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!

I finally got through to someone at the Appeals Office this morning! They told me the postponement was due to the judge having a medical emergency. They couldn't give me an exact date yet, but said it would likely be rescheduled within 2-3 weeks and that I'd get priority scheduling. I also submitted all my documentation via email like someone here suggested, and they confirmed receipt. Still frustrating, but at least I know what's happening now.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through something similar last year and I know how devastating it feels when you've prepared everything and taken time off work. In my case, the postponement was due to a scheduling conflict with multiple cases, and it took about 3 weeks to get a new date. One thing I learned - when you call the Appeals Office tomorrow, ask them to put a note in your file that you had to take unpaid time off for the original hearing. Sometimes they can expedite rescheduling for people who had significant impacts from the postponement. Also, since your manager was willing to testify, maybe see if they can provide a written statement too, just as backup in case the timing doesn't work out again. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're struggling financially, but hang in there. Most people I've talked to who made it to their actual hearing had positive outcomes, especially with misclassification cases if you have good documentation. Sending you positive thoughts that this gets resolved quickly!

Hey Diego! I went through this exact same situation last year when I was laid off from my job at Kaiser. Large healthcare systems can definitely be slow with their employer verification responses - they have up to 10 business days to respond to EDD's inquiry, and some take the full time. Since you mentioned rent is due next week, here are a few immediate suggestions: 1. Contact your landlord ASAP to explain the situation - many are understanding about EDD delays if you communicate proactively 2. Look into local emergency rental assistance programs in your area - many counties have funds specifically for people waiting on unemployment 3. Check if your former employer has any emergency hardship funds available for laid-off employees For the EDD situation, keep trying to call first thing in the morning (8 AM sharp). If you can't get through by early next week, consider using Claimyr or similar services - the $20-30 fee is worth it when you're facing eviction. The good news is that once your claim does get approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been eligible, so hang in there! The system is definitely overwhelmed right now but your claim will eventually process.

Hey Diego! I see you're getting some great advice here. Just wanted to add that for emergency rental assistance programs, you can start with 211.org - just enter your zip code and it'll show local programs. Also try searching "[your county name] emergency rental assistance" - most counties have COVID relief funds that are still active. One more tip: if you do get through to EDD and they say your employer hasn't responded yet, ask them to send a "second request" to your employer. Sometimes that speeds things up. Also ask for the specific timeline - they should be able to tell you exactly when the 10-day employer response period expires. The waiting is absolutely brutal but you're doing everything right. Keep checking UI Online daily and definitely try that 8 AM call strategy!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed my claim three weeks ago and my weekly benefit is only $240, which seems really low based on my previous job's salary. After reading through all these comments, I'm pretty sure it's the base period issue everyone's talking about. I had a period of unemployment about 8 months ago where I was doing some freelance work that paid much less than my regular job. It's so confusing that they don't use your most recent earnings - seems like that would give a much more accurate picture of what you actually need to cover your expenses. I've been putting off calling because I know how impossible it is to get through, but seeing that Owen finally connected gives me some motivation to try the 8am trick. Really wish EDD would just send a clear breakdown with the award letter explaining exactly how they calculated everything instead of making us all play detective!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim two weeks ago and my weekly benefit is only $305, which is way less than I expected based on my salary from my previous tech job. Reading through all these comments about the base period calculation really opened my eyes - I had no idea they don't use your most recent quarters. I switched from a lower-paying job to a much higher-paying one about 10 months ago, so they're probably using my old wages in the calculation. It's so counterintuitive that they wouldn't use your most recent earnings to determine what you need to live on! I've been dreading calling because everyone talks about how impossible it is to get through, but seeing Owen's success with the 8am trick gives me hope. Going to set my alarm and try first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I understand why my amount is so low, even if I don't like it!

update us after u get it sorted out! i want to know if it worked out for u

I work as a paralegal at a law firm that handles unemployment appeals, and I can confirm that EDD does accept late appeals when there's good cause. The key is documentation and persistence. A few additional tips that might help: - When you resubmit, include a signed declaration under penalty of perjury stating the date you originally mailed it - If you paid for postage with a card, your bank statement showing the transaction on that date can serve as supporting evidence - Consider sending it via FedEx or UPS with signature confirmation instead of USPS - sometimes gets processed faster - Request an expedited review due to financial hardship when you speak to the Appeals Office The 30-day good cause window Diego mentioned is accurate, so you still have time. I've seen cases where appeals were accepted even 45+ days late with proper documentation of the original submission attempt. Don't give up!