FYI - just so you're prepared - when you certify and report income, your payment can be delayed that week while they review it. Happened to me several times when I was doing Uber on the side. Sometimes got stuck in pending for 3-5 days instead of getting paid right away.

Just wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - keep detailed records of ALL your 1099 work! Save screenshots of your TaskRabbit earnings, dates you worked, and any communication with clients. EDD can audit your claim at any time, and having documentation makes everything much smoother if they have questions. Also, since you're doing gig work, you might want to set aside about 25-30% of those earnings for taxes. As a 1099 worker, you're responsible for paying self-employment tax on top of regular income tax. It's not related to your UI benefits, but it'll save you stress come tax time! One more tip - if any of your TaskRabbit gigs turn into regular recurring work with the same client, that could potentially be considered "suitable work" that you might be required to continue. Just something to keep in mind as you balance gig work with your job search.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone helpful! After calling about 20 times this morning, I reached a Tier 2 specialist who looked into my case. Apparently, my appeal reversal was sitting in a queue waiting for manual review. The specialist said she would escalate it and marked it as "urgent" since it's been over 30 days since the judge's decision. She said I should see movement within 5-7 business days and to call back if nothing changes by next Friday. She also confirmed I should receive a Notice of Adjustment before any payment is processed, so I'll be watching for that. At least now I have a somewhat definite timeline and someone who actually looked at my specific case instead of giving me generic information. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! I'll post another update when (hopefully) I get my money.

This is so helpful to read everyone's experiences! I'm dealing with a similar situation - won my appeal in October and still waiting for my repayment. The inconsistent timelines from different reps is the most frustrating part. One told me "any day now" three weeks ago, another said it could be 2-3 more months! @Yara Abboud - really glad you finally got someone who could actually help and escalate your case. That gives me hope that persistence pays off. I'm definitely going to try asking specifically for a Tier 2 specialist next time I call instead of just accepting whatever the first rep tells me. Has anyone had luck with the assembly member route? I'm in Orange County and thinking about reaching out to mine if this drags on much longer.

FINAL UPDATE: Good news! The Tier 2 specialist called me back today and reviewed my case. Because my job was permanently eliminated (not just seasonal layoff), they're processing what they called a 'backdated new claim.' I had to provide my Forest Service RIF notice and answer questions about my work history. They said I should see the claim update in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I can certify for benefits again. Such a relief! Thanks to everyone who helped me navigate this complicated situation.

This is such a helpful thread for seasonal workers! I'm actually in a similar situation - worked for Cal Fire seasonally for 3 years and just found out they're cutting our crew due to budget issues. I was supposed to start back up next month but got the elimination notice last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is really getting to that Tier 2 specialist and having all your documentation ready. @Harper Hill - congrats on getting it resolved! Do you mind me asking roughly how long the whole process took from when you first called to when you could certify again? I'm trying to plan my finances and wondering if I should start looking for temporary work while this gets sorted out. The "backdated new claim" option sounds like exactly what I'll need too since my position was permanently eliminated, not just a seasonal break.

Just a heads up, there's been a lot of ID.me scams going around. Make sure you're only using the official site and never give out your info over the phone!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was doing the video verification during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). The wait times were much shorter and the agents seemed less rushed. Also, make sure you have really good lighting - I failed twice because my documents weren't clear enough on camera. It's frustrating but don't give up! Once you get through, the benefits should start flowing within a few days.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified for two weeks because I misunderstood that availability question too. It's honestly such a relief reading everyone's responses here because I was panicking thinking my whole claim was ruined. Already filed my DE 1000M appeal form and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The waiting is the hardest part but it sounds like most people who made honest mistakes like this get their appeals approved eventually. Thanks for posting about this - knowing I'm not alone in making this error really helps!

This happened to me too about 6 months ago! That availability question is seriously the most confusing one on the whole certification form. I made the same exact mistake - kept answering 'yes' because I thought I needed to explain my situation. Got disqualified for 3 weeks before I figured out what was happening. Filed the DE 1000M appeal right away and won after about 8 weeks. The key is being really detailed in your explanation about how you misunderstood the question. I literally wrote out my thought process step by step so they could see it was genuine confusion, not trying to fraud the system. Keep certifying every two weeks while you wait - that's super important! And don't let that "indefinitely" comment scare you too much, the rep probably just meant you'd be disqualified until you either appeal successfully or answer correctly going forward.