I'm scheduled for my first RESEA appointment next week and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also initially confused about whether it was mandatory - the letter language is a bit unclear. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this: I called to confirm my appointment details yesterday and the rep mentioned they're now offering both in-person and virtual options for RESEA appointments. If you have transportation issues or scheduling conflicts, it might be worth asking about the virtual option when you call to reschedule. Also, for those struggling to get through on the phone - I had success calling the number on the RESEA letter itself rather than the main EDD line. The wait was only about 15 minutes compared to the hours I've spent trying to reach general EDD customer service in the past. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helped ease my anxiety about the whole process!

I just wanted to jump in and say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time in years and had no idea what RESEA was when I got my letter last week. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. One thing I learned from calling is that if you need to reschedule multiple times due to legitimate conflicts (like job interviews), they're generally understanding as long as you communicate proactively. The rep I spoke with said they'd rather have you attend when you can be fully present and engaged rather than rushing through it. Also, for anyone wondering about what to wear - I asked during my call and they said business casual is fine, nothing too formal needed. They want you to feel comfortable since it's meant to be a collaborative discussion about your job search. Hunter, hope your job interview went well and that your rescheduled RESEA appointment is helpful! This community is awesome for sharing real experiences and practical advice.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might be relevant to your situation. I actually work in payroll for a mid-sized company, and we've had to do similar audits where we discovered unpaid orientation time from years back. It's more common than you'd think, especially after labor law changes or when companies realize they weren't properly classifying certain activities as compensable time. From what I've seen, when companies do these retroactive payments, they usually have to file amended wage reports with the state. So there's a decent chance EDD might already have documentation that you earned this money in 2021, even though you're just receiving it now. The good news is that this creates a paper trail showing the payment was a legitimate business correction, not unreported income you were hiding. When you submit your written statement, definitely mention that this came from the company's internal audit - it demonstrates that neither you nor the company initially realized this orientation should have been paid. Based on the experiences others have shared here, it sounds like you're taking the right approach with the written statement through UI Online. The combination of the small amount, the time elapsed, and the clear documentation that this was an honest mistake should work in your favor. Good luck!

I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in since I had a very similar experience! I received an unexpected check for what I thought was unpaid training about 2 years after the fact while I wasn't on unemployment anymore. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you're definitely on the right track with the written statement approach. One small thing I'd add - when you write your statement, you might want to include the exact date you received the check versus when the work was performed. This helps establish the timeline and shows you're reporting it as soon as you became aware. Also, since multiple people have mentioned that companies often file amended wage reports during these audits, you could even ask the company's HR if they filed any amended reports with the state. Having that information might be useful to include in your statement too. The fact that you're being so proactive about this really shows your good faith. From everything I've read in this thread, it seems like EDD is pretty reasonable about genuine mistakes, especially with such small amounts. You've got this!

I'm about 6 weeks out from my balance hitting zero and this thread has been absolutely invaluable - honestly the most helpful resource I've found anywhere about what actually happens when EDD benefits run out! I've been job hunting in customer service management for 4 months and the market feels incredibly tight right now. Reading everyone's experiences has completely opened my eyes to options I never knew existed. The California Training Benefits program sounds like it could be perfect since I've been wanting to get certified in customer experience management and maybe learn some basic data analysis to make myself more competitive. If CTB covers those kinds of professional development courses, this could actually be an opportunity to level up my skills. I'm 33 and have been avoiding the reality of needing temporary work because it felt like admitting career failure. But hearing from so many experienced professionals who've successfully navigated this has really shifted my mindset. You're absolutely right that keeping a roof over your head is way more important than ego, and the stories about unexpected opportunities through temporary jobs are genuinely inspiring. Planning to start applications at Target, Costco, and maybe explore some remote customer service roles this week while continuing my management job search. Also definitely calling my local workforce center tomorrow and researching CTB options - can't believe I didn't know these resources existed! Thanks to everyone for sharing so openly about your situations. It's scary as hell but knowing we're all in this together and that there are actual resources and strategies makes it feel so much more manageable. This community has given me real hope and a concrete plan instead of just panic!

I'm facing the exact same situation - my benefits run out in about 3 weeks and I've been searching in IT support for 5 months with very little to show for it. This thread has been more helpful than every official EDD resource combined! I had absolutely no idea about the California Training Benefits program or that you could still get partial unemployment while working part-time - those are complete game changers for my planning approach. Reading everyone's stories has really shifted my perspective on taking temporary work. I'm 36 and have been avoiding retail/service jobs because I thought it would somehow damage my tech career prospects, but you're all absolutely right that paying my mortgage is way more important than my pride right now. The stories about networking through temporary jobs and finding unexpected opportunities are actually really encouraging. I'm definitely going to start applications at Target, Best Buy (since they might value my tech background), and maybe try some gig work like Instacart this week while continuing my IT job search. Also planning to look into CTB for cloud computing certifications - AWS or Google Cloud certs would actually make me way more competitive for the roles I'm targeting anyway. The advice about starting your backup plan NOW instead of waiting until you're completely broke is exactly the reality check I needed. Thanks to everyone for being so brutally honest about your experiences. It's terrifying but knowing there's an entire community of professionals navigating this together makes it feel way less isolating. We've got this!

This thread is absolutely incredible - it's become like the ultimate EDD wage verification troubleshooting guide! I'm currently dealing with a similar issue where EDD says I don't have enough wages despite working full-time at a healthcare clinic for 18 months. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm pretty sure it's a name discrepancy issue since I go by "Jen" at work but my legal name is "Jennifer" on my Social Security card. I've been trying to call EDD for over a week with zero success - just constant busy signals and disconnections. It's so frustrating when you know there's probably a simple fix but you can't reach anyone! Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. I've got all my pay stubs organized and now I know to ask specifically for a tier 2 rep for wage investigations. The amount of practical knowledge shared in this thread is amazing - from the DE 4506 form to checking federal EINs to backup resources like assemblymember offices. It's exactly the kind of real-world information you can't find in official guides. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help others navigate this confusing system!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been following this thread closely - the collective knowledge here is absolutely incredible! I'm dealing with a similar EDD wage verification issue right now (filed 3 weeks ago, got the "insufficient wages" message despite working consistently for 2+ years) and this thread has been more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found. The name discrepancy issue seems to be SO common based on everyone's experiences. I actually use a completely different name professionally (my middle name) than what's on my Social Security card, so that's probably my issue too. It's mind-blowing that something so simple can cause such a massive headache! I've been stuck in the endless EDD phone loop for days, but I'm definitely trying Claimyr this week based on all the success stories here. Having a step-by-step action plan (gather docs, ask for tier 2 rep, mention potential name issues) makes this feel actually manageable instead of hopeless. This community support is amazing - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! It really shows how powerful it is when people help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. Will definitely update once I get through!

I've been following this thread closely as someone who just filed an appeal last month, and Dallas, your situation is giving me so much hope! The fact that your employer made misconduct allegations but couldn't even be bothered to show up and defend them really says everything about the strength of their case. What strikes me most about your situation is that you have clear documentation showing "position elimination" while they're claiming misconduct - that's such a huge contradiction that should work heavily in your favor. Combined with their no-show, you were essentially the only one presenting evidence to the judge. I'm taking notes on everyone's timelines here - it sounds like 8-12 days for the decision letter is pretty consistent, then another 1-3 weeks for payment processing. The advice about calling the Appeals Office number (not the regular EDD line) if there are delays is really valuable too. Based on all the success stories shared in this thread, employer no-shows after making unsubstantiated claims seem to work out very well for claimants. You clearly came prepared while they completely abandoned their position. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get your good news soon and can finally get some financial relief! This whole process is so stressful but you sound like you're in an excellent position. 🤞

I just went through this exact situation about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience to give you some reassurance! My employer also completely no-showed after claiming "violation of company policy" when I was actually terminated due to "departmental restructuring." The judge was very thorough and professional, asking detailed questions about my job performance, any policy violations, and the circumstances of my termination. Like you, I had all my documentation organized - termination letter clearly stating "organizational changes," emails about the restructuring, and a clean disciplinary record. Without my employer there to substantiate their policy violation claims, I felt much more confident as the hearing progressed. I received my decision letter in exactly 9 days - favorable outcome! The judge's written decision specifically noted that the employer's failure to appear meant their allegations lacked supporting evidence or testimony. My UI Online account updated about 10 days after that and I received full backpay for all the weeks I had been certifying during the appeal. Your situation sounds incredibly strong - having documented "position elimination" while they claim misconduct but can't even show up to defend it is textbook winning material. You were obviously well-prepared while they completely abandoned their case. That contradiction alone should work heavily in your favor. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're surviving on credit cards (been there!), but based on everything you've described and all the similar success stories in this thread, you should be celebrating very soon. Keep certifying every two weeks and start checking your mailbox religiously around day 8. You've got this! 🙌