Timothy, I'm so sorry you're going through this - 3 weeks without SDI payments while diligently trying to follow their procedures is absolutely unacceptable. This thread has become an incredible resource of practical solutions from people who've actually navigated similar situations. I wanted to add one more strategy that helped me last year: try calling the EDD's Legislative Affairs office at 1-916-654-8210. They handle cases that come from elected officials but sometimes will take direct calls about systemic failures like yours. When you call, emphasize that their own broken system (full voicemail for a week) is preventing you from complying with their call-in notice - this frames it as an operational issue they need to fix rather than just another routine inquiry. Also, if you have a smartphone, try using the callback feature on the EDD website while simultaneously trying the early morning calling strategy others mentioned - sometimes having multiple requests in their system helps. The fact that you've been SMS messaging your number consistently actually works in your favor - it shows continuous good faith effort to comply despite their system failure. Between all the amazing strategies shared here and your persistent efforts, I'm confident you'll get this resolved soon. This community really shows that we have each other's backs when the bureaucracy fails us. Keep fighting - you deserve those payments!

Timothy, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation - 3 weeks without payment while doing everything they asked is completely unacceptable. Reading through all the incredible advice shared here, I wanted to add one more approach that worked for someone I know: try calling the EDD's Fraud Prevention Unit at 1-800-229-6297. While this might seem unrelated, explain that you're concerned someone might flag your account for non-compliance even though their broken system (full voicemail for over a week) is preventing you from completing the required call-in. This sometimes gets you transferred to someone with authority to handle your call-in requirement immediately over the phone. Also, when you do get through to anyone using the strategies shared here, ask them to put a note in your file about the system failure preventing compliance - this protects you if there are any future issues. The community has shared so many brilliant approaches here, from the early morning calling strategies to the executive-level contacts. It's incredible that you need this much expertise just to access benefits you're entitled to, but don't give up - one of these strategies will definitely work. This community has your back, and I'm confident you'll get the breakthrough you need soon!

I'm brand new to this community and this thread has been absolutely mind-blowing! I had no idea that money could still be sitting on expired EDD cards - I always assumed once the card expired, any leftover funds would just vanish into thin air. Reading through everyone's success stories has been so encouraging, especially seeing how helpful people have been with sharing specific phone numbers and step-by-step processes. I'm pretty sure I have an old card from early 2020 when I was briefly unemployed at the start of the pandemic, but I completely forgot about it once I found new work. That whole period was such chaos that I'm not even sure if I used all the funds or not. Based on everything I've read here, it definitely seems worth digging through my old paperwork this weekend to see if I can find it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes these confusing government systems feel a little less overwhelming!

I'm completely new to this community and honestly had no clue this was even possible! This whole thread has been such a revelation - I always thought once an EDD card expired, any money left on it was just gone forever. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful and encouraging. I think I might have an old card somewhere from 2020 when I was furloughed for a few months during the early pandemic shutdowns. I honestly can't remember if I used all the funds or not since that whole time period was such a blur of stress and uncertainty. After seeing all these success stories, I'm definitely motivated to dig through my old files this weekend and see if I can track it down. The practical advice everyone has shared about calling EDD first, then the card issuer, and having your ID ready has been invaluable. It's amazing how this community comes together to help people navigate these confusing systems! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - you might have just helped me (and probably many others) recover money we didn't even know we still had access to.

Great to hear you got your new claim approved! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure you keep detailed records of all your job search activities. EDD can ask for proof that you're actively looking for work, especially if there are any issues with your claim later. Also, since you mentioned the contract work, be prepared that they might contact your previous employer to verify your employment dates and wages. Sometimes this can cause delays in processing, but it's just part of their standard verification process. Good luck with your job search and hope you find something stable soon!

For anyone else dealing with the entertainment industry side of things - I work in TV production and wanted to clarify a few things. Yes, we do cycle on and off unemployment between shows, but there are some important details people miss: 1. You still need to meet the minimum earnings requirements for each new benefit year, just like everyone else 2. The "same employer" rule can be tricky - if you work for different production companies even on the same network, those count as separate employers 3. You have to genuinely be available for work during your unemployment periods. You can't just collect benefits while you're committed to a specific future project that hasn't started yet The biggest advantage we have is that our industry is structured around temporary employment, so EDD understands that being unemployed between gigs is normal rather than suspicious. But we definitely don't get to "game the system" like some people think. Still have to follow all the same rules about job searching and being available for work!

Congratulations on landing the marketing job! What an incredible relief after 4 months of searching - I can only imagine how excited and nervous you must be feeling right now. Everyone here has given you absolutely perfect advice, and I just want to reinforce the key points: definitely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work hours and gross earnings honestly. This IS the official way to notify EDD about returning to work - there's no separate form or special process needed. When you certify next, answer "yes" to working and enter your hours and gross pay for the actual weeks you worked, even if your first paycheck hasn't arrived yet. The system is designed to handle this transition smoothly. Once you consistently report full-time earnings that exceed your weekly benefit amount (usually after 2-3 certification periods), EDD will automatically stop payments and eventually close your claim. Whatever you do, don't just stop certifying without reporting your work - that's exactly how people end up with those nightmare overpayment scenarios months later. The certification process creates the proper paper trail showing you were transparent about your return to work from day one. One small tip: consider setting a phone reminder for your certification dates so you don't accidentally miss one while adjusting to your new work routine. Starting a new job is exciting but can be overwhelming, and it's easy to forget administrative tasks like this. Best of luck with your first day on Monday - you're going to do great at the marketing firm, and you're absolutely handling the EDD side correctly!

Congratulations on your new job! That's such wonderful news after 4 months of searching - you must be so relieved and excited! Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I just want to add my own experience from when I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago. The key thing is to absolutely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work honestly - don't stop certifying! When you certify, you'll see questions asking if you worked during specific weeks. Answer "yes" and report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the actual weeks you worked, even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet. So if you start Monday and that week falls within your certification period, report those expected earnings based on your agreed salary/hourly rate. The EDD system will automatically reduce your benefits once you report earnings that exceed your weekly benefit amount. After consistently reporting full-time wages for 2-3 certification periods, your claim will automatically stop. You don't need to call or fill out any special forms - the bi-weekly certification process IS how you officially notify them about returning to work. One tip that really helped me: keep a simple log (even just notes on your phone) of your work hours and gross pay for each week. This way you have everything organized when it's time to certify and you won't have to scramble to remember details. The overpayment horror stories you hear about usually happen when people either hide their work or just stop certifying altogether. As long as you're honest and consistent with reporting, you'll be fine. Good luck with your first day at the marketing firm on Monday!

This thread is absolutely amazing! I just accepted a job offer after 5 months of searching and was completely overwhelmed about properly handling the EDD transition. Reading through Carmen's expert breakdown about continuing to certify while reporting employment accurately, plus seeing all the success stories from Mateo and others who got the "earned too much for benefits" confirmation message, has been incredibly reassuring. The detail about claims staying active for the full benefit year is something I had no clue about - that's such important information! I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips like having your EIN ready, reporting gross earnings, and keeping screenshots of everything. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating these confusing processes. Starting my new position next week feeling much more confident about doing everything correctly!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm actually in the exact same situation right now - just got hired for a customer service position after 3 months of unemployment and was totally stressed about how to properly report to EDD. Reading through Carmen's expert breakdown about continuing to certify while reporting all employment and earnings accurately has been a huge relief. The fact that the system automatically stops benefits when your earnings exceed the weekly amount makes so much sense, but I never would have known that without this discussion. I'm also really grateful for all the practical tips everyone shared - having the EIN ready, reporting gross earnings, keeping screenshots, etc. Mateo, thanks for asking this question and sharing your successful update! Seeing that you got the "earned too much for benefits" message and everything worked smoothly gives me so much confidence. This community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing government processes!