I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just certified yesterday morning and logged in today to see both weeks showing $0 pending amounts. I literally felt my heart drop thinking I had somehow messed up the certification questions. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - it's amazing how many people go through this exact panic! The former EDD employee's explanation about it being a normal system placeholder is especially reassuring. It's honestly frustrating that EDD's system is designed in a way that causes so much unnecessary anxiety, but at least now I know to expect a 4-7 day wait for the amounts to update. Going to try the once-daily check approach instead of refreshing every hour like I was doing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - this community support is invaluable when you're already stressed about unemployment!

I'm literally going through this exact same thing right now - certified 3 days ago and seeing those dreaded $0 pending amounts on both weeks! I've been checking my account like every 30 minutes and driving myself absolutely crazy thinking I somehow messed up the certification. This whole thread has been a lifesaver for my mental health - it's incredible to see how many people experience this exact panic. The former EDD employee's explanation about it being a normal system placeholder really helped me understand what's happening behind the scenes. It's wild that EDD can't just add a simple "Your certification is being processed" message instead of the anxiety-inducing $0. Based on everyone's timelines here, I'm hoping mine updates by this weekend. Thanks Omar for starting this discussion and everyone for sharing their experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this stress makes such a huge difference!

Just wanted to add that FAC payments ended in September 2021, so if you're seeing this on older payment history, that's what it is. But if you're currently filing claims, you won't see FAC anymore since that federal program expired. The regular state unemployment benefits continue though. Hope this helps clarify the timeline for anyone looking at their payment history!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to unemployment benefits and seeing all these different acronyms and payment types was really confusing me. It's great to know that FAC was the federal boost during COVID - I was worried I was missing out on something I should be getting. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this clearly for those of us who are still figuring out how all this works!

I'm new to this community and dealing with EDD for the first time, so this thread has been incredibly educational! Reading through everyone's experiences has really helped ease my anxiety about making mistakes on these forms. It's amazing how what feels like a catastrophic error to us newcomers is actually just routine paperwork that gets handled smoothly every day. The consistent advice across all the responses is so reassuring - single line cross-out with initials, same pen throughout, no white-out ever, and keep it neat. I also love the practical tips about taking photos before mailing, using certified mail, and including brief explanatory notes on separate paper. What really strikes me is how supportive everyone has been in sharing their personal experiences. Hearing from people who've been through the exact same situation and had their payments processed without any delays takes so much stress out of what initially seems scary. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this is exactly the kind of community knowledge that makes navigating EDD so much more manageable for newcomers like me!

As another newcomer to the EDD system, this entire discussion has been a huge relief! I was actually searching for information about form corrections when I found this thread, and it's answered questions I didn't even know I had yet. What I find most reassuring is seeing so many people confirm that the single line cross-out method works perfectly - and hearing from actual EDD processors and government form specialists that this is completely standard procedure. The tip about using the same pen throughout the form is brilliant and shows the level of detail that makes corrections look professional rather than suspicious. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about taking photos before mailing and using certified mail. That peace of mind is worth the extra cost, especially when you're dealing with something as important as unemployment benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to interpret official EDD guidance alone. You've all made the prospect of handling EDD paperwork feel much less intimidating for those of us just starting this process!

Hey Ezra! I just went through this process myself about 2 months ago after getting laid off from my manufacturing job. The anxiety is totally normal - I was checking my mailbox twice a day for the first week! Here's what actually happened with my timeline: Filed on a Tuesday, got my first letter (Notice of UI Claim Filed) exactly 9 days later, then the award letter came 3 days after that. The EDD Customer Account Number arrived separately about a week later. One tip I wish someone had told me: once you get that award letter, you'll see your first available certification date listed on it. Mark that date in your calendar right away! I almost missed my first certification period because I was still waiting for some other paperwork and didn't realize I could already start certifying. Also, with your 5-year work history at one employer and a clear layoff situation, you're in really good shape. Those are exactly the kinds of claims that EDD processes fastest with the fewest complications. The horror stories you hear are usually from people with more complex situations - multiple jobs, voluntary quits, or eligibility issues. Just keep checking your UI Online account daily and your mailbox. You should see that first letter any day now! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you're doing everything right.

Hey Ezra! I'm actually in a really similar situation - just got laid off from my retail job last month and went through this exact same process. The anxiety about not knowing what to expect is so real! Here's what happened with my timeline: I filed online on a Thursday, and got my first piece of mail (the claim confirmation) exactly 8 days later. The award letter came about 4 days after that. What really helped my anxiety was setting up a simple tracking system - I made a note in my phone with the date I filed and then marked off each day so I knew roughly when to expect things. One thing that caught me off guard was that EDD sent me a text message about 5 days after I filed, just telling me to check my UI Online account. It wasn't anything urgent, just a general reminder, but I'm glad I had my phone number updated correctly! Your situation sounds really straightforward - 5 years at the same warehouse job with a clear layoff is exactly the kind of claim that EDD processes smoothly. I had a more complicated situation with overlapping part-time jobs and even mine went through without major issues. The waiting definitely sucks, but from everything I've experienced and seen in this thread, you should be getting that first letter very soon. Just keep checking your mail and UI Online account daily, and try not to stress too much. You're being proactive by asking questions here, which is exactly the right approach!

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my plumbing job 3 weeks ago when the apartment complex project finished, and I'm expecting one of these questionnaires any day now since I've heard they're pretty routine. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! A few things I'm planning to do based on all the great advice shared: - Keep copies of everything (my layoff notice, final paycheck, project completion documentation) - Fill it out immediately when it arrives rather than procrastinating - Send it back with tracking for peace of mind - Make sure my answers match exactly what I told them during my initial application It sounds like construction/trades layoffs due to project completion are super common and EDD handles them routinely. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made me feel much less anxious about what I thought would be a stressful process. Special thanks to the former EDD employee who explained that these are just automatic quality assurance checks rather than red flags!

I went through this exact same thing about 3 months ago after being laid off from my HVAC installation job when our commercial building project wrapped up. Got the same call from EDD and was freaking out just like you are now! Here's what I learned: these questionnaires are basically EDD's way of double-checking that everything adds up between what you told them and what your employer reported. Since you've already been approved and certifying for 4 weeks, this is almost certainly just routine verification rather than them questioning your eligibility. A few things that made the process smooth for me: - I filled it out the day it arrived (don't wait - the 10-day deadline is firm) - Made sure to use the exact same language I used in my original application - Included a copy of my project completion notice with it - Kept detailed notes about what I wrote in case they had follow-up questions The form was about 4 pages and took me maybe 45 minutes to complete thoroughly. Questions were pretty straightforward - employment dates, reason for separation, supervisor contact info, whether I received severance, etc. Since you have that termination letter stating "end of project," you're in great shape - that's exactly the documentation they want to see. My payments continued normally after I submitted it, though it did show "pending" in UI Online for about a week while they processed it. Construction project layoffs are super common, so EDD sees these situations constantly. Try not to stress - you've got legitimate documentation and a clear-cut case. Just be thorough and consistent, and you'll be fine!