I work for a legal aid organization that handles housing and employment issues, and your situation is actually more common than you might think. The key legal concept here is "good cause" for leaving/losing employment. California recognizes several circumstances as good cause, including when unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions force a necessary relocation that makes continued employment impossible. The mold situation you described - especially with landlord refusal to remediate and documented health impacts - could absolutely qualify. A few critical points for your EDD application: 1. Frame this as "constructive discharge" - you were essentially forced out due to circumstances beyond your control 2. Emphasize the health hazard aspect of the mold (your doctor's note is crucial evidence) 3. Document your good faith efforts to maintain employment despite the obstacles 4. Show that the relocation was the only reasonable option available to you Also, since you're still employed, consider filing a complaint with your local health department about the mold issue. This creates an official government record of the habitability problem, which strengthens your case significantly. Don't let anyone tell you this is automatically a losing case - I've seen similar situations approved, especially when the claimant has strong documentation like you do.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who's navigated EDD claims before, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: Since you're still employed for now, consider documenting EVERYTHING moving forward - every text with your manager about absences, every job application you submit in Watsonville, even screenshots of the impossible bus routes/schedules. The more evidence you have of your genuine efforts to maintain employment, the stronger your case. Also, when you do apply for benefits, don't just upload documents randomly - write a clear cover letter explaining your timeline of events. Start with the mold discovery, landlord's refusal to fix it, your health impacts, the forced relocation, and how that made your job impossible to maintain despite your best efforts. EDD representatives see hundreds of cases, so making yours crystal clear and easy to follow will work in your favor. One thing I learned the hard way: if you get an initial denial, appeal immediately even if you think it's hopeless. The appeals process is where they actually review the human side of your story rather than just checking boxes. Many claims that seem "obviously" denied on first review get approved on appeal once a real person examines the circumstances. You've gotten great advice in this thread - wishing you the best outcome!

Hi everyone, just made a video about how to call the EDD and reach a live human agent: https://youtu.be/-R4SqP7_JUA

I had a similar experience last month where EDD missed my scheduled interview. In my case, I kept certifying as usual and checked my payment status daily. After about a week, my pending payments switched to "paid" without any follow-up interview, so it seemed like they processed my claim anyway. However, I'd recommend calling EDD to confirm the status of your interview and whether it needs to be rescheduled. Sometimes they reschedule automatically, other times the missed call means they're moving forward without it. Keep documenting everything and continue certifying on your regular schedule until you get clarity from them directly.

One more thing that helped me when I was dealing with a similar pending claim issue - if you have a local assembly member or state senator's office nearby, they sometimes have constituent services that can help with EDD issues. I contacted my assembly member's office after being stuck for almost 2 months and they were able to escalate my case directly to EDD. It took about a week after that for someone from EDD to call me back, but they resolved my issue in that one phone call. It's worth looking up who represents your district and giving their office a call - they deal with EDD problems pretty regularly and know how to get things moving. Just another option if the phone calls and other methods don't work out!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My claim has been pending for 5 weeks and I've tried everything - calling dozens of times a day, going to the WorkNet center (which was pretty much useless like others said), and even tried emailing but never got a response. Reading through all these comments has been SO helpful though. I'm definitely going to try that technical support number trick and calling right at 8am. Also going to look up my assembly member - I never knew they could help with EDD issues! It's honestly insane that the system is this broken and we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic help, but I really appreciate everyone sharing what actually worked for them. At least now I have some real strategies to try instead of just randomly calling and hoping for a miracle.

To answer your follow-up question about split severance payments - yes, you report each payment separately during certification for the specific weeks you receive them. So report the first payment during certification that includes May 15, and the second payment during certification that includes June 15. Each will only affect benefits for those specific weeks. One last piece of advice: take screenshots of EVERYTHING. The EDD system can be glitchy, and having documentation of what you submitted and when can save you a lot of headaches if there are any issues with your claim later.

Just wanted to add one more important point that I learned the hard way - make sure to keep detailed records of your severance agreement and any correspondence with your former employer about the payment dates. Sometimes employers change severance payout schedules, and if that happens, you'll need to update EDD during your certification. I had a situation where my company moved my severance date by a week, and I had to explain the discrepancy to EDD later. Having the original agreement and the updated notice from HR made it much easier to resolve. Also, if your severance includes continuation of health benefits or other non-cash compensation, make sure you understand how to report those as well during certification.

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

You can also try logging into your UI Online account if you have one set up - your customer account number should be displayed on your account homepage or in your profile section. If you don't have online access set up yet, you'll need to call EDD directly. The number is 1-800-300-5616, but be prepared for long wait times. Having your Social Security number and other identifying information ready will help speed up the process once you get through to someone.