Huge congratulations Isabella! 🎉 This is exactly the kind of outcome we love to see here. Your case really highlights how flawed EDD's initial determinations can be - startup funding running out is textbook "lack of work," not misconduct. I'm so glad you didn't give up and fought the decision. For anyone else reading this who's dealing with a similar situation, Isabella's case shows that appeals absolutely can and do work when you have a legitimate claim. The 15-day timeline also seems to be pretty standard right now. Fingers crossed your UI account updates quickly and you get all that backpay without having to make the dreaded EDD phone calls!

Amazing news Isabella! 🎉 This is such a perfect example of why the appeal process exists - EDD's initial determinations are often completely off base, especially when it comes to startup situations. A company running out of funding is literally the definition of a layoff due to lack of work, not misconduct. It's frustrating that you had to go through weeks of stress and uncertainty for something that should have been obvious from the start. The 15-day timeline matches what I've been seeing lately too. Now just keep your fingers crossed that the payment processing goes smoothly - sometimes that's the next hurdle! Make sure to keep certifying and don't hesitate to call if your account doesn't update within a week or so. Your case will definitely give hope to others dealing with similar startup layoff situations.

Thanks everyone for your help! I've decided to accept the subbing position and will carefully report my earnings when I certify. It seems like I'll actually come out ahead financially by doing this. I'll make sure to keep detailed records of my hours and pay just in case. Really appreciate all the advice!

Great question! I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago. I was on UI benefits and got called to substitute teach for just 4 hours. I was so nervous about reporting it, but it turned out to be totally fine. When I certified that week, I reported the gross earnings (about $75) and my weekly benefit amount just got reduced proportionally. I think I ended up with around $60 less in UI benefits, so I still came out ahead by about $15 plus gained some work experience. The key is just being completely honest when you certify - report the exact hours and gross pay. EDD's system is actually set up to handle this kind of part-time work while you're looking for permanent employment. Don't let one person's scary story discourage you from taking work when you need it!

One more thing - when your Money Network card arrives, make sure to activate it immediately AND set up your PIN. I've seen many people delay activation and then face problems when they need to use the card. Also, keep the letter it comes with since it has your account info you'll need for setting up direct deposit later.

Just went through this same situation a few weeks ago! Your old BofA card is definitely dead - EDD completely switched over to Money Network in 2022. The good news is they should automatically mail you the new Money Network card within 5-7 business days after your first payment shows as "paid" (which yours already does). One thing I wish someone had told me - you can actually track your card shipment! Once Money Network processes your card request, they'll send you a text with tracking info if you have your phone number on file with EDD. Also, pro tip: as soon as you get the card, activate it AND immediately set up direct deposit through UI Online. It'll save you so much hassle for future payments. The direct deposit usually kicks in for your next certification cycle, so you won't have to deal with waiting for cards again. Hang in there - I know waiting for that first payment is stressful, especially when you've got rent due!

Glad to hear it worked out! This is exactly why I always tell people to wait before panicking with EDD system messages. Their computers are notorious for showing outdated or confusing statuses while the backend processes are still updating. It's frustrating that they don't have better real-time synchronization, but at least now you know for future reference - if you're receiving payments, your claim is active regardless of what weird messages pop up temporarily.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same scenario about 6 months ago! The "reopen claim" message after getting approved and receiving your first payment is definitely a system glitch that seems to happen pretty regularly. I made the mistake of actually clicking "reopen claim" thinking I had to, and it created a whole mess that took weeks to sort out with EDD. My advice: absolutely do NOT click anything - just wait it out like others have said. The fact that you got your $450 payment means your claim is 100% active and working properly. The UI Online portal just takes time to sync up all the different parts of your claim status. Super frustrating but totally normal!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - DO NOT click that reopen button! I made this exact mistake about 8 months ago when I was new to the system. I thought maybe I was supposed to click it to continue my claim or something, but it completely messed everything up. My payments got suspended for almost a month while they sorted it out, and I had to go through this whole appeals process to get my claim reactivated. The EDD rep I finally spoke to told me that clicking "reopen claim" when your claim is already active essentially tells the system that you want to close your current claim and start a new one, which triggers all sorts of red flags and reviews. The worst part is that during those weeks without payments, I still had to certify but wouldn't get paid until they resolved the issue. It was incredibly stressful financially. So please, just ignore that button completely! If your claim status shows active and you can certify normally, you're all good. The button will eventually disappear on its own.

I'm seeing this thread and wanted to jump in because I JUST went through this exact situation! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago, got my first payment deposited yesterday, and when I logged into UI Online this morning there was that dreaded "reopen your claim" button. I literally had a mini panic attack thinking I had somehow messed up my claim. After reading everyone's responses here, I checked my claim status and it shows "Active" with my benefit year ending in March 2026, plus my next certification date is clearly shown for this Sunday. So I'm definitely going to take everyone's advice and ignore that button completely. It's honestly ridiculous how EDD's system can cause so much unnecessary stress and confusion. Like, why would they even display that option to someone who just received their first payment? It makes no logical sense! But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. You all probably just saved me from creating a huge mess with my claim. Thank you!