I actually just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Started doing DoorDash while collecting EDD after losing my retail management job. Here's what I learned the hard way: The $99 threshold everyone mentioned is spot on, but here's something they don't tell you upfront - EDD's reporting weeks run Sunday to Saturday, which rarely matches up with how DoorDash shows your earnings in their app. I had to manually calculate my earnings for each EDD week by going through individual delivery records. Also, be prepared for some confusion if you do customer service work through the apps. When I called EDD to clarify something, the first rep told me gig work might disqualify me entirely, but that was wrong. A supervisor clarified that as long as you're reporting correctly and still available for full-time work, it's fine. One tip: I found it easier to do DoorDash during off-peak job search hours (like weekend evenings) so it didn't interfere with my availability for interviews or networking. Ended up finding a new management position after 3 months, and the gig income really helped bridge the gap financially. Just stay organized with your records and be completely honest on your certifications. The temporary extra income is worth it if you do it right!

Great question! I'm in a similar situation - lost my bartending job at the beginning of the year and have been thinking about doing some Uber Eats to help with bills while I look for another service industry position. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Report ALL gross earnings accurately during certification 2) Stay under that $99 threshold if you want to keep full benefits, or understand the 75% reduction formula if you earn more 3) Keep detailed records matching EDD's Sunday-Saturday weeks 4) Don't work more than 32 hours/week or they might consider you fully employed 5) Continue doing required job searches and stay available for full-time interviews The math actually seems to work out okay if you're strategic about it. Like if I made $150 in gig work one week, I'd lose about $38 from my EDD benefits ($150-$99 = $51 x 0.75 = $38.25), but still come out ahead overall. Has anyone here had experience with Uber Eats specifically? I'm wondering if their earnings tracking is any easier to work with than DoorDash when it comes to matching EDD reporting periods.

UPDATE: Wanted to let everyone know what finally worked! After trying to call the technical support line for 2 days (never got through), I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 30 minutes this morning! The first person couldn't help, but they transferred me to a tier 2 specialist who verified my identity and updated my email address on the spot. She also unlocked my account and I was able to immediately log in and complete my certification that was pending. Payment should be deposited to my Money Network card in 24-48 hours. If anyone else has this issue, definitely ask for a tier 2 specialist who works with account security - regular reps really can't help with this specific problem. Thank you all for your help!!!

This is exactly the kind of detailed follow-up that helps everyone! I've been lurking here for weeks trying to figure out my own EDD issues and seeing real solutions with step-by-step updates is so valuable. The tier 2 specialist distinction is something I never would have known to ask for. Bookmarking this thread for future reference - seems like account access problems are way more common than they should be. Glad you got your payment sorted before rent was due!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My Money Network card was frozen three days ago with no warning. I found out when I tried to buy groceries and the transaction was declined - so embarrassing. When I finally got through to EDD yesterday (took 6 hours of calling), they said it's part of a "routine security review" but couldn't give me any details about what triggered it or how long it would take. They just said I'd get paper checks "soon." This is so stressful because I have rent due next week and I'm a single mom with two kids. Has anyone had success getting an emergency payment while waiting for this to be resolved? I'm really worried about making ends meet with these delays.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! My card got frozen on Tuesday and I'm still waiting for my first paper check. What's really frustrating is that EDD won't give you a timeline - they just keep saying "a few weeks" which could mean anything. I called Money Network directly and they confirmed that once EDD freezes the card, they have zero control over when it gets unfrozen. The Money Network rep was actually more helpful than EDD and explained that this is happening to thousands of people right now due to some kind of security issue. She suggested documenting everything - dates of calls, reference numbers, etc. - in case you need to escalate later. I'm also keeping screenshots of my UI Online account showing that my claim is still active. Hang in there - from what everyone is saying here, it sounds like most people do eventually get it resolved, it's just the waiting that's brutal.

Update: I submitted my application yesterday and clearly stated that I have no written guarantee of future work and that my assignments are day-to-day with varying hours. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens. Thanks everyone for the advice!

I hope it works out for you! As someone who's been through the EDD process multiple times, I'd suggest keeping detailed records of your application and any correspondence you receive. If they initially deny you, don't give up - the appeals process can sometimes work in favor of substitutes who can clearly demonstrate they have no guaranteed work. Also, make sure you're continuing to look for work during the summer (and document your job search) since that's a requirement for receiving benefits. The retail job you mentioned from 14 months ago might actually help your case if it falls within your base period. Keep us posted on what happens!

I think the most important thing here is your intention wasn't to defraud the system. You made an honest mistake that you're trying to correct. For such a small amount, adding it to your next certification with a clear explanation is reasonable. EDD is primarily concerned with intentional misrepresentation, not small calculation errors.

I went through something similar a few months ago! Made the same net vs gross mistake on a $45 payment. I was stressed about it for days, but I ended up just adding the difference to my next certification with a note explaining the correction. No issues at all - my payments continued normally and I never heard anything back about it. The key is being proactive about fixing it rather than hoping it goes unnoticed. Your approach of adding the $10 difference with an explanation on your next cert is solid. Just be clear and honest in your notes about what happened. EDD seems to appreciate when people catch and correct their own mistakes quickly.