Best of luck with your interview! You're smart to prepare thoroughly - that documentation and those witness texts will really help your case. One thing I'd add is to stay calm if the interviewer seems rushed or impatient. Some of them are just trying to get through their caseload quickly, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're not listening to what you're saying. Also, if they ask about job searching, be ready to explain that you were focused on trying to resolve the workplace issues first before looking elsewhere (if that's true). They sometimes want to know if you made efforts to find other work before quitting. You've got solid evidence and a legitimate case - hostile work environment with documentation is exactly the kind of "good cause" they look for. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I went through this same process about 6 months ago after quitting due to a supervisor who was creating a hostile environment. A few additional tips that helped me: 1. Practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand - it really helps you stay composed and organized during the actual call 2. Have a glass of water nearby because talking for 20-30 minutes straight can make your throat dry 3. If they ask about any gaps in your story or want clarification, don't panic - just calmly explain what you remember 4. Write down the interviewer's name and any reference numbers they give you for your records The fact that you have email documentation and witness texts puts you in a really strong position. Many people don't have any evidence at all. My interviewer specifically mentioned that documentation makes cases much more straightforward to evaluate. One thing that surprised me was they asked about my work performance - whether I had any disciplinary issues or poor reviews. Be ready to explain that the hostile environment was about your boss's behavior, not your work quality. You sound well-prepared and you have a legitimate case. The anxiety beforehand is totally normal but you'll do great!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to recover your account using any of the methods suggested? If you're still having trouble, I recommend trying the EDD online assistance form at https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/ and selecting the option for account technical issues. Sometimes they respond faster to written requests than phone calls. Also, be aware that if you're reapplying after a long break, you'll need to go through ID verification again with ID.me even after you recover your account access.

Congrats on getting back in! For anyone else reading this thread who might be stuck on the ID.me verification step - here's a tip that helped me: make sure you're using the EXACT same name format that's on your driver's license or state ID. Even small differences like using "Mike" instead of "Michael" or having a middle initial vs full middle name can cause the verification to fail. Also, if you're doing the video call verification, have good lighting and hold your ID steady - the representatives are usually pretty patient if the system is being finicky with reading your documents.

This is such valuable information for anyone going through this stress! I'm relatively new to unemployment benefits (started in January) and had no idea these random eligibility reviews were a thing. Reading through everyone's experiences here really shows how common this is, which is both frustrating and reassuring. What really stands out to me is how @2ff2c9d98ae1 kept us updated throughout the whole process - from the initial panic to getting through with Claimyr and finding out it was just a routine interview. That kind of transparency is so helpful for the rest of us who might face this same situation. I'm definitely taking notes on all the advice here about keeping detailed work search records and not stopping certifications during pending status. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is a goldmine of practical knowledge for navigating EDD's maze!

I'm new to this community and currently going through my first unemployment experience. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly a huge relief! I had no idea that EDD does these random eligibility reviews - it's both frustrating that it can happen to anyone at any time, but also reassuring to see so many people go through it and come out fine on the other end. The way @2ff2c9d98ae1 documented their entire journey from panic to resolution really helped me understand what to expect if this happens to me. I'm definitely taking all the advice here to heart about keeping super detailed work search records, saving screenshots of job postings, and continuing to certify even if payments go pending. I'm also bookmarking that Claimyr service just in case - the regular EDD phone lines seem impossible to get through to. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences so openly - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable for navigating such a confusing system!

This thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - made the switch to direct deposit 2 weeks ago and just got my second payment on the card still. Based on what everyone's saying, sounds like I need to wait one more payment cycle before calling EDD. The timing thing about making changes 3 days before certification is really important info that definitely should be more visible on their website!

Pro tip for anyone still waiting for their direct deposit to switch over - you can actually set up automatic transfers from your Money Network card to your bank account! Log into their website, go to "Move Money" and set up a recurring transfer for the day after you usually get paid. That way you don't have to remember to do it manually each time. I did this while waiting for my direct deposit issue to get resolved and it saved me so much hassle. The transfers are free and usually hit your bank account within 2-3 business days.

UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! For anyone with similar issues - I called this morning and specifically asked about both the August system update AND if there were any stop payment alerts. The rep confirmed there was a system error that affected accounts certifying on the last weekend of August (which is when I certified). They had to manually override something in the system and release my payments. The money should be in my account within 48 hours! Thank you everyone for your help - especially the tip about asking for a Tier 2 specialist and mentioning the August update specifically. That seemed to immediately help the rep understand my issue.

That's amazing news! So glad you got it resolved. This is really helpful for others who might be dealing with the same August system update issue. I'm curious - did they mention if this is still affecting other accounts, or have they mostly fixed the underlying problem? Also, did you end up needing to do those paper certifications they mentioned, or did the manual override make that unnecessary?