Just wondering if anyone knows if we HAVE to call? My certification has been pending for 2 weeks but maybe it just takes time to process? Do I really need to call or will it eventually change to paid? Sorry if this is a dumb question, this is my first time on unemployment.

UPDATE: I finally got through!!! For anyone who needs to know, I called right at 8:00am and kept hitting redial for about 45 minutes. Finally got in the queue and waited another hour. The rep was actually super helpful and found that there was a flag on my account from my last employer contesting my claim. She scheduled me for an eligibility interview next week to resolve it. She said all my pending weeks should be released once that's done. So if you're stuck in pending like me, definitely keep trying to call. There's probably something specific holding up your claim that only they can see in their system. Don't give up!!

my brother says if u press 2-4-1-3 instead of going thru the normal menu u get to a different department but they can still see ur payment info. ive never tried it tho

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact same confusion last week! The automated phone questions are definitely just identity verification - I was terrified I was accidentally filing a new claim too. What helped me was writing down my SSN and PIN before calling so I could answer quickly without second-guessing myself. One tip that worked for me: if you get disconnected (which happens A LOT), don't immediately call back. Wait about 10-15 minutes because their system seems to temporarily block numbers that call too frequently. I learned this the hard way after getting auto-disconnected 8 times in a row. Also regarding your payment timing concerns - with the system delays @CosmicCaptain mentioned, you might want to check your UI Online account daily rather than relying on phone updates. Sometimes the website shows payment status changes before the phone reps even know about them. Hang in there, the waiting is the worst part but your payment will come through!

my cousin works for EDD and says school employees somtimes have special rules??? something about school breaks not counting??? not sure if that applys to security or just teachers tho

I'm in a similar boat right now! I work part-time at a retail store and my hours got slashed from 30+ per week to maybe 12-15. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea you could get partial unemployment for reduced hours. One question for everyone who's been through this: how long did it take from application to actually receiving your first payment? I'm trying to figure out if I should look for a second job in the meantime or if the benefits will come through quickly enough to help with next month's rent. My manager keeps saying "hours will pick up soon" but that's what they said 6 weeks ago! Also @Kelsey Hawkins - definitely apply today like everyone's saying. I wish I had known about this option when my hours first got cut back in January!

it comes in a plain white envelope with a return address from Money Network in south dakota i think. looks kinda like junk mail tbh so watch out for it

Just wanted to add that if you're still worried about the legitimacy of any EDD communications, you can always log into UI Online directly (by typing the URL yourself, not clicking links) and check your inbox there. That's the official way EDD communicates important updates about your claim. Also, if you need to verify what stage your payments are at, look for the "Payment History" section - it will show you if any payments have been issued, which means your card should be on the way. Stay vigilant about these scams - they're unfortunately very common right now with so many people filing claims.

One more thing to consider: if you do quit and file for UI, be prepared for a potentially long wait while EDD investigates. Your employer will be asked to provide their side of the story, and then EDD will schedule an eligibility interview with you (which can take weeks to get). During this time, you won't receive any benefits. If you're eventually approved, you'll get backpay, but you need to be able to financially sustain yourself during the investigation period. And regardless of what happens, continue to certify for benefits every two weeks while your claim is pending. If you don't certify and later get approved, you won't receive payments for weeks you didn't certify.

I went through a similar situation last year and want to share what worked for me. I was dealing with a verbally abusive supervisor who was creating an impossible work environment. Here's what I did: 1. Started documenting everything immediately - dates, times, witnesses, exactly what was said/done 2. Got my doctor involved early - they documented my anxiety and stress symptoms as work-related 3. Filed a complaint with HR first (even though I knew they wouldn't help much) 4. When HR didn't address it properly, I requested FMLA leave for stress/anxiety 5. Used that time to job hunt intensively When my leave was up and nothing had changed, I quit with a resignation letter that clearly outlined why (referencing my previous complaints and medical documentation). I filed for UI immediately and got approved after the eligibility interview because I had a paper trail showing I tried to resolve things through proper channels first. The key is building your case BEFORE you quit. Don't just walk out - that makes it much harder to win an appeal. Take Quinn's advice seriously about the accommodation request - it shows good faith effort to stay employed. Also, start applying for jobs NOW while you're still employed. Even if this workplace is toxic, having income while job searching gives you so much more leverage and peace of mind.