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This thread has been such a revelation! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with Error Code E0020 myself - been stuck for 2 days now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both frustrating and reassuring. Frustrating because it's clear EDD reps are completely clueless about the off-peak hours workaround that actually works, and reassuring because so many people have found success with the midnight login trick. I called EDD yesterday and got the typical "wait 48 hours for system maintenance" response with zero mention of trying during low-traffic hours. It's honestly shameful that their own support team doesn't know about solutions that clearly help the majority of people experiencing this error. I'm definitely setting my alarm for 12:30am tonight to try logging in based on all the success stories here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community is providing better customer service than EDD itself! Will update tomorrow with hopefully good news.
Welcome to the community! Your frustration is completely understandable - I'm also new here and it's shocking how much more helpful this thread has been than actual EDD support. The consistency of success stories with the midnight login approach is really encouraging. I'm in the same boat as you, planning to try tonight around 12:30am based on everyone's experiences. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to crowdsource these solutions when EDD should be training their reps properly. Fingers crossed for both of us tonight! This community really is a game-changer for navigating EDD's broken system.
I'm dealing with the exact same Error Code E0020 issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Been stuck for 3 days and getting nowhere with EDD's phone support - they keep giving the same "wait 48 hours" response without mentioning the off-peak hours workaround that clearly works for most people here. It's amazing (and frustrating) how this community has figured out real solutions while EDD's own reps seem clueless. The consistency of success stories with the midnight login trick is really encouraging - seems like 11pm-2am is the sweet spot when server load is lightest. Definitely going to try tonight at 12:30am based on everyone's experiences. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive space! This community is providing better guidance than EDD's actual customer service. Will report back tomorrow with hopefully good news!
Welcome to the community and I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! I just joined recently after having similar EDD nightmares, and this thread has been such a lifesaver. It's incredible how many people here have had success with the midnight login trick - definitely try between 11:30pm-1:30am when the system load is lowest. I'm actually planning to try the same approach tonight for a different EDD issue I'm having. It's so disappointing that we have to rely on community forums to get real solutions while EDD reps just give generic responses. This group has been more helpful than multiple calls to EDD combined! Please update us tomorrow on how it goes - your success story could help the next person dealing with E0020. Good luck tonight!
Question for anyone who knows - I'm in a kinda similar situation (filed 4 months after layoff) and my interview is tomorrow. If they approve my claim, will I get benefits starting from when I filed or could they potentially backdate it? I've been certifying every two weeks since I filed even though nothing has been paid yet because of the pending interview.
Generally, benefits start from when you filed, not your last day of work, unless you specifically request backdating and have good cause for the delay (like illness, technology issues, or EDD misinformation). Keep certifying as you're doing - if approved, you'll get paid for those weeks you've certified for since filing.
Just wanted to follow up - how did your interview go? I'm curious because my cousin is in almost the exact same situation (waited about 5 months to file after being laid off).
That's great news! Thanks for the update - this gives me hope for my cousin's situation. It sounds like being honest about using savings was the right approach. Did they ask for any specific documentation during the interview, or was it mostly just verbal questions?
@CyberSiren That's such a relief to hear! I was in a similar boat last year - waited about 6 months after my layoff to file because I was doing freelance work that barely covered expenses. The interview can definitely be nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you handled it well. For anyone else in this situation, the key really is being upfront about your circumstances. EDD seems to appreciate honesty more than perfect timing. Congrats on getting through it!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you apply initially, you'll need to provide details about your delivery work like when you started, how often you work, and your average earnings. EDD might ask for documentation like your 1099 from last year or screenshots of your earnings from the delivery app. I'd gather those documents before starting your application so you're not scrambling to find them mid-process. Also, don't stress too much about the exact dollar amounts - they understand gig work income can vary week to week. Just be as accurate as possible with what you have.
That's really smart advice about gathering the documents beforehand! I was already dreading having to dig through old paperwork in the middle of filling out forms. I have my 1099 from last year and can easily pull up earnings summaries from the delivery app. One quick question - when they ask about "how often you work" for the delivery job, should I say something like "weekends only" or be more specific about hours? My schedule is pretty flexible so it's not like I work set hours.
For the "how often you work" question, I'd recommend being as specific as possible while still being honest about the flexibility. Something like "primarily weekends, approximately 10-15 hours per week, schedule varies based on demand" gives them a clear picture without boxing yourself into exact times. EDD understands that gig work is inherently flexible - they just want to know the general pattern so they can assess your availability for other work. The key is consistency between what you report initially and what you report during your biweekly certifications.
Adding to what everyone has said - make sure you understand the difference between "gross" and "net" earnings when reporting your delivery income. EDD wants your gross earnings (before gas, car expenses, etc.) not what you actually take home after expenses. A lot of gig workers get confused about this since apps like DoorDash show you different totals. Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries that show the gross amount you earned, because that's what you'll need to report during certification. Your actual business expenses get handled separately when you file taxes, not through EDD reporting.
This is such an important distinction that I didn't even think about! I was planning to just report what I actually pocket after gas and wear-and-tear on my car, but you're absolutely right - they want the gross amount before any expenses. That could be a pretty significant difference depending on how much driving I do. Thanks for clarifying this because I definitely would have reported the wrong numbers otherwise. Do you know if the delivery apps typically make it easy to see the gross earnings, or do I need to do some math to figure it out?
Update: I just finished setting up direct deposit after my certification payment cleared! The process was super easy - took maybe 3 minutes total. They ask for your routing number, account number, and you have to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN. There's also a confirmation step where you have to verify all the information before submitting. According to the confirmation page, my next payment should go straight to my bank account. SO relieved to finally be done with that Money Network card!
Did they give you any kind of timeline for when the first direct deposit will happen? I'm still worried they'll find a way to mess this up somehow... can't trust EDD to do ANYTHING right the first time!
@AstroAlpha The confirmation page said that payments will switch to direct deposit starting with the next certification cycle after setup. So if I certify this Sunday, that payment should go directly to my bank instead of the card. They also mentioned it takes 1-2 business days for the first direct deposit to process, which is still way faster than waiting for the Money Network card to get loaded and then transferred to my actual bank account. Fingers crossed they don't find a way to screw this up! 🤞
Finally got around to setting up direct deposit after reading through all these comments! For anyone still on the fence, I just want to emphasize how much better this is than the Money Network card situation. I've been dealing with those cards for over a year and had issues with ATM fees, random holds on my account, and terrible customer service. The direct deposit setup really is as straightforward as everyone said - just make sure you have your bank routing and account numbers ready. One tip: I called my bank first to confirm the correct routing number for direct deposits since some banks have different numbers for different transaction types. Can't wait to never deal with that Money Network card again!
This is so helpful! I just joined this community and have been dreading dealing with the Money Network card after hearing all the horror stories. I'm still waiting for my claim to be approved, but it's good to know that direct deposit will be an option by the time I (hopefully) start receiving benefits. Did your bank charge any fees for receiving the direct deposits from EDD, or is it treated like a regular deposit?
Anna Xian
I'm in a similar situation! Filed my appeal 3 weeks ago after being wrongfully disqualified (they said I quit but I was actually terminated due to budget cuts). The waiting is absolutely torture, especially when you're running low on funds. From what I've read here and other forums, it seems like 6-8 weeks is pretty standard right now. One thing that's helped me stay sane is creating a daily routine and keeping busy with job searching. I've also started volunteering a few hours a week which helps with the mental health aspect of being unemployed. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a strong case with the downsizing documentation. The waiting sucks but you're not alone in this!
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Sebastián Stevens
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare. The volunteering idea is actually brilliant - I've been going stir crazy just sitting around waiting and constantly checking my mail. Maybe I'll look into some local opportunities to keep my mind occupied. How are you managing financially while waiting? I'm starting to panic about rent next month. Really hoping we both get our hearing dates soon and can put this stress behind us!
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Jamal Thompson
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my appeal about 5 weeks ago after being wrongfully disqualified (employer claimed I abandoned my job when I was actually laid off due to company restructuring). The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're watching your bank account dwindle. From everything I've read here and experienced myself, 6-8 weeks seems to be the current timeline, though some people are reporting longer waits. I've been calling the Appeals Board number that Tate mentioned (916-263-6589) once a week just to check status - they can't speed it up but at least they confirm your appeal is in the system. One thing that's helped me cope is treating this waiting period like a part-time job - I spend a few hours each day job searching, organizing my appeal documents, and researching tips for the hearing. It gives me some sense of control in this powerless situation. Stay strong - it sounds like you have solid evidence with those downsizing emails. We'll get through this!
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Zara Khan
•Thank you so much for this! It's really reassuring to hear from someone in almost the exact same situation. The "treating it like a part-time job" approach is brilliant - I need to get more structured about this instead of just anxiously waiting around. I've been so focused on the stress that I haven't been as productive with job searching as I should be. Going to start calling that Appeals Board number weekly too. It's crazy how many of us are dealing with wrongful disqualifications right now. Hopefully we'll both get our hearing dates soon and can finally get some justice (and backpay!). Thanks for the encouragement - we've got this! 💪
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