Just an additional tip: keep VERY careful records of exactly which days you work and how much you earn each day. If your contract spans across different certification weeks, you'll need to calculate exactly how much to report for each week. EDD goes by Sunday-Saturday weeks. For example, if you work Thursday, Friday, Saturday of one week ($2,600) and then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the next week ($2,600), you need to split up the $5,200 accordingly when you certify. I learned this the hard way and had to deal with an overpayment notice because I didn't calculate it correctly!

Just wanted to add - definitely take that contract! That's an amazing rate. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to save some of that contract income for taxes since it won't have the same withholdings as regular employment. Also, make sure you get a 1099 from the company at the end of the year for tax purposes. The unemployment system is actually designed to encourage people to take temporary work like this. It's a win-win - you get great pay for two weeks, and EDD doesn't have to pay you benefits during that time. Your claim will be there waiting for you when the contract ends. Good luck with the gig! Sounds like it could be a great networking opportunity too even if it's just two weeks.

I had this exact same issue last month. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that was causing a bunch of claims to need "reopening" even though they were active. When I finally got through, the rep fixed it in like 2 minutes. Such a waste of time and stress.

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! Got approved last week and now they're saying I need to reopen my claim just to certify. It's so backwards. I've been calling since 8am and just keep getting bounced around by the automated system. The hold times are insane too - I waited 3 hours yesterday only to get disconnected. This whole process is designed to wear us down, I swear. Hope you get through soon!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful advice! I've started my UI claim online and am documenting everything carefully. I'm going to speak with my union rep tomorrow about the possible discrimination aspect too. Quick follow-up question: once I start receiving partial benefits, if my employer increases my hours back to full-time, do I just stop certifying? Or do I need to formally close my claim? I'm worried they might temporarily give me more hours just to get me off benefits and then cut them again after a few weeks.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this during your pregnancy! This sounds incredibly stressful. I went through something similar (though not pregnancy-related) and can share what I learned about partial UI. Make sure when you file your claim that you have your pay stubs from before the hour reduction - EDD will need to see your previous earnings to calculate your benefit amount properly. Also, keep a detailed log of your schedule changes with dates. This will be helpful both for your UI claim and if you decide to pursue the discrimination angle. One thing that really helped me was setting up direct deposit for UI payments right away during the application process. It cuts down on delays once your claim is approved. Also wanted to mention - if you're in a union, definitely loop them in ASAP. They often have experience with these exact situations and can advocate for you with your employer. Sometimes just having union representation involved can get employers to back down from sketchy practices. Wishing you the best with your claim and congratulations on your pregnancy! 💕

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and I totally get why you're nervous! The anticipation is honestly the worst part. Here's what I wish someone had told me beforehand: bring a glass of water and have it nearby during the call. I got so anxious that my mouth went completely dry halfway through and I started stumbling over my words. The interviewer actually paused and asked if I needed a moment, which was really kind. Also, if you don't understand a question or need clarification, it's totally okay to ask them to repeat it or explain what they're looking for. I did this once when they asked about "work separation circumstances" and I wasn't sure if they meant the reason I left or something else. The interviewer was super helpful and rephrased it. Your situation with the job posting actually works in your favor because it shows your employer genuinely didn't have work available for YOU at the time of separation, even if they later decided to fill the role differently (maybe at lower pay, different hours, etc.). Just stick to what you were told when you were let go. The interview is really just about confirming you didn't quit voluntarily and that you're genuinely looking for work. Sounds like you clearly meet both criteria! You're going to do fine tomorrow. 👍

Hey William! I can totally relate to the pre-interview jitters - I had mine about 2 months ago and was convinced they were going to find some reason to deny me. Turns out it was way more straightforward than I expected! A few practical tips that really helped me: - Clear your schedule for at least 2 hours around the appointment time (mine was supposed to be at 1pm but they called at 2:45pm) - Have a pen and paper ready to jot down the interviewer's name and any important points - If you get disconnected (happened to my friend), don't panic - just wait by your phone, they'll usually call back within 10-15 minutes The thing about your boss posting the job afterward is actually pretty common unfortunately. When they ask about your separation, just stick to exactly what you were told: "laid off due to lack of work." If the job posting comes up, you can simply say you weren't aware of any available positions when you were separated. Most importantly - remember that the vast majority of these interviews result in approval! The EDD is required to do these calls for certain types of claims, but it doesn't mean they're suspicious of you specifically. You're going to do great tomorrow! Let us know how it goes! 🙌

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Got laid off in February when my company went under and just started a part-time gig two weeks ago. The timing confusion was driving me crazy too. From what I've learned (and confirmed with an EDD rep), your benefit year starts the Sunday of the week you filed, but you only "use" weeks when you actually receive benefits. So if you have a week where you earn too much and don't get any UI payment, that week doesn't count against your 26. The partial benefits thing is actually pretty generous - I'm working about 25 hours a week making roughly half my old salary, and I'm still getting about $180/week in partial UI. The key is reporting your GROSS earnings for the week you worked (not when you get paid), and EDD does the calculation automatically. One thing that's been super helpful is keeping a simple log of my hours and earnings each week. Makes certification way less stressful when I have everything written down already. Also seconding the recommendation about Claimyr if you need to talk to someone - I used it last month and actually got through to a helpful rep who walked me through exactly how my partial benefits would work. Honestly, this setup has been way less terrible than I expected. Having some income from work plus partial UI is giving me breathing room to be picky about my next full-time job instead of just taking the first thing that comes along.

I'm in a really similar situation - got laid off about 6 weeks ago and just started a part-time position last week. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add that I learned the hard way: make sure your part-time employer understands that you need consistent reporting of your hours and pay dates. My first week, there was some confusion about when my "work week" started for reporting purposes, and I almost messed up my certification because I wasn't sure which week to report the earnings in. Also, for anyone else in this situation - I found it really helpful to call EDD during my first week of part-time work to walk through exactly how to report everything. The rep I spoke with was actually really patient and explained that as long as you're honest about your earnings and report them in the correct week, the system is pretty forgiving. The mental shift from "I only have 26 weeks" to "I have X dollars in benefits that will last as long as it takes to use them up" has been huge for my stress levels. Plus knowing that the part-time work is actually helping build my base period for a future claim if needed makes me feel like I'm being productive rather than just treading water. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything on the official EDD website!