This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just went through this exact situation, I want to add one more practical tip - when you're working the contract job and certifying each week, be super careful about the question "Did you look for work?" If your contract is full-time hours, you typically answer "no" because you're working, but if it's part-time, you might still need to conduct job search activities. I made the mistake of answering this inconsistently during my 5-week contract and it flagged my account for review. The EDD rep told me that as long as you're working and earning wages, the job search requirement is usually waived, but the way you answer needs to be consistent with your work schedule. Just something to keep in mind when you're certifying those weeks!

I went through almost the identical situation about 8 months ago! Took a 7-week marketing contract while on unemployment and everything worked exactly as people described here. One thing I'd add is to double-check that your contract employer won't try to classify you as a regular employee for those 6 weeks - some companies get confused about temp vs contract work and that can create complications with EDD. Also, if you're in marketing like me, make sure the contract work doesn't have a non-compete clause that might affect your job search afterward. Overall though, taking that contract was one of the best decisions I made - it kept my skills sharp, gave me recent experience to talk about in interviews, and I was able to return to benefits seamlessly when it ended. The extra income during those weeks was also really helpful for my finances. You're making a smart move!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! Had to refuse a day of work for a pre-scheduled MRI that took forever to get approved by insurance. I was terrified about reporting it, but I did mark "yes" for refusing work and explained it was for a medical appointment in the comments section. Here's what happened: EDD processed my payment normally that week, but they did schedule an eligibility interview about 3 weeks later. The whole interview took maybe 8 minutes - the rep just wanted to confirm when I scheduled the appointment and why I couldn't move it. I explained it was scheduled months in advance and rescheduling would mean starting the insurance approval process over again. She approved it on the spot and said medical appointments are definitely considered good cause, especially when they're scheduled well in advance. The key thing that helped my case was being able to show the appointment was booked before the work offer came in. Since you have that 3-month-old email confirmation, you're in an even better position than I was. Just be honest on your certification and have that documentation ready if they call. Better to be upfront now than risk them finding out later through employer cross-checks!

I just want to echo what others have said about being honest on your certification. I had a similar situation last fall where I had to refuse a shift for a pre-scheduled orthopedic consultation that I'd been waiting 4 months to get. I was really nervous about reporting it, but I marked "yes" for refusing work and explained it was for a medical appointment that couldn't be rescheduled. They did flag it and scheduled an eligibility interview about 2.5 weeks later, but my payment processed normally in the meantime. The interview was super straightforward - the rep just asked when I scheduled the appointment, why I couldn't move it, and confirmed that the work offer came after the appointment was already booked. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes and she approved it immediately. The fact that you have documentation showing you scheduled this 3 months ago puts you in a really strong position. Medical appointments, especially with specialists, are textbook examples of "good cause" for refusing work. Just make sure to mention in your certification that it was scheduled well before the work offer and that rescheduling would mean months of additional waiting. You'll be fine!

Sorry to hear you're going through this mess, Danielle! I went through something similar last year and it was incredibly stressful. One thing that really helped me was getting everything in writing - when you file your appeal, make sure to include a detailed timeline of exactly what happened and emphasize that it was an honest mistake. Also, if you have any documentation showing your actual work schedules from both jobs, include that too. It helps demonstrate that the error wasn't intentional. The 3-month wait is brutal, but don't let it discourage you. In the meantime, see if you qualify for any emergency assistance programs in your area while you wait for the appeal. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

Hey Danielle, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I actually went through almost the exact same situation a few months ago - accidentally put the wrong last day of work and got hit with the false statement penalty. It's so frustrating when you know it was just an honest mistake! A few things that helped me: 1. When you file your DE 1000M appeal form, be super specific about what happened and include phrases like "inadvertent error" and "good faith mistake" 2. If you have any text messages or emails about your work schedules, include those as evidence 3. Write a personal statement explaining how the mistake happened - like if you were thinking about one job when filling out info for the other The waiting period is absolutely brutal, but don't give up. Mine actually got resolved in about 6 weeks instead of the full 3 months they quoted me. Keep calling periodically to check on the status too. Sending you good vibes that this gets sorted out quickly! 🤞

good luck! EDD phone system is a nightmare!! i spent like 4 days trying to get thru before i got a human. call right when they open!!

I went through something similar when I first started working in California. One thing that really helped me was calling the EDD 833 number (833-978-2511) instead of the main 800 number - it seemed to have shorter wait times. Also, if you do get through and they say they can't help with the Alternate Base Period over the phone, ask to speak with a supervisor. Some reps aren't as familiar with ABP processing but the supervisors usually know how to handle it. Another tip - if your employer has been reporting wages but they're not showing up in EDD's system, there might be a mismatch in how your name or SSN was reported. Double check that your employer has your info exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. Even small differences can cause wages to not be properly credited to your account. Keep all your paystubs handy when you call - they might ask for specific dates and amounts to verify your employment history. You've got this!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just got laid off from my regular job last month and have been doing DoorDash on the side for extra income. The whole reporting process definitely seems more complicated than what I heard about during the pandemic. From what I've learned so far, the key difference is that during COVID there was PUA which was specifically for gig workers, but now we're back to regular unemployment rules. I've been reporting my DoorDash earnings each week when I certify - it's nerve-wracking at first but you get used to it. One thing that's helped me is setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly earnings from DoorDash. I note the week dates and exactly what I earned (after platform fees but before my gas/car expenses). Then when I certify, I just reference that spreadsheet. The good news is that as long as you're honest about your earnings, you should still get some benefits even if they're reduced. It's way better than risking fraud penalties by not reporting! Hope this helps - we're all figuring out the post-pandemic rules together.

I've been in a similar situation and want to emphasize something that might not be totally clear from the other responses: the earnings threshold that triggers $0 benefits isn't just your weekly benefit amount. EDD has a specific formula: if your gross weekly earnings exceed 130% of your weekly benefit amount, you get $0 for that week (but your claim stays active). So if your weekly benefit is $450, you'd get $0 if you earn more than $585 from Uber in a week. Below that threshold, they use the 75% deduction rule others mentioned. This is very different from pandemic PUA rules where you could earn quite a bit more before losing benefits entirely. Also, make sure you understand that EDD considers the week you WORKED, not when you got paid. So if you drove Uber Monday-Sunday, report those earnings on the certification for that same week, even if Uber doesn't pay you until the following Tuesday. Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summary from the Uber app - this will save you if there are any questions later!