UPDATE: We got the decision letter today!! The judge ruled in our favor! I'm so relieved I could cry. The letter says the previous determination is reversed and my husband is eligible for benefits. It explains that his reduction in hours constituted a constructive discharge (basically forced quit) which qualifies for benefits. Thank you everyone for helping me stay sane during the wait! Now I just hope the payments come through quickly.

Congratulations Gianna! That's such wonderful news! I've been following your story and I'm so relieved it worked out in your favor. The "constructive discharge" ruling is exactly what should happen when employers cut hours to basically nothing - it's not a true voluntary quit when you're forced into that situation. Hopefully this gives hope to others dealing with similar appeals. Wishing you and your husband all the best, and hopefully those payments come through super quickly!

I had this exact same issue last year! The trick that finally worked for me was using the EDD website during off-peak hours - try logging in really early in the morning (like 5-6 AM) or late at night (after 10 PM). The system seems to work better when there's less traffic. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the site. I had to disable my ad blocker and password manager to get it to work properly. If you're still stuck after a few more days, another option is to contact your local assembly member's office - they often have staff who can help navigate EDD issues and sometimes get faster responses than calling directly.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Got my customer account number three days ago and it's still not working. Reading through these responses, it sounds like the processing delay is real even though the letter doesn't mention it anywhere. That's so misleading! I'm going to try Oliver's suggestion about using the site during off-peak hours while I wait for the processing period to finish. Has anyone had success with contacting their assembly member's office? That sounds like it might be worth trying if the phone lines stay jammed. This whole system really needs to be redesigned - it's causing so much unnecessary stress when people are already dealing with job loss.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I think we're much clearer now on how this works. To summarize what I've learned: 1. He can file for these two weeks and still have benefits available later in the year if needed 2. The claim stays open for 12 months (his benefit year) 3. When he goes back to work, he needs to report earnings on his certification 4. If laid off again, he just reopens the same claim rather than filing a new one 5. He should check if work search requirements are waived, and if not, document some activities just to be safe This community has been incredibly helpful! I'll make sure he keeps all his paperwork organized in case there are any issues down the road.

You've got it exactly right! One more tip - have your husband screenshot or save his UI Online account homepage showing his claim balance and benefit year end date. That way if there are any system glitches later (which unfortunately happen sometimes), he'll have proof of his remaining benefits. Also, construction workers often qualify for higher benefit amounts due to the seasonal nature of the work, so don't be surprised if his weekly benefit amount is decent even for short-term claims. Good luck to both of you!

UPDATE: I just got through on the website (10:45pm). Seems like they've fixed whatever was causing the outage. Try certifying now before everyone else realizes it's working!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Been locked out since Sunday trying to certify. This is so frustrating because I have bills coming up too. I tried calling the phone line multiple times but it just disconnects after the "high volume" message. Really hoping this gets resolved soon - it's stressful enough being unemployed without having to worry about technical issues preventing us from getting our benefits. Has anyone had luck with the mobile app or is that down too?

I went through a similar situation last year transitioning from disability back to UI, and the interview was actually less intimidating than I expected. The key thing that helped me was having a spreadsheet ready with all my job search activities - dates, companies, positions, salaries listed, and outcomes. One thing nobody mentioned yet: they may ask about your childcare situation since you were on PFL. Be prepared to explain how you'll handle work schedules now that you're available for employment. In my case, I had to show I had reliable childcare arrangements in place. Also, bring printed copies of a few job postings you've applied to that clearly show the salary ranges and requirements. This helps demonstrate that you're being realistic about what's available in your field and not just holding out for unrealistic positions. The interviewer in my case seemed most concerned about whether I understood that "suitable work" expectations would change over time, so acknowledging that upfront might help. Something like "I understand that as my unemployment period extends, I may need to consider positions at different salary levels while still leveraging my management experience." You've got this! The fact that you're preparing so thoroughly already puts you ahead of the game.

I'm new to this community but going through something similar right now. I was a project manager making $78k and just got scheduled for one of these interviews after my UI claim got flagged. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if they consider remote work opportunities differently? Most of the management positions I'm qualified for in my area are now remote or hybrid, which opens up way more opportunities but also means I'm competing nationally. I'm wondering if EDD factors that into their "suitable work" calculations or if they still expect me to consider only local positions. Also, for those who've been through this - how long was your actual interview? I'm trying to plan my day around it but the notice just says "allow sufficient time" which isn't very helpful. Thanks for all the insights everyone has shared here!