What's your hourly rate at Target? If it's high enough you might not even qualify for partial benefits once you start working. For each certification week, EDD subtracts the first $99 of earnings, then reduces your weekly benefit amount dollar for dollar for earnings beyond that. So if your WBA is $350 and you earn $300 in a week, they subtract $99, leaving $201, then subtract that from your WBA: $350-$201=$149 payment for that week.

Just want to add - when you're calculating your hours for certification, make sure you include ANY time you're on the clock, including training time, breaks that you're paid for, etc. I made the mistake of only counting my "productive" work hours at first and not including the 2-day paid training when I started my retail job. EDD counts ALL compensated time as earnings, so be thorough with your calculations!

anyone saying 2 weeks is being OPTIMISTIC!!! My friend and I both won appeals for the EXACT SAME ISSUE and she got paid in 9 days while I'm still waiting after 5 WEEKS!!! It's completely RANDOM depending on which EDD employee gets your file and how backed up they are!!! The ONLY thing that works is calling over and over until you get someone who actually CARES enough to help!!!

I'm going through something similar right now! Won my appeal for false statement disqualification about 2 weeks ago and still waiting. Called EDD yesterday and they said the appeals decision is "in their system" but needs to go through the fraud review department to remove the penalty before payment can process. The rep estimated another 5-7 business days but honestly who knows with EDD's timelines. Really hoping it doesn't drag on like some of the horror stories here. Will keep you posted on how long mine takes - fingers crossed we both get paid soon!

That holiday work might be exactly what helps you qualify! Even a small benefit amount would make you eligible. And once you're in the system with an active claim, it's easier to get help from EDD if your situation changes. Good luck with your application, and please update us when you hear back!

I'm sorry to hear about your situation! Getting fired from a job is stressful enough without worrying about unemployment benefits. I went through something similar a few years ago when I worked for a small nonprofit that also didn't pay UI taxes. It's definitely worth applying even if you're not sure you'll qualify - the EDD will review all your work history during the base period. From what others have shared, that holiday retail work you mentioned could be key! Also, don't forget to look into other resources while you're job hunting - food banks, utility assistance programs, and local churches (ironically) often have emergency assistance funds for people in tough spots. Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

To summarize for anyone finding this thread later: 1. Yes, bank interest IS reportable income for EDD certifications 2. Report it under "Other income" on your bi-weekly certification 3. Calculate weekly amounts by dividing your monthly interest by 4 (or 4.3 for more precision) 4. Small amounts of additional income may not reduce your benefits but must still be reported 5. Failing to report could result in overpayment notices, penalties, or even fraud allegations Keeping accurate records of all income while on unemployment benefits is essential. Be sure to report everything, even if you think it's too small to matter.

I went through something similar when I first started collecting benefits. Had about $8,000 in savings earning around $40/month in interest. I was nervous about reporting it too, but I called EDD directly and they confirmed that ALL income needs to be reported, including interest from savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, etc. The good news is that for most people, small amounts of interest income won't actually reduce your weekly benefit amount due to how they calculate the earnings deduction. There's typically a small earnings disregard amount before they start reducing benefits. But you absolutely must report it to avoid potential overpayment issues down the road. I've been reporting mine for 6 months now with no problems. Just divide your monthly interest by 4 and report that weekly amount under "other income" when you certify. Keep good records of your bank statements showing the interest earned in case they ever ask for documentation.

I'm new to this community and currently going through my first unemployment experience. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly a huge relief! I had no idea that EDD does these random eligibility reviews - it's both frustrating that it can happen to anyone at any time, but also reassuring to see so many people go through it and come out fine on the other end. The way @2ff2c9d98ae1 documented their entire journey from panic to resolution really helped me understand what to expect if this happens to me. I'm definitely taking all the advice here to heart about keeping super detailed work search records, saving screenshots of job postings, and continuing to certify even if payments go pending. I'm also bookmarking that Claimyr service just in case - the regular EDD phone lines seem impossible to get through to. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences so openly - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable for navigating such a confusing system!

I'm brand new to both this community and the unemployment system, and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I just started my claim last month and had no clue that EDD does these random eligibility reviews - it's honestly terrifying that it can happen without warning, but seeing how many people have successfully navigated through it is really encouraging. What impressed me most was how @2ff2c9d98ae1 kept everyone updated throughout the whole process and shared the solution that worked. I'm definitely going to start keeping much more detailed records of my job search activities after reading all the advice here. I'm also saving the Claimyr information just in case I need it in the future since it seems like the regular phone system is nearly impossible. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's amazing how this community helps newcomers like me understand what we might face and how to handle it!