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I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share my experience since it sounds like we had very similar situations. I was laid off in December but didn't file until mid-January because I thought I'd find something quickly (spoiler: I didn't!). I ended up requesting the backdate and it was approved, but here's what actually happened: EDD put a temporary hold on my account for about 10 days while they reviewed my request. During this time, I couldn't certify for benefits and was freaking out. However, once they approved the backdate, they released all the held payments plus the backdated weeks in one lump sum. The whole process took about 5 weeks total, and I had to do a phone interview where they asked why I delayed filing and whether I was available for work during the backdated period. My advice: make sure you can clearly explain your reason and have documentation if possible (like job applications or emails showing you were actively looking for work during those weeks). Looking back, it was worth the temporary stress for the extra money, but definitely be prepared for some uncertainty during the review period. Your current benefit year won't be affected - you'll just get those earlier weeks added to your claim.
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience! This is exactly the kind of real-world information I needed to hear. The 10-day hold sounds scary, but knowing that all the payments (including backdated weeks) came through in the end makes it seem more manageable. Your point about having documentation is really helpful - I do have records of job applications and interviews from that January period that could support my case. The phone interview part makes me a bit nervous, but at least I know to expect it now. Five weeks total timeline seems reasonable compared to some of the longer horror stories I've read. Did you have any issues with the lump sum payment affecting your taxes or anything like that? I'm wondering if getting several weeks of benefits at once creates any complications. Also, just to confirm - when you say your current benefit year wasn't affected, you mean the total duration of your claim stayed the same, right? So you got those extra weeks from December but your claim ended earlier overall?
As someone who just went through a backdating situation last month, I wanted to add my perspective. I was in almost exactly the same boat - lost my job in late December 2022 but didn't file until February because I was confident I'd land something quickly (famous last words, right?). I was terrified about potentially messing up my existing payments, but after reading tons of posts like this one, I decided to go for it. Here's what happened: I submitted the DE1181BW form explaining that I delayed filing because I had several promising job leads and expected to be employed again within a few weeks. EDD put my account under review for about 2 weeks, but crucially - my regular bi-weekly certifications and payments continued normally during this time. They eventually approved the backdate and I received payment for those 6-7 missed weeks. The total process took about 3 weeks from submission to receiving the backdated payments. No phone interview was required in my case, which was a relief. The key things that seemed to help: 1) I had a legitimate, documented reason for the delay, 2) I could prove I was available and actively job searching during the backdated period, and 3) I hadn't received any other benefits during that time. My advice: if you truly were available for work and actively seeking employment during those 6 weeks, and you have a valid reason for the delayed filing, it's probably worth pursuing. The worst they can do is deny the backdate - they won't take away your current benefits for asking.
This is incredibly reassuring! Your experience sounds almost identical to mine - same timeframe and same reason for delaying. The fact that your regular payments continued during the review period is huge for me to know. I've been so worried about triggering some kind of freeze on everything. I do have documentation of my job search activities during those weeks, including saved job applications and email correspondence with potential employers, so that should help support my case. Your point about them not taking away current benefits just for asking is really important - I think I've been overthinking the downside risk. Three weeks total timeline with no phone interview required sounds like the best-case scenario. Did you submit any supporting documentation with your DE1181BW form, or just the explanation of your delay reason? I'm trying to figure out if I should include copies of job applications upfront or wait to see if they ask for them. Thanks for sharing such detailed info - it's exactly what I needed to hear to feel confident about moving forward with the backdate request!
I went through something very similar in 2022 - EDD hit me with a $3,400 overpayment notice completely out of the blue, no explanation whatsoever. What I learned is that you absolutely MUST respond to both the appeal AND the collection notice separately - they're handled by different departments that don't communicate. For the collection notice, send a certified letter immediately stating that you have an active appeal pending (include the date you filed it) and request a temporary hold on collection activities. I also discovered that many of these mysterious overpayments are actually data entry errors or employer wage reporting mistakes that EDD's automated systems flag incorrectly. In my case, it turned out they had duplicated some wage information, making it look like I earned more than I actually did during certain weeks. The appeal process took 6 months, but I eventually got the overpayment completely reversed. Don't let them intimidate you - keep fighting and demand specific documentation about why they think you were overpaid. The burden of proof should be on them, not you!
This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your experience - it sounds almost identical to what we're going through. The fact that yours was completely reversed after 6 months is encouraging, even though that's a long time to wait. I'm definitely going to send that certified letter about the collection notice right away. Can I ask what specific documentation you requested from EDD to prove their overpayment claim? And did you have to provide a lot of evidence on your end, or was it mostly about getting them to show their work? The data entry error angle makes total sense - with all the chaos at EDD over the past few years, I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened to us too.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - got hit with a $2,800 overpayment demand last month with zero explanation, and like you, we moved out of state (to Arizona) after my claim period ended. What's helped me so far: 1) I sent a certified letter to both the appeals department AND the collections department on the same day, clearly stating I'm appealing and requesting all collection activity be suspended pending resolution. 2) I also sent a separate certified letter specifically requesting an "Administrative Review" of the overpayment determination - this is different from a regular appeal and sometimes gets faster results. 3) Through persistence (and about 40 phone call attempts), I finally got through and learned that out-of-state moves can trigger automatic system reviews that sometimes generate false overpayments. The rep told me to specifically ask for the "Interstate Claims Unit" when I call back for updates. 4) I'm keeping a detailed log of every interaction, and I've also filed complaints with both the California State Auditor and my new state's unemployment office (they can sometimes apply pressure on California's behalf). The whole system is broken, but don't give up - I've read too many success stories here to lose hope. Hang in there and keep fighting!
Wow, thank you for such detailed and actionable advice! I had no idea about the "Administrative Review" option - that sounds like it could be really helpful since it's separate from the regular appeal process. The fact that out-of-state moves can trigger these false overpayments makes so much sense and explains why we're suddenly dealing with this mess. I'm definitely going to request the Interstate Claims Unit specifically when we call - it sounds like they actually understand these cross-state situations better than the regular reps. Your persistence with 40+ phone calls gives me motivation to keep trying! Can I ask how long you've been waiting since you sent your certified letters? And have you heard anything back from the State Auditor's office yet? It's so reassuring to know others are fighting this same battle and not giving up. Thank you for sharing your strategy - I'm going to follow your approach exactly!
Update: I finally got through to EDD this morning after using the Claimyr service that someone suggested (totally worth it btw). The rep said my family emergency is considered good cause and they're processing my backdate request! She said I should see the additional weeks appear in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I'll need to certify for all those weeks. Thank you everyone for your advice - this community has been so helpful!
That's awesome news! Glad it worked out for you. Just make sure you certify for those weeks as soon as they appear in your account.
Great update! Just want to add - make sure you answer the certification questions accurately for those backdated weeks. If you weren't able to look for work during that time due to your family emergency, there should be an option to indicate that when certifying. Don't just say you were looking for work if you weren't - honesty is important here.
Congrats on getting approved for the backdate! That's such a relief when you're dealing with financial stress. Just wanted to add a tip for anyone else in a similar situation - when you do get those backdated weeks to certify for, double-check that the benefit amounts look correct. I had an issue where my backdated weeks showed a lower weekly benefit amount than my regular weeks, and I had to call back to get it corrected. Also, if you had any other income during those backdated weeks (like severance pay or part-time work), make sure you report it accurately when certifying. The last thing you want is an overpayment notice later on!
Thanks for that tip about checking the benefit amounts! I wouldn't have thought to look for that. Quick question - how long did it take them to fix the benefit amount issue when you called back? I'm hoping I don't run into any complications like that since I've already had to jump through so many hoops just to get this far.
Wow, this entire thread has been such an incredible journey to follow! Ella, you absolutely nailed this situation and should be so proud of how you handled it. Your manager's attempt to trick you into "voluntary resignation" is exactly the kind of manipulative tactic that costs workers thousands in rightful benefits, but you saw right through it thanks to this amazing community's advice. That official layoff letter is going to make your EDD claim rock solid. The fact that you have written documentation showing THEY initiated the separation due to scheduling conflicts they couldn't accommodate is perfect. When you file, just make sure to emphasize that timeline - you tried to work with them, they said no, they decided to lay you off. You've got all the pieces in place for a successful claim. And huge congratulations on pursuing nursing! The timing couldn't be better - healthcare is desperate for good people right now and the job security is incredible. You're trading a manipulative retail environment for a career where employers actually value and support your professional growth. This whole situation, while stressful, is probably going to end up being the best thing that happened to you. This thread should honestly be pinned as a guide for anyone facing similar employment pressure. The community advice here literally saved you from a costly mistake and showed exactly how to protect yourself when employers try these games. Best of luck with nursing school and your EDD claim - you handled this perfectly and deserve all the success coming your way!
@Norah Quay This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! As someone who s'never had to deal with EDD before, I had no clue about these employer manipulation tactics. Seeing how Ella went from being pressured to resign to getting that perfect layoff documentation has been like watching a masterclass in protecting your rights. It s'honestly scary how many people probably fall for the voluntary "resignation trick" and lose out on benefits they ve'earned. The way this community immediately spotted what her manager was trying to pull and gave such detailed, actionable advice is incredible. I m'definitely saving this whole conversation - the step-by-step guidance on how to handle these situations and what documentation to get is invaluable. Congratulations to Ella for standing her ground and pursuing nursing! Healthcare is going to be such a better career path than dealing with sketchy retail management. This is exactly why communities like this are so important - real people sharing real experiences that can literally save someone thousands of dollars!
This whole thread is absolutely incredible and such a perfect example of how this community can literally change someone's life! Ella, you handled this situation flawlessly and should feel so proud of standing up to that manipulative manager. Getting that official layoff letter was the absolute best outcome you could have achieved. What really strikes me is how quickly everyone here recognized the "voluntary resignation" scam your manager was trying to pull. It's honestly disturbing how common this tactic must be, but seeing the collective wisdom and experience shared here gives me so much hope. The advice about documentation, refusing to resign, and making them initiate the separation was spot on. Your transition into nursing couldn't come at a better time - the healthcare field desperately needs dedicated people, and you'll have incredible job security compared to retail. Plus you'll never have to deal with employers who try to cheat you out of earned benefits again. Most healthcare organizations actually encourage and support continuing education rather than punishing you for it. When you file your EDD claim, that layoff letter showing they couldn't accommodate your schedule and initiated the separation is going to make everything so much smoother. You've got rock-solid documentation and handled this textbook perfect. This thread should definitely be saved as a guide for anyone facing similar employment pressure. The community knowledge shared here literally saved you thousands in rightful benefits. Congratulations on your successful advocacy and best of luck with nursing school - you're going to do amazing things in healthcare!
Natalie Wang
I've been dealing with the same logout issue! What finally worked for me was using the "Sign Out" link at the very bottom of the page - it's in tiny text in the footer. The dropdown menu logout wasn't working for me either, but that footer link did the trick. Hope this helps!
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Mateo Hernandez
•Oh my god, thank you so much for this tip! I've been clicking everywhere trying to find a working logout button. I never would have thought to look in the footer. You're a lifesaver! 🙏
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Nia Johnson
I had the exact same problem last week! The regular logout button wasn't working at all. What ended up working for me was completely closing my browser and reopening it - seems like there was some kind of session bug. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering with the site's functionality. The EDD website is notoriously finicky with ad blockers and privacy extensions.
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Mateo Lopez
•That's a great point about browser extensions! I had my ad blocker on and didn't even think about that being the issue. Going to try disabling it next time I need to use the EDD site. These government websites really need to work on their compatibility - it's 2025, they should be able to handle basic extensions by now 😤
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