This is such valuable information! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - 4 penalty weeks and just started a part-time gig that puts me over my weekly benefit amount. I was panicking thinking I'd never get through my penalty period, but reading through all these responses (especially your final update with EDD confirmation) gives me so much peace of mind. For anyone else reading this thread in the future: the key takeaways seem to be 1) Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, 2) Report ALL earnings accurately, 3) Make sure you're still meeting other eligibility requirements (available for work, job searching, etc.), and 4) Weeks with excessive earnings DO count toward penalty weeks as long as you're otherwise eligible. Thanks for sharing your experience and coming back with the official confirmation from EDD!

I'm so glad you posted this question and got it resolved! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - I have 3 penalty weeks left to serve and just picked up some freelance work that varies week to week. Some weeks I'm under my benefit amount, others I'm way over. Reading through this whole thread (especially your update with the EDD confirmation) has been incredibly reassuring. I was worried that the weeks where I earn too much wouldn't count and I'd be stuck serving penalty weeks forever. Now I know I just need to keep certifying accurately and all weeks will count as long as I'm meeting the other requirements. Quick question for anyone who might know - do you still have to do the work search requirement during penalty weeks? I've been doing it just to be safe, but wasn't sure if it was actually required since you're not getting paid anyway. Thanks again for sharing your experience and coming back with the official answer!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that the reopen button appeared exactly 4 business days after my last payment, just like some of you suggested. The system let me complete the reopening process without any issues. Thanks for all your help and advice!

Glad you got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this issue, I'd recommend bookmarking this thread - it's got all the real info you need. The 4-day processing period seems to be the most reliable timeline based on everyone's experiences here. Also worth noting that if you're in seasonal work like construction or entertainment, it might be worth keeping a log of when you close/reopen claims so you can predict the timing better for future gaps. The EDD system is unpredictable enough without having to guess about processing times!

Has anyone tried the online chat feature on the unemployment website? I've had some success with that in the past.

I'm new here but going through the same nightmare! Been trying to reach EDD for weeks about my pending claim. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful - I had no idea about contacting state reps or that there might be Facebook groups for this. @Aisha Hussain have you made any progress since posting this? Also curious if anyone knows the best time of day to try the online chat that @Dmitry Smirnov mentioned. This whole process is so stressful but at least we're not alone in this struggle!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - the sudden switch from pending to disqualified is incredibly stressful, especially when rent is due. Based on what others have shared, this typically happens when there's a mismatch between what you reported and what your employer told EDD about your separation. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company restructuring, I'd strongly recommend gathering every piece of documentation you can find that supports this - your termination letter, any company-wide emails about layoffs, severance paperwork, etc. Even reaching out to your former manager or HR for a written statement confirming the restructuring could be helpful. The appeals process might seem daunting, but many people here have had success when they have solid documentation. In the meantime, definitely keep trying to reach EDD by phone (the 8:00 AM call strategy others mentioned seems to work best) to understand exactly why you were disqualified before the determination letter arrives. Also, make sure to keep certifying for benefits even while disqualified - if you win an appeal, you'll receive backpay for all those weeks. You've got this, and it sounds like you have a strong case if you were truly laid off due to restructuring!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - I can completely relate to the panic you're feeling right now. The exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago, and I know how devastating it feels when you're counting on that money for basic necessities like rent. Here's what likely happened based on my experience: during your phone interview, there was probably some discrepancy between what you told EDD and what your employer reported to them about your separation. Even if you were truthful, your employer might have reported it differently (sometimes to avoid their unemployment insurance rates going up). My advice is to act fast: 1. Call EDD immediately using the tips others mentioned - try right at 8:00 AM for the best chance of getting through 2. Ask for the SPECIFIC reason for your disqualification before you get the determination letter in the mail 3. Gather every piece of documentation about your layoff - termination letter, company emails about restructuring, anything that proves it wasn't your fault The good news is that appeals are actually quite successful when you have proper documentation. I won my appeal in about 4-5 weeks and got all my backpay. Keep certifying every two weeks while this gets resolved so you don't lose out on any benefits. I know the financial stress is overwhelming, but this sounds very fixable if you have proof of the restructuring layoff. You've got this!

Ugh, I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Been trying to verify for weeks now. This whole system is a joke 🤡

I went through this exact same frustration last month! What finally worked for me was submitting a combination of my driver's license, a recent bank statement (less than 30 days old), and my Social Security card all at once. Make sure everything is crystal clear - I had to rescan my documents because the first photos were too blurry. Also, double check that your name appears EXACTLY the same on all documents. Mine got rejected initially because my middle initial was missing on one document. The whole process is super annoying but don't give up! Once you get the right combo of docs, it should go through pretty quickly.