One more important thing to consider - when you're substitute teaching, make sure you report the exact hours and earnings for the specific weeks they fall in. Don't combine weeks or estimate. For example: - If you work 3 hours on Monday at $25/hr, report $75 for that week - If you work 6 hours the following Tuesday at $25/hr, report $150 for that week Incorrect reporting is what typically triggers the payment delays and eligibility interviews. Also, make sure you understand how Florida's substitute teaching payment system works - some districts pay weekly, others bi-weekly or monthly. Report the income in the week you EARNED it, not when you received the payment.

I went through something very similar last year! I'm a seasonal park ranger in CA who spends winters in Texas doing occasional freelance work. Here's what I learned the hard way: First, definitely report ALL substitute teaching income accurately - they will eventually find out through wage matching with other states. I made the mistake of trying to "simplify" my reporting and it triggered a 6-week investigation. Second, when you do your certifications, be super detailed in the comments section. I now write something like: "Substitute teaching - sporadic daily assignments, no guaranteed hours, actively seeking full-time employment in primary field." Third, prepare for potential delays. Even when you do everything right, out-of-state work often triggers their fraud detection system. Keep documentation of everything - your work search activities, the sporadic nature of the substitute work, proof that your California job is truly seasonal. The good news is that you ARE entitled to collect CA unemployment while temporarily in Florida since your qualifying wages are from California. Just be prepared for possible payment holds while they verify everything. It's frustrating but legitimate, and they will eventually pay you for any weeks you were eligible. Pro tip: If you do get flagged for an interview, having all your documentation organized beforehand makes the process much smoother!

If you filed your last claim before ID.me was implemented (around mid-2020), then you wouldn't have an account with them yet. In that case, you'll definitely need to speak with an EDD representative to help link a new ID.me verification to your existing EDD account. Once you get through to someone, be sure to mention specifically: 1. When you last filed a claim (pre-COVID) 2. That you're trying to file a new claim after being laid off 3. That you need help with both account access and the ID.me verification process The representative should be able to guide you through the ID.me setup and then reactivate your UI Online access afterward. They can also help ensure your new claim is properly filed even while your online access is being restored.

Hey Emily! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - also hadn't used EDD since early 2020 and got completely locked out when I needed to file after a layoff. Here's what finally worked for me: The key is calling the EDD technical support line (1-833-978-2511) right at 8:00 AM when they open. Don't call a minute before or after - literally call at exactly 8:00. I had to try for about a week but finally got through. When you do get someone, ask them to do a "full account reset" rather than just unlocking it. They'll need to verify your identity (have your SSN, previous employer info, and ID ready) and then they'll walk you through setting up the ID.me verification. The whole process took about 45 minutes on the phone but I was able to log in immediately after. Also - don't worry about filing "ASAP" in terms of losing benefits. As long as you file within a reasonable time after your layoff, they'll backdate your claim to when you became unemployed. The rep explained this to me when I was panicking about the same thing. Good luck! The system is frustrating but you'll get through it.

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'm sorry to hear you're going through this frustrating situation, Janasia. Since it's been over a month without receiving your decision letter or any correspondence, and your claim balance is still showing $0.00, there's definitely an issue that needs to be resolved. Here are a few steps you can take: 1. Call EDD directly - as Katie mentioned, speaking with a Tier 2 specialist is your best bet 2. Check your UI Online account regularly for any updates or required actions 3. Make sure EDD has your correct mailing address on file 4. If you haven't already, try calling the technical support line to ensure there are no system issues with your account Don't give up - many people face delays, but persistence usually pays off. Keep calling until you get through to someone who can review your case and provide answers about the delay in processing your claim.

Hey, don't lose hope! I was in your situation last month. Turns out there was a glitch in their system. Keep calling and eventually you'll get it sorted. Sending good vibes your way! 💪

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago - payments stuck in pending for almost 3 weeks with zero communication. What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (not the main number) at 1-800-300-5616. They were able to see there was a flag on my account that needed manual review. Sometimes it's just a system glitch that requires human intervention. Also, try logging in and out of your EDD account a few times - sounds silly but it actually refreshed something on my end. Don't give up, you'll get through this! 🤞

I went through something similar a few years ago and learned the hard way that transparency is absolutely key with EDD. Even though your situation is frustrating and unclear, you need to report the orientation and job offer situation immediately. Here's what I'd recommend doing right now: 1. Call EDD and explain the entire timeline - quitting due to unsafe conditions, getting the job offer, completing orientation, and the lack of follow-up from the new employer 2. Keep detailed records of ALL communication attempts with the new employer (screenshot those unanswered emails!) 3. When you certify, report the 3 orientation hours even though unpaid - better to over-report than under-report 4. Be prepared to provide documentation of the safety issues at your previous job since you quit voluntarily The worst thing you can do is stay silent and hope it works out. EDD has ways of finding out about employment activity, and discovering unreported information later will create much bigger problems than addressing it upfront. Your situation isn't uncommon - employers sometimes string people along or have disorganized hiring processes. EDD understands this happens, but they need full disclosure to make proper determinations. Good luck getting through to them - persistence is key with EDD phone lines!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I quit my retail job in May due to scheduling conflicts that were affecting my health, got a job offer at a local restaurant, did their "trial shift" orientation, and then... nothing. It's been 3 weeks of "we'll call you soon" messages. From what I've learned lurking in this community, you absolutely need to report everything to EDD. Even unpaid orientation counts as work activity that needs to be disclosed. The tricky part is that since you quit your previous job, EDD is going to scrutinize whether you had "good cause" - but unsafe working conditions with documentation should qualify. I ended up calling EDD last week to report my situation. The rep I spoke with said it's better to over-disclose than under-disclose, especially when you're dealing with a voluntary quit. She walked me through exactly what to report during certification and noted in my file that the new employer hasn't provided an actual start date despite completing their hiring process. One tip: when you call EDD, have all your dates ready (quit date, interview date, orientation dates, last contact with new employer). They'll want the complete timeline. Also save screenshots of all those non-responsive emails from your new supervisor - that evidence of their lack of communication might actually help your case. Hope this helps and that we both get some clarity on our situations soon!