Will do! I feel much less anxious now having a clear plan.

You're making the smart choice! I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it was nerve-wracking, but the unemployment benefits really helped me get back on my feet. One thing I'd add - when you do your EDD interview, keep your answers short and to the point. Don't over-explain or volunteer extra information that might hurt your case. Just stick to the facts: you were in probation, you tried your best, but they said you weren't meeting their expectations so they let you go. The documentation you have will be your best friend if they contest it. You've got this!

Just to follow up on your original question - under California UI code, you need to demonstrate you had no reasonable alternative to quitting. When you file your claim and explain the separation reason, make sure you indicate the specific circumstances that made continuing work impossible despite your good faith efforts. During the eligibility interview, you'll likely be asked detailed questions like: - Why couldn't you arrange alternative childcare? - Did you propose alternative schedules? - What specific accommodations did you request? - Was there a company policy regarding schedule changes? The eligibility determination hinges on whether EDD finds your actions reasonable given your circumstance. Documentation of all attempted solutions will be crucial.

Have you considered reaching out to your state representative's office for assistance? I had a similar childcare situation with my nursing job and their constituent services helped me navigate the EDD process. They can sometimes expedite reviews or provide guidance on documentation. Also, check if your company has a family leave policy or if you qualify for any California family leave protections before quitting - sometimes there are options HR doesn't mention. Document everything with dates and keep pushing for written responses. Good luck!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add something that might help - when you're documenting your work search activities, be specific about what you did and where. Instead of just writing "job search online," write something like "researched marketing coordinator positions on Indeed.com" or "reviewed job requirements for digital marketing roles on LinkedIn." EDD can be really picky about vague documentation, and having specific details makes it much easier if they ever ask for clarification. I always kept a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, activity type, company/website, and brief description. Took maybe 2 minutes per activity to log but saved me tons of stress later. Also, since you mentioned you're starting at a marketing firm - you could definitely count things like "researched current digital marketing trends" or "studied new marketing tools relevant to position" as valid work search activities. Just make sure each activity is aimed at finding or preparing for work, and you're golden!

Congratulations on landing the marketing position! 🎉 This thread has been incredibly informative - I'm actually saving it as a reference because the advice is so comprehensive! I just wanted to add something that might help with the work search documentation that I learned from my own experience. When you're doing those required activities while waiting to start, make sure to be as specific as possible in your logs. Instead of writing "researched marketing trends," write something like "researched Q1 2024 digital marketing trends on MarketingLand.com, focusing on AI integration in email campaigns." The extra specificity serves two purposes: it makes your documentation bulletproof if EDD ever asks for details, AND it forces you to actually engage deeply with the material rather than just skimming. I found that this approach made my prep time genuinely valuable for my new role. Also, since everyone's mentioned keeping good records, I'd suggest creating a backup of your documentation. I kept my main tracking spreadsheet in Google Drive but also emailed myself a copy every week. Sounds paranoid, but technology fails at the worst times and you don't want to lose weeks of documentation! The whole EDD process can feel overwhelming, but it sounds like you've got a solid plan now thanks to all the great advice here. Best of luck with the transition to your new marketing role - June will be here before you know it! 🚀

Have you tried looking at the Amazon warehouse? They're always hiring and the pay is decent until you find something better in your field. That's what I did when my benefits ran out last year.

I'm sorry you're going through this tough situation. As others have mentioned, the pandemic-era extensions are gone, but there might still be some options worth exploring quickly since you have that one week of benefits left. Beyond the Training Extension that others mentioned, I'd also suggest: 1. Contact your local One-Stop Career Center - they often have emergency assistance programs and can help with resume optimization for the current tech market 2. Look into emergency rental assistance programs in your county - many are still active and can help with that rent payment 3. Check if you qualify for any union or professional association assistance programs (some tech groups have hardship funds) The key thing is to act fast on that Training Extension application while you still have benefits remaining. Even if it's just $112 for one week, it might be enough to qualify you for the program. Also, don't forget about food banks and local emergency assistance programs - they're designed exactly for situations like yours and can help bridge the gap while you figure out next steps. Hang in there, the tech market is brutal right now but you're not alone in this struggle.

Update: I called EDD using that Claimyr service and got through to someone who explained everything. For anyone else who needs to know: You mark "No" for the days you're at jury duty when they ask if you were able and available for work. Then report the jury pay as income. They said as long as you're honest about it, there's no issue with your claim. Thanks everyone for the help!

Just wanted to add that if you're on a longer jury trial (like 2+ weeks), you might want to contact EDD directly to discuss your situation. I served on a 3-week trial last year and they were actually pretty accommodating - they adjusted my certification schedule so I didn't have to worry about missing deadlines while in trial. The key is being proactive and transparent with them about your jury service dates.