I'm in the exact same situation! Just lost my job in food service and have been trying to navigate this CTB nightmare for weeks. The EDD website is absolutely useless - I keep getting sent in circles just like you described. After reading through all these amazing responses, I'm convinced that the key is bypassing EDD's website entirely and going straight to the source. I'm planning to: 1. Call my local community college's workforce development office first thing Monday morning 2. Visit the America's Job Center this week 3. Focus on programs that are 3-6 months, full-time, and in high-demand fields like IT What really stood out to me from everyone's experiences is that community colleges seem to have their own internal tracking of which programs get approved regularly. That's so much more useful than trying to decode EDD's confusing eligibility criteria on your own. For IT training specifically, it sounds like cybersecurity, networking, and cloud computing programs have really good approval rates. The "stackable credentials" approach that several people mentioned sounds perfect - you can build skills gradually while staying on benefits. Thanks for starting this thread - it's been incredibly helpful to hear from people who actually made it through this process successfully. Sometimes the community really does know better than the official resources!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who FINALLY got through this whole CTB maze successfully! I was in construction too before getting laid off, and spent weeks trying to find that mythical "approved programs list" that doesn't exist. Here's what actually worked for me: I called my local community college and asked to speak with their "workforce education coordinator" (not just general admissions). This person knew EXACTLY which programs get CTB approval and had helped dozens of displaced workers navigate the process. I ended up getting approved for a 5-month network administration program that had a 90% CTB approval rate according to their records. The key was that it was full-time (24 hours/week), led to industry certifications, and was in a high-demand field in our area. Pro tip: When you apply for CTB, include local job market data showing demand for the skills you'll be learning. The workforce coordinator helped me pull this data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and I think it really strengthened my application. Don't waste time trying to decode EDD's website - go straight to the community colleges and America's Job Centers. They're the ones who actually know how this system works! Good luck with your IT transition - it's totally doable coming from construction.

This entire discussion has been so eye-opening! I'm currently on UI benefits and had absolutely no idea about the distinction between benefit year and maximum benefit amount until reading through all these comments. Like everyone else, I just assumed the 12-month benefit year meant I'd receive payments for the full year. The "two separate timers" explanation that several people shared really clicked for me - it should honestly be the first thing EDD tells you when you apply! I'm now realizing I need to calculate exactly how many weeks I have left based on my maximum benefit amount rather than relying on my benefit year end date. I'm also in a training program (dental assistant) that I enrolled in without notifying EDD first - seems like this is incredibly common based on everyone's experiences here. After reading about @Sean Doyle's success getting the retroactive training benefits paperwork, I'm thinking I should reach out to EDD proactively before my balance gets too low. The wealth of resources everyone has shared here is amazing - California Training Benefits, WIOA funding, emergency grants, CalFresh, utility partnerships. It's honestly shocking that none of this crucial information is provided upfront by EDD. We shouldn't have to discover these programs through community forums, but I'm so grateful everyone took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. Going to start tracking my remaining balance immediately and look into these various assistance programs as backup options. This thread has been more informative than months of trying to navigate the EDD website!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable for so many people! I'm currently on UI and in a similar training situation - enrolled in an automotive technician program without initially notifying EDD. Reading everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and educational. What really strikes me is how the "two separate timers" concept that @Madeline Blaze explained should be standard information provided by EDD from day one. The fact that your benefit year doesn't equal guaranteed benefits for 12 months is something that clearly catches almost everyone off guard. @Sean Doyle - really hoping your retroactive California Training Benefits application gets approved! The automotive field is also experiencing high demand, especially with electric vehicle technology, so I'm encouraged by your experience getting the paperwork from EDD even after starting training. For anyone else reading this who might be in vocational training - I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that was recommended to get through to an actual EDD rep. This thread has shown how crucial it is to have direct conversations about your specific situation rather than trying to figure everything out from the website. The resources everyone has shared here (WIOA funding, emergency grants, CalFresh, utility partnerships) are programs I never knew existed despite being on UI for several months. It's frustrating that we have to discover this information through community forums, but I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. Going to start tracking my maximum benefit amount immediately and look into these assistance programs proactively. Thank you to this entire community for creating such a helpful resource!

Carmen, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate financial concerns while grieving must feel overwhelming. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm genuinely touched by how many people have shared their personal experiences to help you. It's clear that your situation is more common than you might think, and every single person who's been through this has successfully received unemployment benefits. The message from everyone - including professionals in the field - is consistent and reassuring: you absolutely qualify for benefits as an IHSS caregiver. The county IHSS program was your legal employer (as shown on your paystubs), not your mother personally, so the family relationship doesn't affect your eligibility at all. You've been contributing to the unemployment insurance system for 2.5 years through your dedicated work - these benefits aren't charity, they're something you've rightfully earned. The 4-week delay is completely understandable given your circumstances, and you can backdate your claim when you apply. I hope all the support and practical advice in this thread gives you the confidence you need to move forward. You deserve this financial assistance during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself, and know that this entire community is rooting for you. ❤️

Carmen, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a parent is one of life's most difficult experiences, and dealing with practical matters like benefits while grieving can feel overwhelming. Reading through all the responses here, I'm struck by how supportive this community is and how many people have shared nearly identical experiences. It's clear that you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits as an IHSS caregiver - the family relationship doesn't disqualify you at all since the county IHSS program was your actual employer. As someone new to this community, I wanted to add that the consistent advice from both professionals and people with personal experience should give you real confidence. You've been paying into the unemployment system for over 2 years, so these benefits are something you've genuinely earned through your dedicated work. The practical tips everyone has shared - about backdating due to grief, selecting "lack of work" as your separation reason, and having your paystubs ready - seem very helpful for when you're ready to apply. Don't put too much pressure on yourself about the timing, but know that this financial support is available to you when you need it. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. This community clearly has your back, and I'm sending you strength as well. ❤️

Hey Justin! I completely understand that heart-stopping moment when you first see "excessive earnings" - I literally thought I had somehow violated the terms of my UI claim when it happened to me! That wording is absolutely terrible and makes it sound so much worse than it actually is. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - your claim is totally fine and will remain active! "Excessive earnings" is just EDD's unnecessarily scary way of saying you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and your WBA is probably around $450, that explains it perfectly. I've been in your exact situation working part-time at a hardware store while collecting UI for about 4 months now. My hours vary between 15-25 per week, and I've seen "excessive earnings" probably 6 or 7 times. Every single time I initially panicked, and every single time my claim stayed completely intact. The following weeks when I worked fewer hours, I got partial benefits again like clockwork. What really helped me was keeping a simple weekly log of my hours and estimated earnings. That way I can mentally prepare for whether I might see "excessive earnings" or receive partial benefits before I even certify. It takes away that surprise factor that causes so much stress. Your warehouse job is actually a perfect strategy - it keeps money coming in while you search for full-time work, and the variable hours mean some weeks UI supplements your income and some weeks you don't need it. That's exactly how the system is designed to work! Keep certifying every two weeks, keep doing your job searches, and definitely don't let EDD's confusing terminology discourage you. You're handling this perfectly!

Hey Justin! I totally get that panic - I had the EXACT same reaction when I first saw "excessive earnings" pop up on my account! I literally called in sick to work the next day because I was so stressed thinking I'd somehow messed up my entire claim. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - your claim is absolutely fine! That scary-sounding status just means you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and your WBA is probably around $450, that's exactly why you got that status. I've been working part-time at a pet store while on UI for about 5 months, and I've seen "excessive earnings" maybe 8-9 times now depending on my weekly hours. Every single time my claim stayed active, and the weeks I worked fewer hours I got partial benefits again. It really is just calculated week by week. The thing that finally clicked for me was realizing this is actually a GOOD problem to have - it means you had a financially successful week! Now I actually get excited when I see "excessive earnings" because it means I didn't need UI assistance that week, which is progress toward financial independence. Keep doing exactly what you're doing - that warehouse job is smart for bridging the gap while you hunt for full-time work. Keep certifying every two weeks, keep job searching, and don't let EDD's terrible wording mess with your head. You're handling everything perfectly!

I just moved from San Francisco to Boulder last week while collecting CA EDD benefits and wanted to share my experience since it's so fresh! The whole process was way less stressful than I anticipated after reading horror stories online. Here's exactly what I did: 1. Drove to Colorado on a Tuesday, updated my address in UI Online on Wednesday (the day after I arrived) 2. Set up USPS mail forwarding for 6 months before I left CA 3. Called my bank the day before I moved to let them know I'd be receiving CA unemployment payments from my new Colorado address 4. Started applying for both remote and local Boulder/Denver jobs immediately The address change went through without any issues - no verification messages, no delays, no phone calls needed. I've done one certification since moving and the payment came through exactly as usual. One thing I wasn't expecting - Colorado's job market for remote-friendly positions is incredible! I've already had two phone screens for remote roles that I applied for from my new address. The work search requirement is actually easier to meet here because there are so many opportunities. Having a job already lined up for 6 weeks from now puts you in such a good position. You can focus on settling in and exploring Colorado without the pressure of needing to find work immediately. Boulder and the surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful - you're going to love the move! Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions about the process.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my marketing role in San Diego and considering a move to Portland while I'm on unemployment. Reading everyone's experiences has really eased my anxiety about the whole process. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - for those who moved and continued collecting CA benefits, did you ever have issues with employers in your new state being confused about your unemployment situation? Like if they ask about your employment status during interviews, how did you handle explaining that you're collecting unemployment from California while living in a different state? I want to make sure I handle those conversations professionally if they come up. Also, has anyone had experience with how this affects your taxes? I assume you'd still file California unemployment income on your taxes even though you're now a resident of another state? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community is amazing for providing real-world guidance on these tricky situations!