I'm dealing with this exact nightmare right now too - 3 weeks of pending status and I've literally tried calling hundreds of times with zero success. The assembly member route sounds like a game changer though! I had absolutely no idea that was even an option. Just wanted to add one thing that might help others - I've been keeping a spreadsheet of all my call attempts (times, days, which numbers I tried) and I noticed I have slightly better luck getting past the initial message on Wednesdays around 8:15-8:30 AM. Still haven't gotten through to an actual person, but at least I don't get the immediate hang-up as often. Also, for anyone considering the AJCC route, I drove by the one in Riverside yesterday and there was literally a line of people outside before they even opened. Definitely confirms what others are saying about it being a waste of time. Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences instead of just the usual "keep trying" advice. Finally feels like there might be real solutions here! I'm going to start with my assembly member today and keep everyone posted on how it goes.

I've been dealing with this exact same situation for the past 2 months - pending claim with absolutely no explanation and the phone system is completely useless. Reading through all these responses has given me more hope than I've had in weeks! The assembly member strategy seems to be the most consistently successful approach based on everyone's experiences here. I had no idea this was even an option until reading this thread. I just looked up my representative and they actually have a dedicated EDD assistance page on their website with a detailed form specifically for unemployment issues. I'm also planning to try the early morning calling strategy (7:59 AM on Tuesday-Thursday) while waiting for the assembly member response. The tip about asking specifically for Tier 2 specialists when you do get through is crucial - sounds like the general reps often can't actually see or fix the underlying issues causing claims to get stuck. One thing I wanted to add - I've noticed that my UI Online account shows "last payment issued" from 8 weeks ago even though I've been certifying every two weeks since then. Wondering if others with pending claims are seeing the same thing? It might be another clue about what's going wrong behind the scenes. Diego, thank you so much for starting this thread! The collective knowledge here is incredibly valuable and way more helpful than anything on EDD's official website. Really hoping these strategies work quickly for you with rent coming due. We're all dealing with the same broken system but at least we can help each other navigate it!

Hey CyberNinja! Great questions - I'm also planning to apply Monday morning so this is perfect timing. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences: 1. **Documentation**: Most people said they didn't need to upload docs initially when applying online, but you should definitely have your W-2s, pay stubs, and employment dates ready. EDD requests documentation later if needed for verification. 2. **Timeline**: From the experiences shared here, initial determinations seem to take anywhere from 1-3 weeks, though some mixed employment cases get flagged for manual review which can add time. The key is applying ASAP since there's that one-week waiting period. 3. **Work search activities**: Several people mentioned that legitimate networking, portfolio updates, and client outreach all count as valid activities. The key word everyone emphasized is "genuine" - it has to be actual work-seeking behavior, not just busy work. What's been really encouraging is seeing how many people with similar backgrounds (recent W-2 work + current freelancing) have successfully qualified. Your timeline of 13 months for the W-2 job sounds even better than some of the success stories shared here. I'm feeling so much more optimistic after reading all these real experiences. Let's both apply Monday and hopefully we'll have some good news to share back with this community soon! The collective wisdom here has been invaluable.

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! As someone who's been freelancing for a few years now, I had no idea that having W-2 history could still make you eligible for unemployment benefits. I'm actually in a very similar boat to many of you - I'm a freelance social media manager who just lost two major clients this month (about 55% of my income), and I had a W-2 marketing coordinator job about 11 months ago before going fully freelance. Reading Miguel's breakdown as a former EDD claims examiner was particularly enlightening - the base period calculation makes so much more sense now. What really stands out to me from all these responses is how important it is to: 1. Apply immediately rather than second-guessing eligibility 2. Be completely transparent about your mixed employment history 3. Start documenting job search activities right away 4. Understand that you CAN continue freelance work while collecting benefits if you report honestly I'm definitely going to apply this week armed with all this great advice. It's such a relief to know that losing clients as a freelancer doesn't automatically disqualify you if you have recent W-2 wages to fall back on. This community has provided clearer guidance than hours of trying to navigate the EDD website! For anyone else reading this who's on the fence about applying - based on all the success stories shared here, it seems like the worst they can say is no, but many people in mixed employment situations are actually qualifying. Thanks again everyone!

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago and it was driving me crazy! What ended up working for me was logging out completely, clearing all my browser data (not just cache and cookies but everything), then waiting about 30 minutes before trying again. I think their system sometimes gets "stuck" on your session or something. Also, double-check that your address on file with EDD matches exactly what's on your ID - even small differences like "St" vs "Street" or missing apartment numbers can cause verification failures. The whole system is super picky about exact matches. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out soon!

I had a similar identity verification nightmare with EDD last year! After weeks of frustration, I discovered the issue was that my middle initial was missing from one of my uploaded documents compared to what was in their system. Even though it seemed like a tiny detail, their automated verification system flagged it as a mismatch. I had to re-upload a corrected document and wait 3-5 business days for it to process. Also, make sure you're uploading documents during business hours - I noticed better success rates when I submitted stuff between 9 AM - 3 PM on weekdays. Their system seems to process things more reliably during those times. Hang in there, it's incredibly frustrating but you'll get through it! 💪

This thread is such a perfect example of how EDD holiday delays work! I went through the same panic during Memorial Day weekend earlier this year. What I've learned is that ANY federal holiday pushes payments back by exactly one business day, no exceptions. The tricky part is EDD never officially communicates this anywhere - you just have to learn through experience or communities like this. I now automatically add an extra day to my expected payment date whenever there's a federal holiday between certification and my usual payment day. Glad to see most people got their payments today! For future reference, the major holidays that always cause delays are: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

I'm new to unemployment benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started my claim last month and had no idea that holidays could delay payments like this. I actually certified on Sunday too and have been checking my account obsessively since Tuesday morning. Reading everyone's experiences here has really calmed my nerves - it's such a relief to know this is normal and not something wrong with my claim. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts that someone mentioned, and I'm bookmarking that holiday list for future reference. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't communicate these delays clearly, but at least we have communities like this to help each other out. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and keeping us newbies from panicking!

I'm really glad you found this thread and that everyone's shared experiences have been so helpful! As someone who works in employment law, I wanted to add a few additional points that might be useful: First, when you apply, make sure to clearly state that your hours were "reduced due to lack of work" rather than any other reason. This helps ensure your claim gets processed in the right category from the start. Second, keep in mind that if your employer offers you any additional shifts or overtime during this period, you generally should accept them if you're able to. Turning down offered work can affect your eligibility, even on partial unemployment. Finally, document everything your employer tells you about the reason for the reduction and whether it might be temporary or permanent. If they later restore your full hours, you'll need to report that change immediately when you certify. The calculation others have shared sounds accurate for your situation - with the significant drop from 40 to 15 hours at $25/hour, you should qualify for meaningful partial benefits. Just remember this is meant to be a bridge while you seek full-time work elsewhere, so keep up with those job search activities and document them well. You're absolutely doing the right thing by applying - this is exactly what these benefits are designed for!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - having your hours slashed like that is really tough, but you're absolutely in the right place asking about this! I actually went through something very similar about a year ago when my hours got cut from 38 to 18 per week. The great news is that you definitely qualify for partial unemployment benefits. Going from 40 to 15 hours is a massive reduction (62.5%!), and California's partial UI program is designed exactly for situations like yours. A few things that really helped me: - Apply online ASAP - don't wait for your first short paycheck - When you apply, clearly state your hours were "reduced due to lack of work/business restructuring" - Set up direct deposit immediately once approved - it's so much faster than the debit card - Keep a simple log of your weekly hours and gross pay for certifications With your $25/hour rate, you should get a decent partial benefit. The math can be confusing, but basically they'll let you keep the first 25% of your reduced earnings, then subtract the rest from your weekly benefit amount. One heads up - my first payment took about 3 weeks to process, but after that it was pretty regular every two weeks. The system definitely has its frustrations, but it does work! You've been paying into this system through your taxes, so don't feel bad about using it when you need it. That's exactly what it's there for. Hang in there - this community has tons of great advice and you're going to get through this!