I should also mention: make sure you're answering the work search questions correctly. The phone system doesn't allow you to explain your work search activities like the online system does. If you're required to look for work, you need to answer "Yes" to that question or you might get disqualified. EDD has been more strict about work search requirements in 2025.

Just wanted to add that if you're calling during peak hours (like Sunday evenings when everyone is trying to certify), the system can be really slow or even busy. I've found that calling early in the morning around 6-7 AM or later in the evening around 8-9 PM tends to work better. Also, make sure you have a stable phone connection - if the call drops during certification, you'll have to start over completely. Good luck getting through!

Just wondering if anyone knows if we HAVE to call? My certification has been pending for 2 weeks but maybe it just takes time to process? Do I really need to call or will it eventually change to paid? Sorry if this is a dumb question, this is my first time on unemployment.

UPDATE: I finally got through!!! For anyone who needs to know, I called right at 8:00am and kept hitting redial for about 45 minutes. Finally got in the queue and waited another hour. The rep was actually super helpful and found that there was a flag on my account from my last employer contesting my claim. She scheduled me for an eligibility interview next week to resolve it. She said all my pending weeks should be released once that's done. So if you're stuck in pending like me, definitely keep trying to call. There's probably something specific holding up your claim that only they can see in their system. Don't give up!!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was working part-time at a retail store while keeping my EDD claim open from my previous office job. My manager got the same letter and was convinced it meant the store would have to pay my unemployment benefits somehow. I ended up printing out some information from the EDD website about how the system works and showed her that only the "base period employer" (my old job) gets charged for benefits. The letter she received was just asking her to verify my employment status and wages - basically confirming I was being honest about my earnings when I certified. It took about a week for her to calm down about it, but once she understood the process, she was actually supportive of me keeping the claim active as a safety net. The whole thing resolved smoothly and didn't affect my job at all. Your boss will probably feel much better once she understands what's actually happening!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My boss at the restaurant where I work part-time got an EDD notice last week and immediately called me into the office thinking she was going to get charged for my benefits. I had to explain that I'm still on claim from my previous job at a marketing company, not from her restaurant. What really helped was showing her the exact wording on the EDD form - it clearly states they're just verifying current employment information, not assigning any charges to her business. I also pointed out that the benefits are based on wages from my "base period" which was entirely from my old job, so her business has zero financial liability. The key thing I learned is that a lot of small business owners have never dealt with this before and automatically assume any government notice means they owe money or did something wrong. Once I walked her through how the system actually works, she was totally fine with it. Now she even asks how my job search is going! Keep being transparent about your earnings when you certify - that's the most important part. Your boss will calm down once she understands the process.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing that helped was getting very specific about the timeline and quarter usage in my appeal. When I appealed, I created a simple chart showing: - My previous claim dates and which quarters were used for that claim - My new claim filing date - The base period quarters for the new claim - Which specific quarters had earnings that weren't previously used The appeals judge appreciated having it laid out clearly. It sounds like you're on the right track understanding that your Jan-Mar 2024 earnings were likely in the lag quarter for your previous claim. Also, don't stress too much about the interviewer hanging up on you - I've found that the appeals process is much more thorough and fair than the initial phone interviews. The judges actually know the regulations inside and out. One tip: when you get your denial letter, look for the specific denial code. That will tell you exactly what rule they're citing, which makes it easier to craft your appeal argument. Good luck!

This is such a frustrating situation, but you're not alone! I went through something very similar and the key thing that helped me was understanding that EDD's automated system and their phone reps often don't communicate well with each other. The fact that the system initially calculated $580/week based on your Jan-Mar 2024 earnings is actually a really good sign - it means those earnings ARE in your base period and the system recognized them as valid. The interviewer seems to have gotten confused about which quarters were already used in your previous claim. Here's what I'd recommend while you wait for the denial letter: 1. Gather all documentation from your Jan-Mar 2024 employment (pay stubs, W-2, etc.) 2. Try to get records showing when your previous UI claim started (to prove the lag quarter issue) 3. Document everything from your phone interviews - dates, times, what was said The appeals process is definitely your best bet here. The judges understand these complex base period situations much better than the front-line staff. I've seen people win appeals in situations exactly like yours where the initial system calculation was correct but got overturned by a confused interviewer. Don't let them discourage you - if the computer said you qualified initially, there's probably a good reason for that!

my brother says if u press 2-4-1-3 instead of going thru the normal menu u get to a different department but they can still see ur payment info. ive never tried it tho

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact same confusion last week! The automated phone questions are definitely just identity verification - I was terrified I was accidentally filing a new claim too. What helped me was writing down my SSN and PIN before calling so I could answer quickly without second-guessing myself. One tip that worked for me: if you get disconnected (which happens A LOT), don't immediately call back. Wait about 10-15 minutes because their system seems to temporarily block numbers that call too frequently. I learned this the hard way after getting auto-disconnected 8 times in a row. Also regarding your payment timing concerns - with the system delays @CosmicCaptain mentioned, you might want to check your UI Online account daily rather than relying on phone updates. Sometimes the website shows payment status changes before the phone reps even know about them. Hang in there, the waiting is the worst part but your payment will come through!