Final update: My claim was approved! The weekly benefit amount is based on my earnings before SDI, just like you all said. They did schedule a phone interview, but it was just to confirm that I didn't quit and that my position was actually eliminated. One weird thing though - my claim is showing a "standard base period" rather than the alternate base period. Not sure if that's normal for transitioning from SDI to UI, but the amount seems correct based on what I was making before disability. Thanks everyone for your help! This has been such a stressful situation, and I'm relieved to have some income while I job hunt.

Congratulations on getting approved! Your story gives me hope as someone who might be facing a similar situation soon. I'm currently 8 months into an SDI claim for a knee replacement and complications, and my employer has been making hints about "restructuring" while I'm out. Quick question - when they scheduled the phone interview, how much notice did they give you? And did they ask for any specific documentation about the job elimination, or was your word sufficient? I'm trying to prepare for what might be coming if my job disappears too. Really glad things worked out for you after such a stressful year!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I feel your frustration Norman - the EDD system is notoriously difficult to navigate and it sounds like you got caught in the endless loop that so many of us face. The 1-3-3-0 sequence rarely works during peak hours. Have you tried calling very early in the morning (around 8:00-8:02 AM) or using the Spanish line option which sometimes has shorter wait times? Also, some people have had success with the 833-978-2511 number instead. Don't give up - many of us have been in your exact situation and eventually got through. Keep trying different strategies and times of day.

dont forget you have to do the ID.me verification thing when you apply! it took me forever to figure that out

Congratulations on getting that summer contract situation sorted out! That's a huge relief. Just wanted to add one more tip - when you file your claim, make sure to have your SF-8 form (Notice to Employee as to Possible Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance Benefits) ready. Your school district should have given you this when they notified you about the layoff. EDD will ask for information from this form during your application process. Also, keep any documentation about your layoff reason and effective dates handy. Since you're laid off (not just end of contract), you should have a smoother process than teachers who are just between school years. Good luck with your claim!

Hi Sarah! The SDI (State Disability Insurance) requirement you mentioned is actually for disability benefits, not regular unemployment benefits. For regular UI benefits in California, you need to have earned wages during your "base period" - which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Since you haven't worked in 2 years, you likely don't have sufficient recent earnings in that base period to qualify. You might want to ask EDD about using an "alternate base period" (the last 4 completed quarters) if that would include more recent work history. It's worth speaking with another EDD representative to clarify exactly which type of benefits you're applying for.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and found that EDD's eligibility requirements can be really confusing. From what I've learned, the key issue is that California unemployment benefits are based on wages earned during a specific "base period" - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. If you haven't worked in 2 years, that base period likely shows zero or very low wages, which would disqualify you regardless of your work history from 15 years ago. The good news is that you can request to use an "alternate base period" (the most recent 4 completed quarters), though if your last work was still over 2 years ago, that might not help either. I'd recommend calling EDD back and specifically asking about: 1) Which base period they're using for your claim, 2) If you can switch to the alternate base period, and 3) Getting clarification on whether they're referring to regular UI benefits or disability benefits with that SDI message. Sometimes different agents give clearer explanations. Don't give up - it's worth getting a second opinion from another EDD representative!

i went through this exact situation last year! my benefit year ended in april and i had worked a temp job for 3 months during my claim. i filed a new claim right away and got approved BUT my weekly benefit amount went down from $450 to $320 because they only counted the temp job earnings in the new calculation. still better than nothing though! the whole process took about 2.5 weeks from filing to first payment. good luck!!

Hey Paolo, I just went through this same situation a few months ago! My benefit year ended in December and I was panicking about the rent too. Here's what worked for me: I filed a new claim immediately based on some freelance work I did during my benefit year. Even though I only made about $6,000 total, it was enough to qualify. My weekly benefit amount dropped from $380 to $285, but I got approved for a full 26 weeks of benefits again. One tip - make sure you have ALL your earnings documentation ready when you file. I had to submit 1099s and bank statements showing the payments. The process was actually smoother than I expected once I had everything organized. Also, don't stress too much about the phone situation. You can file the new claim online through UI Online once your benefit year officially ends. The system will automatically calculate if you qualify based on your work history. With $8,400 in earnings you mentioned, you should definitely qualify for a new claim. That's way more than the minimum threshold. Just file as soon as your current claim expires and you should be good to go!