To clarify a few points based on the discussion: 1. You can and should file for UI immediately after your regular paychecks end in March 2025. 2. How your severance affects your benefits depends on: - How your employer classifies and reports it - Whether it's a lump sum or installments - The specific language in your severance agreement 3. When you file, you'll need to report the severance package. Be prepared to provide your severance agreement documentation if requested. 4. Most importantly, be completely truthful in your application and certification. Misreporting, even accidentally, can lead to overpayment demands and penalties. Given the complexity of your situation, speaking directly with an EDD representative is your best course of action.

Good advice from everyone here! I'd also suggest documenting everything - keep copies of your layoff notice, severance agreement, and any communications with HR about the timeline. When you do file your UI claim, having all this paperwork ready will make the process smoother. One thing I learned from my own experience: if your severance is spread over multiple weeks, you might want to ask your HR department exactly how they'll be reporting those payments to EDD. Some companies report it as "wages" which can reduce your weekly benefits, while others report it as "severance pay" which has different treatment. Also, don't stress too much about the complexity - EDD deals with severance situations all the time. As long as you're honest and provide all the required documentation, they'll figure out how to handle your specific case. Just make sure to report everything when you certify for benefits!

Just a heads up for everyone - I just checked and my payment finally changed from pending to paid! Took almost 5 days but it finally processed. Sounds like they're having system-wide delays this week.

I'm dealing with the same issue right now! Certified Sunday night and it's still showing pending. This is my first time experiencing a delay like this and I was starting to worry something was wrong with my claim. Reading through all these comments is actually really reassuring - sounds like there's a system-wide issue with processing times this week. I'm going to wait another day or two before trying to call since it seems like others are starting to see their payments go through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know I'm not the only one!

Not to be that guy, but have you checked if you actually qualify for paid family leave? There are specific criteria and required documentation. Might be worth reviewing the basics just in case.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The "does not meet eligibility requirements" denial is super common and usually means there's a documentation issue or they need clarification on something. Here's what worked for me: 1. Request your complete case file from EDD - this will show you exactly what they reviewed 2. Check if your doctor's certification form was filled out completely (missing signatures or incomplete sections are common causes) 3. Make sure your employment history matches what's in their system 4. File the appeal ASAP - don't wait the full 30 days The appeal process actually worked out better for me because I got to present all my documentation properly with explanations. Took about 6 weeks total but I eventually got approved retroactively. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but persistence pays off!

UPDATE: I FINALLY got through to EDD this morning after calling right when they opened! You all were right - it was a verification issue triggered by the Money Network card activation. The rep said there was a mismatch between my mailing address (where the card was sent) and my residence address on file. The tier 2 specialist was able to verify my identity and remove the disqualification. She said my payment should be processed within 48 hours. Such a relief! For anyone else experiencing this - keep calling and make sure you get to a tier 2 rep who can actually fix the issue. The first person I spoke with couldn't even see why I was disqualified.

So glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to double-check that ALL their information matches perfectly across EDD systems before activating anything. The Money Network card activation seems to trigger these verification checks more often than EDD admits. For future reference for anyone reading this - when you get your card, before activating it, go into your UI Online account and verify that your mailing address, residential address, phone number, and even how your name is formatted (middle initial vs full middle name, etc.) matches EXACTLY what you used when you first applied. Even tiny differences can cause these automated flags. It's ridiculous that EDD doesn't warn people about this possibility, but at least now we know what to watch out for. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it really helps other people going through the same thing!

I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago! My employer claimed I was terminated for performance issues when I was actually part of a department closure. The appeal process took about 10 weeks, and I did find a job about 3 weeks before my hearing date. Here's what I learned: 1) Keep certifying religiously until you get that new job - missing even one certification can mess up your backpay, 2) When you do find work, report it honestly on your next certification, 3) If you win your appeal (which sounds likely given you have coworkers who can back up the restructuring story), you'll get paid for ALL those weeks you certified while unemployed, even though you're working by then. The backpay came about 5 days after I won my hearing. Also, definitely get those written statements from your coworkers - I had two former colleagues write simple one-paragraph statements confirming we were all laid off together, and the judge referenced them multiple times during the hearing. You're doing everything right, just hang in there!

I'm new to this community but going through something similar right now! My employer also contested my claim saying I was fired for cause when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. Filed my appeal 4 weeks ago and still waiting. Reading all these responses gives me so much hope - especially hearing that multiple people got their backpay even after finding new jobs. I've been stressing about whether to keep job searching aggressively or wait for the appeal, but it sounds like I should definitely keep applying while maintaining those detailed job search records. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear!