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I'm currently going through the CBT application process for a dental hygiene program and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, when you call your school, ask specifically if they have a "CBT coordinator" or someone who regularly handles EDD training benefit students. Some schools have dedicated staff who know the process inside and out, which can save you a lot of headaches. Second, I learned that you can actually submit your DE 3100 form BEFORE you're officially enrolled, as long as you have a conditional acceptance letter from the school. This can help speed up the approval timeline since you won't be waiting for enrollment AND approval. Also, keep in mind that if your LVN program has any prerequisite courses (like anatomy or medical terminology), those might need to be completed separately and may not qualify for CBT coverage. Make sure the 12-month timeline you mentioned includes everything you need for licensure. The healthcare training programs seem to have pretty good success rates with CBT approval since there's such high demand for healthcare workers in California right now. Best of luck with everything!
This is really helpful info about submitting the DE 3100 early! I didn't know you could do that with just a conditional acceptance letter. That could definitely save me some time since I'm still waiting to hear back from the admissions office. Quick question - when you say "conditional acceptance letter," does that mean the standard acceptance letter schools send before you've paid your enrollment deposit? Or is it something specific you have to request for CBT purposes? Also, you're right about checking on prerequisites! My LVN program does require a few courses but they're built into the 12-month timeline as the first semester, so hopefully that won't be an issue. Thanks for the heads up though - I'll make sure to clarify that when I speak with their CBT coordinator tomorrow!
Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully completed an LVN program through CBT in 2024! A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call your school, ask if they can email you a sample DE 3100 form that's already been filled out (with student info redacted obviously). Seeing a completed example made the process SO much clearer. 2. Make sure your program meets the "full-time" requirement - for my LVN program, that meant at least 20 hours per week of instruction. Some accelerated programs pack more hours into fewer days, which can sometimes cause confusion with EDD. 3. Keep a folder (digital or physical) with EVERYTHING - acceptance letters, DE 3100 submissions, EDD correspondence, attendance records, etc. I had to provide documentation multiple times throughout the program. 4. If your school has clinical rotations at different locations, make sure EDD knows about this upfront. I almost had issues when my attendance verification showed different addresses for clinicals vs classroom time. The CBT program was honestly a lifesaver for me. Being able to focus on school without worrying about job searching made such a difference in my grades and stress levels. LVN programs are intense enough without having to juggle unemployment requirements! You've got this!
This is incredibly thorough advice, thank you so much! The tip about asking for a sample DE 3100 form is brilliant - I would never have thought to ask for that but it makes total sense that seeing a completed example would help avoid mistakes. I'm definitely going to ask about the clinical rotation locations too. My program does include rotations at local hospitals and clinics, so I want to make sure that doesn't create any complications with attendance verification down the line. It's really encouraging to hear from someone who actually completed an LVN program through CBT successfully! Did you find that having the CBT status helped or hurt when it came to finding employment after graduation? I'm wondering if potential employers view it positively (shows initiative to retrain) or if there's any stigma around having been on unemployment benefits during school.
@6e87019769da Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm actually in a similar situation to the original poster and your advice about the clinical rotations is super helpful. Quick question - when you had to provide attendance verification for different clinical sites, was that something your school handled automatically or did you have to coordinate with each location separately? I want to make sure I understand the process before I get too far into my program. Also, did EDD ever audit your attendance records during the program or was it mostly just the periodic check-ins? I'm a bit anxious about making sure I dot all the i's and cross all the t's since this is such a big opportunity for me to change careers.
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I'm in the exact same boat - my benefits just exhausted last week and I'm scrambling to figure out what's available. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially learning that the pandemic extensions are completely gone now. I did work for about 8 weeks at a retail job during my benefit year, so I'm definitely going to try filing a new claim based on what @PaulineW and others have shared. Even if it's a reduced amount, it would help tremendously while I continue job hunting. The training program option also sounds really promising - I've been thinking about pivoting to a different field anyway, and if there are stipends available while training, that could actually work out better long-term than just extending regular UI. Has anyone had experience with how long the approval process takes for filing a new claim? I'm trying to plan out my finances and want to know if there's typically a waiting period before payments start again. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - it really helps to know there are still options out there even when the system feels stacked against us!
I can share my experience with filing a new claim! When I filed mine after benefits exhausted, it took about 2-3 weeks to get approved and start receiving payments again. The key thing is to file as soon as possible after your benefit year ends (or if you haven't reached that yet, wait until it does). Make sure you have all your employment information ready - dates, employer details, and wage amounts from your part-time work. Since you worked 8 weeks, you'll likely have better chances than those with just a few weeks of work. The weekly benefit calculation will be based on your recent earnings, so it might be lower than your original amount, but definitely better than nothing! I'd also recommend applying for CalFresh while waiting for the new claim to process - it helps cover the gap period. Good luck with your application!
I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My benefits are set to exhaust in about 10 days and I've been losing sleep over it. This thread has been such a lifeline - thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and advice. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like my best bet is to file a new claim since I worked for about 6 weeks at a temp agency during my benefit year. Even if the weekly amount is lower, it's better than nothing while I keep job searching. I'm also going to look into those workforce training programs with stipends that several people mentioned - might be a good opportunity to learn new skills while having some income. The Claimyr recommendation keeps coming up, so I'll definitely try that to get clear answers from an actual EDD rep instead of playing phone tag for weeks. And I'll apply for CalFresh right away to help with the transition period. One question for those who've been through this - should I wait until my current benefit year officially ends to file a new claim, or can I file it early? I don't want to mess up my account by filing too soon. Thanks again everyone for making this feel less scary!
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I've been on UI for about 9 months now and have Chase too! Your timing should definitely work out for Tuesday rent. My experience has been super reliable: - Sunday: Certify at exactly midnight (I'm obsessive about this timing now) - Monday: UI Online shows "Paid" by 10am-noon - Tuesday: Money hits Chase account by 6:30am consistently The first payment took 4 days instead of 2-3 because they verify everything more thoroughly initially, but since you already have direct deposit configured correctly, you should still make that Tuesday morning window if you certify at midnight tonight. I can't stress enough how much the midnight certification helps - I've tested this dozens of times and it consistently saves 8-12 hours compared to certifying later. For your tight rent deadline, this could literally make the difference. Pro tip from 9 months of experience: set your phone alarm for 11:58pm and have the UI Online page already loaded and ready to go. The system can be slow right at midnight with everyone trying to certify, so being prepared helps you get in that first processing batch. Chase mobile app notifications are a lifesaver too - you'll know the second it deposits. And since you already reached out to your landlord, you're totally covered if there's any unexpected delay. Based on everyone's Chase experiences in this thread (and they're all remarkably consistent), Tuesday morning deposit is pretty much guaranteed if you certify early tonight. You've got this!
This is incredibly thorough advice! Having 9 months of experience with the exact same scenario gives me so much confidence. I love the tip about having the UI Online page already loaded at 11:58pm - I hadn't thought about potential system slowness right at midnight but that makes total sense with everyone trying to certify at once. Setting that up right now along with multiple backup alarms. It's amazing how consistent all the Chase timelines have been in this thread - really shows the system is more predictable than I initially thought. The fact that even with first-payment verification delays, the Tuesday morning window should still be achievable with midnight certification is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks for sharing such detailed insights from your 9 months of experience - this whole thread has been a masterclass in UI timing strategy!
I've been on UI for about 4 months and wanted to add my Chase experience since you're getting so much great advice! My timeline is super consistent: - Sunday: Certify at 12:01am (I set multiple alarms for this) - Monday: UI Online shows "Paid" by late morning/early afternoon - Tuesday: Money in Chase account by 8am usually The first payment definitely took longer - about 3-4 days because of their verification process. But since you already have direct deposit set up correctly, you should still hit that Tuesday window if you certify right at midnight. One thing I learned that might help: Chase processes government ACH transfers in batches overnight, usually completing by 6-8am. So even if your payment posts late Monday, you'll likely see it first thing Tuesday morning. Since you're cutting it so close with rent, I'd also suggest having the Chase mobile app ready to check for pending deposits Monday evening. Sometimes you can see the transaction processing even before it's fully available, which gives peace of mind. You've already handled this perfectly by reaching out to your landlord proactively. Based on all the Chase experiences shared here, Tuesday morning deposit seems almost guaranteed if you certify at midnight tonight. The first certification stress is so real, but you're set up for success!
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I'm actually in the exact same situation right now - my SDI ends this Thursday and I've been so anxious about this transition! Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. A couple of questions for those who've successfully made this switch: Did anyone have issues with EDD's online system recognizing that your SDI had officially ended? I'm worried about applying too early and having it rejected, but also don't want to wait too long and create gaps in income. Also, I've been on SDI for about 5 months after a shoulder injury, and while I'm cleared for light duty, I'm still doing physical therapy twice a week. Should I mention the ongoing PT in my UI application, or could that complicate things by making them question whether I'm truly "available for work"? Thank you to everyone who's shared such detailed advice here - especially the tips about having the SDI award letter ready and getting a specific "return to work" letter from the doctor. This thread has been a lifesaver for my anxiety about this whole process! 🙏
Hey Zara! I just went through this exact transition last month, so I can answer your questions. For the timing, I applied online at midnight the day my SDI officially ended (you can check your last payment date on the SDI website) and had no issues with the system recognizing the end date. Don't apply before your SDI actually ends though - that can cause complications. Regarding the PT appointments, I'd actually recommend mentioning them in a way that shows you're actively working to maintain your ability to work. You could say something like "currently attending physical therapy to maintain work capacity within medical restrictions." This shows you're taking steps to stay employable rather than suggesting you're not available for work. Just make sure your PT schedule doesn't conflict with typical work hours, or be prepared to explain how you'd handle scheduling around interviews/work. The key is framing everything around your availability and eagerness to return to work within your restrictions. Your ongoing PT actually demonstrates that you're serious about staying work-ready! Good luck with your application Thursday - you seem well-prepared thanks to all the great advice in this thread! 💪
I'm in almost the exact same boat - my SDI ends next Tuesday and I've been so worried about this transition! This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring to read. One thing I wanted to share that might help others: I called my doctor's office yesterday to request the specific "return to work" letter that Sofia mentioned, and they said they could have it ready by Monday. The nurse told me they get these requests fairly often, so don't be shy about asking for that specific language about being "able and available for employment within restrictions." Also, I've been using this last week on SDI to practice filling out job applications and really think through how to describe my transferable skills. It's helped me feel more confident about the work search requirements that start immediately with UI. To everyone sharing their success stories - thank you so much! It's making this whole process feel much less scary. Sophia, I hope your application went smoothly and would love to hear an update when you have a chance. We're all rooting for each other! 💪
Rebecca Johnston
Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Reading through this entire thread, I'm truly moved by the incredible outpouring of support from this community and how many people have shared nearly identical experiences to yours. As someone new here, what strikes me most is the consistent message from both professionals and people with lived experience: you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver. The family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all - your employer was the county IHSS program, not your mother personally. This is why you received official paystubs and W-2s showing the county as your employer. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years through your dedicated work - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've rightfully earned. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your grief, and you can backdate your claim when you apply. The practical advice everyone has shared about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, having your documentation ready (including your mother's death certificate), and applying online seems very helpful. Most importantly, please know you're not alone in this situation - so many people in this community have successfully navigated this exact process. You deserve this financial support during such a difficult time. Please don't wait much longer to apply - this community is clearly rooting for you every step of the way. Take care of yourself during this heartbreaking time. ❤️
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Yara Assad
•Carmen, I'm so incredibly sorry for the loss of your mother. As someone completely new to this community, I've been reading through this entire thread and I'm genuinely amazed by the overwhelming support and shared experiences everyone has provided you. It's clear that your situation - being an IHSS caregiver for a family member who passes away - is unfortunately common, but what's reassuring is that literally every person who's shared their story has successfully received unemployment benefits. The message from professionals and people with lived experience is unanimous: you absolutely qualify, the county was your actual employer, and the family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all. Reading about how many people waited weeks due to grief and were still able to backdate their claims should give you real peace of mind. You've been paying into the unemployment system for 2.5 years - these are benefits you've truly earned through your dedicated caregiving work. I hope all this incredible advice and community support gives you the strength and confidence to apply soon. You clearly deserve this financial assistance during such a heartbreaking time, and it's obvious this entire community is cheering you on every step of the way. Take care of yourself. ❤️
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Liam McGuire
Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. My heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time - losing a parent while also facing financial uncertainty must feel overwhelming. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm genuinely touched by the outpouring of support and shared experiences. It's remarkable how many people have been in your exact situation and successfully received unemployment benefits as IHSS caregivers. The message from everyone is clear and reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits. You've been a legitimate employee of the county IHSS program for 2.5 years, paying taxes and contributing to unemployment insurance with every paycheck. The fact that your care recipient was your mother doesn't change your employment status - the county was your legal employer, as shown on your paystubs and W-2s. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your grief, and you can backdate your claim to when you stopped working. The practical advice everyone has shared about selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason and having your documentation ready will help make the process smoother. You've earned these benefits through your dedicated caregiving work - they're not charity, they're rightfully yours. Please don't wait much longer to apply. You deserve this financial support during such a heartbreaking time, and this entire community is clearly behind you every step of the way. Take care of yourself. ❤️
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