UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The specialist confirmed that YES, my weeks with excessive earnings ARE counting toward my penalty weeks. She explained that as long as I'm certifying and meeting all other eligibility requirements (available for work, searching for work, etc.), the weeks will count regardless of whether I would have been paid or not. She did emphasize that I need to keep certifying every two weeks and accurately report all earnings, even during the penalty period. For anyone else dealing with penalty weeks - they DO run concurrently with excessive earnings! One less thing to stress about.

This is such valuable information! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - 4 penalty weeks and just started a part-time gig that puts me over my weekly benefit amount. I was panicking thinking I'd never get through my penalty period, but reading through all these responses (especially your final update with EDD confirmation) gives me so much peace of mind. For anyone else reading this thread in the future: the key takeaways seem to be 1) Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, 2) Report ALL earnings accurately, 3) Make sure you're still meeting other eligibility requirements (available for work, job searching, etc.), and 4) Weeks with excessive earnings DO count toward penalty weeks as long as you're otherwise eligible. Thanks for sharing your experience and coming back with the official confirmation from EDD!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that the reopen button appeared exactly 4 business days after my last payment, just like some of you suggested. The system let me complete the reopening process without any issues. Thanks for all your help and advice!

Glad you got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this issue, I'd recommend bookmarking this thread - it's got all the real info you need. The 4-day processing period seems to be the most reliable timeline based on everyone's experiences here. Also worth noting that if you're in seasonal work like construction or entertainment, it might be worth keeping a log of when you close/reopen claims so you can predict the timing better for future gaps. The EDD system is unpredictable enough without having to guess about processing times!

Has anyone tried the online chat feature on the unemployment website? I've had some success with that in the past.

I'm new here but going through the same nightmare! Been trying to reach EDD for weeks about my pending claim. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful - I had no idea about contacting state reps or that there might be Facebook groups for this. @Aisha Hussain have you made any progress since posting this? Also curious if anyone knows the best time of day to try the online chat that @Dmitry Smirnov mentioned. This whole process is so stressful but at least we're not alone in this struggle!

UPDATE: I was able to speak with an EDD representative today. They confirmed that the disqualification was due to a discrepancy between what my former employer reported and what I stated in my interview. My employer claimed I was terminated for performance issues while I said it was a company restructuring. The good news is that I've submitted documentation (including my termination letter that specifically mentions restructuring) and they're reviewing my case. The representative said it's not uncommon for employers to contest claims to avoid increases in their unemployment insurance rates. If my documentation doesn't resolve the issue immediately, I'll need to go through the formal appeal process. The rep emphasized that I should continue certifying for benefits each week while this is sorted out.

I went through something very similar last year and want to share what I learned. The sudden switch from pending to disqualified right after a phone interview is usually because of conflicting information between your claim and what your employer reported. This happened to me when my company reported I was fired for attendance issues, but I had reported being laid off due to budget cuts. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Call EDD using the 2511 number at exactly 8:00 AM - you'll have the best chance of getting through 2. Ask specifically what reason was given for your disqualification 3. Request they email you the determination notice if possible (faster than waiting for mail) The appeal process isn't as scary as it sounds. I appealed with documentation proving my layoff was legitimate (email from my manager, company-wide announcement about cuts) and won my case in about 6 weeks. Got all my backpay too. Don't give up - if you were truly laid off due to restructuring and have documentation proving it, you have a strong case. Keep certifying every two weeks even while disqualified so you don't miss out on any benefits if your appeal is successful.

Ugh, I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Been trying to verify for weeks now. This whole system is a joke 🤡

I went through this exact same frustration last month! What finally worked for me was submitting a combination of my driver's license, a recent bank statement (less than 30 days old), and my Social Security card all at once. Make sure everything is crystal clear - I had to rescan my documents because the first photos were too blurry. Also, double check that your name appears EXACTLY the same on all documents. Mine got rejected initially because my middle initial was missing on one document. The whole process is super annoying but don't give up! Once you get the right combo of docs, it should go through pretty quickly.