I see a lot of confusion in this thread. Let me clarify the EXACT process: 1. Log into UI Online at https://portal.edd.ca.gov/ 2. Select "UI Online" 3. Click on "History" 4. Select "Payment History" 5. Look for the button that says "View Printable Payment History" 6. The PDF it generates is an official document with your name, claim ID, benefit amounts, and EDD letterhead This document works for LIHEAP, CARE/FERA utility discount programs, housing assistance, CalFresh verification, and pretty much any program that needs proof of unemployment income. I've helped dozens of people navigate this exact process. If for some reason the website method doesn't work, THEN you can try calling, but expect long wait times. The EDD Contact Center opens at 8:00 AM and that's the best time to call if you need to get through.

Great to see you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add that if anyone else is reading this thread and still having trouble with the UI Online method, you can also request an official "Award Letter" or "Monetary Determination" letter through your account. Go to UI Online > Correspondence > View All Correspondence and look for documents with those titles. These show your full claim details including weekly benefit amount and are often preferred by some agencies over payment history. Also, pro tip: if you're applying for multiple assistance programs, download everything at once while you're logged in - the payment history PDF, any award letters, and your claim summary. Having all these documents ready saved me tons of time when I was applying for different programs last year. Hope your utility situation gets resolved quickly! Most assistance programs are pretty good about fast-tracking cases when there's a disconnection threat, so make sure to mention that urgency in your application.

I went through something similar a few months ago with my ex-wife's military pension that I receive through our divorce decree. Initially I was confused too, but after speaking with an EDD rep (took forever to get through!), here's what I learned: You DO need to report it as "other income" when you certify - even though it's not wages from work. The fact that you didn't work for the employer or contribute to the pension yourself means EDD likely won't reduce your benefits because of it, but they still need to know about it for their records. For the certification you already submitted without reporting it, definitely contact EDD to correct that. I had to do the same thing and they just made a note in my file - no penalties since it was an honest mistake and I reported it promptly. The weekly amount calculation is easy: just divide your monthly $1,250 by 4.33 (average weeks per month) which gives you about $288 per week to report. Good luck getting through to them on the phone!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I receive about $900 monthly from my ex-husband's teacher's pension through our divorce settlement. After reading all these responses, I called EDD yesterday (it took 47 attempts over 3 days to get through - seriously!). The rep confirmed that I DO need to report it as "other income" even though I never worked for the school district. She explained that while they probably won't reduce my benefits since I didn't contribute to the pension, they still need it reported for proper record keeping. She also said that NOT reporting it could definitely lead to overpayment issues later, especially if they audit claims. For anyone in this boat - definitely bite the bullet and call EDD directly. Each situation is slightly different and they need to make the determination based on your specific circumstances. And yes, you should correct any previous certifications where you didn't report it. The rep told me it's much better to proactively correct it than to have them discover it later. The whole system is frustrating but it's better to be safe than sorry with these things!

Has anyone had success appealing without a lawyer? I'm worried about the cost...

I've been through the EDD appeal process for mental health reasons and want to share what worked for me. The key thing is building a comprehensive timeline that shows how your mental health condition directly impacted your work situation. Here's what I gathered: - Complete medical records from all providers (therapist, psychiatrist, primary care) - Employment history showing any work disruptions due to symptoms - Pharmacy records for any medications - Personal statement detailing specific incidents where mental health affected work performance - Letters from family/friends who witnessed your struggles (these carry more weight than you'd think) Don't worry too much about minor inaccuracies in documentation - focus on the overall picture. EDD wants to see that your condition genuinely prevented you from meeting work requirements. Be prepared to explain any gaps or inconsistencies honestly. Also, consider requesting accommodations during the appeal process if needed - they're required to provide reasonable accommodations for mental health conditions. Good luck! 💪

I've been dealing with the same EDD login nightmare for weeks! What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1) Using Firefox in private/incognito mode, 2) Manually typing my password instead of copy/paste or autofill, 3) Waiting exactly 24 hours between failed login attempts (I set a phone reminder), and 4) Logging in during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. The system seems less overloaded then. Also, double-check that your caps lock isn't on - I know it sounds basic but I've made that mistake more than I'd like to admit! Don't give up, the system is broken but these workarounds have helped me get through. Hope this helps someone else avoid the frustration! 🙏

Just wanted to add another tip that saved me recently - if you're getting the "account locked" message, try logging in from a completely different device (like your phone if you were using computer, or vice versa). Sometimes the lockout seems to be device-specific rather than account-wide. Also, make sure you're going directly to the official EDD website (edd.ca.gov) and not clicking through Google search results, as sometimes cached pages can cause issues. I know it's frustrating but don't give up - I was ready to throw my laptop out the window but finally got through last week using these methods!

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who recently went through the whole 26-week cycle. I was laid off from my marketing job in early 2024 and used up all 26 weeks before finding new employment. A few things I learned that might help others: - The 26 weeks is pretty firm unless you qualify for training extensions - Keep detailed records of your job search activities - EDD can audit you at any time - If you're close to exhausting benefits, start looking into other assistance programs early (don't wait until week 26) - The one-week waiting period only applies at the beginning of your claim, not if you have gaps in certification Also want to echo what others said about keeping up with certification even during appeals. I had a friend who stopped certifying during a dispute and lost out on weeks of backpay when she won her case. Good luck to everyone navigating this system!

Just to add another data point - I'm currently on week 14 of my unemployment claim after being laid off from a financial services company in January. Can confirm it's definitely 26 weeks for regular UI in California right now. One thing that caught me off guard was how strictly they enforce the work search requirements. I got a notice around week 8 asking me to provide detailed documentation of my job search activities for the previous month. Thankfully I had been keeping good records, but it was definitely a wake-up call that they're actively monitoring compliance. Also, for anyone wondering about part-time work while collecting - you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction in benefits. Anything above that gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your weekly payment, but like others mentioned, it doesn't extend your claim period. The key is just staying on top of your certifications and being honest about any income. The system seems to work pretty smoothly if you follow the rules, but any discrepancies can definitely cause delays and headaches.