I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely did the right thing by reporting your severance honestly! I made the mistake of not reporting mine properly a few years back (I genuinely didn't understand the rules) and ended up with a $2,800 overpayment notice that took me months to resolve. It was a nightmare dealing with EDD collections and having my future benefits garnished. I know missing that week hurts right now, especially when rent is due, but you've avoided a much bigger headache down the road. The silver lining is that your benefit year gets extended by that one week, so you're not actually losing money - just getting it later. Have you looked into any emergency rental assistance programs in your area? Many counties in California have programs specifically for people dealing with temporary income gaps like this. Worth checking out while you wait for your benefits to resume normally next week!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got laid off from my retail management job two weeks ago and just found out I'll be getting a severance payment next week. I was panicking because I wasn't sure how it would affect my UI benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here has really clarified things for me. It sounds like I need to report it honestly when I certify (which I definitely will after reading about those overpayment horror stories!) and just expect that I won't get benefits for that week. It's frustrating timing since I'm already tight on money, but knowing that the week gets added to the end of my benefit year makes it feel less like I'm actually losing money. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all these confusing UI rules as a first-timer!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and it's been so frustrating. Reading through everyone's experiences, I think I've been making multiple mistakes - I've definitely tried logging in more than 5 times (didn't know about the automatic lockout!), I've been including dashes in my SSN, and I'm pretty sure I've been inconsistent with my address formatting. I'm going to wait 24 hours to let any potential lockout clear, then try entering everything exactly as it appeared on my original application. If that doesn't work, I'll call that tech support line at 1-800-300-5616. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - it's reassuring to know this is a common problem with actual fixes!

I just went through this exact same issue about two weeks ago and it was incredibly frustrating! After reading through all these helpful comments, I want to add one more potential solution that worked for me. It turns out that when I originally applied for unemployment, I had accidentally left a trailing space after my last name in one of the fields. So when I was trying to log in with "Smith" the system was actually looking for "Smith " (with a space). I only figured this out after calling the tech support line and the rep walked through my account details with me. She mentioned that trailing spaces and even different capitalization patterns can cause this error. So if you've tried all the formatting suggestions here and nothing works, pay attention to any extra spaces you might have accidentally included in your original application. The EDD system is unforgivably picky about these tiny details, but once you get the exact match, it works perfectly. Don't give up - there's definitely a solution!

Just wanted to add something that helped me get through faster - call right when they open at 8 AM. I know everyone says this, but I literally set my alarm for 7:58 AM and started dialing at exactly 8:00. Got through on my third attempt! Also, when you do get through, don't be afraid to ask the rep to repeat information or spell out reference numbers. They talk fast sometimes and you don't want to miss important details. I made the mistake of not asking someone to repeat a confirmation number once and regretted it later. One more thing - if the first rep can't help you or seems confused about your issue, politely ask to be transferred to someone who specializes in your specific problem. Sometimes you get someone who's newer or not familiar with certain issues, and it's totally okay to ask for a specialist. Better to spend a few extra minutes getting transferred than to get wrong information.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Here's what worked for me - before calling, I made a simple checklist with my specific issue at the top, then listed all my account details, dates, and any error messages I was seeing. When I finally got through (took 3 days of trying), having everything organized made the call so much smoother. The rep was actually really helpful once I could clearly explain that my certification from 2 weeks ago was showing as "not paid" even though I'd submitted it on time. She was able to see exactly what was happening and fixed it during the call. My biggest tip: if you're not sure what your specific issue is yet, spend some time in your online account first and write down exactly what you're seeing vs. what you expected to see. That way when you do get through, you can say "I certified for benefits on [date] for the week ending [date], but it's showing as [status] instead of paid, and I haven't received any correspondence explaining why." So much better than just saying "my payments aren't working" - trust me on this one!

I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but I went through this exact same scenario about 8 months ago. Restaurant industry here too - got laid off and burned through my 26 weeks with no extensions available. What really caught me off guard was how quickly those 26 weeks went by. I kept thinking something would come up or that there'd be some kind of emergency extension program, but nope. California really doesn't have anything once regular UI runs out unless the unemployment rate hits specific federal triggers (which it hasn't). The silver lining is that I did manage to find work eventually, though I had to take a significant pay cut and work outside my usual management role. I ended up doing delivery driving and some retail work just to get by and build up wages for a potential future claim. It wasn't ideal, but it kept me afloat. My advice: start applying for CalFresh NOW if you haven't already - the application process can take a few weeks. Also, don't sleep on food banks and local assistance programs. I was too proud to use them at first but honestly they were a lifesaver during the gap between my last UI payment and finding steady work. The job market is rough but hang in there. Sometimes taking something temporary outside your field can actually lead to unexpected opportunities.

I'm going through something similar right now - my UI benefits are running low and I'm also in the restaurant industry. The job market is absolutely brutal right now. What I've learned from calling EDD (took me forever to get through) is that once your regular 26 weeks or maximum benefit amount is exhausted, that's it. No extensions available unless unemployment rates trigger federal programs, which they haven't. One thing that's helped me is expanding my search beyond just management roles. I've been applying for server positions, bartending, even hotel front desk jobs - anything in hospitality that might lead back to management eventually. The pay isn't what I'm used to but it's better than nothing, and like others mentioned, you need those wages to qualify for a new claim when your benefit year ends. Also definitely apply for CalFresh - I put it off thinking I'd find work soon but wish I'd done it earlier. The process takes time and every bit helps when you're stretching savings. Some counties also have one-time emergency assistance for rent, though the waitlists can be long. It's frustrating because we paid into this system and 26 weeks really isn't enough time in this job market, but we have to work with what we've got. Keep pushing through the applications - something will come up!

Hi Jasondra! Yes, estimates are totally acceptable on the DE 2557 form. EDD understands that people don't always have perfect records available when filing. Just make your best reasonable estimate based on whatever information you do have - old pay stubs, bank deposits, or even your memory of your typical pay during that period. The important thing is to be honest that it's an estimate rather than an exact figure. EDD has systems to cross-reference wage information with employers, so they can verify the details independently. They're much more focused on establishing your overall eligibility than getting every dollar amount perfect. If you're way off on your estimate, they'll typically just reach out for clarification rather than cause any major issues with your claim. Don't let the missing W2 stress you out too much - submit what you can reasonably estimate and move forward with your application!

Hi Jasondra! You're absolutely fine to make a reasonable estimate for that missing quarter on your DE 2557 form. EDD actually expects this kind of situation and has built-in processes to handle it. A few tips to make your estimate as accurate as possible: - Check your bank statements for direct deposits from that employer during the quarter - Look for any old pay stubs you might have saved (even digital ones in email) - Try to remember your hourly rate/salary and approximate hours worked - If possible, call that employer's HR department - they might be able to give you the wage info over the phone EDD can independently verify your wages through their employer reporting systems, so don't stress about being off by some amount. They're more concerned with establishing your work history and eligibility than perfect precision. Just be honest that it's an estimate and submit your best guess - it won't hold up your claim processing. Good luck with your disability claim! The DE 2557 can seem intimidating but you're on the right track.