I finally got through to someone at the Appeals Office this morning! They told me the postponement was due to the judge having a medical emergency. They couldn't give me an exact date yet, but said it would likely be rescheduled within 2-3 weeks and that I'd get priority scheduling. I also submitted all my documentation via email like someone here suggested, and they confirmed receipt. Still frustrating, but at least I know what's happening now.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through something similar last year and I know how devastating it feels when you've prepared everything and taken time off work. In my case, the postponement was due to a scheduling conflict with multiple cases, and it took about 3 weeks to get a new date. One thing I learned - when you call the Appeals Office tomorrow, ask them to put a note in your file that you had to take unpaid time off for the original hearing. Sometimes they can expedite rescheduling for people who had significant impacts from the postponement. Also, since your manager was willing to testify, maybe see if they can provide a written statement too, just as backup in case the timing doesn't work out again. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're struggling financially, but hang in there. Most people I've talked to who made it to their actual hearing had positive outcomes, especially with misclassification cases if you have good documentation. Sending you positive thoughts that this gets resolved quickly!

Hey Diego! I went through this exact same situation last year when I was laid off from my job at Kaiser. Large healthcare systems can definitely be slow with their employer verification responses - they have up to 10 business days to respond to EDD's inquiry, and some take the full time. Since you mentioned rent is due next week, here are a few immediate suggestions: 1. Contact your landlord ASAP to explain the situation - many are understanding about EDD delays if you communicate proactively 2. Look into local emergency rental assistance programs in your area - many counties have funds specifically for people waiting on unemployment 3. Check if your former employer has any emergency hardship funds available for laid-off employees For the EDD situation, keep trying to call first thing in the morning (8 AM sharp). If you can't get through by early next week, consider using Claimyr or similar services - the $20-30 fee is worth it when you're facing eviction. The good news is that once your claim does get approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been eligible, so hang in there! The system is definitely overwhelmed right now but your claim will eventually process.

Hey Diego! I see you're getting some great advice here. Just wanted to add that for emergency rental assistance programs, you can start with 211.org - just enter your zip code and it'll show local programs. Also try searching "[your county name] emergency rental assistance" - most counties have COVID relief funds that are still active. One more tip: if you do get through to EDD and they say your employer hasn't responded yet, ask them to send a "second request" to your employer. Sometimes that speeds things up. Also ask for the specific timeline - they should be able to tell you exactly when the 10-day employer response period expires. The waiting is absolutely brutal but you're doing everything right. Keep checking UI Online daily and definitely try that 8 AM call strategy!

I'm in the exact same boat - just got laid off from my product management role two weeks ago and the $450 weekly benefit feels like a cruel joke when my previous salary was $140k. What really gets me is that I've been paying into this system for over a decade, and now when I actually need support, it doesn't even come close to covering basic living expenses in the Bay Area. I've already started implementing some survival strategies: - Cut all discretionary spending immediately (goodbye $200/month in random subscriptions I forgot about) - Applied for CalFresh and got approved for $194/month - Started freelance product consulting - being very careful to report earnings accurately - Reached out to my mortgage company about forbearance options - Applied to every relevant job opening I can find, treating job search like my new full-time job The psychological impact is honestly harder than the financial one right now. Going from feeling secure to rationing groceries is a humbling experience. But reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that this is temporary if I stay focused on landing something new quickly. For anyone else going through this - we really need to advocate for updating these benefit amounts. A system designed in 2005 simply doesn't work in 2024's economy.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - got laid off from my marketing role 3 weeks ago where I was making about $75k, and seeing that $450 weekly benefit was absolutely devastating. The math is just impossible when you're trying to cover rent, utilities, groceries, and other basic expenses in California. What's helped me so far: - Immediately applied for CalFresh (waiting on approval but expecting around $200/month) - Negotiated payment plans with my credit card companies and student loan servicer - Started doing some freelance social media work - keeping track of every penny for certification - Applied for rental assistance through my county program - Using food banks when needed (swallowing pride was hard but necessary) The reality is that even with all these strategies, I'm still burning through my emergency fund faster than I'd like. I'm treating this as a sprint to find new employment rather than trying to make the UI benefits work long-term, because they simply can't. What's most frustrating is knowing that other states have much higher benefit caps. We really need to pressure California legislators to update this antiquated system. In the meantime, we just have to get creative and lean on every available resource while job hunting like our lives depend on it - because they kind of do.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed my claim three weeks ago and my weekly benefit is only $240, which seems really low based on my previous job's salary. After reading through all these comments, I'm pretty sure it's the base period issue everyone's talking about. I had a period of unemployment about 8 months ago where I was doing some freelance work that paid much less than my regular job. It's so confusing that they don't use your most recent earnings - seems like that would give a much more accurate picture of what you actually need to cover your expenses. I've been putting off calling because I know how impossible it is to get through, but seeing that Owen finally connected gives me some motivation to try the 8am trick. Really wish EDD would just send a clear breakdown with the award letter explaining exactly how they calculated everything instead of making us all play detective!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim two weeks ago and my weekly benefit is only $305, which is way less than I expected based on my salary from my previous tech job. Reading through all these comments about the base period calculation really opened my eyes - I had no idea they don't use your most recent quarters. I switched from a lower-paying job to a much higher-paying one about 10 months ago, so they're probably using my old wages in the calculation. It's so counterintuitive that they wouldn't use your most recent earnings to determine what you need to live on! I've been dreading calling because everyone talks about how impossible it is to get through, but seeing Owen's success with the 8am trick gives me hope. Going to set my alarm and try first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I understand why my amount is so low, even if I don't like it!

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and completely understand your anxiety! When I got that "something that can make you ineligible" message after reporting my $4,800 severance, I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my claim. But it really is just standard procedure when any severance is reported - their system automatically triggers the interview requirement. During my phone interview, the EDD representative was actually pretty straightforward and professional. They asked: 1) Why I was separated from work (layoff vs. firing vs. quitting), 2) Whether my severance was paid as a lump sum or ongoing payments, 3) If there were any work restrictions in my severance agreement, and 4) Whether I was available for full-time work and actively job searching. The whole interview took about 20 minutes, and I had my benefits approved within 2 business days afterward. My biggest advice is to have your termination letter and severance agreement documents ready to reference, and keep your answers clear and direct. Since you were laid off due to position elimination and received a lump sum payment, you should be in good shape. The fact that you reported everything honestly from the start definitely works in your favor!

I'm a former EDD claims specialist and can confirm that reporting severance automatically triggers an eligibility interview - it's completely normal and doesn't mean you did anything wrong. The interview is mainly to distinguish between severance that counts as "wages" (which could delay benefits) versus a lump sum payment for past service (which typically doesn't affect eligibility). Since you mentioned your position was eliminated and you received a one-time payment, you should be fine. The key things they'll verify: your separation was involuntary, the severance structure, and that you're available for work. Have your layoff documentation ready and answer their questions directly without over-explaining. Most people in your situation get approved within a few days after the interview. You did the right thing by reporting everything honestly!