I just went through my eligibility interview last week for a similar situation - terminated for tardiness due to constantly changing work schedules. The interview was actually much more straightforward than I expected! The EDD representative asked about 7 questions: termination date, reason given by employer, any warnings received, what caused the attendance issues, steps I took to resolve them, whether I had documentation, and if there were any other factors that contributed. The whole call took about 12 minutes. What really helped my case was clearly explaining how the last-minute schedule changes made it impossible to maintain consistent attendance despite my best efforts. I mentioned having text messages documenting the schedule changes and the interviewer made a note of that. Got my approval determination 9 days later! Just remember - they're trying to determine if you were fired for misconduct vs. circumstances beyond your control. Focus on how the unpredictable scheduling created impossible conditions for maintaining attendance, and definitely mention those texts with your manager about schedule changes. Be honest but frame it around how external factors contributed to the situation. You've got solid documentation which will definitely work in your favor. The anticipation is honestly worse than the actual interview - you're going to do great!

I had my eligibility interview about 3 months ago after being fired for attendance issues - very similar to your situation! The most important thing I learned is that EDD distinguishes between being fired for "misconduct" versus being fired for other reasons. If your tardiness was due to circumstances beyond your reasonable control (like constantly changing schedules), that's NOT considered misconduct. During my interview, I made sure to emphasize how my employer would change schedules with little to no notice, making it nearly impossible to arrange childcare and transportation consistently. The interviewer asked about 6 questions total and the whole call was maybe 15 minutes. I mentioned I had text messages documenting the schedule changes and they seemed to take that seriously. Got approved about a week later! Just remember to stay focused on how the unpredictable scheduling created impossible working conditions rather than accepting full blame for the tardiness. Having those texts with your manager will definitely help your case. The interview really isn't as intimidating as you think - just be honest and explain how the circumstances were out of your control. You've got this!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I went through this process - make sure to keep a record of exactly what you enter for each employer's wage and hour information. I took screenshots of each page as I filled it out, which saved me so much hassle later when I needed to reference what I had submitted. EDD sometimes takes a while to process applications, and if they have any follow-up questions about your employment history, you'll be glad you have those records handy. Also, don't be surprised if they contact both your current and previous employers to verify the information - that's totally normal and just part of their verification process. Sounds like you're being really thorough with gathering all the right info, so you should be in good shape!

I went through this exact same thing when my hours got drastically reduced at my warehouse job! You definitely need to include ALL employers from the past 18 months - it's actually required and will likely help your husband's benefit amount since EDD uses your highest earning quarter to calculate weekly benefits. I was nervous about it too, but the application walks you through each employer section pretty clearly. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure his current employer reports this as a "lack of work" layoff, not voluntary separation. My supervisor had to clarify this with HR when EDD called to verify. Also, when he starts certifying for benefits every two weeks, he'll need to report any hours worked if they do call him back temporarily. The partial unemployment system is actually pretty common in industries with fluctuating work. Don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect - they verify everything anyway, so just be honest and thorough!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was laid off from my warehouse job about 7 weeks ago and have been on the fence about starting a forklift operator certification program at the local trade school. Reading through all these success stories has given me the confidence I needed to move forward. The program is only 2 evenings per week (Tuesday/Thursday 6-9pm) plus some Saturday morning sessions, so I'd still be completely available for full-time work during regular weekday hours. After seeing how many people have successfully navigated this process by being upfront with EDD, I'm definitely going to report it honestly on my certification and look into the CTB program. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker - thank you for the detailed breakdown of the DE 1906 form and the importance of being specific about work availability. That practical advice is exactly what I needed! @Carmen Ruiz @Connor Byrne - your recent experiences are so encouraging! It's reassuring to know that EDD actually views training goals positively rather than as something suspicious. The logistics/warehousing industry has tons of opportunities right now, and having forklift certification could really open doors to better-paying positions. Using this unemployment time to get certified feels like the smartest investment I could make in my future. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was laid off from my restaurant management job 5 weeks ago and have been considering a culinary arts program at the community college. I was completely terrified that enrolling would jeopardize my UI benefits, but reading through everyone's detailed experiences has given me so much clarity and confidence. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker @Fatima Al-Farsi - the breakdown of the CTB program and DE 1906 form requirements is exactly what I needed! I had no clue EDD had specific programs to support people upgrading their skills during unemployment. The tip about being very specific with availability hours rather than just saying "weekdays" is gold. @Carmen Ruiz @Connor Byrne @Ashley Simian - your recent success stories are so encouraging! It's amazing that EDD actually views proactive skill-building positively rather than as something problematic. My program would be Monday/Wednesday mornings (9am-2pm) with some weekend lab sessions, leaving me available Tuesday/Thursday/Friday for full-time work. After reading all these experiences, I'm realizing that being completely transparent from day one is clearly the winning approach. The restaurant industry is slowly recovering and having formal culinary training could really set me apart from other candidates. Plus many culinary programs lead directly to job placement opportunities. Thanks to this entire community for sharing such detailed, practical advice - you've transformed my understanding of what's possible while on unemployment benefits!

I just went through this same process last month! Here's what worked for me: For immediate needs like rent, definitely go the ATM route first. Use the Money Network app to find fee-free ATMs near you - I found several at CVS and Walgreens that didn't charge extra fees. You can typically withdraw up to $1000 per day. For the bank transfer setup, log into moneynetwork.com and add your bank account info. The first transfer does take longer (3-5 business days) because they need to verify your account, but it's worth setting up for future payments. After verification, transfers usually take 1-2 business days. Pro tip: While you're dealing with this payment, definitely switch to direct deposit in your UI Online account for future payments. Go to "Payment Method" and change it from the EDD card to direct deposit to your bank. This way you won't have to deal with the card transfer delays again. Also make sure the name on your bank account matches exactly what's on your EDD claim - even middle initials matter or the transfer could get rejected. Hope this helps and congrats on finally getting your payment!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Here's what I learned: For your immediate rent situation, definitely go the ATM route since you need cash ASAP. Use the Money Network app to find fee-free ATMs - there are tons at major banks like Chase, BofA, and Wells Fargo. You can withdraw up to $1000/day at most ATMs. For bank transfers, yes you can do them through the Money Network website or app. You'll need your routing and account numbers. The catch is that the FIRST transfer takes 3-5 business days because they verify your account with micro-deposits. After that verification, regular transfers are much faster - usually 1-2 business days. Since your landlord is already impatient, I'd suggest: 1. Get cash from a fee-free ATM today for rent 2. Set up the bank transfer now so it's ready for your next payment 3. Switch to direct deposit in your UI Online account under "Payment Method" so future payments go straight to your bank One important note - make sure the name on your bank account matches EXACTLY what's on your EDD claim (including middle initials) or the transfer might get rejected. The waiting sucks but you're almost there! Good luck with your landlord!

This thread is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm currently locked out of my account too and was feeling pretty overwhelmed, but reading through everyone's success stories gives me hope. I love how this community comes together to help each other navigate these frustrating system issues. Going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow with all my documents organized. It's incredible how much more useful this real-world advice is compared to the generic help pages on the EDD website. Will definitely pay it forward and share my experience once I get through!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been locked out for 3 weeks and finally worked up the courage to call after reading all these success stories. Just wanted to add - if you're calling and getting nervous about what to say, I wrote down a simple script beforehand: "Hi, I'm locked out of my UI Online account and can't answer my security questions. I need help with a password reset." Having that ready helped me not stumble over my words when I finally got through. Also keeping a notepad handy during the call to write down any reference numbers or instructions they give you. This thread has been a godsend - knowing other people have been through this exact situation and made it out the other side makes it feel so much less overwhelming!