I'm currently experiencing this EXACT same issue! Filed my claim 6 weeks ago after getting laid off from my software company with an 11-week severance package ($3,600 biweekly). My first week showed "excessive earnings" which I expected, but weeks 2-6 have ALL been stuck on "under review" with absolutely zero movement or explanation from EDD. I've been religiously certifying every two weeks and accurately reporting my severance amounts, but it's like my claim fell into a black hole. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both frustrating and relieving - frustrating because it's clear EDD's system is fundamentally broken for severance situations, but relieving because I now know this isn't my fault or something I'm doing wrong. The pattern is so consistent: EDD automatically flags any account with severance for "manual review" but then those reviews just sit in a queue forever unless we call and specifically demand action from a tier 2 specialist. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy that several people mentioned - the logic of calling exactly one minute after they open makes perfect sense to avoid the initial rush. It's absolutely insane that we have to become experts at gaming EDD's broken phone system just to get basic customer service during an already stressful time. But thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I have a clear action plan instead of just waiting helplessly!

I'm going through the EXACT same situation right now! Just filed my claim 2 weeks ago after getting laid off from my biotech company with a 7-week severance package ($2,900 biweekly). Week 1 showed "excessive earnings" as expected, but week 2 is stuck on "under review" with zero explanation or updates. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's crystal clear this is a widespread EDD system failure. Their computer automatically flags any account reporting severance for "manual review" but then nobody actually performs these reviews unless we call and fight for it. The consistency of everyone's experiences is both validating and infuriating - we're all doing everything right with our certifications, but EDD's system just can't handle severance payments properly. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy tomorrow morning that @Cedric mentioned. The logic makes perfect sense - calling exactly one minute after they open to avoid the initial phone rush. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts at gaming their broken phone system just to get basic customer service during an already stressful time, but at least this thread gives us a clear action plan. Thanks for posting this question - it's incredibly helpful to know this is a systemic problem and not something we're doing wrong. The stress of having your claim stuck in limbo while dealing with job loss is awful, but knowing there are solutions gives me hope!

As someone who works in HR and has dealt with unemployment issues, I wanted to add that your husband should also be prepared for potential verification requests from EDD. They sometimes do random audits where they ask for documentation of job search activities, especially if there are any changes in your situation. Since he'll be studying while collecting benefits, I'd recommend he keeps extra detailed records - not just of his job applications, but also of his study schedule to show it's truly flexible around work opportunities. Screenshot his online course progress, keep emails from potential employers, document any networking he does related to both construction and real estate. Also, make sure he understands that if he starts networking heavily in the real estate field (attending open houses, meeting with potential mentors, etc.), these activities could actually count toward his work search requirements if they're genuinely aimed at finding employment opportunities. EDD allows some flexibility in what counts as "job search" as long as it's reasonably related to finding work. The key is always transparency and documentation. Better to have too much paperwork than not enough if they ever question his claim!

I'm currently in a very similar situation! My wife lost her retail job 2 months ago and is collecting UI while studying for her nursing prerequisites online. What we've learned is that the key distinction EDD makes is between "able and available for work" versus being a full-time student. Your husband should be fine since real estate licensing courses are typically self-paced and don't have mandatory class times that would conflict with work availability. When my wife certifies bi-weekly, she honestly answers "yes" to being available for work because she genuinely is - she can pause studying anytime for interviews or if she gets a job offer. One tip that's helped us: we created a simple calendar showing her study blocks and job search activities. This way if EDD ever asks, we can clearly demonstrate that studying hasn't interfered with her availability. She's actually found that some employers appreciate that she's using her unemployment time productively to gain new skills. The most important thing is that your husband continues meeting his work search requirements and remains genuinely available for suitable employment. As long as he's not turning down jobs to study or missing interviews because of coursework, he should be completely fine. Good luck with the real estate journey - it's smart to use this time to build toward a more stable career!

I've been lurking in this community for a while but had to create an account to share my experience with this Money Network app nightmare. I went through the EXACT same freezing issue about 2 months ago and it nearly drove me insane! What finally worked for me was a combo of several suggestions I've seen here: First, I set up my account completely through the website on my laptop (thanks to whoever mentioned that - game changer!). Then I made sure to use WiFi instead of cellular data when trying the app. But here's the weird part that I haven't seen mentioned yet - I had to turn off my phone's auto-brightness and set it to manual at about 75% brightness. Apparently some phones have display settings that can interfere with the app's verification process. I know it sounds crazy but after I did that, plus waiting about 15 seconds before hitting continue like someone else suggested, it worked perfectly. The whole ordeal took me about 3 weeks to figure out but now the app runs smoothly. Hang in there everyone - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's shared their solutions here! I've been struggling with this same Money Network app freezing issue for over a week now and was getting desperate. Reading through all these different approaches gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved. I'm going to try the website setup first approach that Theodore mentioned, combined with the WiFi connection and waiting 15 seconds before hitting continue. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely call their customer service number that Keisha provided. It's really frustrating that such a basic app has so many technical issues, especially when people are depending on it to access their unemployment benefits. But seeing how many people have eventually gotten it working makes me feel more optimistic. Will update if I find success with any of these methods!

I went through this exact process about 6 weeks ago and want to share what worked for me. After completing ID.me verification, my claim stayed pending for 9 business days before switching to paid. Here's what I learned: The most important thing is to keep certifying every two weeks even while pending - I almost made the mistake of skipping a certification thinking I should wait, but thankfully read advice here to keep going. When mine hit day 12 with no change, I used the early morning calling strategy (called right at 8am when they open) and got through on my third try. The rep found that my employer had submitted conflicting information that created a flag requiring manual review. She cleared it immediately and my payments processed within 48 hours. My timeline breakdown: ID.me verification completed → 9 business days later status changed to paid → direct deposit hit my account 2 days after that. So about 2 weeks total from verification to money in bank. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about bills, but based on everything I've seen, most people get resolved within that 7-10 business day window. Just make sure you have direct deposit set up and keep certifying on schedule!

I'm currently going through this same process and the anxiety is real! Just completed my ID.me verification yesterday after my phone interview last week. My UI Online is showing pending status too and I've been refreshing it probably way too much hoping something changes. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It sounds like the 7-10 business day timeline after ID verification is pretty consistent, even though some people have had longer waits due to backend issues only reps can see. I've already set up direct deposit after reading Norman's advice about the debit card delays, and I'm definitely going to keep certifying every two weeks like everyone recommended. The screenshot documentation tip from Liam is smart too - going to start doing that today. Planning to wait until day 10 before attempting the early morning calling strategy. The stories about backend flags and employer information conflicts are making me realize there could be issues I'm not even aware of that might need a rep to resolve. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - it really helps to know others are going through the exact same thing and that there's light at the end of the tunnel!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my tech startup. Got a $5,200 severance payment and EDD did exactly what happened to you - skipped my benefits for that week completely. I was so confused at first because like you, I'd seen conflicting information online about whether severance affects UI benefits. Here's what I learned after calling EDD (took me literally 47 attempts over 3 days to get through): California treats severance as "wages" for the week it's received, regardless of what time period it actually represents. So even though your $4,300 was for 3 years of service, EDD sees it as income during that specific certification week. Since it was probably higher than your weekly benefit amount ($450 max in CA), they didn't pay you anything for that week. The good news is you didn't actually lose that week - it extends your benefit year by one week at the end. And honestly, reporting it truthfully was 100% the right move. I know someone who tried to hide their severance and ended up with a $6,000 overpayment demand that destroyed their credit. Your benefits should go back to normal for your next certification. Hang in there!

I'm new to unemployment and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just got laid off last week and I'm expecting a severance payment in a couple weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to brace myself for missing benefits that week, but at least now I know what to expect instead of being blindsided like you were, Mateo. What's really helpful is seeing how many people have been through this exact situation - it makes me feel less alone in navigating all these confusing UI rules for the first time. I definitely plan to report my severance honestly when I get it, especially after reading those horror stories about overpayment notices. Missing one week of benefits sounds way better than dealing with collections and garnished future payments! One question for those who've been through this - does the timing of when you receive the severance within your certification period matter at all? Like if I get it on a Monday vs Friday of my certification week, does that change anything with how EDD calculates it?