Pro tip: Keep a log of all your calls, emails, and attempts to contact EDD. Note down dates, times, and names of reps you speak to. It'll help if you need to escalate your case later.

Hey Ana! I went through something similar about 3 months ago. The "issue identification" usually means they need to verify either your identity, wages, or employment eligibility. In my case, it was about wage verification - they wanted to cross-check what I reported with what my employer submitted. The good news is that most of these issues get resolved once you provide the right documentation. A few things that helped me: - Check your EDD account online first for any specific requests - Have your last 4 pay stubs ready, plus your most recent tax return - If you can't get through by phone, try the "Contact EDD" form on their website - Don't panic if it takes a few weeks - the verification process is slow but it does work The whole thing took about 3 weeks to resolve for me, but I did get my back pay once it was sorted out. Hang in there! 💪

Another option your cousin should look into is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) if he's been affected by any recent disasters in his area. California has had several federally declared disasters this year, and DUA can provide additional weeks of benefits for people who lost work due to disaster-related reasons - even if it's indirect impact like his manufacturing plant reducing operations because of supply chain issues from disasters. The deadlines for DUA applications are usually pretty strict (typically 30 days from the disaster declaration), but it's worth checking if any recent disasters in his county qualify. He can find this info on the EDD website under "Disaster-Related Benefits" or by calling the DUA hotline directly. Also, has he looked into any union resources if he was in one? Sometimes unions have emergency funds or job placement assistance that people forget about.

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin's situation - it's really tough right now with so few extension options available. Based on what others have shared here, I'd recommend he prioritize these actions immediately: 1. **Training Extension (TE)** - This seems like his best bet since he has 3 weeks left. Have him apply for California Training Benefits (CTB) through his UI Online account ASAP. Manufacturing has good approved training programs, and if approved, he could get up to 26 additional weeks while in training. 2. **CalFresh application** - Don't wait on this one. With two kids, he likely qualifies for substantial food assistance ($400+/month) and can apply while still receiving UI. 3. **Contact EDD directly** - Every situation is different, and he needs official confirmation of his options. If he can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service another member mentioned might be worth considering. The reality is that without COVID-era extensions, options are really limited right now. But the Training Extension could be a game-changer if he qualifies - he'd get benefits while learning new skills that could help him find better work in the long run. Time is critical though, so have him start that CTB application today if possible. Hang in there - it's scary but there are still some options to explore.

Pro tip: If you're really in a bind, you can request an emergency payment. Call and specifically ask for a "manual payment" or "off-line payment." They can issue it while you wait for your card. It's not guaranteed, but worth a shot if you're desperate.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year. Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Call the 2511 number at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you have the best chance then, 2) Ask specifically about "expedited card replacement" - they can rush it for urgent situations, 3) Document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, etc. Also, check if your address is correct in their system - mine was wrong and that's why my card never came! Don't give up, it's incredibly frustrating but you'll get through this. Hang in there! 💪

Here's what I recommend for your certification: 1. For the week you received the settlement, answer 'Yes' to receiving income 2. Select 'Other' for income type 3. In the explanation box, put 'Settlement wages' 4. Enter the amount from the 'wages' portion only ($3,800) 5. Don't include the penalties portion ($5,200) Your benefit will be reduced that week according to the partial benefits formula. For every dollar over $25 you earn, your benefit is reduced by $1. So if your weekly benefit amount is $450, and you report $3,800, you would receive $0 for that week (but it won't affect future weeks).

I work as a paralegal and have dealt with similar settlement issues for clients. Just wanted to add that you should keep ALL the documentation from this settlement - the breakdown showing wages vs penalties, the check stub, everything. If EDD ever audits or questions this later, you'll want to show exactly how the settlement was categorized. Also, some settlements specify the time period the "wages" portion covers (like back pay for a specific period), which could potentially affect which weeks you report it for. If your settlement docs mention specific dates the wages relate to, you might want to clarify that with EDD. But definitely report the wages portion - better to be overly cautious than deal with overpayment issues down the road!

Great question! I'm in a similar situation - lost my bartending job at the beginning of the year and have been thinking about doing some Uber Eats to help with bills while I look for another service industry position. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Report ALL gross earnings accurately during certification 2) Stay under that $99 threshold if you want to keep full benefits, or understand the 75% reduction formula if you earn more 3) Keep detailed records matching EDD's Sunday-Saturday weeks 4) Don't work more than 32 hours/week or they might consider you fully employed 5) Continue doing required job searches and stay available for full-time interviews The math actually seems to work out okay if you're strategic about it. Like if I made $150 in gig work one week, I'd lose about $38 from my EDD benefits ($150-$99 = $51 x 0.75 = $38.25), but still come out ahead overall. Has anyone here had experience with Uber Eats specifically? I'm wondering if their earnings tracking is any easier to work with than DoorDash when it comes to matching EDD reporting periods.

I've been doing Instacart while on EDD for the past two months and wanted to share some additional insights that might help. The grocery delivery gig has some unique considerations compared to restaurant delivery: 1) Instacart pays weekly on Wednesdays, which actually makes it slightly easier to track earnings for EDD's Sunday-Saturday reporting periods since you get a clear weekly statement. 2) However, be extra careful about "heavy pay" bonuses and peak hour incentives - these all count as reportable income even though they show up separately from your base earnings. 3) One thing I discovered is that if you're doing grocery delivery, you're interacting with customers more directly (texting about substitutions, etc.), which could be seen as customer service work that might transfer to restaurant jobs. I've actually mentioned this experience in a couple interviews. The key is really just staying super organized with tracking. I use a simple phone note where I jot down my daily earnings right after each shift, then total them up by EDD week every Saturday night before certification. Also, don't forget that gig work earnings can actually help you qualify for a higher benefit amount if you end up filing a new claim later - they count as wages for benefit calculation purposes. Just make sure everything is reported accurately from the start!