California Unemployment

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Ask the community...

  • DO post questions about your issues.
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  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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Should I report being sick with COVID to EDD when certifying? Still working part-time

I'm currently on partial unemployment and work 20 hours per week at a retail store while collecting benefits for my reduced hours. This week I tested positive for COVID and obviously can't go to my scheduled shifts (doctor said to isolate for 7 days). My manager already approved my sick time, but I'm confused about how to handle my upcoming EDD certification. If I answer 'yes' to being too sick to work, will that create problems with my claim? Will EDD think I'm no longer able and available for work in general? I don't want to mess up my benefits or trigger some complicated review process, but I also don't want to answer incorrectly. Has anyone dealt with reporting short-term illness while on partial unemployment?

Im on partial unemployment too and got covid back in december. i just said i was able to work on my certification cuz i didnt want the hassle. nothing happened but now i feel nervous they might find out somehow lol. probly should have just been honest.

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Not a good idea! EDD can audit claims up to 3 years later. If they cross-reference with your employer's records and see you were out sick when you certified you were able to work, they could hit you with an overpayment AND a false statement penalty (30% extra). Always better to be honest even if it means a little paperwork.

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I went through this exact situation last month! I was on partial UI and got COVID. I reported it honestly on my certification and EDD sent me a form asking about my work availability. I just explained it was temporary illness due to COVID, included my positive test date and expected return date, and submitted it within the deadline they gave me. My benefits continued without any issues and there was no impact on my ongoing claim status. The key is being upfront about it being temporary and providing clear dates. Don't stress too much - temporary illness while on partial unemployment is pretty common and EDD handles it routinely as long as you're honest and responsive to any follow-up they send.

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EDD Appeal Decision Confusion - Code Section 1256 Qualification vs 1253(c) Ineligibility

Just received my appeal decision from CUIAB and I'm totally lost trying to understand what it means for my benefits. The letter has two different 'subcases' with opposite results: Subcase 7: "The notice of redetermination is set aside. The original silent determination that held the claimant qualified for benefits under code section 1256 is reinstated. Benefits are payable provided the claimant is otherwise eligible." Subcase 8: "The department's determination is affirmed. The claimant is ineligible for benefits under code section 1253(c) for the period in question." So am I approved or denied? One part says I'm qualified under 1256 but the other says I'm ineligible under 1253(c). Does this mean I'll get some payments but not others? The decision also mentioned something about my employer's reserve account not being charged. Can someone please explain what this all means in plain English?

my sister had the exact same situation last month, she won on 1256 but lost on some weeks for 1253c. what happened was she got backpaid for all weeks EXCEPT the ones where she wasn't available. took about 10 days after the appeal decision for money to hit her account but she did have to call and tell them to process the payment.

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That's a good data point. In my experience with clients, payment timing varies widely after appeal decisions - anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks. It really depends on how quickly the appeals board transmits the decision to EDD and whether someone actively calls to follow up. The system rarely updates automatically.

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This sounds like a frustrating but ultimately positive outcome! Based on what others have shared, it seems like you'll get paid for most weeks except the hospital period you mentioned. One tip that helped me when I had to call EDD - try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open, or around 12:00 PM when some reps come back from lunch. The hold times are usually shorter then. Also, have your appeal decision letter ready when you call because they'll need the specific case numbers to process everything correctly. Good luck getting through to them!

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Money Network debit card website suddenly blocked - 'service not available' error

I'm having the weirdest issue with my EDD Money Network debit card website access. My husband tried logging in yesterday using our home computer (same one we ALWAYS use) and got this message: "Sorry, service is not available at this time from your device or current location." Nothing has changed with our internet or computer setup, and he successfully logged in just last week to check his balance. His unemployment payments are still being deposited on the card, but now we can't access the account to transfer money to pay bills. Has anyone else run into this error message recently? Any suggestions on how to fix it? Getting really frustrated because we need to pay rent in 3 days!

For anyone still following this thread, I wanted to add some helpful information. Money Network has confirmed they've implemented new security protocols in April 2025 that can sometimes trigger these access errors. They recommend: 1. Ensuring your browser is updated to the latest version 2. Disabling any ad blockers or privacy extensions when accessing their site 3. Registering your device through their enhanced security portal You can also request a one-time security bypass by calling their verification team at 1-866-320-8699 and selecting option 3, then 2, then 1 from the menu. Just be prepared to verify your identity with information from your EDD claim. Hope this helps anyone still experiencing issues!

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Thank you for sharing this official information! We got our issue resolved by switching browsers, but I'll save these instructions for future reference. The menu options for the security bypass are especially helpful!

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I had this exact same issue last week! What worked for me was actually logging out of ALL banking websites first, then clearing my entire browser history (not just cache), restarting my computer, and then trying again. Something about having multiple financial sites open at once was triggering their security system. Also make sure you're typing the URL directly instead of clicking saved bookmarks - sometimes the saved links get flagged as suspicious. If you're still having trouble, try accessing it from an incognito/private browsing window. The Money Network security is super finicky but these steps usually work!

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EDD eligibility interview decision timeline - do they actually take the full 10 days?

I just had my phone eligibility interview with EDD yesterday after waiting almost 3 weeks for the appointment. The interviewer asked about my job separation (company downsized my entire department) and told me they'd make a decision on my claim within 10 days. Has anyone gone through this recently? Does it actually take the full 10 days, or do they usually get back sooner? I'm getting anxious because my rent is due next week and I've already gone almost 5 weeks without income. The status in UI Online still says 'pending eligibility interview' and hasn't changed since the call.

Congratulations Paolo! This gives me hope as someone who's been waiting for their EDD determination too. It's such a relief to see a success story where it actually happened within their timeframe. Did you get any notification when the status changed, or did you just happen to check at the right time? I've been obsessively checking UI Online multiple times a day and wondering if I'll miss it somehow.

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Reading through all these experiences really highlights how inconsistent EDD can be with their timelines! I'm currently on day 3 after my eligibility interview (also a mass layoff situation), and this thread has been incredibly reassuring. Paolo's 7-day success story gives me hope, especially since our situations sound similar. I've been setting calendar reminders to check UI Online twice daily rather than obsessively refreshing - definitely helps with the anxiety. Also taking notes on all the great tips here like checking spam folders and keeping track of interviewer details. It's wild that in 2025 we still have to use third-party services like Claimyr just to reach a government agency, but good to know that option exists if I hit the 10-day mark. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - this waiting game is so much easier when you know you're not alone in it!

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You're absolutely right about the inconsistency being frustrating! I'm also pretty new to this whole EDD process and was feeling so overwhelmed until I found this thread. It's crazy how much the timelines vary between people, but seeing Paolo's success and all the other shared experiences really does help manage expectations. The twice-daily checking schedule sounds like a great approach - I was definitely falling into the obsessive refreshing trap too. Good luck with your determination! Hopefully we'll both have good news soon. This community has been such a lifesaver during what's already a stressful time.

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EDD claim balance of $6,000 - confused about how unemployment benefits work

I just got approved for unemployment and my UI Online account shows a claim balance of $6,000. I'm really confused about how this works. Does this mean once I use up the $6,000, I can never collect unemployment again for the rest of my life? Or is this just for this specific claim period? My friend told me that unemployment is a one-time thing and I'm stressing out thinking I need to save this for a worse situation in the future. I was laid off from my accounting job last month and hoping to find something within 2-3 months. Should I wait to start claiming? Sorry if this is a dumb question but the EDD website is so confusing!

Hey Yara! Just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely start certifying right away and don't stress about "saving" your benefits. I made that mistake early on and it cost me. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you should also register with CalJOBS (the state's job search website) if you haven't already. EDD sometimes requires this for your work search activities, and it's free. You can find it at caljobs.ca.gov. Also, since you're in accounting, consider reaching out to your local AICPA chapter or accounting societies - they often have job boards and networking events specifically for accounting professionals. These connections can be really valuable and count toward your work search requirements. The $6,000 might feel like a lot, but remember that's spread over potentially 26 weeks, so it's really about $230 per week. Finding a new job should definitely be your priority, not stretching out the benefits. Most accounting positions I've seen lately are paying well above what unemployment provides. Good luck with your search - the market for accountants is pretty strong right now, especially with tax season coming up!

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Thanks Kendrick! I hadn't heard of CalJOBS before - I'll definitely register there today. That's a great point about the AICPA chapter too. I'm actually a member but haven't been taking advantage of their networking events. This seems like the perfect time to start! You're absolutely right that $230 per week isn't much compared to what I was making in accounting. I was getting so caught up in worrying about the system that I lost sight of the fact that finding a good job is way more valuable than stretching out unemployment benefits. I'm feeling much more confident about this whole process now thanks to everyone's advice here!

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Hi Yara! Just wanted to add one more resource that really helped me during my unemployment period - the local One-Stop Career Centers (also called American Job Centers). They offer free services like resume review, interview prep, and job search workshops. Plus, attending their workshops counts toward your work search requirements for EDD certification! You can find your nearest center at careeronestop.org. Many of them also have specific programs for professional fields like accounting. I attended a few of their networking events and actually got some good leads from other job seekers in similar fields. Also, don't forget about LinkedIn! Make sure your profile is updated and start connecting with other accounting professionals. Many recruiters actively search LinkedIn for candidates, and being active on there (commenting on posts, sharing industry articles) counts as job search activity too. The fact that you're asking these questions shows you're being proactive about the whole process. That attitude will serve you well in your job search too. You've got this!

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This is such valuable information, thank you Kaitlyn! I had no idea about the One-Stop Career Centers - that sounds like exactly what I need right now. Having professional resume review and interview prep available for free is amazing, and I love that it counts toward work search requirements too. I'll definitely look up my nearest center today. The LinkedIn tip is great too - I've been pretty passive on there but you're right that I should be more active, especially since recruiters use it so much for finding candidates. I'm starting to feel like I have a real strategy now instead of just randomly applying to jobs. Between the One-Stop centers, CalJOBS, specialized accounting job boards, AICPA networking, and being more active on LinkedIn, I feel like I have a solid plan. Thanks for taking the time to share these resources!

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