For anyone still fighting this battle: document everything. Keep records of your call attempts, hold times, and any issues you encounter. File complaints with CFPB, your state representatives, and EDD. This system won't improve unless people make noise about it.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. Going to try Claimyr to reach EDD and get direct deposit set up. Lesson learned: avoid the EDD debit card if at all possible. The Money Network customer service situation is completely unacceptable.

Just want to add another resource that helped me when I was dealing with EDD appeals last year - your local State Assembly member's district office can sometimes expedite things faster than you'd expect. I know Joshua mentioned they said it could take weeks, but if you emphasize that you're facing imminent eviction/hardship, they often have a direct line to EDD supervisors. Also, for anyone reading this thread in the future: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every call you make, every voicemail you leave, every email you send. Include dates, times, and any reference numbers. If your case gets escalated or if there are issues with your hearing, having that paper trail can be crucial. The system is definitely broken, but persistence does pay off. I ended up winning my appeal after they initially said I was "fired for cause" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The ALJ saw right through their BS once I had all my documentation organized properly.

This entire thread is incredibly helpful - I'm saving it for reference! Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with appeals, make sure to also request your complete claim file from EDD (form DE 8714). Sometimes there are notes or documents in your file that contradict what they told you during the interview, and having that full record can be crucial evidence for your hearing. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone system - I've found that calling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8:30-9:00am tends to have slightly better success rates than other days. Mondays and Fridays are usually impossible. The fact that Joshua's hearing was scheduled but no notice was sent is unfortunately becoming more common. I work in legal aid and we're seeing this happen to clients regularly - they're clearly overwhelmed and behind on their administrative tasks. Always assume your hearing might be scheduled even if you haven't gotten official notice yet.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

If you miss the scheduled callback from EDD, don't panic! Here's what typically happens: 1) They'll usually try calling 2-3 times within a short window, 2) You might receive a follow-up text or notice about rescheduling, 3) Check your UI Online account for any updates or new appointment options. The key is to respond quickly if you get any rescheduling options. Also, make sure your phone can receive calls from unknown numbers since EDD calls often show up that way. Has anyone else had experience with missed callbacks and successful rescheduling?

Yes, in that specific situation - with his benefit year ending only 3 weeks after his job ends - it might be more advantageous to wait and file a new claim instead of reopening the old one. Here's why: 1. With only 3 weeks left on his old claim, he'd have to file a new claim very soon anyway 2. If his earnings were higher during this construction job, a new claim would likely give him a higher weekly benefit amount 3. Filing a new claim would give him a fresh 12-month benefit year However, there is a trade-off: waiting those extra 3 weeks means no benefits during that period. He needs to decide if potentially getting a higher weekly benefit amount for a full year is worth missing 3 weeks of payments now. One strategy could be to reopen his current claim for those 3 weeks, then immediately file a new claim when the benefit year ends. This way he doesn't miss any payments, though it does mean dealing with EDD twice in a short period.

Just wanted to add a quick tip based on my own experience - when your boyfriend reopens his claim, make sure he has his Social Security card and ID ready. Sometimes the system will ask him to verify his identity again, especially if it's been several months since he last certified. Also, if he changed his address or phone number while working, he should update that information in his profile BEFORE starting the reopening process. It can cause delays if there's conflicting contact info. Good luck to both of you!

Great thread! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're working part-time while on UI, it's really helpful to keep detailed records of your work days and earnings. I made a simple spreadsheet with dates worked, hours, and gross pay. This made certifying so much easier and helped me catch a mistake I almost made where I reported earnings for the wrong week. Also, if you ever get audited or have questions later, having everything documented saves you a lot of headaches. Good luck with the work - sounds like you've got all the info you need to handle it properly!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is what happens if you work irregular hours across the two-week certification period. For example, if you work 3 days one week and 1 day the next week, you'll need to report earnings separately for each week when you certify. EDD calculates benefits on a weekly basis, not bi-weekly, so each week gets its own calculation using the formula others described. This was confusing for me at first because I thought I had to average my earnings across both weeks, but that's not how it works. Each week stands alone in terms of how much you worked and earned, which then determines your benefit amount for that specific week.