Reality check: EDD gets millions of calls but has maybe 500 agents total. The math will never work for everyone to get through manually. At some point you need alternative solutions to actually reach a live person.

I feel your pain so much! I'm in the exact same boat - been trying for weeks with my pending claim and getting nowhere with manual calling. After reading through all these comments, I think I need to seriously consider using one of those auto-dialer services. The math everyone's sharing really shows how broken the manual approach has become. Has anyone had success getting their pending claims resolved once they actually got through to an agent? I'm worried that even if I manage to connect, they still won't be able to fix my issue.

Congratulations Diego! This is such a relief to read - I've been following your thread because I'm in a similar situation (had my interview 8 days ago and still waiting). Your update gives me so much hope that things will work out. It's really reassuring to see that the delay didn't mean anything bad, just that EDD moves at their own pace. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - I know how stressful this waiting period is and your follow-up is incredibly helpful for others going through the same thing. Hope your payments hit your card soon!

This thread has been so helpful to follow! I'm currently on day 11 after my EDD interview and was getting really anxious, but reading through everyone's experiences - especially Diego's successful outcome - has given me so much peace of mind. It's clear that EDD's processing times are all over the place right now, but the consensus seems to be that delays are normal and don't indicate a negative decision. For anyone else in this waiting period: definitely keep certifying weekly (as multiple people mentioned), check your spam folder regularly, and try to be patient even though it's incredibly stressful when money is tight. The advice about calling right at 8 AM if you need to reach them is also really valuable. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - this community support makes such a difference during these nerve-wracking waits!

One more important point: make sure you meet the earnings requirement to qualify for UI. You need to have earned at least $1,300 in your highest-earning quarter during your base period, or at least $900 in your highest quarter and 1.25 times that amount across the entire base period. Based on your hourly wage, you should easily qualify if you've been working consistently, but it's something to be aware of. Also, start your work search requirements immediately after filing - EDD requires three work search activities per week for most claimants now.

I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago! The key thing that helped me was getting my boss to acknowledge in writing (via email) that I had requested to withdraw my resignation but he was choosing not to accept it. I sent him an email saying something like "As we discussed, I am withdrawing my two weeks notice and would like to continue my employment, but you indicated you prefer to proceed with my departure in May." He replied confirming that was correct. When EDD called him, his story matched mine exactly because we both had the same email thread. Got approved without any issues after the phone interview. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. Document everything and you should be fine!

To summarize what we've discussed for your situation: 1. You need at least $1,300 in your highest quarter OR $900 in your highest quarter plus 1.25x that amount total 2. Your base period would be January 2024-December 2024 if filing now 3. Since you were on unemployment during part of that period, you might need to use the Alternate Base Period 4. The ABP would include your recent $4,800 in earnings 5. You should apply and let EDD determine if you qualify 6. Consider using a calling service if you need to speak with an EDD representative for clarification Finally, once you apply, make sure to certify for benefits every two weeks even while your claim is pending determination.

Just wanted to add - if you do get approved for a new claim, there's a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, even if you're eligible. This is different from continuing an existing claim. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, as EDD may audit your work search requirements at any time. I learned this the hard way when they asked for 6 months of job search documentation retroactively. Good luck with your application!

I'm so sorry your cousin is going through this nightmare. I dealt with penalty weeks myself in 2023 and it was absolutely devastating financially. The misinformation from EDD reps is unfortunately very common - they seem to either not understand the penalty week system or just tell people what they think they want to hear. From my experience, here's what helped me survive the penalty weeks: 1. Apply for every assistance program possible - not just CalFresh but also utility assistance (LIHEAP), rental assistance through your county, and food banks 2. Look into gig work like DoorDash, Uber, or TaskRabbit for immediate income while still job searching 3. Contact local churches and community organizations - many have emergency funds for people in crisis 4. Check if her county has a 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) for comprehensive resource information The penalty weeks are brutal but they do end eventually. I had to serve 8 weeks and it nearly broke me financially, but I got through it. Make sure she keeps detailed records of everything and continues certifying religiously. Once those penalty weeks are done, her payments should start automatically. Stay strong and don't let EDD's incompetence destroy your hope. There are resources out there to help bridge the gap.

I'm so sorry your cousin is dealing with this - the misinformation from EDD reps about penalty weeks is unfortunately very common and causes so much unnecessary stress and financial planning issues. From everything I've seen and experienced, penalty weeks must be served in FULL - there's no cap or shortcut like that rep told her. If she had 9 remaining weeks, she'll likely need to serve all 9, not just 2 more. Here's what I'd suggest for immediate next steps: 1. Log into UI Online and check her Claim History to see exactly how many penalty weeks have been served vs. remaining 2. Send a message through UI Online asking for written confirmation of her exact penalty week count and expected benefit start date 3. Keep certifying every two weeks during penalty weeks (this is crucial!) 4. Look into emergency assistance - many counties have rental/utility help, food banks, and emergency cash assistance programs Also, while she's serving penalty weeks, she can still do gig work (DoorDash, Instacart, etc.) to get some immediate income without affecting her unemployment claim. Just make sure to report any earnings when certifying. The system is brutal but the penalty weeks do eventually end. Document everything going forward and don't trust verbal information from reps - get it in writing through UI Online messages. Hang in there!