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I've been dealing with EDD for about 8 months now and holiday delays are definitely one of those things you learn to expect. For future reference, here's a quick list of federal holidays that will delay your payments: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I keep these dates in my calendar now so I can plan my budget accordingly. Also, if you ever need to contact EDD about payment issues, calling right when they open (8 AM) usually gives you the best chance of getting through without waiting hours.
This is super helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to save this list of federal holidays. As someone new to unemployment benefits, I had no idea how many holidays could affect payments throughout the year. The 8 AM call tip is great too - I'll remember that if I ever need to reach them directly.
I had this exact problem in 2024!! They ended up taking 25% of each payment but I called (took FOREVER to get through) and explained my situation with rent and kids and stuff and they reduced it to 15% for 6 months. So it's worth trying to negotiate but prepare for hell getting through to someone who can actually help. Make sure you have all your financial documents ready to prove hardship when you call.
Just wanted to add that you should also check if your overpayment has any appeal rights still available. Sometimes people don't realize they can still challenge the original overpayment determination even if it's old. I had a friend who successfully appealed a 2022 overpayment in 2024 and got it reduced significantly. The appeal process is separate from the waiver process, so it's worth looking into both options. You can find appeal forms on the EDD website under the "Forms" section. Even if the deadline has passed, you might be able to file for "good cause" to extend the appeal period if you have a valid reason for the delay.
This is really good advice! I didn't even think about appealing the original overpayment. My situation back in 2023 was pretty confusing - I was getting conflicting information from different EDD reps about my eligibility, and I think that's how I ended up with the overpayment in the first place. Do you know if there's a time limit on filing the "good cause" extension? I'm wondering if being given wrong information by EDD staff would count as good cause for missing the original appeal deadline.
When you do get through to EDD, make sure your husband asks about the work sharing program if his hours are just reduced rather than completely eliminated. My brother-in-law is in roofing and they use this during rainy seasons - the company reduces everyone's hours and EDD pays partial benefits to make up some of the difference. It's better than full unemployment in some ways because he doesn't have to do the job search requirements. Just something to consider!
That's actually really helpful! His company has basically just been telling everyone to stay home on rainy days (which has been almost every day lately), but they're still technically employed. I'll definitely have him ask about the work sharing program. That sounds like it might be perfect for this situation. Thank you!
I went through this exact same situation last year! My account got locked after about 8 months of not using it when my seasonal job ended unexpectedly. The key thing is that your husband absolutely has to be the one to call - they won't unlock it for anyone else, even spouses. When I finally got through (took about 2 hours of calling), they asked me tons of verification questions including my previous employers, the exact dates of my last claim, and even details about my last certification. Have him gather all that info before calling. Also, since he's in construction and it's weather-related, that's actually one of the fastest types of claims to process once the account is unlocked. They understand seasonal construction layoffs are legitimate and usually don't require as much documentation. The rep told me weather-related work stoppages are pretty routine for them to handle. One tip that helped me: call right at 8am when they open. The wait times are usually shortest then before everyone else starts calling.
This is super helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to make sure he calls right at 8am - that's a great tip about the wait times being shorter then. I'll help him gather all his employment history and last claim details tonight so he's ready. It's reassuring to hear that weather-related construction claims are routine for them to process. Hopefully we can get this sorted out quickly since the bills aren't going to wait! Really appreciate you sharing your experience.
As a newcomer here, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress while preparing for surgery! Your employer's Monday/Friday restriction policy is completely illegal under California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act. I recently went through something similar when I needed oral surgery - my boss tried to claim I needed "supervisor approval" for any sick days that created a 3-day weekend. Total nonsense! What worked for me was sending a very direct email stating: "I am formally requesting [X] days of accrued paid sick leave for medically necessary surgery recovery from [specific dates]. Per California Labor Code Section 246.5, employers cannot restrict when employees use sick leave for legitimate medical purposes." I attached my doctor's note and made sure to keep copies of everything. My employer backed down within 24 hours once they realized the potential liability. The key is being professional but firm, and showing you understand your rights. If they continue to give you trouble, don't hesitate to file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner's Office - they take these violations seriously and can impose significant penalties. Focus on your health and recovery, that's exactly what paid sick leave is designed for! Wishing you a smooth surgery! 💙
Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing your oral surgery experience! It's incredible how similar these employer tactics are - the "supervisor approval for 3-day weekends" restriction is just as ridiculous as all the other day-of-the-week limitations people have mentioned. It's like they think our bodies can schedule medical recovery around their staffing preferences! Your email template is really helpful - I love how direct and professional it is while clearly stating the law. The fact that your employer backed down within 24 hours just proves how quickly they cave once they realize they're violating labor laws. It gives me so much confidence to see all these success stories where people stood their ground and got the sick leave they were legally entitled to. I'm definitely going to adapt your approach for my situation. Having the doctor's note attached and keeping copies of everything seems to be the consistent advice from everyone here. It's frustrating that we have to become our own advocates and educate our employers about basic worker protections, but clearly it's worth it to get the time off we need for recovery. Thank you for the encouragement about focusing on health and recovery - you're absolutely right that this is exactly what paid sick leave is designed for! Reading all these experiences has really helped me feel prepared to handle this properly.
As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful everyone has been in breaking down this complex situation! Reading through all these experiences has really opened my eyes to how common these employer violations are across California. What strikes me most is how consistent the pattern seems to be: employers try these illegal restrictions on sick leave usage, but they almost always back down immediately once employees demonstrate they know their rights and cite the specific Labor Code sections. It's both frustrating that we have to become legal experts just to use our earned benefits, and empowering to see how effective standing your ground can be. For anyone else dealing with similar employer interference, the advice in this thread is gold: - Always make formal written requests (email creates the perfect paper trail) - Cite California Labor Code Section 246.5 specifically - Emphasize medical necessity rather than just wanting time off - Keep copies of ALL communications - Don't let them intimidate you - the Labor Commissioner's Office has your back Your employer's Monday/Friday restriction policy is textbook interference with protected sick leave rights. Surgery recovery is exactly what paid sick leave is designed for, regardless of which day of the week it falls on. Focus on your health and don't let their illegal policies add stress to an already challenging time. Wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy recovery! This community clearly has your back. 💪
Connor Murphy
Just a quick update for everyone - I checked the EDD website and they've posted a notice saying that payments will be processed as normal but banking transfers will be delayed by one business day due to the federal holiday. So if you normally get paid Monday, expect Tuesday. If you normally get Tuesday, expect Wednesday, etc. You can always check your UI Online account to see if the payment shows as "paid" which means it's been approved and is just waiting for the bank transfer.
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Sofia Ramirez
•Thank you for checking! I just looked at my UI Online and my last certification is showing "paid" for the correct amount, so it sounds like I just need to wait for the transfer to complete tomorrow. That's a relief!
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Zara Rashid
I've been through this situation multiple times and here's what I've learned: MLK Day is a federal holiday so banking systems are closed, which means any EDD payments that would normally deposit on Monday will be delayed until Tuesday. The good news is that EDD still processes your certification on Sunday night as usual - it's just the actual money transfer that gets pushed back a day. I always plan for this during holiday weeks and let my landlord know ahead of time. Better to give them a heads up than deal with late fees!
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Caden Nguyen
•This is such helpful advice! I'm new to dealing with EDD and holiday schedules, so I really appreciate you sharing your experience. The tip about giving landlords a heads up is smart - I'd rather be proactive than deal with late fees too. It's good to know that the certification still processes normally on Sunday, that takes away some of the worry about whether everything is working properly on EDD's end.
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