I just wanted to jump in as someone who's currently going through the EDD system myself - this thread is incredibly helpful! One thing I'd add that I learned recently is to make sure your cousin keeps his job search activities documented too, even after getting the job offer. Until he's actually working full-time hours, EDD still expects him to be "available and actively seeking work." I made the mistake of slacking off on my job search documentation after getting an offer, thinking I was done, but then my start date got pushed back by 3 weeks due to delays with their IT setup. When I certified during those weeks, I had to scramble to show that I was still looking for work since I wasn't working yet. Also, if his employer gives him any kind of employee handbook or orientation materials, he should save those too. Sometimes they contain important details about pay periods, probationary periods, or part-time vs full-time status that might be relevant for EDD reporting later. The more documentation the better when dealing with EDD! It sounds like you're doing a great job helping him think through all of this. Having someone to help navigate the system makes such a difference!

This is such a comprehensive thread! As someone who just went through this exact situation 2 months ago, I can confirm that reporting the orientation hours is absolutely the right call. I was terrified of making a mistake too, but being completely transparent with EDD ended up being the smoothest approach. One small detail I'd add - when your cousin reports the orientation earnings, he should use the gross amount he expects to receive, but if the actual paycheck ends up being different (maybe they rounded hours differently or there were unexpected deductions), he doesn't need to panic. EDD gets quarterly wage reports from employers, so any small discrepancies usually get reconciled automatically in the system. The hardest part for me was the psychological aspect - feeling like I was "cheating" by continuing to collect benefits while technically having a job offer. But my case worker explained that until you're actually working regular hours and earning enough to disqualify you from benefits, you're supposed to keep certifying. The system is designed to help people transition back to work gradually. Your cousin is lucky to have you helping him navigate this! Having someone to bounce questions off of makes such a difference when dealing with EDD's complexity.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation right now. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about that 25% wage reduction threshold. I was also "forced" to quit when my employer cut my hours from full-time to basically part-time, and now EDD is saying I voluntarily quit without good cause. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I found that keeping detailed records of ALL communication with your employer is crucial. I saved every text, email, and even wrote down dates/times of verbal conversations about my schedule changes. The more documentation you have showing you tried to work with them and that the hour reduction wasn't your choice, the stronger your case will be. @Ravi Patel - based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for constructive discharge. Going from 38 to 15-18 hours is definitely over that 25% threshold. I'm planning to represent myself too after reading these responses. We've got this!

Just want to add another success story to hopefully give you more confidence! I went through almost the exact same thing in 2022 - hours cut from 40 to about 12 per week, employer claimed it was "temporary" but it went on for months. I represented myself at the appeal hearing and won. The key things that helped me: 1) I calculated the exact percentage my wages were reduced (it was about 70% reduction), 2) I brought evidence that I actively looked for other work while still employed there, and 3) I showed that I gave my employer reasonable time to restore my hours before quitting. The hearing itself was about 20 minutes over the phone. The judge was actually very understanding and seemed familiar with these types of cases. What really sealed it was when I referenced that EDD regulation about wage reductions being good cause - the judge even thanked me for citing the specific regulation number. Your case sounds even stronger than mine was since you have documentation of trying to resolve it with your manager. Don't let them intimidate you - these constructive discharge cases are very winnable when you have clear evidence of significant hour reductions!

One more important tip: When you mail your appeals, send them by certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof of when you submitted each appeal, which is crucial if there's ever a question about whether you met the deadlines. Keep copies of everything you send as well as your certified mail receipts. Also, after submitting your appeals, watch your mail carefully for hearing notices. Sometimes these can be scheduled with relatively short notice, and missing a hearing typically results in losing your appeal by default.

I went through this exact same nightmare situation! Got 5 different determination letters over 2 weeks with overlapping but slightly different accusations. Here's what I learned the hard way: 1. Appeal EVERY SINGLE LETTER separately - don't assume the redetermination replaces anything unless it explicitly states that in writing 2. Use certified mail for each appeal and keep tracking numbers 3. Write specific responses addressing the exact allegations in each letter (don't just copy/paste the same response) 4. Include all determination letter numbers and dates in your appeals even if they seem related The EDD's computer system is ancient and treats each determination as a separate case. I made the mistake of only appealing 3 out of 5 letters thinking some were duplicates, and those 2 became final determinations that I'm still fighting today. Also pro tip - if you can't get through to EDD by phone (and you probably can't), document EVERYTHING you tried to do to contact them. Print screenshots of busy signals, keep call logs, etc. This can help in your appeal if they claim you didn't try to resolve issues before the deadline. Don't let the multiple forms intimidate you - it's better to be over-thorough than to miss something and regret it later!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation - I have a small monthly pension distribution ($475) from my former job and was completely unsure about how to handle it during certification. I made the mistake of not mentioning it when I first filed my claim over the phone because I honestly didn't think about it at the time. After reading through everyone's experiences and advice, it's crystal clear that I need to report it and mark "yes" during certification. The explanation about EDD being more concerned with intentional fraud rather than honest mistakes from people genuinely trying to comply is really reassuring. I was terrified about potential penalties, but it sounds like being transparent going forward is the best approach. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records like Jessica suggested - a simple spreadsheet with payment dates and amounts seems like the smart way to stay organized. It's frustrating that the system is so confusing for regular people, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can help each other figure things out. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - you've really helped ease my anxiety about this whole process!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I have a monthly pension payment of $525 from my old job and was completely panicked about whether to report it. Like many others here, I didn't mention it during my initial phone application because I honestly didn't think about it in the moment - the whole process happened so fast and I was focused on getting through all the employment history questions. After reading through everyone's experiences, it's absolutely clear that I need to report it during certification and check "yes" for receiving income. What really helped was understanding that EDD is primarily concerned with intentional fraud, not honest mistakes from people genuinely trying to follow the rules. The detailed explanations about the benefit reduction formula were super helpful too - it sounds like most of us will still receive some unemployment benefits even with retirement income. I'm definitely going to implement the spreadsheet tracking system that Jessica mentioned. Having detailed records with exact dates and amounts seems like the smart way to stay organized and avoid any potential issues down the road. It's both frustrating and comforting to know that so many of us are navigating this same confusion. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with such a stressful and confusing system!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar ID verification issue right now and was about to mail my documents like the rep told me to. Thank you everyone for mentioning ID.me - I had no idea that was even an option! It's ridiculous that EDD reps aren't consistently telling people about the faster online verification method. Going to check my UI Online account right now to look for that ID.me link. Hopefully I can get this sorted out quickly like you did Maxwell!

Just went through this exact same frustrating experience last month! The first EDD rep I spoke with also only mentioned mailing documents and made it sound like that was my only option. I was so stressed about sending my original ID through the mail. Thankfully I found out about ID.me through this community - completed the verification in about 20 minutes and my claim was approved within 48 hours. It's honestly inexcusable that some reps aren't informing people about the faster digital option. For anyone still dealing with this - definitely try the ID.me route first before resorting to mailing anything. And if you need to call EDD again, don't be afraid to ask specifically about digital verification options if they only mention mail-in documents.