Just checking back - have you had any success with the resources suggested here? One additional recommendation: If your mother banks with a credit union or local bank, their fraud department might be willing to help advocate on her behalf, especially if she's been a long-term customer. Also, the America's SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers) sometimes help with PPP fraud cases even for non-business owners. They understand SBA systems and may have contacts who can expedite the case. You can find your local office at americassbdc.org.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this nightmare. Identity theft targeting seniors is absolutely heartbreaking, and the fact that government agencies are making victims feel like criminals is unacceptable. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider reaching out to your state's Attorney General's office. Many AGs have elder fraud units that specifically handle these types of cases and can put pressure on federal agencies. Also, if your mom receives any more threatening collection letters, respond in writing (certified mail) stating that this is a case of identity theft under investigation and that you dispute the entire debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they must stop collection efforts once you dispute it in writing. Document everything with photos/scans. The fact that she's been retired for 9 years and never owned a business should make this a slam-dunk case once you get the right people involved. Stay strong - you're doing everything right by advocating for her!

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.

This is super helpful info! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need to access my old EDD account someday too. Question for those who've been through this - is there any way to reset your security questions or get help if you can't remember those either? I changed phones since then and lost access to my old email, so I'm worried I'll be completely locked out if I ever need to get back in.

Pro tip for anyone else who might face this issue: if you're trying to recover old EDD account access, check your email for any old payment confirmation emails from 2020-2021. I found mine buried in my Gmail archives when I searched for "EDD" and "payment issued" - they actually show the exact weekly benefit amount which is what the system asks for. Saved me from having to guess! Also, if you had direct deposit, your bank statements from that time period will show the exact amounts too.

After reading through all the comments, I want to add one more important point: Even if your backdating request is denied, make sure you still appeal the decision if you believe you had good cause. The appeal process is separate from EDD and handled by administrative law judges who sometimes interpret the rules differently than EDD representatives. Also, regardless of the backdating situation, continue certifying every two weeks to serve those penalty weeks as quickly as possible. Each week you're eligible (even if in penalty status) gets you one week closer to receiving benefits.

I went through something similar last year. Had 10 penalty weeks from an overpayment and tried to backdate by 2 months. The key thing that helped my case was that I had been receiving conflicting information - I called EDD twice in February and got two different answers about whether I could file yet (one rep said wait until my employer submitted paperwork, another said file immediately). I kept notes of both calls with dates and reference numbers. They approved my backdating request, but like others mentioned, you MUST certify for all those backdated weeks and meet all eligibility requirements. I had to provide detailed job search records going back to when I was laid off. The penalty weeks did count during that backdated period, so I essentially served 8 out of 10 penalty weeks during the backdated time. Without documentation of conflicting/incorrect information from EDD or a medical issue, it's really tough to get approved. But definitely still try - worst case they say no and you're in the same situation. Good luck with your interview!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Got my disqualification notice two weeks ago for "voluntary quit" even though I was clearly laid off when my department got eliminated. Filed my appeal immediately but have been stressed about the hearing process. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like having solid documentation (which you definitely have) makes a huge difference. I have my layoff notice, final paycheck stub showing "reduction in force," and emails from HR about the department closure. One thing I'm curious about - did anyone here have their former employer actually show up to contest the appeal? My HR department seemed pretty disorganized when I left, so I'm wondering if they'll even bother participating in the hearing process. Thanks for posting this question, Amelia - you've gotten some really valuable responses that are helping me prepare for my own hearing!

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I was terrified about the hearing too but it really wasn't bad at all! Mine was a phone hearing that lasted about 30 minutes. The judge was very patient and walked me through each question clearly. One thing that really helped my anxiety was calling the EDD Appeals office a few days before my hearing to confirm the phone number and process. They explained exactly how it would work - they call you at the scheduled time, put you in a "waiting room" on hold, then connect you to the judge when it's your turn. Since you have that termination letter showing budget cuts, you're in great shape. I had similar documentation and won my appeal easily. The judge seemed most interested in whether I had any advance warning about being laid off (I didn't) and whether I was given any option to stay (nope). Try not to stress too much about it - you've got solid evidence and these judges deal with wrongful disqualifications all the time. They know the difference between someone who was legitimately laid off versus someone trying to game the system.