I went through this exact same confusion when I first started working part-time on unemployment! The math seemed backwards to me at first. What really helped me understand it was thinking about it this way: EDD wants you to always be better off financially when you work, so they make sure you keep at least 25% of whatever you earn PLUS any leftover benefit amount. So in your case with $480 earnings, you keep $120 (25% of $480) plus the $90 leftover benefit = $570 total that week instead of just $450 if you hadn't worked at all. It's actually a pretty fair system once you understand the logic behind it. Just make sure you report everything accurately and on time!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was panicking that I'd lose all my benefits. One thing I want to add for anyone else reading - if you're doing gig work or freelance like Uber, DoorDash, or freelance writing, make sure you keep detailed records of your hours and earnings. EDD sometimes audits these and you'll need proof of when you worked and how much you made. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything by week. Also, don't forget that if you have a week where you don't work at all, you still need to certify and report $0 earnings to get your full WBA. The system is actually pretty reasonable once you understand how it works!

The EDD phone system is completely overwhelmed right now, so interviews are severely backlogged. Here's what you need to know: 1. The fact that the interview doesn't show in UI Online is actually normal - phone interviews often don't appear there even when scheduled 2. They're currently running 7-14 business days behind on eligibility interviews 3. You have three options: - Wait to see if they call (could be up to 2 weeks late) - Try to contact them via the UI Online "Contact Us" feature (select Category: Unemployment Claim, Sub-Category: Claim Status) - Call using a service or by repeatedly dialing yourself 4. Most importantly, keep certifying for benefits on your regular schedule even while waiting for the interview resolution They won't automatically disqualify you just because they missed the call on their end. They'll either reschedule or make a determination based on existing information.

I went through this exact situation 2 months ago! My interview was scheduled for a Tuesday 1-3pm window and I sat by my phone the whole time - nothing. I was absolutely panicking because I thought I'd lose my benefits. Here's what actually happened: They called me 9 days later (the following Thursday) and the rep explained they're massively behind on interviews due to staffing shortages. She said the letters get sent out automatically but the actual interview scheduling system can't keep up with demand. The good news is they won't penalize you for THEIR missed call. When they finally called, the rep could see in their notes that the interview was scheduled and that I hadn't been reached. She actually apologized for the delay! My advice: Don't stress too much, keep certifying as normal, and document everything like others said. If you don't hear anything by next Friday, then definitely try to contact them. But honestly, they'll probably call you within the next week or two.

UPDATE: OP, did you manage to reach anyone? I'm curious what they told you about the postponement. Did they give you any estimate for the new hearing date?

I finally got through to someone at the Appeals Office this morning! They told me the postponement was due to the judge having a medical emergency. They couldn't give me an exact date yet, but said it would likely be rescheduled within 2-3 weeks and that I'd get priority scheduling. I also submitted all my documentation via email like someone here suggested, and they confirmed receipt. Still frustrating, but at least I know what's happening now.

Update: I FINALLY got through this morning! For anyone else struggling, here's what worked: Called at 8:17am (after the 8am rush), used the prompt sequence 1-1-7-1-7 as suggested, and got connected to a real person after about 30 mins on hold. Turns out my employer hadn't responded to EDD's wage verification request, which was holding up my claim. The rep put a note on my file and is expediting the process. They said payment should process within 5-7 days. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on finally getting through! This is such a helpful update. It's crazy that employer wage verification delays are so common but they don't tell you that's what's holding things up. I'm dealing with a similar "pending review" status right now and this gives me hope. Going to try calling tomorrow morning around 8:15-8:20 using those same prompts. Did the rep give you any way to follow up if it takes longer than the 5-7 days they quoted?

I went through something similar last year with my 2021 claim. Got the interview notice in late 2024 and was terrified they were going to demand money back. Turns out it was just part of their systematic review process - they're required to verify eligibility within a certain timeframe even after claims end. The interview was actually pretty straightforward. They asked about my original reason for unemployment, whether I was actively looking for work during my claim period, and if I had any unreported income. I had kept most of my documentation (work search logs, separation notice) which helped, but they didn't ask for anything too detailed. One thing that surprised me was they said these reviews are happening to thousands of people right now, not just suspicious cases. The interviewer was actually pretty understanding about the time gap and said as long as I was honest about my situation back then, there shouldn't be any issues. My advice: don't panic, gather whatever documentation you can find, and just be truthful about your circumstances from that time period. Most people I know who've gone through this recently had positive outcomes if they were legitimately eligible to begin with.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got my interview notice last week for a claim that ended in early 2023. I've been losing sleep over it thinking they're going to accuse me of fraud or demand thousands back. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better. It sounds like most people who were legitimately eligible had positive outcomes. I was laid off due to company downsizing and have my termination paperwork, so hopefully that's enough documentation. My interview is scheduled for next Friday. Did anyone else feel like the questions on the notice seemed really basic/generic? Mine asks stuff like "are you ready and able to work" which seems weird for a claim that ended years ago. Makes me think this really is just some automated review process they have to do rather than targeting specific people for fraud. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything I could find on the EDD website!