I'm scheduled for my first RESEA appointment next week and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also initially confused about whether it was mandatory - the letter language is a bit unclear. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this: I called to confirm my appointment details yesterday and the rep mentioned they're now offering both in-person and virtual options for RESEA appointments. If you have transportation issues or scheduling conflicts, it might be worth asking about the virtual option when you call to reschedule. Also, for those struggling to get through on the phone - I had success calling the number on the RESEA letter itself rather than the main EDD line. The wait was only about 15 minutes compared to the hours I've spent trying to reach general EDD customer service in the past. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helped ease my anxiety about the whole process!

I just wanted to jump in and say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time in years and had no idea what RESEA was when I got my letter last week. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. One thing I learned from calling is that if you need to reschedule multiple times due to legitimate conflicts (like job interviews), they're generally understanding as long as you communicate proactively. The rep I spoke with said they'd rather have you attend when you can be fully present and engaged rather than rushing through it. Also, for anyone wondering about what to wear - I asked during my call and they said business casual is fine, nothing too formal needed. They want you to feel comfortable since it's meant to be a collaborative discussion about your job search. Hunter, hope your job interview went well and that your rescheduled RESEA appointment is helpful! This community is awesome for sharing real experiences and practical advice.

Congratulations on the new job! That's such great news after 4 months of searching. I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and had all the same worries about overpayments and doing everything correctly. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - the most important thing is to absolutely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work hours and gross earnings honestly. Don't stop certifying! That's where people get into serious trouble with overpayments later. When you certify, answer "yes" to working and report your earnings for the actual weeks you worked, even if you haven't received your paycheck yet. The system will automatically reduce your benefits to zero once you report full-time wages, and after 2-3 certification periods of consistently reporting earnings above your weekly benefit amount, EDD will stop your claim automatically. One tip that really helped me was keeping a simple note on my phone with my work hours and expected gross pay for each week, so when certification time came I had everything ready and didn't have to scramble to remember the details. You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront instead of just guessing. The certification process really is designed to handle return-to-work situations smoothly - just be honest and thorough with your reporting and you'll be fine. Best of luck with your first day at the marketing firm on Monday!

Congratulations on your new marketing job! That's fantastic news after such a long search. I just went through this exact process a few months ago and can totally relate to your anxiety about handling it correctly. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - the key is to absolutely keep certifying every two weeks and honestly report all your work hours and gross earnings. The certification process IS the official way to report your return to work - there's no separate form needed. A couple of quick tips that helped me: First, report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid. So if you start Monday and that falls within your certification period, report those earnings even before your first paycheck arrives. Second, keep a simple record of your hours and gross pay for each week so you have everything organized when it's time to certify. The system will automatically stop your benefits once you consistently report full-time wages above your weekly benefit amount - usually after 2-3 certification periods. Don't panic when your benefit amount drops to zero, that's exactly what should happen! You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront. Just be honest and consistent with your reporting, and the EDD system will handle the transition smoothly. Good luck with your first day on Monday - you've got this!

This is such a valuable thread for new EDD users! I just filed my claim about a month ago and have been super anxious about certification timing. I actually bookmarked this discussion because seeing Leo's real experience - forgetting to certify on Saturday, doing it Sunday morning, and still getting paid on schedule - is exactly the kind of reassurance I needed. The community knowledge here is incredible. I've been treating Saturday certification like a life-or-death deadline, but clearly EDD designed the system with more flexibility than I realized. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and helping newcomers like me understand how things actually work versus how we imagine they work!

This thread is exactly what I needed! I'm brand new to EDD (literally just got approved last week) and I've been stressing SO much about certification timing. I was convinced there was some secret optimal time to certify for faster payments. Seeing Leo's real-time experience from panic to successful payment is incredibly reassuring. I've been planning my entire weekend around Saturday morning certification like it's some kind of sacred ritual! 😅 It's such a relief to learn that the whole weekend is fair game. The detailed explanation about the Saturday 12:01 AM to Sunday 11:59 PM window is super helpful - wish EDD made that clearer on their website. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and helping us newbies understand how this actually works!

Welcome to the community, Maya! It's so great to see how this discussion has helped so many people who were in similar situations. Starting your first job after college while navigating unemployment benefits can definitely feel overwhelming, but you're absolutely doing the right thing by seeking out guidance from people who've been through it. This thread really shows the power of community knowledge - Carmen's expertise combined with everyone's real experiences creates such a comprehensive guide. The fact that you found this post while searching shows you're being proactive about handling everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. Best of luck with your new job! You've got all the information you need to transition off benefits properly, and this community will be here if you have any other questions along the way.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm in week 3 of a new job after being unemployed for 7 months, and I was so worried about handling the EDD transition correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially the success stories from Mateo, Chloe, and others who got that confirmation message about earning too much for benefits - has been incredibly reassuring. Carmen's professional breakdown was absolute gold, and I love how this community shares both the technical details (like gross vs net earnings) and the emotional support of going through these transitions. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your employer's EIN number ready when certifying - they ask for it and I had to scramble to find it my first time! Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here. It's amazing how a simple question turned into such a comprehensive guide for anyone navigating this process.

I've been doing gig work while on UI for about 6 months now and want to share some hard-learned lessons that might help you avoid mistakes I made early on. First, the reporting timing IS confusing at first, but here's how I think about it: EDD wants to know what you EARNED during each certification period, regardless of when the money hits your account. So if you work Thursday-Sunday of your certification week, you report ALL of those earnings even if some payments are delayed. Second thing - and this is HUGE - track your GROSS earnings before any platform fees. So if DoorDash shows you earned $100 but only pays you $85 after their service fee, you report $100 to EDD. I made the mistake of reporting net earnings my first few weeks and had to correct it later. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I use a simple notes app on my phone to log: date, platform, hours worked, gross earnings, miles driven, and gas purchased. Takes 30 seconds after each shift but has saved me multiple times when EDD asked for clarification. One more tip: consider your vehicle expenses. Gig work is hard on your car - oil changes, tire wear, increased insurance. Factor these real costs into whether the work is actually profitable for you after the UI benefit reduction. The system works if you're diligent about accurate reporting, but there's definitely a learning curve!

I've been doing Uber/DoorDash while on UI for about 4 months now and wanted to share some practical tips that have helped me stay compliant and maximize my income. **Key things I've learned:** 1. **Set up a simple tracking system immediately** - I use a notebook in my car where I write down each shift: date, app used, total gross shown in app, hours worked. Takes 10 seconds but creates a paper trail. 2. **Screenshot everything** - At the end of each week, I screenshot my earnings summary from each app before I cash out. This gives me proof of what I reported to EDD if questions come up later. 3. **The sweet spot calculation** - With your $450 WBA, if you earn around $400 gross from gig work in a week, EDD deducts $300 (75%), leaving you $150 in benefits + $400 gig money = $550 total. That's been my target range. 4. **Don't overthink the timing** - I report earnings for the week I did the actual work, period. If I drove Saturday night but got paid Tuesday, it goes on Saturday's week. Keep it simple. 5. **Plan for taxes NOW** - I transfer 25% of each gig deposit into a separate savings account immediately. You'll thank yourself later when quarterly taxes are due. The system really does work if you're honest and organized. I'm actually earning more now than I was at my old job, and it's giving me flexibility to be picky about my next permanent position. Just don't cut corners on the record-keeping!