I'm currently in this exact situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's about to certify for the first time since starting classes. I'm a veteran using GI Bill benefits at community college (all evening classes) while on UI after being laid off in February. The school certification question has been keeping me up at night, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped me understand what to expect. Based on all the advice shared, here's my game plan: - Mark "Yes" for school attendance (being honest is clearly the only way) - Use the notes section to explain my evening-only schedule and full daytime availability - Have my job search spreadsheet ready in case they call for an interview - Be prepared to potentially go on pending status but know it's temporary if I'm eligible What really stands out from all these stories is how much preparation and documentation matter. It seems like the people who had smooth experiences were the ones who had everything organized and communicated clearly upfront. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the veterans who went through this with VA benefits. It's reassuring to know that our education benefits don't count as reportable income and that using them while on UI is totally legitimate as long as we remain available for work. I'll report back after my certification to let everyone know how it goes!

I just went through this process successfully last week and wanted to share my experience to help ease some anxiety! I'm also a veteran using GI Bill benefits while on UI after being laid off in January. I marked "Yes" for school attendance and used the notes section to explain that all my classes are online or after 6 PM, and that I remain fully available for full-time employment during standard business hours. I also mentioned my active job search efforts. My payments did go on pending status for about 10 days, which was stressful, but I got a call from EDD much faster than expected. The interview was really straightforward - they just wanted to confirm my class schedule didn't conflict with work hours and that I was genuinely seeking employment. I had my job search log ready (dates, companies, positions applied for) which seemed to help. The EDD rep specifically confirmed that VA education benefits don't count as reportable wages on weekly certifications since they're educational assistance, not employment income. They also noted that taking classes to improve job skills actually looks positive for continued eligibility. All my pending payments were released within 2 business days after the interview. The whole process was much less scary than I'd built it up to be in my head. My advice: be completely honest, have your documentation ready, and don't panic if you go pending temporarily. The system does work when you're legitimately available for work. Good luck everyone!

I went through this exact same situation last month with a temporary layoff from my manufacturing job. Got the CalJOBS notice even though I had a confirmed return date. I ended up registering just to be safe - took about 20 minutes and gave me peace of mind. The way I see it, even if there's an exemption for temporary layoffs, the automated system clearly doesn't recognize it when sending these notices. Better to spend a few minutes registering than risk any complications with your benefits, especially since you're only claiming for 3 weeks anyway.

I had a similar situation during a union-mandated break between projects last year. Even though my foreman gave us specific dates we'd be back, EDD's system just sees "unemployment claim = needs CalJOBS registration." The notice is automatically generated and doesn't take into account your individual circumstances. I'd recommend just getting the registration done - it's really straightforward and you can always update your profile later if your situation changes. Plus, having a CalJOBS account isn't a bad thing to have even when you're employed - you never know when you might need it for future reference or networking. The registration process asks for basic info like work history and skills, nothing too intensive.

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I had my EDD interview about 2 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most straightforward government calls I've ever been on. The interviewer introduced herself, explained that they just needed to verify some information, and then asked very specific, factual questions. In my case, the issue was that I had reported my separation reason as "laid off" but my employer had told EDD it was a "workforce reduction" - same thing, just different terminology. The whole call took maybe 12 minutes and she was actually quite nice about it. One thing I wish someone had told me: they might ask you to verify your identity at the beginning with your SSN and birthdate, so have that ready. Also, they may reference specific weeks or dates, so having your original claim paperwork in front of you is super helpful. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're incredibly well-prepared. The fact that you care this much about getting it right tells me you're going to be just fine. This community has your back, and we'd love to hear how it goes! Wishing you the best of luck with your interview.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and I completely understand the fear and anxiety you're feeling right now! Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're getting amazing advice and preparing really well. I wanted to share one more tip that helped me: if possible, try to do the interview from a landline or at least make sure your cell phone is fully charged and you're in an area with strong signal. My first scheduled interview got cut short because of connection issues and they had to reschedule, which just added more stress to the whole process. Also, something that really calmed my nerves was realizing that the EDD interviewer has probably done hundreds of these calls - they're not trying to catch you in a lie, they're just working through their checklist to verify information. Most of the time they already know what the discrepancy is before they even call you. From everything you've shared, it really sounds like you've been doing everything right and this is probably just a simple administrative issue. The fact that you've been so thorough in preparing and reaching out for advice shows you have nothing to hide. You're going to do great, and I'm looking forward to hearing your positive update after the interview!

I just went through this exact same experience last month! My first direct deposit took 6 business days from when it showed "paid" in the portal. I was checking my account obsessively every few hours and even called my bank thinking something was wrong. Turns out it's completely normal for the first payment while they verify everything on their end. Now my payments come through like clockwork in 2-3 days. The waiting is stressful but your money is definitely coming! One tip - I found that payments usually hit my account early in the morning (around 3-4 AM) rather than during business hours, so check first thing when you wake up.

I'm currently going through this for the first time too! My payment was marked "paid" on Thursday and it's now Monday with no deposit showing in my account yet. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea the first direct deposit could take this long while they verify everything. I was getting really anxious because like many others here, I was expecting it based on that misleading "24-48 hours" timeframe on their website. It's clear from all these stories that EDD really needs to update their messaging to be more realistic about first-time direct deposit delays. I'm going to try calling my bank's automated line to check for pending ACH transfers, and definitely setting up those mobile alerts for future payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - knowing this 5-7 business day wait is completely normal makes it so much less stressful!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I'm dealing with a similar situation - pending payments for weeks now. One thing that helped me was calling right at 8:00 AM when they open, and I kept hitting the prompts quickly: 1-2-1 then your SSN, then 1. Sometimes it takes dozens of tries but I finally got through. Also, make sure you don't have any flags on your account that might be causing the hold - things like identity verification issues or work search requirements. When you do get through, ask them specifically what's causing the pending status. Don't let them just transfer you without an explanation. Good luck Santos!