UPDATE: I FINALLY got through to EDD this morning after trying the Claimyr service that someone recommended above. Took about 25 minutes to connect to a rep (way better than my 47+ failed attempts). The agent said my account had an "unresolved identity verification flag" even though I completed ID.me months ago. She removed the flag and released all my pending payments - should be in my account within 24-48 hours! For anyone else having similar issues, definitely worth checking if there's some hidden flag on your account. Also, thanks everyone for all your suggestions!

So glad you got through and got it resolved! This is exactly why I keep telling people about hidden flags in the system - there are so many technical glitches that create invisible barriers. I've seen the ID.me sync issue multiple times where people think they're verified but EDD's system shows something different. For anyone else reading this who might have similar pending issues, it's also worth asking the rep to check for any "stop payment indicators" or "eligibility review flags" that might not show up on your UI Online account. Sometimes there are multiple layers of holds that need to be cleared. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it gives hope to others dealing with the same nightmare!

Congratulations on your new job! I can definitely understand the stress about wanting to handle the EDD reporting correctly. I went through this same situation about a year ago and was equally worried about accidentally creating an overpayment issue. The advice everyone has given here is absolutely correct - the key is to continue certifying every two weeks and honestly report your work hours and gross earnings. When you certify and answer "yes" to working, make sure to include ALL earnings for that week, even if you haven't received your paycheck yet. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my work hours and expected earnings for each certification period. This way when it came time to certify, I had everything organized and could double-check my numbers before submitting. Also, don't be surprised if it takes a few weeks for EDD to fully process your return-to-work status. The system can be a bit slow to update, but as long as you're consistently reporting your full-time wages, everything will work out automatically. The most important thing is that you're being proactive and asking these questions upfront rather than just winging it! Best of luck with your first day at the marketing firm - that's such exciting news after months of job searching!

Congratulations on the new job! That's awesome after 4 months of searching. I just went through this same situation a few weeks ago and totally understand your stress about doing it right. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - definitely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work hours and gross pay honestly. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the bi-weekly certification IS the official way to report returning to work. There's no separate form or phone call needed. When you certify, you'll answer "yes" to whether you worked and then enter your hours and earnings for each week. Report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid. So if you start Monday and your certification period covers that week, report those earnings even if your first paycheck won't arrive for another week or two. The system will automatically stop your benefits once you consistently report full-time earnings above your weekly benefit amount. Usually takes 2-3 certification periods. Just be patient with the process and keep documenting everything. You're being smart by asking upfront instead of just guessing! Good luck with your first day at the marketing firm on Monday!

I see a lot of confusion in this thread between EDD and Money Network responsibilities. To clarify: - EDD processes your claim and approves payments - Money Network issues and manages the debit cards - They're separate entities with separate customer service systems For card issues (never received, lost, stolen), always contact Money Network directly at 1-866-692-9374. Their hours are 24/7, unlike EDD. For claim issues (payment amounts, disqualifications), contact EDD. OP, once you get your card situation resolved, I strongly recommend switching to direct deposit through your UI Online account. It's much more reliable and funds typically appear 1-2 days after payments are approved.

So glad to see this got resolved! Your experience perfectly illustrates why it's so important to distinguish between EDD and Money Network issues. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar problems, here are the key takeaways: 1) Always call Money Network directly for card issues - they're available 24/7 unlike EDD, 2) Double-check that your full address (including apartment/unit numbers) is correct in both systems, 3) Don't wait more than 10 business days before requesting a replacement, and 4) Switch to direct deposit ASAP to avoid these headaches entirely. The Money Network transfer feature is also a great backup option once you have account access. Thanks for updating us on the resolution - it'll definitely help others in similar situations!

I'm new to this community but this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on UI benefits and was considering both plasma donation and medical trials to help with expenses, so seeing all these real-world experiences is exactly what I needed. What really convinced me was reading the specific examples from people like @Sean Murphy, @Ethan Campbell, and @Ravi Patel who actually went through the process of reporting plasma income. The fact that you all still came out ahead financially even after EDD's deductions (thanks to the 25% disregard in the partial earnings formula) makes this decision so much clearer. I was initially terrified that any supplemental income would wipe out my benefits completely, but seeing the actual numbers proves that EDD's system is designed to encourage some additional earning rather than punish it. The peace of mind from being fully compliant seems worth way more than trying to navigate gray areas. Based on everyone's consistent advice here, I'm planning to start plasma donation next week and will report it as "other income" during certification. I'll also keep detailed records of everything just like you all recommended. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share real experiences instead of just speculation - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding how to handle supplemental income safely while on UI!

I'm new to this community and this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm currently on UI benefits and have been stressed about how to supplement my income safely without jeopardizing my claim. Reading through all the real-world experiences from @Sean Murphy, @Ethan Campbell, and @Ravi Patel has been so reassuring. The specific numbers you all shared showing how the partial earnings formula works in practice really demonstrates that reporting plasma donation income still leaves you financially better off. I had no idea about the 25% disregard rule before reading this! What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice has been - report it as "other income," keep detailed records, and don't stress about it. The fact that multiple people took the transparent approach and had positive outcomes with EDD gives me confidence this is the right path. I'm planning to start plasma donation next week and will definitely report everything during certification. The peace of mind from full compliance is worth way more than trying to guess what's right and potentially facing fraud issues later. Plus, seeing that you actually still come out ahead financially even after deductions makes this a no-brainer. Thank you to everyone who shared their actual experiences instead of just speculation - this thread should be required reading for anyone on UI considering supplemental income options!

Hey Yara! I can see you've gotten absolutely incredible advice from this community - everyone has really covered all the essential points about how unemployment benefits work! As someone who just went through this process recently, I wanted to add one small but important detail that helped me a lot. When you're doing your job search documentation for EDD, make sure to include the specific method you used for each application (company website, Indeed, LinkedIn, recruiter, etc.). During certification, they sometimes ask for these details, and having them already recorded saves you from trying to remember later. Also, since you're a CPA, you might want to check if your state CPA society has a job board or career center. Many of them offer exclusive postings that aren't available elsewhere, plus career coaching services for members. It's another great resource to add to your job search toolkit! You're asking all the right questions and have such a great attitude about this whole process. With your professional qualifications and all the excellent strategies people have shared here, I'm confident you'll find something great well before you use up that $6,000. The unemployment system is definitely confusing at first, but you're approaching it exactly the right way - getting informed and then taking action. Best of luck with your search!

Hey Yara! Welcome to the community! I can see you've already gotten some amazing comprehensive advice from everyone here. As someone who's been through the EDD process a couple times myself, I just wanted to add one quick reassurance - your confusion is totally normal and your friend's information was completely wrong! The $6,000 is definitely just for this specific benefit year, not your lifetime. I've actually collected unemployment three different times over my career (layoffs happen, unfortunately), and each time I was able to get a new claim based on my recent work history. What I love about reading through this thread is seeing how the community has given you such practical, actionable advice. The spreadsheet tracking, dedicated email folder, CalJOBS registration, networking with your CPA contacts - you now have a complete roadmap for success! One tiny thing I'd add that helped me psychologically: I started thinking of unemployment as my "job search salary" rather than something I was using up. It really is designed to support you while you find the right opportunity, not something to ration. With your CPA license and all the great strategies people have shared, you're going to do fantastic. The accounting market is really strong right now, especially heading into year-end and tax season. You've got this!