


Ask the community...
I'm in a similar situation - my benefits are running low too and the job market in tech is brutal right now. One thing I discovered that might help: check if your county has any emergency rental assistance or utility assistance programs. Even if you're not behind on bills yet, some programs offer preventative assistance when you can show proof of income loss. Also, don't overlook temp agencies - even short-term work can help bridge the gap and potentially lead to permanent positions. The psychological benefit of having some income coming in, even if it's less than your UI benefits, can be huge for maintaining momentum in your job search. Hang in there!
Thanks for the solidarity and practical advice! It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this struggle. I hadn't thought about emergency rental assistance programs - I'll definitely look into what my county offers. The temp agency suggestion is smart too. You're absolutely right about the psychological benefits of having some income flow. Even if it's less than UI, at least it would help me feel like I'm being productive while continuing the job search. The waiting and uncertainty is honestly the hardest part sometimes. Really appreciate the encouragement!
One option that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your local WorkSource or American Job Center - they often have additional resources and programs specifically for people whose UI benefits are about to expire. Some locations offer rapid reemployment services, job clubs, or even emergency assistance funds. Also, if you're open to it, consider gig work or freelancing in your field while you continue searching for full-time employment. I know it's not ideal, but platforms like Upwork or even local consulting can provide some income flow and keep your skills sharp. The key is to start exploring all these options NOW while you still have a couple months of benefits left, rather than waiting until they're completely exhausted. Stay persistent - the job market is tough but not impossible!
This is really helpful advice! I didn't know about WorkSource centers - I'll definitely look up my local one. The gig work suggestion makes a lot of sense too. I've been so focused on finding another full-time sales position that I hadn't considered freelance consulting, but I do have experience that could translate well. You're absolutely right about starting now rather than waiting. I think I was in denial about how quickly my benefits would run out. Thanks for the reality check and the practical suggestions!
I see a lot of confusion in this thread. Let me clarify the EXACT process: 1. Log into UI Online at https://portal.edd.ca.gov/ 2. Select "UI Online" 3. Click on "History" 4. Select "Payment History" 5. Look for the button that says "View Printable Payment History" 6. The PDF it generates is an official document with your name, claim ID, benefit amounts, and EDD letterhead This document works for LIHEAP, CARE/FERA utility discount programs, housing assistance, CalFresh verification, and pretty much any program that needs proof of unemployment income. I've helped dozens of people navigate this exact process. If for some reason the website method doesn't work, THEN you can try calling, but expect long wait times. The EDD Contact Center opens at 8:00 AM and that's the best time to call if you need to get through.
Great to see you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add that if anyone else is reading this thread and still having trouble with the UI Online method, you can also request an official "Award Letter" or "Monetary Determination" letter through your account. Go to UI Online > Correspondence > View All Correspondence and look for documents with those titles. These show your full claim details including weekly benefit amount and are often preferred by some agencies over payment history. Also, pro tip: if you're applying for multiple assistance programs, download everything at once while you're logged in - the payment history PDF, any award letters, and your claim summary. Having all these documents ready saved me tons of time when I was applying for different programs last year. Hope your utility situation gets resolved quickly! Most assistance programs are pretty good about fast-tracking cases when there's a disconnection threat, so make sure to mention that urgency in your application.
This is incredibly helpful! I wish I had seen this earlier before spending so much time trying to figure out what documents I needed. The tip about downloading everything at once while logged in is genius - I'm definitely going to do that right now. And yes, I made sure to mention the disconnection threat on my application. Fingers crossed they can fast-track it! Thanks for taking the time to share all these details.
I went through something similar a few months ago with my ex-wife's military pension that I receive through our divorce decree. Initially I was confused too, but after speaking with an EDD rep (took forever to get through!), here's what I learned: You DO need to report it as "other income" when you certify - even though it's not wages from work. The fact that you didn't work for the employer or contribute to the pension yourself means EDD likely won't reduce your benefits because of it, but they still need to know about it for their records. For the certification you already submitted without reporting it, definitely contact EDD to correct that. I had to do the same thing and they just made a note in my file - no penalties since it was an honest mistake and I reported it promptly. The weekly amount calculation is easy: just divide your monthly $1,250 by 4.33 (average weeks per month) which gives you about $288 per week to report. Good luck getting through to them on the phone!
This is super helpful, thank you! The military pension situation sounds very similar to mine. I'm relieved to hear that you didn't get penalized for the honest mistake on the previous certification. That weekly calculation method makes sense too - I was wondering how to break down the monthly amount. Did you have any trouble getting through to EDD? I'm dreading trying to call them but it sounds like I really need to speak with someone directly.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I receive about $900 monthly from my ex-husband's teacher's pension through our divorce settlement. After reading all these responses, I called EDD yesterday (it took 47 attempts over 3 days to get through - seriously!). The rep confirmed that I DO need to report it as "other income" even though I never worked for the school district. She explained that while they probably won't reduce my benefits since I didn't contribute to the pension, they still need it reported for proper record keeping. She also said that NOT reporting it could definitely lead to overpayment issues later, especially if they audit claims. For anyone in this boat - definitely bite the bullet and call EDD directly. Each situation is slightly different and they need to make the determination based on your specific circumstances. And yes, you should correct any previous certifications where you didn't report it. The rep told me it's much better to proactively correct it than to have them discover it later. The whole system is frustrating but it's better to be safe than sorry with these things!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually got through to EDD and received official confirmation about this exact situation. 47 attempts over 3 days sounds absolutely brutal, but I'm glad you persisted. Your confirmation that they want it reported as "other income" even though it won't likely affect benefits matches what others have said here. I'm definitely going to call them now - better to deal with the phone marathon than risk overpayment issues later. Did they give you any specific advice about how to correct previous certifications, or did they just say to mention it when you call?
I've been dealing with the same EDD login nightmare for weeks! What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1) Using Firefox in private/incognito mode, 2) Manually typing my password instead of copy/paste or autofill, 3) Waiting exactly 24 hours between failed login attempts (I set a phone reminder), and 4) Logging in during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. The system seems less overloaded then. Also, double-check that your caps lock isn't on - I know it sounds basic but I've made that mistake more than I'd like to admit! Don't give up, the system is broken but these workarounds have helped me get through. Hope this helps someone else avoid the frustration! 🙏
Just wanted to add another tip that saved me recently - if you're getting the "account locked" message, try logging in from a completely different device (like your phone if you were using computer, or vice versa). Sometimes the lockout seems to be device-specific rather than account-wide. Also, make sure you're going directly to the official EDD website (edd.ca.gov) and not clicking through Google search results, as sometimes cached pages can cause issues. I know it's frustrating but don't give up - I was ready to throw my laptop out the window but finally got through last week using these methods!
Great advice about switching devices! I hadn't thought of that before. I've been stuck in the loop of trying the same computer over and over. Definitely going to try logging in from my phone next time I get locked out. The tip about going directly to edd.ca.gov is so important too - I've definitely clicked on search results before that took me to weird cached versions of the site. Thanks for sharing what worked for you, gives me hope that I'll eventually get through this mess! 😊
Zainab Yusuf
Remember to continue certifying for benefits even while waiting for this issue to be resolved. Many people make the mistake of stopping certification during pending issues, which can create even more problems. The system will show the weeks as "disqualified" until your interview is completed and issue resolved, but at least the weeks will be in the system if the determination is eventually in your favor.
0 coins
Ava Thompson
•Oh I hadn't thought of that! My next certification is due Sunday. Should I just certify normally even though my account shows that pending disqualification message?
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
Yes, absolutely continue certifying. The system will process your certifications even with a pending issue. If the issue is resolved in your favor, those weeks can then be paid retroactively without further action needed from you. Also, I want to clarify something: when you submit your explanation through UI Online, make sure you specifically request a new interview appointment. Sometimes they process the explanation but don't automatically reschedule unless explicitly requested. And don't worry too much - car breakdowns with documentation are generally accepted as good cause for missing interviews. I've helped several clients through this exact situation.
0 coins
Ava Thompson
•Update: I FINALLY got through to EDD this morning! Used the Claimyr service after failing for 3 days on my own. The rep was actually really understanding and said my car breakdown definitely qualifies as good cause. They've scheduled a new phone interview for next Tuesday. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the advice - especially about continuing to certify while waiting for resolution.
0 coins