California Unemployment

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Ask the community...

  • DO post questions about your issues.
  • DO answer questions and support each other.
  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
  • DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)

As someone who works in HR, I can tell you that EDD generally allows claimants with specialized skills to focus their job search within their field, especially during the early months of unemployment. They understand that career professionals can't immediately pivot to entirely different industries. However, here's what many people don't realize: while you're searching for jobs in your specialty, you should still document your efforts to be somewhat flexible. For example, note that you're considering related positions that might use your transferable skills, or slightly lower-level positions within your industry. This demonstrates good faith effort while still honoring your expertise. Also, be prepared for the first certification to be delayed. It's extremely common for first-time claimants, especially those with long-term previous employment, to have their first payment held pending review. Don't panic if this happens - it's standard procedure.

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Wish I'd known about that first payment delay! I freaked out and called EDD like 50 times when mine was "pending" for 3 weeks. Nobody mentioned it was normal procedure 🙄

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Welcome to the EDD journey! As someone who went through this process about 18 months ago after a similar long-term employment situation, I can relate to feeling overwhelmed. The good news is that with your specialized background and long work history, EDD will likely be reasonable about your job search requirements. A few additional tips from my experience: - Download the EDD mobile app once you get your UI Online account set up - makes certifying much easier - Consider reaching out to aerospace industry recruiters early on, even if you're not ready to interview yet. They often have insights about market conditions and can keep you in mind for future openings - LinkedIn Premium might be worth the cost during your job search - the InMail credits and expanded search features can be valuable for someone in a specialized field Also, don't underestimate the emotional side of this transition. After 24 years with one company, job searching feels completely foreign. Be patient with yourself as you learn the process. The community here is really supportive, so don't hesitate to ask questions as they come up!

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UPDATE: My payment status just changed from pending to paid about an hour ago! It's not in my account yet but at least it's moving forward. Thanks everyone for your help and sharing your experiences - it really helped keep me from panicking too much!

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lucky!! mine is still pending :( guess ill try calling tomorrow

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Don't lose hope! Since @Noland Curtis just got his cleared, yours might be in the same batch and could update soon too. But yeah, if it s'still pending by tomorrow morning definitely give them a call. The fact that his moved is a good sign that they re'processing the backlog.

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UPDATE: I finally got through today! Used a combination of the tips from this thread - called at 8:01am exactly, used the 1-2-4 prompt sequence, and was on hold for about 45 minutes but finally spoke to someone. The rep confirmed it was indeed a name change issue causing the verification problem. For anyone else with this problem, persistence is key! Thank you everyone for your help!

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congrats!! how long did they say it would take to process ur claim now that u got through?

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They said 7-10 business days for processing, then another week for the first payment once I do my first certification. Longer than I hoped but at least it's moving forward now!

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That's such great news that you finally got through! Your post was so relatable - I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I've been trying to file for disability benefits and keep hitting the same phone system walls. The 1-2-4 prompt tip is gold, I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. It's crazy how these government phone systems seem designed to frustrate people into giving up. Thanks for sharing your success story and what actually worked - gives the rest of us hope that persistence really does pay off eventually!

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My sister workes for EDD she says file it now dont wait

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Sure your "sister" works for EDD. Everyone on the internet has a cousin or sister who conveniently works wherever they need to make a point. 🙄

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whatever man just trying to help

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Update: I went ahead and filed my new claim today! The system accepted it with no problems. It says my new benefit year starts tomorrow (March 16th) just like you all said. Now fingers crossed the processing doesn't take too long. Thanks everyone for your help!

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Great! Just remember to keep certifying every two weeks even if your new claim is still processing. If your new claim is approved, they'll pay you for those weeks retroactively. And if there are any issues or it's taking longer than 3 weeks, definitely try to contact EDD directly to check on the status.

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Awesome, glad it worked out! I'm in a similar situation with my benefit year ending next month, so this whole thread has been super helpful. Hope your processing goes smoothly and you don't hit any of those crazy delays some people mentioned.

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I appreciate all the responses! I called EDD using the service someone suggested above and actually got through to a rep. The agent confirmed everything you all said - my benefits are limited to the claim balance amount (26 weeks max), and there are no extensions currently available. She suggested I contact my local America's Job Center for help with job search resources and possibly training opportunities. Definitely not the news I was hoping for, but at least I know where I stand now and can plan accordingly.

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Glad you got through to someone! The America's Job Centers (formerly called One-Stop Career Centers) can actually be really helpful. They offer free resume help, job fairs, and sometimes even training programs that can be covered while you're still on unemployment. Definitely worth checking out before your benefits end.

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I'm in a similar situation - just checked my balance and I have about $1,800 left which should last me maybe another month. This thread has been really eye-opening because I also thought I had a full year of benefits. I've been taking my time with the job search thinking I had plenty of runway, but now I realize I need to get serious ASAP. Has anyone had luck with temp agencies? I'm wondering if that might be a faster way to get some income flowing while I continue looking for something permanent.

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