Hey OP, congrats on the new family member! Quick heads up - make sure you're also looking into SDI (State Disability Insurance) if you gave birth. You can get up to 4 weeks before your due date and 6-8 weeks after for recovery, THEN your PFL bonding time starts. Don't leave money on the table!

I went through this exact process about 6 months ago! The relationship evidence part was actually pretty straightforward - they just wanted to see that I was legally connected to the baby. Since I'm married, I uploaded our marriage certificate along with the birth certificate showing both our names. One thing that helped me was calling them right after I submitted my initial claim to ask what specific documents they'd need so I could get everything ready in advance. Took a few tries to get through, but it saved me time later when they made their official request. The whole process took about 5 weeks from filing to getting my first payment, which seems to be pretty typical based on what I've seen here. Make sure you certify for benefits every two weeks once you're approved - that part is easy to forget! Best of luck with everything, and congrats on your new addition! 🍼

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! Had to refuse a day of work for a pre-scheduled MRI that took forever to get approved by insurance. I was terrified about reporting it, but I did mark "yes" for refusing work and explained it was for a medical appointment in the comments section. Here's what happened: EDD processed my payment normally that week, but they did schedule an eligibility interview about 3 weeks later. The whole interview took maybe 8 minutes - the rep just wanted to confirm when I scheduled the appointment and why I couldn't move it. I explained it was scheduled months in advance and rescheduling would mean starting the insurance approval process over again. She approved it on the spot and said medical appointments are definitely considered good cause, especially when they're scheduled well in advance. The key thing that helped my case was being able to show the appointment was booked before the work offer came in. Since you have that 3-month-old email confirmation, you're in an even better position than I was. Just be honest on your certification and have that documentation ready if they call. Better to be upfront now than risk them finding out later through employer cross-checks!

I just want to echo what others have said about being honest on your certification. I had a similar situation last fall where I had to refuse a shift for a pre-scheduled orthopedic consultation that I'd been waiting 4 months to get. I was really nervous about reporting it, but I marked "yes" for refusing work and explained it was for a medical appointment that couldn't be rescheduled. They did flag it and scheduled an eligibility interview about 2.5 weeks later, but my payment processed normally in the meantime. The interview was super straightforward - the rep just asked when I scheduled the appointment, why I couldn't move it, and confirmed that the work offer came after the appointment was already booked. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes and she approved it immediately. The fact that you have documentation showing you scheduled this 3 months ago puts you in a really strong position. Medical appointments, especially with specialists, are textbook examples of "good cause" for refusing work. Just make sure to mention in your certification that it was scheduled well before the work offer and that rescheduling would mean months of additional waiting. You'll be fine!

btw i forgot to mention my cousin was sooooo worried about his benefits he couldnt sleep for weeks! but it all worked out in the end. EDD system is confusing but hang in there!

I went through something similar about 8 months ago - got fired for what they called "misconduct" but was really just a minor policy violation. The most important thing I learned is that EDD's definition of misconduct is much stricter than what employers claim. They need to prove it was willful, substantial, and connected to your work duties. A forgotten safety vest and coffee stain sounds like an honest mistake, not deliberate misconduct. Don't beat yourself up about the "I don't remember" responses - interview nerves are totally normal and understandable. Even if you get initially denied, the appeal process gives you a fresh chance to present your case clearly. I'd recommend writing down a timeline of events now while it's fresh in your memory, including any positive feedback or performance reviews you received. That documentation could be really valuable if you need to appeal.

One more thing I forgot to mention - if your appeal is taking a long time and you're really struggling financially, consider applying for CalFresh (food stamps) and possibly Cash Aid while you wait. These programs have faster approval processes and can help bridge the gap. When I was waiting for my appeal, CalFresh was a lifesaver for groceries. You can apply online through BenefitsCal website.

I just went through this process and got my decision last month. Filed my appeal in early January and had my hearing in mid-March - so about 10 weeks total. The hearing itself was only about 30 minutes over the phone. The judge was actually pretty fair and asked clear questions about what happened with my employment. I won my case and got my first payment about 2 weeks after the hearing decision. A few tips that helped me: 1) Write down a timeline of exactly what happened with your job loss and keep it handy during the hearing, 2) If you have any emails or texts from your employer about the layoff, screenshot them now before you lose access, 3) Practice explaining your situation out loud so you're not stumbling over words during the hearing. The waiting is definitely stressful but try to stay positive. Most people who were legitimately laid off do win their appeals. And definitely keep certifying every two weeks like others mentioned - that backpay really helps when it finally comes through!

Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're calculating your weekly earnings, make sure to split your hours correctly if your work week doesn't align with EDD's Sunday-Saturday benefit week. For example, if you work Monday-Friday but EDD's week runs Sunday-Saturday, you might need to split some of your hours between two different certification periods. I made this mistake initially and it caused some confusion with my claim. Keep track of exactly which days you worked each week to avoid any issues!

One thing I learned the hard way is to screenshot or print your certification pages after you submit them. EDD's system can be glitchy and sometimes your submitted information doesn't save properly. Having proof of what you reported can be really helpful if there are any discrepancies later. Also, if you're unsure about any calculations, err on the side of reporting slightly more rather than less - it's better to have a small overpayment that gets corrected than to be accused of underreporting earnings. Keep all your timesheets and pay stubs organized in a folder, both physical and digital copies if possible. You'll thank yourself later if you ever need to provide documentation!