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Glad to hear you took action and applied! That was definitely the right move. One thing to keep in mind - when you do your bi-weekly certifications, make sure you're reporting the severance income in the correct week it's actually paid to you, not spread out over multiple weeks. For example, if you get paid monthly severance, report the full amount in the certification period when you actually receive it. This can affect which weeks show $0 benefits vs reduced benefits. Also, save all your severance documentation in case EDD ever requests proof of the amounts you're reporting. The system can be finicky about income verification later on.
This is really important info about timing the reporting correctly! I didn't realize it mattered which specific week you report the income. My severance comes monthly on the 15th, so I should report the full amount during whichever bi-weekly period that falls in, right? And definitely keeping all the paperwork - learned that lesson the hard way with other government stuff before. Thanks for the heads up about potential verification requests later on.
Just wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours! I was laid off in January with severance through April, and I'm really glad I applied right away like everyone here suggested. The key things that helped me: 1. I kept detailed records of every severance payment (date, amount, pay stub) - EDD actually did request documentation during my claim review 2. During the severance period, I treated the job search like a full-time job since I knew I'd need those work search logs later 3. When my severance ended in April, my EDD payments started automatically the following week with no additional paperwork needed The hardest part was getting $0 from EDD for months while job searching, but having that claim established meant I didn't lose any potential benefit weeks. Also, make sure you understand exactly how your company is paying the severance (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) so you report it in the right certification periods. Good luck with everything!
This is exactly the kind of detailed experience I was hoping to hear about! Really helpful to know that EDD actually requested your severance documentation during review - I'll make sure to keep everything organized from the start. Quick question though - when you say your EDD payments started "automatically" after severance ended, did you have to do anything special during certification that week, or did you just report $0 severance income and the system figured it out? I'm trying to prepare for what to expect when my severance period ends in June.
@Jasmine Hernandez This timeline is super encouraging! I m'in week 2 of my severance period and honestly feeling pretty anxious about the whole process. When you say you treated job searching like a full-time job, how many applications were you doing per week? I ve'been applying to about 10-15 jobs weekly but wasn t'sure if that was enough to satisfy EDD s'requirements. Also, did you have any issues with employers asking about your availability during the severance period? I m'worried about how to handle that in interviews since technically I m'still employed "until" June even though I m'not working.
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Hey Dylan, I'm going through something similar right now actually. Got my initial approval back in December, been getting paid since January, and just got hit with a second interview notice last week. Mine is scheduled for next Tuesday. From what I've researched and been told by others who've been through this, it's usually because your employer either missed the initial deadline to respond or they're now formally contesting your claim. The fact that you mentioned possible retaliation for reporting safety violations could actually work in your favor - California has pretty strong whistleblower protections. My advice would be to organize everything chronologically before your interview. I made a timeline with dates of when I reported issues to management, when the "performance problems" supposedly started, and when I was terminated. Having that structure really helps you stay focused during the call. One thing I learned from my research is that EDD interviewers are trained to be neutral, so don't take their tone personally if they sound skeptical. They have to ask tough questions to both sides. Just stick to the facts and you should be fine. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Thanks Michael, this is really reassuring to hear from someone in the exact same situation! The timeline idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to put together a chronological breakdown of everything that happened. It's good to know about the interviewer neutrality too, because I was worried they'd already be biased against me since my employer is contesting. I'm curious - when you got your second interview notice, did it give you any hint about what your employer claimed, or was it just as vague as mine? And did your payments continue or did they pause them right away? I'm still getting paid as of this week but worried that might change after Thursday's interview. Definitely will keep everyone posted on how it goes. Good luck with your interview on Tuesday too!
@Michael Green That timeline approach sounds really smart! I m'definitely going to organize everything chronologically like you suggested. Quick question - when you mentioned researching this, did you find any specific resources that were helpful? I m'trying to understand my rights better, especially around the whistleblower protection aspect since that seems like it could be key to my case. Also wondering if you ve'heard anything about how long these second determinations typically take? I know @Ava Garcia mentioned 7-10 days earlier, but curious if that timeframe changes when it s a'contested claim versus just a routine review.
I went through this exact scenario about 8 months ago and it's definitely nerve-wracking! In my case, my employer waited almost the full 30 days before contesting my claim. What happened was they initially didn't respond to EDD's inquiry, so I got approved and started receiving benefits. Then they came back later claiming I was fired for violating company policy (which was bogus - I was actually let go during a "restructuring" that conveniently happened right after I complained about wage theft). The second interview lasted about 45 minutes and the interviewer asked very detailed questions about the specific incidents my employer cited. The key thing that saved me was having documentation - I had kept screenshots of text messages from my supervisor and emails showing I had followed proper procedures. One thing to be prepared for: they might ask you the same questions from your first interview but in different ways to see if your story stays consistent. Don't let this rattle you - just tell the truth the same way you did before. My benefits were paused for about 3 weeks while they made their determination, but I kept certifying and eventually got all the back pay. The determination letter was pretty detailed about why they ruled in my favor, citing the evidence I provided and noting inconsistencies in my employer's timeline. You've got this! The fact that you have documentation about the safety violations you reported is huge. Make sure to emphasize the timeline - when you reported the issues versus when the "performance problems" allegedly started.
This is incredibly helpful Quinn, thank you! The 45-minute timeline gives me a better idea of what to expect, and knowing that they might ask similar questions in different ways is really valuable preparation advice. I'm definitely going to make sure I review my first interview answers so I stay consistent. Your point about the documentation being key is reassuring since I do have those emails and texts. I'm curious - when you mentioned they cited inconsistencies in your employer's timeline, was that something you actively pointed out during the interview or did EDD figure that out on their own when they compared both sides? Also, did the interviewer give you any indication during the call about how they were leaning, or was it pretty neutral throughout? I'm trying to manage my expectations for Thursday and not read too much into their tone or questions.
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To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
I went through a similar situation recently. When they remove the disqualification, you'll typically receive a determination letter explaining the decision and a notice about any back payments owed to you. The "time sensitive" letter is probably the official determination, and the other might be related to payment processing or additional documentation they need. Make sure to respond to any requests quickly - usually within 30 days. Also, check your EDD online account as it should update to reflect the changes. The can take a few weeks for payments to actually start flowing, so be patient but stay on top of any correspondence they send.
@Sofia Price Thank you for sharing your experience! This is really helpful information. I m'currently dealing with a similar situation and was wondering - when you say the payments can take a few weeks to start flowing, does that timeline start from when you receive the determination letter, or from when you respond to it? Also, did you have to re-certify for any past weeks once the was removed? I m'trying to prepare for what comes next in this process.
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Great thread! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're working part-time while on UI, it's really helpful to keep detailed records of your work days and earnings. I made a simple spreadsheet with dates worked, hours, and gross pay. This made certifying so much easier and helped me catch a mistake I almost made where I reported earnings for the wrong week. Also, if you ever get audited or have questions later, having everything documented saves you a lot of headaches. Good luck with the work - sounds like you've got all the info you need to handle it properly!
That's such a smart idea about keeping a spreadsheet! I'm definitely going to set that up before I start working those days. I can already see how easy it would be to mix up which week to report earnings for, especially if the work schedule is irregular. Thanks for the practical tip - sometimes it's the simple organizational stuff that makes all the difference when dealing with EDD!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is what happens if you work irregular hours across the two-week certification period. For example, if you work 3 days one week and 1 day the next week, you'll need to report earnings separately for each week when you certify. EDD calculates benefits on a weekly basis, not bi-weekly, so each week gets its own calculation using the formula others described. This was confusing for me at first because I thought I had to average my earnings across both weeks, but that's not how it works. Each week stands alone in terms of how much you worked and earned, which then determines your benefit amount for that specific week.
Tom Maxon
To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this that gave me a to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
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Marilyn Dixon
If you miss the scheduled callback from EDD, don't panic! Here's what typically happens: 1) They'll usually try calling 2-3 times within a short window, 2) You might receive a follow-up text or notice about rescheduling, 3) Check your UI Online account for any updates or new appointment options. The key is to respond quickly if you get any rescheduling options. Also, make sure your phone can receive calls from unknown numbers since EDD calls often show up that way. Has anyone else had experience with missed callbacks and successful rescheduling?
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Katherine Hunter
•@Marilyn Dixon Thank you for this helpful breakdown! I m'actually dealing with this exact situation right now - missed my callback yesterday and I m'worried I ve'lost my chance. Do you know how long EDD typically gives you to reschedule? I ve'been checking my UI Online account obsessively but haven t'seen any new options yet. Also, did you have to go back to the original callback request process or is there usually a faster way to get another appointment? Really appreciate any guidance from someone who s'been through this!
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