I'm in a similar situation right now with an appeal hearing coming up! Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful. I was also panicking about the tight deadline, but seeing that multiple people have successfully submitted documents via email is reassuring. Quick question for those who've been through this process: Did you organize your documents in any particular way when submitting? Like, did you create a cover letter explaining what each document was, or just attach everything with your case number? Also, @Kai Santiago - really hoping your hearing went well! Would love to hear how it turned out if you're comfortable sharing. These income reporting cases seem to be pretty common and it would help others in similar situations.

Just wanted to add my recent experience since I went through almost the exact same thing in January! I had an income reporting appeal hearing with only 3 days to submit documents and was freaking out just like you. I ended up using both the email method (appeals.office@cuiab.ca.gov) AND faxing through FaxZero as backup. The email worked perfectly - I got an auto-reply confirmation immediately and then a human response the next day confirming they received everything. For the Rancho Cucamonga office, I actually did drive there just to see it for myself (anxiety got the better of me lol). It's definitely at 10525 Civic Center Drive in a big government complex. The building says "California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board" on it, not EDD. But honestly, emailing was so much easier and less stressful. One tip that really helped me: I organized everything chronologically and created a simple timeline document showing exactly what I reported to EDD each week versus what I actually earned. It made my case super clear to the judge. My hearing lasted maybe 20 minutes and I won! Don't stress too much - the judges deal with income reporting cases constantly and they understand the system can be confusing. Just be honest and have your documentation ready. You've got this!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my PFL claim after my maternity leave. Been trying to get through for over two weeks! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and incredibly frustrating (the system is clearly broken). @Chloe Robinson - so glad you finally got through and found out what the issue was! It's absolutely ridiculous that they don't notify people about these "stop payment alerts." How are we supposed to fix problems we don't even know exist? I'm going to try the Thursday 2:15pm strategy tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I might have to look into that Claimyr service or try visiting an office in person. This is affecting real people's ability to pay rent and buy groceries - there has to be a better way to handle this. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and experiences!

I've been dealing with EDD disability claims for years through my work in benefits administration, and I wanted to share a few additional strategies that might help: 1. **Try the callback feature**: When you call the main SDI line (1-800-480-3287), listen carefully to the automated menu. Sometimes there's an option to request a callback instead of waiting on hold. It's not always available, but when it is, it can save you hours of redialing. 2. **Check your claim status online first**: Before calling, log into your SDI Online account and screenshot your claim details. Having specific information ready (claim number, dates, exact status messages) helps reps resolve issues faster. 3. **Document everything**: Keep a log of when you call, what automated messages you get, and any reference numbers. If you eventually need to escalate to a supervisor or your state rep, this documentation is invaluable. 4. **Consider faxing documents**: If you suspect missing paperwork is the issue, faxing can sometimes be faster than mailing. The SDI fax number is usually listed in your claim paperwork. The afternoon timing suggestions here are spot-on - I've seen much better success rates between 2-4pm on weekdays. Good luck everyone, and don't give up! Your benefits are important and you deserve to get the help you need.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just went through my eligibility interview last week and was approved, but my certification from yesterday is showing as pending. Reading Benjamin's experience and seeing that it resolved in 3 days is really reassuring. The stress of not knowing if you'll get paid when you're relying on that income is intense! I especially appreciate all the detailed explanations from Daniel and Gavin about how the system works - it helps so much to understand that pending doesn't automatically mean there's a problem. This community is amazing for helping people navigate these confusing situations. Fingers crossed mine switches to paid in the next day or two like Benjamin's did!

As someone who's been navigating the EDD system for about 6 months now, I can tell you that this pending-to-paid cycle becomes unfortunately familiar over time. What you experienced is actually textbook EDD - they'll approve your eligibility, release some back payments, but then each new certification goes through their automated review process. The good news is that once you've had a successful eligibility interview like you did, these pending delays are almost always just processing time rather than actual problems with your claim. I've noticed that certifications with reported earnings (like your $210) do tend to take an extra day or two to process, probably because the system cross-references the amounts. One thing that's helped me manage the stress is to expect every certification to be pending for 2-4 days after submission. That way when it switches to paid faster, it's a pleasant surprise, and when it takes the full time, I'm mentally prepared. The unpredictability is honestly the hardest part of this whole system. Great job coming back to update everyone that it resolved! Those follow-up posts really help other people in similar situations feel less alone in the process.

one thing nobody mentioned - if your weekly benefit amount on the new claim is $40+ lower than your old claim, you might qualify for something called the DNCP (deferred new claim payment) where they use your old wba instead. ask about it if your new amount is way lower

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me during my reapplication process - make sure you have your Social Security card handy when you apply on Dec 29th. Even though I had done ID verification before, they asked me to upload a clear photo of my SS card during the new application process. Also, if you're planning to apply first thing in the morning, try around 6-7 AM - the system seems less glitchy then compared to later in the day when everyone's trying to access it. Good luck with your reapplication!

Sorry to hear about your situation - getting laid off twice in such a short period is really tough! I actually work as a benefits counselor and see cases like yours fairly often. Here's what you should know: You'll definitely need to file a new claim since you earned wages after your previous claim ended. The good news is that if your 6 weeks of work at the startup didn't generate enough earnings to qualify for a completely new claim (which is likely), EDD will automatically transition you back to your previous claim if there's still a remaining balance. The key thing is that this determination happens automatically during processing - you don't need to choose between options. Just file the new claim online, provide accurate information about both employers, and let the system work it out. One tip: when you get to the section about why you left each job, be specific that both were layoffs due to company circumstances (not performance related). This helps establish continued eligibility. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks to resolve, but keep certifying during that time. You won't lose any benefits you're entitled to. Hang in there!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - got laid off in October, used up all my benefits by January, found a temp job that lasted only 5 weeks before they cut the whole department. The uncertainty is so stressful! Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like filing a new claim is definitely the way to go even if we end up back on our old claims. At least we'll know for sure what we're eligible for. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this confusing system!