Update: I GOT THE LETTER TODAY! The appeal was approved!!! The judge ruled that I had provided sufficient evidence that I reported my income correctly and the overpayment was due to an EDD processing error! I'm so relieved I could cry. Thanks everyone for your input and support during this stressful time. For anyone going through appeals - document EVERYTHING and bring all your evidence to the hearing!

Congratulations! This is such wonderful news and really gives hope to those of us who might face similar situations in the future. It's great that you kept us updated with the outcome. Your experience with the status changing from APPEAL to PAID before getting the official letter is really valuable information for this community. I'm sure many people will find your story helpful if they're going through their own appeals process. Enjoy that relief - you definitely earned it after all that stress!

Update: I FINALLY got through to EDD this afternoon! The rep immediately knew what the problem was when I explained it. She said it's a known system issue they call a "claim overlap error" where old uncertified weeks can reappear when a new claim is processed. She removed those 2021 weeks from my certification queue and assured me my current claim is fine. She said I should go ahead and certify as normal this Sunday for my current weeks. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help - saved me from making a big mistake by certifying for those old weeks!

So glad to see this got resolved! This is such a perfect example of why it's important to reach out to the community before taking action on confusing EDD issues. The system quirks and glitches can be so overwhelming to navigate alone, but having people who've been through similar situations share their experiences really helps. Your post will definitely help other people who encounter this same "claim overlap error" in the future - now they'll know exactly what to ask for when they call EDD!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The rep confirmed it was indeed a system error where my certification triggered an automatic new claim. She said it's happening because of recent changes to how they process partial unemployment claims. She removed the erroneous new claim from my account and noted that my original claim should continue until August. She said my payment for this week might be delayed by 1-2 days while the system updates, but otherwise everything should continue normally. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! This forum saved me so much stress.

So glad you got this resolved! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - got a letter about a "new claim" even though I've been on partial UI for months. Your experience gives me hope that it can be fixed quickly once you get through to the right person. For anyone else facing this issue, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Don't panic, it's a known system glitch, 2) Keep certifying on your original claim only, 3) Call ASAP and ask for a Tier 2 specialist, and 4) Document everything with screenshots. Thanks for sharing your resolution - this thread is going to help so many people!

Just wanted to follow up and share how my interview went yesterday! The EDD representative was actually really understanding and knowledgeable about substitute teacher situations. She asked all the questions that Christopher mentioned - about guaranteed work, minimum days, summer opportunities, and my work pattern from last year. I emphasized that being on the substitute list gives me ZERO guarantee of work or income, and I showed her my work schedule from last year with all the gaps highlighted. I also mentioned that I'm actively looking for other summer work (tutoring, camps, etc.) while waiting for potential sub assignments. The whole interview took about 20 minutes, and she approved my claim on the spot! She said the key factor was that I could demonstrate inconsistent work even while being available, which shows I don't have "reasonable assurance" of steady employment. For anyone else going through this - having documentation ready really helped, and being clear about the economic reality of substitute work (no guaranteed hours = no guaranteed income) was crucial. Don't let them lump you in with contracted teachers who have actual job security! Hope this helps other subs who might be going through the same process. The system isn't perfect, but it can work if you're prepared and honest about your situation.

Congratulations on getting approved! That's such great news and really helpful for others in similar situations. I'm curious - did the EDD representative mention anything about how long the benefits will last, or any requirements for continuing to certify during the summer? Also, did they ask about your availability during specific weeks (like if you're planning any vacations)? I know some people have issues with the weekly certification process even after getting approved. Your point about having documentation ready is so important. I think a lot of substitute teachers don't realize they should be tracking their work patterns throughout the year in case they need to apply for summer benefits later.

wait, I'm confused about something... i thought PUA was only for ppl who lost work directly bc of covid? did school closures actually count as a valid reason?

I went through a similar PUA appeal last year after moving states - here's what saved me: 1. Call EDD Appeals Board directly at (916) 653-0293 instead of the regular EDD number. They handle hearing logistics and are usually easier to reach. 2. For your gig work proof, if you have the platform's app still installed, try to screenshot your driver profile/history. Some platforms keep records longer than others. 3. Don't panic about "perfect" documentation. I won my case with: my 1099, a simple letter from my kid's school district (I called their main office and they emailed me a standard COVID closure confirmation), and my own written statement explaining the timeline. 4. During the hearing, stick to the facts and don't over-explain. The judge asked me maybe 6-7 questions total, mostly about dates and my work situation. The key is proving you were legitimately working before COVID and had valid reasons to stop. Your situation with both childcare needs AND a high-risk household member actually strengthens your case since you had multiple qualifying reasons. You've got this!