One more thing to note - when you certify for benefits every two weeks, make sure you answer all questions accurately. If there are any issues with your certification, your payment could be delayed regardless of which payment method you choose. The most common problem people have isn't with the payment method itself but with their payments being put on hold due to eligibility questions or certification errors.

Just to add some perspective from someone who recently went through this process - I filed my claim in December after being laid off from retail. Like others mentioned, no paper checks anymore, but the transition wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I initially got the Money Network card and used it for about a month before switching to direct deposit. The card worked fine for groceries and bills, and I could withdraw cash at my credit union's ATM without fees (they're part of the network). The online portal for switching to direct deposit was pretty straightforward once my claim was fully processed. Just make sure your bank account info is 100% correct when you enter it - a friend of mine had to wait an extra week because he transposed two numbers in his routing number. Good luck with your claim!

That's great news! Getting an actual note in your file about the hardship makes a big difference. Now that you've established contact, I recommend following up again in 5-7 days if you don't see movement on the remaining weeks. Be persistent but polite. While you wait, it might be worth preparing for the possibility that they only approve some weeks and not others. If that happens, you'll need to decide whether to accept the partial payment or continue fighting for the full amount through a formal appeal. The formal appeal process takes longer but has a surprisingly high success rate when you have documentation. Keep us posted on what happens! Your experience will definitely help others going through similar situations.

I'm going through something very similar right now! EDD disqualified 4 weeks of my benefits last month saying I didn't meet work search requirements, even though I was applying to jobs every day. Like you, I didn't keep detailed enough records at first because I didn't realize they'd be so strict about it. I submitted my appeal with all the documentation I could gather - job board screenshots, email confirmations, even LinkedIn application history. It's been 3 weeks since I submitted everything and I'm still waiting. The financial stress is unbearable, especially when you know you followed the rules but just didn't document every single detail perfectly. Have you tried reaching out to any local workforce development centers? Mine helped me put together a more comprehensive job search log going forward and they said they sometimes advocate for claimants with EDD. Might be worth a shot while you're waiting for the appeal decision. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us that they process these appeals quickly!

When I had my appeal hearing last year, my decision took almost exactly 30 days. My friend who appealed around the same time got hers in 3 weeks. I think it really depends on your specific judge and how complicated your case is. The more documentation and witnesses involved, the longer it seems to take. On a related note, did anyone else notice how their UI Online access seemed to temporarily freeze while waiting for an appeal decision? Mine wouldn't let me certify for benefits during that time, which seemed weird.

I'm dealing with the same thing right now - had my appeal hearing 4 weeks ago and still nothing. It's so frustrating because you can't really plan anything when you don't know if you're going to get a lump sum payment or not. I keep second-guessing how the hearing went too, even though I thought it went well at the time. The waiting is honestly the worst part of this whole process. Thanks for asking this question because reading everyone's responses is making me feel less alone in this situation!

This thread is so informative! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation as you, Fatima. I've been hesitant to take on part-time work because I was worried it would mess up my benefits, but seeing everyone's explanations about the 25% disregard rule and how it can actually extend your claim duration makes me feel much better about it. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there's a maximum number of hours you can work part-time while still qualifying for partial unemployment? I've heard conflicting information about whether there's like a 30-hour limit or something like that. I don't want to accidentally work too many hours and lose my benefits entirely. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned keeping detailed records. That seems like it's going to be super important if EDD ever questions anything. Better safe than sorry with their system!

This is such a timely thread for me! I just started a part-time gig last week making about $300/week and was stressing about how it would affect my $450 weekly benefit amount. Reading through everyone's explanations about the 25% disregard calculation really helped me understand what to expect. I'm actually documenting everything in a Google Sheets file with columns for date, hours worked, gross pay, and then what I plan to report when I certify. After seeing all the warnings about accuracy and overpayment issues, I'm being extra careful to track every detail. One thing I'm grateful for from this discussion is learning that partial unemployment can actually extend your claim duration. I had no idea about that! I was worried I was "wasting" my benefits by not collecting the full amount each week, but it sounds like it's actually the opposite. Has anyone had experience with seasonal part-time work while on UI? My job might only last through the summer, and I'm wondering if there are any special considerations when the hours fluctuate week to week or when it eventually ends.

You're being so brave through all of this. Just wanted to add that when you do your phone interview, don't feel like you have to rush through explaining your situation. Take your time, and if you need a moment to collect yourself that's completely okay. The rep should be patient with you given the sensitive nature. Also, if at any point during the process you feel like the person you're talking to isn't understanding the DV exception or seems dismissive, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or request to be transferred to someone who specializes in these cases. You deserve to be treated with compassion and understanding. Wishing you all the best with your interview - you've got this! 💪

I went through something very similar about 18 months ago. Left my job suddenly due to an abusive ex who was escalating and showing up at my workplace. EDD did approve my claim, but it took about 6 weeks total from filing to first payment. A few things that helped me: - I kept a detailed timeline of incidents leading up to when I left work - Screenshots of threatening messages (which you mentioned having) - A brief statement from my therapist confirming I was dealing with domestic violence trauma - Contact info for the DV hotline I had called (even though I didn't file a police report either) The phone interview was actually less intimidating than I expected. The rep was professional and seemed experienced with these situations. They asked specific questions about how the abuse related to my work situation and why leaving felt necessary for my safety. One tip - when they ask about your job search activities, mention any steps you're taking to establish safety first (new address, changed phone number, etc.) as they do understand these situations require settling in before actively job hunting. You're taking all the right steps by working with a DV organization. Stay strong - the system does work for survivors, even if it's not always smooth. Feel free to reach out if you have questions after your interview!