Congratulations on the new job! I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. Definitely certify for your last eligible week and report that you found work during the certification process. There's a specific section where you can indicate your employment start date and employer information. The key thing is to be completely honest about when you start working - if you start mid-week, report those earnings too even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet. I made the mistake of not reporting my part-week earnings and had to deal with a confusing notice later. Better to over-communicate with EDD than under-communicate! Good luck with the marketing job - sounds exciting!

Congrats on landing the marketing job! Just went through this myself a few months back. Everyone's giving great advice here - definitely certify for your final week and report the employment during that certification. The system will walk you through it with specific questions about your start date and new employer. One thing I'd add is to keep screenshots of your final certification showing you reported finding work, just in case you need proof later. Also, if you haven't already, consider setting up direct deposit for any final payments to avoid delays. The transition from unemployment to employment can feel weird after being on benefits, but you're doing everything right by asking these questions first. Best of luck with the new role!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who handles unemployment claims professionally - everyone here is giving you excellent advice! The key points are absolutely correct: file now using April 15th as your last work day, report your severance during weekly certifications, and keep meticulous records of everything. One additional tip I'd add is to screenshot or print your weekly certification confirmations - if there are any issues later, having proof of what you reported and when can be invaluable. Also, make sure you understand exactly how your severance is structured (weekly payments vs. lump sum allocated over time) because EDD treats these differently. Since you're in tech, you might also want to consider whether any stock options or equity vesting could affect your claim timing. The most important thing is getting your claim in the system now rather than waiting - you're already behind the curve by not filing immediately after your last work day, but it's not too late to get things moving. Good luck with both your claim and your job search!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my job three weeks ago with severance running through September, but my actual last work day was May 1st. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful. I was also confused about whether to file now or wait until my severance ends, but it's clear from all your stories that filing immediately is the way to go. I've been putting it off because the whole process seemed overwhelming, but seeing how many of you successfully navigated this exact scenario gives me confidence. One question - for those who filed while on severance, did you have any issues with the initial eligibility determination, or did EDD pretty smoothly recognize that you were unemployed even though you were receiving severance payments? I'm worried they might initially deny my claim and I'll have to go through an appeals process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing!

I'm in a very similar boat - my benefits run out in about 3 weeks and I've been stressed about it for weeks now. Reading through everyone's responses has been both sobering and helpful. It's frustrating that there's no safety net beyond the 26 weeks, especially when the job market feels so competitive right now. I've been primarily looking in my field (marketing) but I think I need to follow the advice here and start applying more broadly. @Ava Johnson your story about taking the grocery store job gives me hope - I've been worried about being seen as overqualified but you're right that any income is better than none. And @Leo McDonald thanks for breaking down the earnings requirements so clearly. It's good to know that even part-time work could help me qualify for a new claim down the road if needed. Has anyone had experience with those apps like Indeed Flex or similar gig work platforms? Wondering if that type of work would count toward the qualifying wages or if it needs to be traditional W-2 employment.

Hey Vincent, I was in almost exactly your situation about 6 months ago - benefits ending, job search going nowhere, and that same panic setting in. I know it feels overwhelming right now, but there are a few things that helped me get through it: 1. Apply EVERYWHERE, not just in your field. I ended up taking a part-time job at a local warehouse that I found through a temp agency. It wasn't what I wanted, but it kept money coming in and helped me build those qualifying wages for a potential future claim. 2. Don't overlook smaller local businesses - they often have less competition than the big companies everyone applies to. I found my warehouse job by literally walking into places and asking if they were hiring. 3. Look into your local food bank and other assistance programs NOW before your benefits end. There's no shame in using these resources - that's what they're there for. The hardest part is accepting that this might take longer than you hoped, but it's not permanent. You mentioned retail is brutal right now - have you considered expanding to grocery stores, pharmacies, or even cleaning services? These seem to have more consistent openings than traditional retail. Hang in there - you'll get through this even though it doesn't feel like it right now.

FINAL UPDATE: Just wanted to close the loop on this - my payments went from pending to paid this morning! Took exactly 2 business days after completing the ID verification. All three weeks of my claim were paid at once. So relieved this worked out. For anyone with similar issues, don't wait - call EDD right away and get your ID verification sorted out!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim 2 weeks ago and just realized I never got any ID.me verification link. My eligibility interview is scheduled for next week, but now I'm worried they won't even process it if my identity isn't verified first. Should I try to get the ID verification sorted out before my interview, or does the order not matter? Also, for those who used Claimyr, did you have any issues with the service or was it pretty straightforward?

I'm going through something similar right now! My employer also didn't show up to my appeal hearing last week. The judge told me that while it's a good sign when employers don't participate, she still had to evaluate my case based on the evidence presented. Like you, I was terminated for alleged "performance issues" but never received any formal write-ups or improvement plans. The judge seemed particularly interested in that detail when I mentioned it. I'm still waiting for my decision too - it's nerve-wracking! From what I've read in these comments, it sounds like we both have decent chances since our employers didn't bother to present their side. Fingers crossed for both of us! How long did your hearing actually take? Mine was only about 20 minutes.

I'm in a very similar boat! Had my appeal hearing 10 days ago and my former employer was a complete no-show too. The judge spent almost 45 minutes grilling me about every detail of my termination even though they didn't provide any counter-evidence. I was fired for "attendance issues" but when I explained that I had documented medical reasons for my absences (which I provided to HR), the judge seemed to take note of that. What's frustrating is that my employer contested my initial claim but then couldn't be bothered to actually defend their position at the hearing. The judge told me the same thing - decision in 7-10 days by mail. I'm on day 10 now and obsessively checking my mailbox! From everything I've read and heard from others, employer no-shows usually work in our favor, but like others mentioned, it's not guaranteed. The judge still has to evaluate whether there was actual misconduct. In your case, the lack of written warnings is huge - that suggests they didn't follow proper progressive discipline procedures. I've got 4 months of pending payments riding on this decision, so I totally understand the stress. Hang in there - sounds like you presented your case well and the employer's absence definitely doesn't help their credibility!