I'm new to this community but going through something similar right now. I was a project manager making $78k and just got scheduled for one of these interviews after my UI claim got flagged. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if they consider remote work opportunities differently? Most of the management positions I'm qualified for in my area are now remote or hybrid, which opens up way more opportunities but also means I'm competing nationally. I'm wondering if EDD factors that into their "suitable work" calculations or if they still expect me to consider only local positions. Also, for those who've been through this - how long was your actual interview? I'm trying to plan my day around it but the notice just says "allow sufficient time" which isn't very helpful. Thanks for all the insights everyone has shared here!

Just went through this exact interview process two months ago after transitioning from PFL back to UI! Here's what I wish I had known beforehand: First, they DO understand that your field (healthcare administration) typically has fewer openings than retail/service jobs, so 3-4 quality applications per week is generally acceptable IF you can show they're well-targeted. What saved me was demonstrating that I was also doing other job search activities - attending virtual networking events, working with healthcare recruiters, updating my professional certifications, etc. During my interview, the EDD rep spent about 30 minutes going through my job search log and asked very specific questions: "Why didn't you apply to this coordinator position that paid $65k?" and "Have you considered temporary or contract management roles?" Be ready to articulate your reasoning for each decision. The biggest thing that helped was showing flexibility within reason. I emphasized that while I was focusing on management roles, I was also open to senior coordinator positions at healthcare systems or consulting firms that utilized my experience. This showed I wasn't being unrealistic while still advocating for appropriate-level work. One tip: if you have any healthcare management certifications or are considering pursuing additional ones during your job search, mention this! It shows you're actively working to stay competitive in your field rather than just waiting for the perfect job to appear. You'll do great - having 12+ years of management experience actually works in your favor because EDD recognizes the value of appropriate job matching for retention purposes.

I'm so sorry you're going through this @Zoe Wang - this is absolutely infuriating! As someone new to this community, I'm shocked by how common these retroactive reviews are becoming. The fact that EDD is targeting people who were completely honest about their medical situations during a global pandemic feels like they're punishing vulnerability. Your case sounds really strong for appeal though. Being immunocompromised with doctor's documentation during COVID should absolutely qualify you for accommodations rather than complete work disability. The distinction between needing reasonable accommodations vs being totally unable to work seems to be the key legal issue here. I'm taking notes from all the excellent advice in this thread - especially about getting updated doctor letters that specifically mention ability to work remotely, filing the DE 1000M appeal form ASAP, and requesting financial hardship waivers. The success stories like @Carmen Vega's are really encouraging! It's disgusting that they approved everyone quickly in 2020-2021 without proper review, then come back years later with these "gotcha" reversals when people have already spent that money on basic survival needs. You acted in complete good faith and deserve to have your original approval upheld. Please keep us updated on your appeal progress - you've got this whole community supporting you! 💪

I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in with some encouragement after reading your story @Zoe Wang. What EDD is doing to you and others is absolutely outrageous - targeting people years later who were completely honest about their medical situations during a global pandemic. As someone who's been lurking and reading these stories, I'm shocked by how systematic this seems to be. They rubber-stamped approvals in 2020-2021 when people desperately needed help, and now they're coming back with these retroactive "gotcha" determinations when folks have already used that money to survive. Your case sounds really solid for appeal though. Being immunocompromised with medical documentation during COVID absolutely should qualify you for work accommodations rather than complete disability. The fact that you were actively seeking remote work while protecting your health shows you were genuinely "able and available" for suitable employment. All the advice here about getting updated doctor letters, filing the DE 1000M form quickly, and documenting your work search activities sounds spot-on. Success stories like @Carmen Vega's prove these wrongful determinations can be overturned with proper preparation. Don't let EDD intimidate you into paying back money you legitimately qualified for. You acted in good faith during an unprecedented crisis and deserve to have your original approval upheld. This community has your back - please keep us posted on how your appeal goes! 💪

Update: I filed my claim today using the regular UI Online application like you all suggested. It did ask for my Nevada employer information and had a checkbox to indicate it was out-of-state employment. The system accepted my application and gave me a confirmation number. Now I just have to wait for them to process it and hopefully contact Nevada without any issues. Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad to see you got your claim filed! Just wanted to add that if you run into any delays during processing, don't panic - interstate claims can sometimes get stuck in the system for various technical reasons. If you need to follow up after a few weeks, try calling early in the morning (around 8:00-8:30 AM) when call volumes are lower. Also keep all your documentation from your Nevada job handy - sometimes they'll ask for additional verification even after the initial application. The good news is once it's approved, your benefit amount will be based on your Nevada wages, so if you were making good money there it should work in your favor. Best of luck with the process!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to unemployment benefits and seeing all these different acronyms and payment types was really confusing me. It's great to know that FAC was the federal boost during COVID - I was worried I was missing out on something I should be getting. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this clearly for those of us who are still figuring out how all this works!

This thread has been so informative! I'm currently dealing with EDD for the first time and was completely puzzled when I saw "FAC" listed in some old payment records I was reviewing. I thought it might be some kind of error or fee that was deducted. It's such a relief to learn it was actually additional money from the federal government during COVID. The way everyone has explained the difference between state benefits and federal programs really helps me understand my payment breakdown better. Thanks to everyone who took the time to clarify this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was panicking that I'd lose all my benefits. One thing I want to add for anyone else reading - if you're doing gig work or freelance like Uber, DoorDash, or freelance writing, make sure you keep detailed records of your hours and earnings. EDD sometimes audits these and you'll need proof of when you worked and how much you made. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything by week. Also, don't forget that if you have a week where you don't work at all, you still need to certify and report $0 earnings to get your full WBA. The system is actually pretty reasonable once you understand how it works!

I've been dealing with this same confusion for months! What really helped me was calling EDD and having them walk through an example with my actual numbers. The rep explained that the 75% deduction formula actually protects workers - if they did a straight dollar-for-dollar deduction like some other states, you'd lose way more. With your $450 WBA and $480 earnings, you're actually getting $570 total income that week ($480 earnings + $90 partial benefit) versus just $450 if you didn't work at all. The system rewards working! Just make sure when you report freelance work that you report it for the week you actually did the work, not when you got paid. I learned that the hard way when payments came in late and it messed up my certification timing.