So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to double-check the date format issue - it's super common for international folks or anyone who's lived abroad. The MM/DD vs DD/MM mix-up has caught so many people. Really appreciate you posting the update too, it'll help others who run into the same problem. Hope your certification goes smoothly from here on out!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's crazy how many different things can go wrong with the EDD registration system - wrong dates, transposed SSN digits, name formatting issues, systems not syncing properly. Really shows how broken their tech infrastructure is. At least there are workarounds and services like Claimyr to help people get through. The fact that we even need third-party services to access our own benefits is pretty ridiculous though. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions!

I feel for you - losing 75% of your income with no warning is absolutely terrifying. While others have covered the UI eligibility issues well, I want to emphasize something important: don't let this situation make you feel like you failed as a business owner. Having one client represent that much of your revenue is extremely common in consulting, especially in the early years when you're grateful for steady income. A few things that might help immediately: 1. Draft a professional email to send to your entire network announcing your increased availability. Don't mention the client loss - just position it as expanding capacity for new projects. 2. Consider offering a "new client discount" for Q2 to incentivize quick starts. Sometimes a lower rate that starts immediately is better than full rate that starts in 3 months. 3. Look into your state's small business emergency assistance programs - many states have grant programs specifically for situations like this. The silver lining is that this forced diversification will make your business much more resilient. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but many consultants who've been through this say it was ultimately the best thing that happened to their business structure. You clearly have the skills since you built this once already - now you'll build it back stronger and more stable.

I'm going through something similar right now - lost a major client last month who was about 60% of my income. One thing that's helped me while dealing with the EDD situation is creating a "bridge plan" with specific weekly goals. Week 1: reach out to 10 former clients/contacts, Week 2: apply to 5 relevant contract positions, etc. It gives me something concrete to focus on instead of just panicking about money. Also, if you haven't already, check your contract with the client you lost - sometimes there are clauses about notice periods or transition assistance that you might be entitled to. I discovered my contract had a 30-day notice requirement that my client violated, which gave me some leverage to negotiate a small transition payment. For what it's worth, my accountant told me that restructuring to S-corp for next year is definitely worth it, but the payroll processing fees are around $100-150/month, so factor that into your planning. The peace of mind might be worth it though after going through this stress! Hang in there - the fact that you built a successful consultancy once means you can do it again, just with better risk management this time.

As an update to my earlier response, I want to clarify something important: When certifying for UI benefits with reduced hours, you need to accurately report your work and earnings each week. This is separate from the work search requirement we discussed earlier. Make sure you're reporting all hours worked and gross earnings (before taxes) for each week. Failure to report work and earnings accurately is the most common cause of overpayment notices.

I went through something very similar last year when my retail job cut hours during a store remodel. Here's what I learned: even with a confirmed return date, you absolutely need to keep doing work search activities. I made the mistake of getting lazy about it for a few weeks thinking I was "safe" and EDD flagged my account for an eligibility review. What saved me was that I had been documenting SOME activities - updating my LinkedIn, browsing job boards, etc. The EDD rep told me these count toward your work search requirement even if you're not actively applying. So you don't have to waste employers' time with applications you don't want, but you do need to show you're "available for work" which is a key requirement. My advice: keep a simple log of 3 activities per week (could be as basic as "searched Indeed for 30 minutes" or "updated resume"). When you certify, answer YES to work search and mention your return date in the comments. Better safe than sorry with EDD!

awesome! glad u got it fixed. wish theyd update their system to not ask for info from like 5 years ago lol

Glad to hear you got it resolved! Your experience is really helpful for others dealing with the same issue. It's frustrating that EDD's system still prompts for outdated verification info from the old BofA system, but at least their phone reps have the ability to work around it. 45 minutes is actually pretty reasonable for EDD wait times - you got lucky calling right at 8 AM! Thanks for updating us on how it went.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact scenario! You absolutely made the right choice taking that temp position. I was in a similar situation last year - took a 6-week contract at about 60% of my previous salary. While the immediate pay was lower than my EDD benefits, it ended up being one of the best career moves I made. The temp agency ended up placing me in a permanent role 3 months later that paid even more than my original job! A few practical tips for when you start: Make sure you understand exactly when your last day will be so you can reopen your EDD claim immediately. Also, even though it's temp work, treat it like any other job - show up early, volunteer for extra projects, and network with everyone you meet. You never know which connection might lead to your next opportunity. The financial break-even might seem discouraging now, but having recent work experience on your resume is invaluable, especially in today's competitive job market. Employers definitely notice employment gaps, and being able to say you were working (even temporarily) rather than unemployed for 4+ months can make a real difference in interviews.

As someone who works in HR and has dealt with EDD claims, I wanted to add a few technical details that might be helpful. When you're working the temp job, you have two options for handling your certification: (1) Stop certifying entirely while working full-time, or (2) Continue certifying and report your earnings each week. If you choose option 2 and earn more than your weekly benefit amount + $25, you'll receive $0 for those weeks, which effectively pauses your claim. The key advantage of continuing to certify (even when receiving $0) is that it keeps your claim "active" in the system, which can sometimes make reopening smoother. However, many people just stop certifying to avoid the hassle of reporting earnings weekly. One important note: Make sure the temp agency classifies you as a W-2 employee, not a 1099 contractor. This affects how EDD views your work history and can impact future claims. Also, since you mentioned this is accounts payable work, consider asking if there are opportunities to learn new software or processes that could strengthen your resume for controller positions later. Best of luck with the decision! The fact that you're thinking through all these implications shows you're approaching this strategically.