Just wanted to add another resource that helped me when I was stuck in EDD hell for 2 months - the EDD subreddit (r/Edd) has a daily thread where people share real-time updates on wait times and which numbers are working. Sometimes folks will post "just got through on main line after 45 min wait" or "disability line is dead today, don't bother." Also, if you're really desperate and have tried everything else, some people have had luck physically going to their local One-Stop Career Center. They can't directly access EDD systems but they have dedicated phones for claimants and sometimes the staff there know tricks or have contacts. It's a long shot but when you're facing eviction, every option is worth trying. The system is absolutely broken and it shouldn't be this hard to get help when people are struggling financially. Hang in there everyone - persistence really does pay off eventually, even though it's exhausting.

Wow, this thread is a goldmine of information! I've been dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for 5 weeks and I was getting nowhere with the standard phone strategies. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach: first the 8:12am timing that @Javier mentioned, then if that doesn't work, I'll contact my assembly member's office like @Malik suggested. The insight from @Connor about assembly offices having dedicated EDD caseworkers with special access is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that resource even existed! Also planning to check out that EDD subreddit for real-time updates on wait times. It's frustrating that we have to become phone system hackers just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least there's a community of people sharing strategies. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This kind of peer support is what gets people through these bureaucratic nightmares. Will report back if I have success!

awesome! glad u got it fixed. wish theyd update their system to not ask for info from like 5 years ago lol

Glad to hear you got it resolved! Your experience is really helpful for others dealing with the same issue. It's frustrating that EDD's system still prompts for outdated verification info from the old BofA system, but at least their phone reps have the ability to work around it. 45 minutes is actually pretty reasonable for EDD wait times - you got lucky calling right at 8 AM! Thanks for updating us on how it went.

This has been such an informative thread! I'm in a very similar situation - just got laid off two weeks ago and received a severance package. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly helpful in understanding how EDD handles these situations. One thing I want to add for anyone else going through this: make sure to also check if your former employer is providing COBRA continuation for health insurance. Sometimes the severance paperwork mentions it, but it's easy to miss among all the other details. You typically have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage, and having that safety net during your job search can be just as important as the unemployment benefits. Also, if your company had an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you might still have access to career counseling services for a period after termination. I discovered mine offers resume review and interview coaching for up to 90 days post-employment, which could be really valuable during the job search process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made navigating this whole process feel much less overwhelming!

I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got laid off three weeks ago with a $5,200 severance that my employer structured as "pay in lieu of notice" for 3 weeks. Like many others here, I was initially confused about whether to report it as a lump sum or allocated over time. After reading everyone's experiences, I called EDD (used the callback service someone mentioned - much better than trying to get through directly) and confirmed that mine will also be allocated week by week. No benefits for those 3 weeks, but my claim stays active as long as I keep certifying. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you have any pending reimbursements from your former employer (like business expenses or vacation payouts), make sure you understand how those will be reported too. My HR department told me that unused vacation time gets reported separately from severance and might affect different weeks depending on when it's processed. Just another wrinkle to keep track of! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made this whole process so much less stressful knowing what to expect.

I'm actually a real estate agent now and went through this exact situation about 3 years ago! Your husband should be totally fine as long as he stays truly available for work. I did my pre-licensing course online while collecting UI benefits and had zero issues with EDD. The course was self-paced so I could easily pause studying for interviews or job opportunities. One thing I wish someone had told me - once he passes the state exam and gets his license, he'll need to find a brokerage to hang his license with. Even if he's not actively working yet, some brokerages require you to report those "affiliated" hours to EDD. I learned this the hard way when my broker told me I needed to report being "on call" even though I hadn't made any sales yet. Just something to keep in mind for down the road. The real estate market can be tough starting out, but if he's willing to put in the work, it can definitely be more stable than construction long-term. Best of luck to him!

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 went through something very similar last year with a $185 overpayment. The local office transfer actually worked out better for me than I expected - they were much more responsive than the main EDD system. When they called (about 10 days after the transfer letter), the representative was actually helpful and walked me through exactly what happened with my claim. Since you've already acknowledged the overpayment and requested a payment plan, you're in a good position. In my case, they determined it was a non-fraud overpayment and I ended up with just 1 penalty week since the amount was under $200. The payment plan was easy to set up too - they let me do $20/month which was very manageable. One tip: when they call, have your claim details handy (claim number, the weeks in question, etc.) because they'll want to go through everything step by step. The whole process from transfer to resolution took about 4 weeks for me. Don't let some of the horror stories here scare you - most small overpayments like yours get resolved pretty smoothly!

I'm going through something very similar right now with a $150 overpayment that got transferred to the local office. Just wanted to share what I learned from calling around - apparently the local office transfer happens for overpayments when they need to do what's called an "administrative review" to determine if it was intentional or not. The good news is that for amounts under $300, they usually lean toward non-fraud classification if you can show it was an honest mistake. My case is still pending (got the transfer letter 2 weeks ago) but I spoke with someone at a different EDD office who said the penalty weeks are typically calculated as: 1 week for every $100 of overpayment for non-fraud cases, rounded up. So your $200 would likely be 2 penalty weeks if they determine it wasn't intentional. The main thing is to stay responsive - check your mail daily and answer any calls from 916 or 800 numbers. I've heard they sometimes send additional forms to fill out before making their final determination. Hang in there!