Another option to consider is checking if California has any reciprocity agreements with Tennessee that might help your case. Some states have interstate compacts that make it easier to transfer benefits or handle cross-state moves. Also, make sure to save all communication with your current employer about the remote work request - having documentation that you tried to keep your job but were denied remote work could strengthen your "good cause" argument. The fact that you made an effort to avoid quitting shows you're not just voluntarily leaving without trying alternatives first.

I've been through a similar situation and wanted to share what worked for me. When I relocated from CA to Oregon with my long-term partner (not married), I was initially denied but got approved on appeal. The key things that helped were: 1) We had been together for 4+ years with joint bank accounts, shared lease, and combined finances, 2) I documented that my partner's job was the primary household income and the move was financially necessary for our "family unit", 3) I included a letter from a family law attorney explaining how our relationship met the criteria for a domestic partnership even though we hadn't formally registered one. The whole process took about 6 months but I eventually received retroactive benefits. Don't let the initial denial discourage you - the appeals officers seemed more knowledgeable about these nuanced situations than the first-level reviewers.

Update: I called my doctor and they're filling out the SDI form today. I also started my UI application for the reduced hours period before I got sick. Thanks everyone for the help! I'll update again once I know if everything got approved.

Great to hear you're making progress with both applications! Just a heads up - when you transition back from SDI to UI after you recover, you might need to reopen your UI claim rather than filing a brand new one. The system should recognize your existing claim and just reactivate it. Also, keep all your medical documentation from your doctor handy in case EDD requests additional verification for your SDI claim. The transition between programs can sometimes trigger additional reviews, but as long as your dates and documentation are clear, you should be fine. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

This exact thing happened to my sister about 6 months ago! EDD intercepted her tax refunds for a $800 overpayment but took around $1,050 total. She was worried they'd keep the extra money forever, but she actually did get a refund check for the difference after about 6 weeks. The check came from the State Controller's Office like others mentioned, and it was pretty basic - just said "EDD overpayment refund" or something like that. She almost threw it away thinking it was some kind of scam mail at first! My advice would be to wait the 6-8 weeks that seems to be normal, but definitely keep checking your UI Online account to make sure that credit balance doesn't mysteriously disappear. If you don't see the check by then, the Collections Division route that others suggested seems to be the way to go. Good luck!

This is actually pretty common when EDD intercepts multiple refunds for overpayments. I'm a tax advisor and see this frequently - when they grab both state and federal refunds through the Treasury Offset Program, the amounts don't always align perfectly with what you owe. The $268 credit balance you're seeing is legitimate money owed back to you. From what I've observed with clients, EDD typically processes these refunds within 4-8 weeks through their monthly reconciliation cycle. The refund will come as a paper check from the State Controller's Office (not EDD directly) to whatever address you have on file in UI Online. Two important things: 1) Double-check that your mailing address is current in your account, and 2) Keep a screenshot of that credit balance showing the $268 - you'll want that documentation if you need to follow up later. If you don't receive anything after 8 weeks, call and specifically ask for the "Benefit Payment Control" unit when you get through. They handle overpayment reconciliations and can track exactly when your refund was processed and mailed. The regular UI reps often can't access this information. You should definitely get your money back - it's just a matter of waiting for their slow bureaucratic process to catch up!

Just wanted to follow up - how is your claim going? Were you able to get it processed? Federal employee claims usually take 3-4 weeks to process even when everything goes smoothly because of the extra verification steps required.

I went through this exact situation when I was laid off from the Forest Service two years ago. A few additional tips that might help: 1) Keep detailed records of all your communications with EDD - dates, times, who you spoke with, and what they told you. Federal claims seem to get transferred between different departments a lot. 2) If you haven't already, request your complete personnel file from your former agency including all SF-50s. Sometimes they need documentation beyond just your final SF-8. 3) The "pending federal verification" status is normal but frustrating - your former agency has 10 business days to respond to EDD's inquiry, but many take longer. 4) Consider reaching out to your former HR department directly to confirm they received and processed EDD's verification request. Sometimes there are communication gaps. The good news is once it's approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been waiting. Hang in there!

Any luck getting through to EDD? One thing to keep in mind - when they do call for your interview, they'll likely ask detailed questions about your separation. Be honest but concise. If it truly was a workforce reduction, they'll want to know why you specifically were selected, whether there was a seniority system, if others were also laid off (even if in different departments), etc. Having clear, factual answers ready will help your case.

This is exactly why the EDD system is so broken - employers can just claim "misconduct" to avoid paying into the unemployment fund, and then workers have to wait weeks to defend themselves while bills pile up. I went through something similar last year where my employer tried to claim I was fired for cause when they really just wanted to avoid a layoff designation. A few things that helped me prepare for the interview: 1) Get any written communication about your termination (emails, texts, letters), 2) Document the timeline of events leading up to your layoff, 3) If you have any coworkers who can verify it was presented as a workforce reduction (even if they can't officially testify), note their names and contact info, and 4) Review your employee handbook about their progressive discipline policy - if they claim misconduct but didn't follow their own procedures, that's huge. The good news is that if your employer is falsely claiming misconduct, the interviewer will usually be able to tell. They deal with these disputes all the time and know the difference between legitimate misconduct and employers trying to game the system. Stay calm, stick to facts, and don't let them intimidate you. You got this!