I just wanted to share my recent experience to give you some reassurance! I got my EDD claim approved 2 weeks ago and was in the exact same panic mode about when my Money Network card would arrive. Mine ended up taking exactly 8 business days from when my payment showed "paid" status. I'm in the Bay Area for reference. The envelope really is super plain looking - almost threw it away thinking it was some random bank marketing mail! Once I activated it online, all my back payments were available immediately. The worst part is definitely the waiting and not knowing, but based on everyone's experiences here, you should be getting yours any day now. Hang in there!

I'm literally going through this exact same situation right now! Got approved 6 days ago and have been refreshing my UI Online account constantly to see if anything changes. It's such a relief to read everyone's experiences here - sounds like most people get their cards within 7-10 business days, so I'm trying to stay patient. Already signed up for that USPS Informed Delivery service someone mentioned, which is brilliant! At least now I can see what's coming in my mail each day instead of just hoping. The anxiety is so real when you have rent and bills coming up. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - it really helps to know this waiting period is totally normal even though it feels endless when you're living it!

I work in IT and had to help my brother with this exact issue. The CUIAB site has SSL certificate issues with some browsers. Try using your phone instead of computer. For some reason the mobile version works better. Also check your account activation email - sometimes the initial login link needs to be clicked before you can use your credentials (even after password resets).

I'm so glad to see this got resolved! @Emma Davis your experience highlights a really common issue with government websites - they often have compatibility problems with desktop browsers but work fine on mobile. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues, here's a quick checklist: 1. Try mobile first (as @CosmicCrusader suggested) 2. Check spam folder for activation emails 3. Create simple usernames without special characters 4. Clear cache/cookies completely 5. Try different browsers 6. Use the email backup option if all else fails It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access services we're entitled to, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - this thread is going to help a lot of people!

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

From what I've heard from others who've been through the backdate interview process, they typically ask about why you didn't file your claim earlier, what prevented you from filing on time, and details about your employment situation during the period you're trying to backdate. They want to understand if there was good cause for the delay. Make sure you have documentation ready to support your reasons - like medical records if you were sick, or any other evidence that shows why you couldn't file earlier. The 6-8 week timeframe sounds about right unfortunately. Stay persistent and keep following up! Good luck with your interview!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The questionnaire and eligibility review is actually pretty standard - they have to do it whenever someone was terminated to make sure it wasn't for misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits. When you call, they'll basically go through your questionnaire responses with you again and might ask for clarification on specific points. The key things that helped me: 1) Have all your termination paperwork ready (termination letter, final pay stub, etc.), 2) Write down a clear timeline of events leading up to your firing, 3) Be completely honest but stick to the facts - don't get emotional or badmouth your former employer. The call took about 30 minutes for me, and I got my determination letter 2 weeks later (approved!). The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but most people who weren't fired for serious misconduct do get approved. Try calling first thing in the morning - I got through around 8:05 AM on my third try. You've got this! 💪

I'm actually going through something similar right now! Just submitted my termination questionnaire last week and I'm already anxious about what comes next. Reading through all these responses has been really reassuring though - it sounds like this eligibility review process is way more common than I initially thought. I've been gathering all my documentation (termination letter, final paystub, any relevant emails) and writing down a clear timeline of what happened leading up to my firing. One thing I'm wondering - for those of you who successfully got through this process, did EDD end up contacting your former employer directly as part of their review? I'm curious if they do their own fact-checking or if they mainly rely on what you and your employer initially reported. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it's really helping me feel more prepared for when I make that call! 🙏

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! Your employer is definitely trying to game the system to avoid their unemployment insurance costs going up. This is unfortunately really common, but the good news is you have strong documentation on your side. A few additional tips that might help: - If you have any emails or text messages you sent to friends/family right after the layoff mentioning you were let go, those can serve as contemporaneous evidence - Check if your company issued any press releases or internal communications about the RIF that you could reference - If you received COBRA paperwork, that's also evidence of involuntary termination since people who quit usually aren't eligible The fact that you have official RIF documentation puts you in a much stronger position than many people dealing with contested claims. EDD sees this employer tactic all the time and they know what to look for. Keep pushing forward with all your evidence and don't let them intimidate you into giving up. You were legitimately laid off and deserve those benefits!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you're already dealing with job loss! Your case sounds very strong though. Having official RIF paperwork that explicitly states it was an involuntary termination is exactly the kind of documentation EDD needs to see. One thing I'd suggest is to also check if your company filed a WARN notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) if the layoff was large enough. These are public records and would further prove it was a legitimate reduction in force, not individual resignations. Also, when you submit your written statement to EDD, be very specific about the meeting where you were informed of the layoff - include who was present, what was said word-for-word if you remember, and emphasize that you were told your position was eliminated, not that you had any choice in the matter. The fact that you received severance is also a huge point in your favor. Companies don't typically give severance packages to people who quit voluntarily. Make sure EDD has a copy of that severance agreement too. Hang in there - with all the documentation you have, this should resolve in your favor once EDD reviews everything properly.