One more important thing - when reporting income, you report earnings in the week you WORKED, not when you got paid. So if you work Monday-Sunday but don't get the paycheck until the following Friday, you still report those earnings for the week you actually performed the work. This trips up a lot of people!

Just want to add - make sure you're also reporting your earnings as GROSS income (before taxes and deductions), not your take-home pay. I made that mistake early on and it created a mess when EDD cross-referenced with employer wage reports later. They want to know what you actually earned, not what hit your bank account after taxes were taken out. Also keep good records of your hours and pay stubs in case they ever audit your certifications!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started a part-time job while on unemployment and was making the same mistake of thinking 5 hours 45 minutes = 5.45. The decimal conversion makes so much more sense now - divide minutes by 60. One thing I'm still wondering about though - what if my shift times don't line up perfectly with what my employer reports? Like sometimes I clock in a few minutes early or stay a few minutes late to help a customer, but my official timesheet might be rounded differently. Should I report my actual worked time or what's on my official timesheet that gets sent to payroll? Also loving the cheat sheet idea from @Caleb Bell - definitely saving those common conversions to my phone!

This is exactly the kind of detailed info I wish I had when I first started working part-time on unemployment! The conversion formula is straightforward once you get it - just divide minutes by 60. But honestly, keeping that cheat sheet handy like @Caleb Bell suggested is genius. One additional tip - if you use a time tracking app on your phone for personal use, many of them can export your hours in decimal format automatically. I started using one called Toggl when I began my part-time job and it saves the conversion step entirely. You just start/stop the timer when you begin/end work and it calculates everything for you. Also want to echo what others said about consistency being key. Whether you round to nearest quarter hour or calculate exact decimals, just pick one method and stick with it. EDD cares way more about honesty and consistency than they do about whether you reported 3.33 vs 3.25 hours.

I feel for you on this - penalty weeks are brutal financially but everyone here is right that the money is gone forever. One thing I learned during my penalty period last year is to keep detailed records of everything during this time. Save all your certification confirmations and any correspondence from EDD. Sometimes there can be processing delays when your benefits resume, and having documentation helps if you need to contact them. Also, consider looking into local community resources like 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with emergency assistance programs for utilities, food, etc. The penalty system is harsh but you're handling it the right way by staying on top of certifications. Just a few more weeks and you'll be back to receiving benefits!

I went through penalty weeks myself about 8 months ago and can confirm what everyone is saying - no backpay for those weeks, unfortunately. The money is just gone as part of the penalty. What I found helpful was setting up a strict budget for those penalty weeks and reaching out to my bank about temporary overdraft forgiveness since I knew exactly when my benefits would resume. Also, don't forget that food banks don't usually require proof of income - just that you're in need. Many churches and community centers have pantries open to anyone struggling. The penalty weeks feel endless when you're in them, but you'll get through this. Make sure to keep certifying on schedule and your payments should automatically resume once you complete all 7 weeks.

I went through something similar when I transitioned from retail to nursing school a couple years back. Here's what I learned: timing is absolutely everything with EDD. Since you mentioned some of your contracts are naturally ending, focus on those. Document everything - when each contract actually ends, what the terms were, whether renewal was even offered. If you have legitimate contract endings (not just you declining renewals), that could form the basis of a valid claim. The apprenticeship starting in 3 weeks actually gives you a small window. If your natural contract endings happen soon, you could potentially file for UI, get approved, then immediately apply for the California Training Benefits program before your apprenticeship starts. Just know that CTB approval can take time, so start that process ASAP. Also, don't overlook other support options while you figure out the EDD situation. Check if your apprenticeship program has connections to grants or stipends, look into local workforce development programs, and see if you qualify for any trade-specific scholarships. Sometimes there are resources specifically for people entering skilled trades that aren't widely advertised. Good luck with the electrical program - that's such a solid career path!

I'm actually going through a similar transition right now - laid off from my office job last month and starting a welding program next week. One thing my workforce counselor told me is that you might want to check if your apprenticeship program is registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. Registered apprenticeship programs sometimes have different rules when it comes to UI eligibility. Also, since you're a contractor, make sure you've been paying into the UI system properly. Sometimes contractors think they're covered but actually haven't been contributing to unemployment insurance. You can check your wage history online through your EDD account to see what's on file. The California Training Benefits program that Dylan mentioned is legit - I'm hoping to get approved for it myself. But like Edwards said, start that process NOW if you're going to try it. The paperwork alone takes forever, and they want detailed info about your training program, career goals, labor market data, etc. One last thought - if your apprenticeship is through a union, they might have emergency assistance programs or know about other funding sources. Worth asking!

This exact same thing happened to my sister about 2 months ago! She was panicking because she had over $3,000 stuck on her Money Network card when they suddenly deactivated it. The "email override" excuse seems to be their go-to explanation lately. A few things that might help based on her experience: 1. The check from Money Network DID come, but it took exactly 3 weeks and 2 days (way longer than they promised). She had to call them twice during that period to "check on the status" which seemed to keep her case active. 2. When she called EDD's payment services at 1-866-401-2849, she got through on her second attempt by calling at exactly 7:45am. The rep was actually really helpful and switched her to direct deposit immediately. 3. Most importantly - she asked EDD to put a temporary hold on any new payments until her direct deposit was fully set up. This prevented any payments from going to the closed Money Network card while everything was being sorted out. The whole ordeal was super stressful but she's been on direct deposit for 2 months now with zero issues. Definitely document everything and don't let Money Network brush you off with vague timelines. You've got this!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My Money Network card was suddenly deactivated three days ago and I have about $1,600 stuck on it. The customer service rep gave me the same "email override" explanation and promised a check in 7-10 business days, but reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect 3+ weeks realistically. This is so frustrating - I had no idea this was such a common problem with Money Network cards! Based on all the helpful advice in this thread, I'm planning to call EDD's payment services line (1-866-401-2849) tomorrow morning around 7:30am to switch to direct deposit and request a payment hold until it's set up. Quick question for those who've been through this - when Money Network sends the check, do they mail it to the address on file with EDD, or do I need to update my address with Money Network directly? I recently moved and want to make sure it goes to the right place. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know there's actually a way out of this nightmare loop between EDD and Money Network!