Another option your cousin should look into is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) if he's been affected by any recent disasters in his area. California has had several federally declared disasters this year, and DUA can provide additional weeks of benefits for people who lost work due to disaster-related reasons - even if it's indirect impact like his manufacturing plant reducing operations because of supply chain issues from disasters. The deadlines for DUA applications are usually pretty strict (typically 30 days from the disaster declaration), but it's worth checking if any recent disasters in his county qualify. He can find this info on the EDD website under "Disaster-Related Benefits" or by calling the DUA hotline directly. Also, has he looked into any union resources if he was in one? Sometimes unions have emergency funds or job placement assistance that people forget about.

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin's situation - it's really tough right now with so few extension options available. Based on what others have shared here, I'd recommend he prioritize these actions immediately: 1. **Training Extension (TE)** - This seems like his best bet since he has 3 weeks left. Have him apply for California Training Benefits (CTB) through his UI Online account ASAP. Manufacturing has good approved training programs, and if approved, he could get up to 26 additional weeks while in training. 2. **CalFresh application** - Don't wait on this one. With two kids, he likely qualifies for substantial food assistance ($400+/month) and can apply while still receiving UI. 3. **Contact EDD directly** - Every situation is different, and he needs official confirmation of his options. If he can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service another member mentioned might be worth considering. The reality is that without COVID-era extensions, options are really limited right now. But the Training Extension could be a game-changer if he qualifies - he'd get benefits while learning new skills that could help him find better work in the long run. Time is critical though, so have him start that CTB application today if possible. Hang in there - it's scary but there are still some options to explore.

I went through this exact same thing last year and it was terrifying at first, but it worked out okay! The most important thing is to act quickly - don't let it sit. I'd recommend calling the EDD appeals office directly if you can get through (good luck with that 😬). Also, if you're low income, look into legal aid services in your area - many offer free help with unemployment appeals. The process is confusing but there are people who can walk you through it step by step. You got this! 💪

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! First, don't panic - I know it's scary but there are definitely options. Here's what helped me: 1) Read through the notice super carefully and make sure you understand exactly what they're claiming and why. 2) If you think there's an error, file an appeal immediately - there's usually a 30-day deadline. 3) If the overpayment is correct but you can't afford to pay it back, definitely look into requesting a waiver for financial hardship. I was able to get mine waived because paying it back would have put me in serious financial trouble. 4) Keep detailed records of everything - every phone call, every document you send. The whole process took about 3 months for me but it was worth fighting it. Also, if you're struggling to get through on the phone, try calling right when they open at 8am. Sending you good vibes - this community has been so helpful for navigating all this EDD chaos! 🙏

Here's what I recommend for your certification: 1. For the week you received the settlement, answer 'Yes' to receiving income 2. Select 'Other' for income type 3. In the explanation box, put 'Settlement wages' 4. Enter the amount from the 'wages' portion only ($3,800) 5. Don't include the penalties portion ($5,200) Your benefit will be reduced that week according to the partial benefits formula. For every dollar over $25 you earn, your benefit is reduced by $1. So if your weekly benefit amount is $450, and you report $3,800, you would receive $0 for that week (but it won't affect future weeks).

I work as a paralegal and have dealt with similar settlement issues for clients. Just wanted to add that you should keep ALL the documentation from this settlement - the breakdown showing wages vs penalties, the check stub, everything. If EDD ever audits or questions this later, you'll want to show exactly how the settlement was categorized. Also, some settlements specify the time period the "wages" portion covers (like back pay for a specific period), which could potentially affect which weeks you report it for. If your settlement docs mention specific dates the wages relate to, you might want to clarify that with EDD. But definitely report the wages portion - better to be overly cautious than deal with overpayment issues down the road!

Does anyone know if there's a way to check the status of your application after you've submitted everything? I'm tired of being in the dark.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I finally got my PFL approved last week! For anyone still struggling with the upload process, here's what worked for me: 1. Use Firefox or Edge instead of Chrome (Chrome kept giving me errors) 2. Make sure your documents are under 5MB each 3. Save everything as PDF format - they seem to prefer that 4. Keep file names simple (no special characters or spaces) The "Upload Documents" section can be tricky to find - it's usually under the "Manage Claim" tab once you're logged in. Don't give up! The system is definitely clunky but it does work eventually. Also echoing what @GalaxyGlider said about screenshots - DEFINITELY do this! I had to prove I submitted something twice because their system "lost" it the first time. 📸 Hang in there everyone - I know it's frustrating but you'll get through it! 💪

UPDATE: My payment finally switched from pending to paid this morning! The EDD website now says the payment was issued today (Monday) so hopefully it will be in my account tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's awesome news! I'm glad your payment finally processed. I'm actually in a similar situation - certified yesterday around 2 PM and mine is still showing pending this morning. Your timeline gives me hope that it should switch to paid by tomorrow. Did you notice any specific time when it changed from pending to paid, or did you just happen to check at the right moment?