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UPDATE: I filed a new claim yesterday through UI Online. It was actually easier than I remembered - took about 30 minutes to complete. The system confirmed my benefit year had ended from my previous claim. Now I just have to wait and hope it processes quickly. Thanks everyone for the advice and guidance!
Good job! One more tip: After you file, keep checking your UI Online account daily. Watch for any messages or tasks in your inbox. Sometimes they need additional information or documentation but don't clearly notify you. Missing these requests can cause major delays.
Great to hear you got your new claim filed! Just wanted to add a heads up - since you were only at your recent job for about 7 months (March to October), keep an eye out for any potential issues with wage verification. Sometimes EDD has trouble pulling wage data from employers quickly, especially for shorter employment periods. If your claim gets stuck in "pending" status for more than a week or two, it might be worth calling (or using that Claimyr service Andre mentioned) to make sure they have all your wage information. Also, since you mentioned bills are tight, look into local food banks or utility assistance programs in your area while you're waiting for benefits to kick in. Hope everything processes smoothly for you!
That's really helpful advice about the wage verification issues! I didn't even think about that being a potential problem. I'll definitely keep checking my account daily like you and Yuki suggested. And thanks for mentioning the food banks - I'm trying to stay optimistic that it won't come to that, but it's good to know there are options if the processing takes forever. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly this time around!
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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 had a similar experience with the system - sometimes there can be technical delays or the representative might be dealing with system issues on their end. If the line stays silent for more than 5 minutes, I'd recommend hanging up and waiting for the next opportunity. The system usually sends another text within a few hours if the call doesn't connect properly. Don't lose hope - many people have eventually gotten through and resolved their issues, even if it takes a few attempts!
@Lincoln Ramiro That s'really helpful advice! I m'new here and dealing with similar issues. How long did you typically have to wait between attempts? And did you find certain times of day worked better than others for getting through? I ve'been struggling with this for weeks and any additional tips would be greatly appreciated!
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I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! Took a temp job paying $18/hr after losing a $35/hr position. The partial benefits absolutely helped me get through those months. A few things I learned that might help: - Keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking hours worked each week - When certifying, be super precise about the dates you worked vs the certification period dates - this tripped me up once - If you work irregular hours (some weeks more, some less), your partial benefit amount will vary accordingly - The temp agency should provide you with clear documentation of your work dates when the assignment ends - ask for this upfront The good news is that having some income plus partial benefits kept me afloat financially, and it did look better to potential employers that I was working rather than just collecting full benefits. My temp assignment actually got extended twice and led to some good networking opportunities. Hang in there!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! I love the idea of keeping a detailed spreadsheet - that sounds like it would be super helpful for staying organized and having documentation if EDD ever questions anything. Did you find the temp agency was good about providing clear documentation when your assignment ended? I'm hoping this temp position might lead to networking opportunities like yours did. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation last year! I was laid off from a $42/hr job and took a temp position at $25/hr for 5 months. The partial benefits were a lifesaver during that time. One thing I wish I had known earlier - if your temp job offers any overtime hours, be strategic about when you take them. Some weeks I worked extra hours and earned too much to qualify for ANY partial benefits that week, while other weeks I could have used the extra income. It's worth calculating beforehand whether working those extra hours will push you over the threshold where you lose all benefits for that week. Also, don't forget that you're still building work credits during the temp job, which can help if you need to file a new claim later. The whole experience actually worked out well for me - the temp job gave me new skills and I eventually found a permanent position paying even more than my original job. Sometimes these situations work out better than expected!
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I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my first unemployment claim about 10 days ago and certified this past Sunday. My payment has been stuck on pending for 3 days now and I was starting to get really worried, especially since I've never been on unemployment before and didn't know what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like the 7-10 business day wait for first payments is completely normal due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. I had no idea they had to verify identity, check with employers, and do all these additional reviews for the initial payment. It's frustrating when you're already stressed about finances, but at least now I know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Going to try to be patient and wait the full 10 business days before panicking. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it really helps to know what's normal!
@Aisha Abdullah I m'in the exact same boat as you! Just certified for my first payment 4 days ago and have been anxiously checking the portal constantly. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about all the verification steps EDD does behind the scenes for first-time claimants. It s'crazy how much more complex the unemployment system is compared to regular job payments. The waiting is definitely the hardest part when you re'already dealing with the stress of being unemployed, but knowing that 7-10 business days is totally normal makes me feel so much better. We ve'got this - just a few more days to go!
I'm going through the exact same thing! Just submitted my first certification 4 days ago and my payment is still pending. I've been checking the portal obsessively which is probably making my anxiety worse. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea that first payments take so much longer due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. It makes total sense that they need to verify identity, check with previous employers, and review everything before releasing that initial payment. The 7-10 business day timeline that everyone mentions gives me hope that mine should come through soon. It's definitely nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about finances, but knowing this is completely normal helps a lot. Thanks for posting this question - I was wondering the same thing and was starting to panic!
@TommyKapitz You're definitely not alone! I just went through this same anxiety spiral about 2 months ago with my first unemployment payment. The obsessive portal checking is so real - I was refreshing that page like every hour which just made everything worse. What helped me was setting specific times to check (like once in the morning and once in the evening) instead of constantly refreshing. The verification process really does take time, especially for first-time claimants like us. My payment ended up switching to "paid" on day 8 and hit my bank account the next day. Hang in there - those 7-10 business days feel like forever when you're stressed about money, but it really is just the normal process working its way through the system!
Giovanni Colombo
I'm really sorry you're going through this - the EDD system can be incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about finances. Based on what you've shared, here are a few things that might help: Your $2,300 from the February temp job could potentially qualify you for a new claim if it puts you over the minimum earnings threshold in your base period. The calculation is complex, but it's definitely worth having EDD review your case. A few immediate steps I'd suggest: 1. Apply for CalFresh (food stamps) and any local emergency assistance programs while you sort out the EDD situation 2. Contact your local Community Action Agency - they often have emergency rent assistance funds 3. If you have any medical documentation related to stress/anxiety from unemployment, consider looking into State Disability Insurance (SDI) as a temporary bridge For getting through to EDD, try calling right at 8:00 AM when the lines open - that's usually when you have the best chance of getting through. Have all your documentation ready including pay stubs from that temp job. Don't lose hope - I've seen people in similar situations get approved for new claims or find other assistance programs. The system is confusing but there are options out there. Keep advocating for yourself and don't be afraid to escalate if the first representative you speak with can't help.
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Landon Morgan
•This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! I'm going to start with CalFresh and calling 211 first thing tomorrow morning since those seem like they could provide the quickest relief. The Community Action Agency suggestion is new to me - I'll look up the one in my area. And you're absolutely right about calling EDD at 8 AM sharp - I've been trying random times throughout the day which obviously isn't working. I really appreciate you taking the time to lay out such a clear action plan when I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now.
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Alicia Stern
I've been through this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. First, don't panic - there are still options even after exhaustion. Your February temp work might actually be more helpful than you think. When I was in a similar spot, I had earned about $2,800 from a short-term contract job after filing my original claim. EDD was able to establish a new claim based on those earnings, even though my benefit year hadn't ended yet. Here's what I learned: - The key is whether your temp earnings create a valid base period for a new claim - You need at least $1,300 in your highest earning quarter of the new base period - Your total base period earnings must be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter Call EDD and specifically ask them to review your case for a "subsequent valid claim" based on your February employment. Don't let them brush you off - this is a legitimate option that many representatives aren't familiar with. Also, while you're waiting, definitely apply for CalFresh and check with your county's General Relief program. Some counties have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent for people between benefit periods. The Training Extension program mentioned by others is solid too if you're interested in career training. I wish I had known about that option when I was going through this. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but there are paths forward!
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Mateo Perez
•@a395bec4f6e2 This is such valuable information! I'm definitely going to use that exact terminology when I call. Quick question - when you got your subsequent valid claim approved, did it affect your original benefit year end date at all? Like, did you get a completely new benefit year or did it still end on the original date? Also wondering if the weekly benefit amount changed based on the new earnings calculation. I'm trying to understand what to expect if this actually works out for me.
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Cassandra Moon
•@a395bec4f6e2 I had to provide my pay stubs from the temp job and they verified the employment through their usual process. The hardest part was getting a representative who actually understood what a subsequent valid claim was - I had to call three times before someone knew what I was talking about. To answer @8d84c90dd57a's question, yes you get a completely new benefit year starting from when you file the subsequent claim, and the weekly benefit amount is recalculated based on your new base period earnings. In my case it was actually slightly lower than my original claim because the temp work paid less than my previous job, but it was still worth it to have income again. Make sure to emphasize that the temp work was AFTER you filed your original claim - that's the key requirement they look for.
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