I just had my REASA meeting this morning and wanted to share my experience while it's still fresh! Like so many others here, I was absolutely terrified when I first got that notification - I must have read this entire thread three times to calm my nerves. The meeting was everything everyone described - professional, supportive, and genuinely helpful. My interviewer was really knowledgeable about my industry and we spent about 40 minutes going through not just my work search activities, but discussing my overall career strategy. She helped me realize I was being too narrow in my search and suggested some companies I hadn't even considered. The resources were incredible! She connected me with a free LinkedIn optimization workshop happening next week and gave me information about a local professional association that has monthly networking events. I also learned about a micro-credential program in my field that's fully funded through their workforce development partnerships. For anyone preparing: definitely organize your thoughts about your job search strategy beforehand (not just where you've applied, but WHY), make sure your CalJOBS profile is 100% current, and don't be afraid to discuss challenges you're facing. My interviewer was genuinely interested in helping me overcome obstacles, not judging me for having them. This thread completely changed my perspective from dreading this meeting to seeing it as an opportunity - and that's exactly what it turned out to be! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here. You truly made all the difference in how I approached this.

I just wanted to add my experience from a few months back for anyone else who might be stressing about their REASA meeting! I was in the exact same boat - saw that notification and immediately started googling horror stories which only made my anxiety worse. The actual meeting was nothing like what I feared. My interviewer was genuinely helpful and spent time understanding my specific situation rather than just going through a checklist. We talked about my background in healthcare administration and she actually had really good insights about how the job market in that field has shifted since COVID. What made the biggest difference for me was that she helped me see patterns in my applications that weren't working. I'd been applying mostly to large hospital systems, but she suggested looking at smaller clinics, telehealth companies, and even healthcare consulting firms. I ended up getting interviews with two companies she recommended! The meeting took about 45 minutes and I came away with a whole list of resources - career workshops, industry networking events, and even contact info for recruiters who specialize in healthcare roles. My advice: go in with an open mind about getting help rather than just trying to prove you're doing enough. These folks really know the job market and have connections you probably don't. The fact that you're here asking questions shows you're taking it seriously, which is exactly what they want to see. You've got this!

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Reading through this entire thread, I'm truly moved by the incredible outpouring of support from this community and how many people have shared nearly identical experiences to yours. As someone new here, what strikes me most is the consistent message from both professionals and people with lived experience: you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. The family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all - your employer was the county IHSS program, not your mother personally. This is why you received official paystubs and W-2s showing the county as your employer. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years through your dedicated work - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've rightfully earned. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your grief, and you can backdate your claim when you apply. The practical advice everyone has shared about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, having your documentation ready (including your mother's death certificate), and applying online seems very helpful. Most importantly, please know you're not alone in this situation - so many people in this community have successfully navigated this exact process. You deserve this financial support during such a difficult time. Please don't wait much longer to apply - this community is clearly rooting for you every step of the way. Take care of yourself during this heartbreaking time. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. My heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time - losing a parent while also facing financial uncertainty must feel overwhelming. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm genuinely touched by the outpouring of support and shared experiences. It's remarkable how many people have been in your exact situation and successfully received unemployment benefits as IHSS caregivers. The message from everyone is clear and reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits. You've been a legitimate employee of the county IHSS program for 2.5 years, paying taxes and contributing to unemployment insurance with every paycheck. The fact that your care recipient was your mother doesn't change your employment status - the county was your legal employer, as shown on your paystubs and W-2s. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your grief, and you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. The practical advice everyone has shared about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason and having your documentation ready will help make the process smoother. You've earned these benefits through your dedicated caregiving work - they're not charity, they're rightfully yours. Please don't wait much longer to apply. You deserve this financial support during such a heartbreaking time, and this entire community is clearly behind you every step of the way. Take care of yourself. ❤️

I'm currently going through the CBT application process for a dental hygiene program and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, when you call your school, ask specifically if they have a "CBT coordinator" or someone who regularly handles EDD training benefit students. Some schools have dedicated staff who know the process inside and out, which can save you a lot of headaches. Second, I learned that you can actually submit your DE 3100 form BEFORE you're officially enrolled, as long as you have a conditional acceptance letter from the school. This can help speed up the approval timeline since you won't be waiting for enrollment AND approval. Also, keep in mind that if your LVN program has any prerequisite courses (like anatomy or medical terminology), those might need to be completed separately and may not qualify for CBT coverage. Make sure the 12-month timeline you mentioned includes everything you need for licensure. The healthcare training programs seem to have pretty good success rates with CBT approval since there's such high demand for healthcare workers in California right now. Best of luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully completed an LVN program through CBT in 2024! A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call your school, ask if they can email you a sample DE 3100 form that's already been filled out (with student info redacted obviously). Seeing a completed example made the process SO much clearer. 2. Make sure your program meets the "full-time" requirement - for my LVN program, that meant at least 20 hours per week of instruction. Some accelerated programs pack more hours into fewer days, which can sometimes cause confusion with EDD. 3. Keep a folder (digital or physical) with EVERYTHING - acceptance letters, DE 3100 submissions, EDD correspondence, attendance records, etc. I had to provide documentation multiple times throughout the program. 4. If your school has clinical rotations at different locations, make sure EDD knows about this upfront. I almost had issues when my attendance verification showed different addresses for clinicals vs classroom time. The CBT program was honestly a lifesaver for me. Being able to focus on school without worrying about job searching made such a difference in my grades and stress levels. LVN programs are intense enough without having to juggle unemployment requirements! You've got this!

I'm in the exact same boat - my benefits just exhausted last week and I'm scrambling to figure out what's available. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially learning that the pandemic extensions are completely gone now. I did work for about 8 weeks at a retail job during my benefit year, so I'm definitely going to try filing a new claim based on what @PaulineW and others have shared. Even if it's a reduced amount, it would help tremendously while I continue job hunting. The training program option also sounds really promising - I've been thinking about pivoting to a different field anyway, and if there are stipends available while training, that could actually work out better long-term than just extending regular UI. Has anyone had experience with how long the approval process takes for filing a new claim? I'm trying to plan out my finances and want to know if there's typically a waiting period before payments start again. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - it really helps to know there are still options out there even when the system feels stacked against us!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My benefits are set to exhaust in about 10 days and I've been losing sleep over it. This thread has been such a lifeline - thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and advice. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like my best bet is to file a new claim since I worked for about 6 weeks at a temp agency during my benefit year. Even if the weekly amount is lower, it's better than nothing while I keep job searching. I'm also going to look into those workforce training programs with stipends that several people mentioned - might be a good opportunity to learn new skills while having some income. The Claimyr recommendation keeps coming up, so I'll definitely try that to get clear answers from an actual EDD rep instead of playing phone tag for weeks. And I'll apply for CalFresh right away to help with the transition period. One question for those who've been through this - should I wait until my current benefit year officially ends to file a new claim, or can I file it early? I don't want to mess up my account by filing too soon. Thanks again everyone for making this feel less scary!

I've been on UI for about 9 months now and have Chase too! Your timing should definitely work out for Tuesday rent. My experience has been super reliable: - Sunday: Certify at exactly midnight (I'm obsessive about this timing now) - Monday: UI Online shows "Paid" by 10am-noon - Tuesday: Money hits Chase account by 6:30am consistently The first payment took 4 days instead of 2-3 because they verify everything more thoroughly initially, but since you already have direct deposit configured correctly, you should still make that Tuesday morning window if you certify at midnight tonight. I can't stress enough how much the midnight certification helps - I've tested this dozens of times and it consistently saves 8-12 hours compared to certifying later. For your tight rent deadline, this could literally make the difference. Pro tip from 9 months of experience: set your phone alarm for 11:58pm and have the UI Online page already loaded and ready to go. The system can be slow right at midnight with everyone trying to certify, so being prepared helps you get in that first processing batch. Chase mobile app notifications are a lifesaver too - you'll know the second it deposits. And since you already reached out to your landlord, you're totally covered if there's any unexpected delay. Based on everyone's Chase experiences in this thread (and they're all remarkably consistent), Tuesday morning deposit is pretty much guaranteed if you certify early tonight. You've got this!

I've been on UI for about 4 months and wanted to add my Chase experience since you're getting so much great advice! My timeline is super consistent: - Sunday: Certify at 12:01am (I set multiple alarms for this) - Monday: UI Online shows "Paid" by late morning/early afternoon - Tuesday: Money in Chase account by 8am usually The first payment definitely took longer - about 3-4 days because of their verification process. But since you already have direct deposit set up correctly, you should still hit that Tuesday window if you certify right at midnight. One thing I learned that might help: Chase processes government ACH transfers in batches overnight, usually completing by 6-8am. So even if your payment posts late Monday, you'll likely see it first thing Tuesday morning. Since you're cutting it so close with rent, I'd also suggest having the Chase mobile app ready to check for pending deposits Monday evening. Sometimes you can see the transaction processing even before it's fully available, which gives peace of mind. You've already handled this perfectly by reaching out to your landlord proactively. Based on all the Chase experiences shared here, Tuesday morning deposit seems almost guaranteed if you certify at midnight tonight. The first certification stress is so real, but you're set up for success!