Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I'll definitely keep certifying until I get my first paycheck, and I'll make sure to accurately report my hours even before I get paid. I'll also take screenshots of everything just to be safe. Really appreciate all the tips - this community has been so helpful throughout my unemployment journey!

Congrats on the new job, Lucas! Just wanted to add one more tip that saved me - when you're reporting your work hours during certification, make sure you report the GROSS hours worked, not just the hours you'll be paid for. So if you work 40 hours but your employer doesn't pay for your lunch break, you still report 40 hours to EDD. I made this mistake in my first certification after getting hired and it caused some confusion later. Also, if your new job offers any training pay or signing bonuses, those count as earnings too and should be reported in the week you receive them. Good luck with the new position!

I'm new to this community and currently navigating my first experience with unemployment benefits. This entire thread has been incredibly educational about what to actually expect with the DE 2500A continued claim form! As someone who's completely unfamiliar with the EDD system, I had no idea that properly reported income could trigger automatic manual review, or that the online portal basically gives you no useful information about what's really happening with your claim. The range of processing times everyone has shared (8 days to a month+) is pretty daunting from a financial planning perspective, but the consistent advice about calling around day 7-8 at 8am or 11:30am seems like a solid strategy. It's honestly frustrating that we have to rely on community knowledge like this to understand basic processes that should be clearly explained by EDD itself. The fact that so many issues can be resolved immediately once you actually speak to a representative makes the whole "processing" status even more misleading. I'm bookmarking all these tips and timelines for future reference - this real-world insight is way more valuable than anything I've found on the official EDD website. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your specific experiences and outcomes!

As someone who's been helping people navigate EDD issues for a while now, I wanted to add a few additional tips based on what I'm seeing in this thread. First, when you do get through to a rep, ask them specifically to check for "stop payments" or "eligibility flags" on your account - sometimes they'll just look at the basic status without digging deeper. Second, if you had any weeks where you worked even a single day during your benefit year, make sure you have the exact dates and earnings amounts ready when you call, as they often need to verify these against their records. Third, I've noticed that 2500A forms submitted between Tuesday-Thursday tend to get picked up faster than weekend submissions, though this could just be coincidence. The most important thing is don't let them tell you to "just wait" if you're past 10 business days - there's almost always something specific causing the delay that can be addressed immediately. Keep detailed notes of every call including rep names and reference numbers - this has saved several of my clients when they needed to call back. The system is definitely broken in terms of transparency, but persistence really does pay off!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still dealing with this. I'm a digital nomad who's been collecting CA unemployment while traveling (legitimately - I'm still available for remote work in CA). After trying multiple VPNs that all got blocked, I found that Surfshark's "NoBorders" mode worked for about 2 weeks before EDD caught on. But honestly, after reading everyone's experiences here, I think calling EDD directly is the way to go. The temporary workarounds aren't worth the risk of getting your account flagged. @GalaxyGlider your update gives me hope that they're reasonable about legitimate travel situations. Planning to call them before my next trip to get ahead of any issues.

I've been dealing with this exact issue for months! I'm currently in the Philippines caring for my elderly mother and had the same problem with EDD blocking my VPN access. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I used a dedicated IP from PureVPN (costs extra but gives you a static residential IP that's less likely to be flagged) AND I called EDD proactively to explain my situation. The rep was surprisingly understanding and added a note to my account about legitimate overseas travel while remaining available for CA work. The key is being completely honest about your circumstances and emphasizing that you're still actively job searching and available for California-based remote positions. Don't try to hide your location - it's better to work WITH EDD rather than trying to circumvent their security. Also keep detailed records of your work search activities while abroad as they may ask for this during your call.

I've been through this exact nightmare so many times! That moment when the music stops is like EDD Russian roulette - you never know if you're about to win the lottery and get a human or if you're just entering another circle of phone hell. Here's what I've learned after probably 50+ attempts: when the music cuts out but you're still connected, you're usually either being transferred to an agent OR there's been a system hiccup. The problem is both scenarios look identical from your end - just silence and static. My survival method now: Speaker phone immediately, set phone timer for 16 minutes, and tap the # key every 3-4 minutes to keep the connection alive (learned this trick from a rep who took pity on me). If no human voice by 16 minutes, I force myself to hang up even though it kills me to lose my spot. The hardest part is that I've gotten through after 22 minutes of pure static before, but I've also wasted 45+ minutes on completely dead lines. It's basically gambling at this point. One thing that's helped tremendously: calling at exactly 8:01 AM (not 8:00 - everyone tries then). The system is much more stable before the daily chaos begins. Also, Wednesday mornings seem to have shorter wait times in my experience. This whole system is beyond broken and we shouldn't need PhD-level strategies just to file for benefits we've earned, but don't give up! Sometimes the universe rewards patience, even with EDD's disaster of a phone system.

This is such a frustrating experience that so many of us have been through! I've found myself in this exact situation multiple times - that dreaded moment when the music stops but you're still technically connected, leaving you wondering if you should celebrate or start panicking. From my experience, when this happens you're usually either being transferred to the next available agent (which can take 10-20 minutes of complete silence) or there's been a technical issue on their end. The impossible part is that both scenarios look exactly the same from your perspective. Here's what's worked best for me: immediately put the call on speaker, set a timer for 15 minutes from when the music stops, and press a random key like * or # every 4-5 minutes to signal the system you're still active. If no human picks up by the 15-minute mark, I reluctantly hang up and redial - as heartbreaking as it is to lose your place in queue. I've actually gotten through after 17+ minutes of pure static before, so don't give up too quickly! The key is staying busy during the wait so the anxiety doesn't consume you. Also, try calling right at 8 AM when they first open - the system is much more stable before it gets overloaded later in the day. This whole EDD phone system is absolutely ridiculous and we shouldn't need these survival strategies just to access our benefits, but hang in there! Your persistence will eventually pay off, even though the process is incredibly frustrating. You've got this!

I've been using Money Network for my EDD payments for about 4 months now and can confirm everything everyone's said here. The 2-3 business day transfer time to Chase is pretty much guaranteed in my experience - I've never had it take longer than 3 days. One thing I'd add that might help with your timing stress: Money Network actually sends you email notifications when your transfer status changes. So you'll get an email when it goes from "pending" to "processing" and another when it's "completed" and the funds are on their way to Chase. It's really helpful for tracking progress without having to constantly check the app. Also, since this is your first time doing this, just a heads up that Chase might put a brief hold on the incoming transfer (like 24 hours max) if it's a larger amount, but that's pretty rare and usually only for amounts over $1,000. Your first EDD payment probably won't trigger that. The ATM backup plan is definitely the way to go for peace of mind. I always tell people to think of the $3-6 in fees as "stress insurance" - totally worth it when rent is on the line! Sounds like you've got a solid plan figured out. The Money Network system is actually pretty reliable once you get used to it, way better than the old Bank of America setup they used to have.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been dealing with Money Network transfers for a while now! Everyone's given you great advice here - the 2-3 business day timeline is definitely accurate in my experience. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you're really stressed about the timing, you can also check with your landlord about paying rent with a money order. You can get a money order at most grocery stores or post offices using cash from your ATM withdrawal, and many landlords accept them just like checks. It might be faster than waiting for the electronic transfer if you're cutting it really close! Also, pro tip for future payments - I always initiate my Money Network transfer the same day I get the payment notification email. That way I never have to worry about timing again. The automatic transfer feature others mentioned is also a lifesaver once you get it set up. You're handling this really well for your first time navigating the system. The combination of electronic transfer + ATM backup is exactly what I'd recommend. Good luck with everything!