice. One thing that helped me was checking my claim history regularly to make sure that first week eventually changed from "pending" to "waiting period" status. Once you see that, you know everything is processing correctly. Keep certifying every two weeks and your payments should start with week 2!

Have you tried reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along with EDD. Worth a shot if you're really stuck.

Honestly, the best thing I did was set up direct deposit like @Luca Ricci mentioned. I wasted 2 months waiting for my card that never came, then switched to direct deposit and got my payment within a week. You can change it in your UI Online account under "Payment Method." Also, if you do need to call, try the 833-978-2511 number early morning - seems to have shorter wait times than the main line. Hang in there! 💪

As someone who recently went through the legitimate EDD identity verification process, I can confirm that it's ONLY done through ID.me and accessed through your UI Online account. The process involves uploading documents (license, passport, etc.) and taking a selfie for facial recognition - no video calls with agents whatsoever. The fact that the email domain ended in @ca-edd-verify.net is a dead giveaway it's a scam since EDD only uses @edd.ca.gov. Really glad you asked here first! These scammers are getting more sophisticated by including personal details like claim numbers, but the verification process itself never changes. Always go directly to UI Online when you need to check anything about your claim status.

Just wanted to add another red flag for anyone reading this - legitimate EDD communications never create urgency with threats like "your claim will be marked as fraudulent" if you don't respond within 48 hours. Real verification processes give you reasonable time frames and multiple ways to complete them. The pressure tactics are classic scammer behavior designed to make you panic and click without thinking. If EDD actually needed urgent action on your claim, it would show up prominently in your UI Online account dashboard, not just in an email. Always take a step back when you feel pressured by any official-looking communication!

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 had a similar issue trying to reach PFL. What worked for me was calling the SDI number (1-800-480-3287) that Katie mentioned, but I had to call right when they opened at 8 AM to get through. The wait times are brutal, but early morning seems to be your best bet. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before calling since they'll ask for a lot of information to verify your claim.