I just went through this transition a few months ago and yes, absolutely use 8/15/23 as your last day worked! That's the actual date you stopped working before going on disability. A couple of tips that helped me: Make sure your SDI claim is completely closed before filing for UI (check your EDD account to confirm no pending payments). Also, when you file, be prepared to explain the gap - they may ask during the phone interview why there's such a long period between your last work date and filing for UI. Having your disability case number and award letter ready will help explain the timeline. The application process was actually smoother than I expected once I had all my documentation in order. Just answer all questions honestly and exactly as asked. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this transition recently too. Definitely use 8/15/23 as your last day worked - that's the actual date you stopped working before disability, which is exactly what they're asking for. One thing I wish someone had told me: when you apply online, there's a section where you can upload documents right away. I'd recommend having your SDI award letter and a doctor's note clearing you to return to work ready to upload immediately. Even if they don't ask for it right away, having it in your file from the start seemed to help my claim process faster. Also, make sure you're genuinely ready to start job searching before you file. They're pretty strict about the "able and available" requirement, especially coming off disability. I started applying to jobs the day before I filed my UI claim so I had some applications to reference if they asked. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment, which seemed pretty good compared to what I've heard from others. Hope this helps!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - won my appeal and then had the eligibility interview about unreported earnings from my full-time job. The key thing that helped me was being super clear about WHY I was confused. I told them I thought since my employer was already paying into the system and EDD had access to wage records, that ongoing employment was automatically tracked. I brought a printed timeline showing when I started collecting benefits, when I certified each week, and what my regular work schedule/pay was. The interviewer actually said that's one of the most common misunderstandings they see. I did have to repay about $3,200 in overpayments, but they waived all penalties since it was clearly an honest mistake. They put me on a $125/month payment plan which was totally manageable. The whole interview took about 25 minutes and was way less intimidating than I expected. Just be honest and stick to the facts - you're already off to a good start since you won your appeal!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any documentation from when you first applied for benefits, like emails or notes where you asked questions about reporting requirements, bring those too! I had saved some screenshots from the EDD website where I was trying to figure out the reporting rules, and the interviewer said it really helped show I was genuinely trying to follow the rules correctly. Also, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat a question if you don't understand it clearly - they'd rather you ask for clarification than give a confusing answer. The fact that you already won your appeal shows you have credibility with them, so try to remember that going in. You're being proactive and preparing well, which is exactly the right approach!

Just wanted to add that your husband should also register with CalJOBS if he hasn't already - it's California's official job search site and EDD actually requires registration for most claimants. You can find it at caljobs.ca.gov. Once he's registered there, he can use job searches on that site as part of his weekly work search activities. It also has some decent resources for resume building and career exploration that might be helpful during his job search.

Quick tip that really helped me - I created a simple template in my phone's notes app with fields for "Company Name," "Position," "Date Applied," "Method (online/email/in-person)," and "Contact Info." Every time I apply somewhere, I just fill out a new entry. When certification time comes, I have everything organized and ready to copy into the UI Online boxes. Makes the whole process way less stressful! Your husband might find this approach easier than trying to remember everything later.

I'm in a similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly valuable! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - I created a simple spreadsheet to track my certification dates and any communications from EDD. It sounds nerdy, but having everything documented in one place really helped me stay organized during the transition period. Also, for anyone worried about the gap in payments, I'd recommend reaching out to your landlord/mortgage company and utility companies as soon as you know your benefits are ending. Most have programs for temporary payment deferrals or payment plans, especially if you can show them documentation that you're waiting for an extension to process. I was surprised how accommodating they were when I explained the situation proactively rather than waiting until I missed a payment. The medical device sales job market is definitely challenging right now, but I've noticed some uptick in hiring for roles that combine traditional medical sales with software/digital health platforms. Companies seem to value that hybrid skill set. Keep your head up - both the extension and the right job opportunity will come through!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact process in December 2024! My regular UI benefits exhausted right before the holidays (talk about stressful timing), but the extension process worked pretty much exactly as everyone here described. A few things that might help ease your anxiety: 1. I got my extension notice on day 6 after exhaustion, and payments resumed on day 8 - so right in that 7-10 day window everyone mentioned 2. The "California Extended Duration Benefits" program gave me the full 13 weeks at my same weekly amount ($580) 3. Most importantly - I kept certifying during the gap and all those certifications were honored once the extension kicked in One thing I wish I'd known: when you get the extension notice in UI Online, there's a small PDF attachment that explains the new work search requirements. Make sure to download and read it carefully because the requirements ARE slightly different for extensions (as someone mentioned about needing to expand your industry search). For medical device sales - have you looked into companies doing medical AI or remote monitoring devices? That sector is exploding right now and they really value traditional medical sales experience. A friend of mine transitioned from pharmaceutical sales to a company making AI diagnostic tools and said the earning potential is actually better than traditional med device. Hang in there - both the extension and the job market will work out. The system really has gotten more reliable over the past year!

any update?? did ur $ come thru yet??

I'm so glad this worked out for you! This is actually a really helpful thread for anyone else experiencing similar delays. I've been on EDD for about 6 months now and had two random payment delays like this - both times the money eventually came through within 3-4 days just like yours did. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't communicate these system hiccups better, but at least we know now that "paid" status means the money is definitely coming, even if it takes longer than usual. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!