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!

I'm experiencing this exact same problem right now! It's been 4 days and I can't get into my account no matter what I try. The password reset emails come through, but every single link gives me that "invalid or expired" error message. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, waiting 24 hours between attempts, copying/pasting instead of clicking - nothing works! Reading through all these comments, it's clear this is a widespread system issue with EDD's authentication. I'm going to call that technical support number (1-855-327-7057) first thing tomorrow morning and ask them to check for a security lock on my account like @Jamal Wilson suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not going crazy and this really is a system problem!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Started yesterday when I tried to log in and it kept saying my password was wrong. I've requested probably 6 password reset emails at this point, and every single link gives me that "invalid or expired" error - some of them I clicked within 30 seconds of receiving the email! It's definitely not a user error at this point. Reading all these comments makes me feel better knowing it's a widespread system issue and not just me. I'm going to try calling that technical support line (1-855-327-7057) tomorrow morning right when they open at 8am. Hopefully they can remove whatever security lock is causing this. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread has been more helpful than anything on the actual EDD website!

Hey Sean! Glad to see you got your application submitted! Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. The backdating approval can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to show up in your account, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately. In my case, I had to call twice to follow up on my backdating request - the first rep told me it was "under review" and the second one actually processed it while I was on the phone. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed notes about my family emergency (dates, what happened, etc.) in case they called for more information. They didn't end up asking for documentation, but being prepared made me feel more confident. Also, make sure you continue certifying for benefits every two weeks even while the backdating is pending - you don't want to miss any current weeks while waiting for the past week to be resolved. Hope everything works out for you! The waiting is stressful but most legitimate backdating requests do get approved eventually.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation last year! I was laid off on a Friday and didn't file until the following Tuesday due to a death in the family. I was terrified I'd lose benefits, but EDD actually approved my backdating request without any issues. The key things that helped me: 1. I was honest and detailed in my explanation when requesting backdating 2. I filed as soon as I could after handling the emergency 3. I followed up with a phone call about a week later to confirm my request was being processed Your family emergency sounds like a totally valid reason for the delay - EDD understands that life happens. The fact that you're only a few days late (not weeks or months) also works in your favor. Don't beat yourself up about it, just focus on getting everything submitted correctly now. One tip: when you do your first certification in a couple weeks, double-check that your claim start date reflects the backdated date and not just when you filed. Sometimes there are glitches and it's easier to catch them early!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you have a AAA membership, they can sometimes help with DMV account issues at their offices. I had a similar problem where my license was tied to an old account I couldn't access, and the AAA rep was able to call the DMV directly and get it resolved in about 30 minutes. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone yourself! Not sure if they can help with this specific issue, but might be worth a shot if you're a member.

Just a heads up - I had this exact same issue and it turned out my license number was somehow duplicated in their system during a recent address change. The DMV rep told me this has been happening more frequently lately due to system updates they've been doing. When you call, specifically mention that you suspect a "duplicate license number assignment" - apparently using that exact phrase gets you transferred to a specialized team that deals with these technical glitches. Also, if you've moved or updated any info with the DMV in the past 6 months, definitely mention that too as it seems to be a common trigger for this bug. Hope this helps narrow down what might have caused it for you!

Hey Carmen! Just wanted to add one more thing that I don't think has been mentioned yet - make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months ready when you file online. The EDD application asks for detailed wage information from all your employers during that period, so having your pay stubs or tax documents handy will make the process much smoother. Also, since this is your first unemployment claim, you'll need to create an account on the EDD website. The system can be a bit slow, especially during peak hours, so be patient if it takes a while to load pages. I'd recommend filing early in the morning or later in the evening when there's less traffic. One last tip - after you submit your application, you'll get a confirmation number. Screenshot it or write it down somewhere safe! You'll need it if you ever have to call EDD about your claim (though hopefully you won't need to given how hard it is to reach them). You're asking all the right questions and everyone here has given you solid advice. The fact that you're being so thorough upfront shows you're going to handle this process really well. Good luck! 👍

Hey Carmen! I just wanted to jump in and add my experience as someone who went through a tech layoff situation last year. Everyone here is absolutely right about using October 4th as your last day worked - that's what EDD needs regardless of when your final paycheck covers through. One thing I learned that might help you: when you file your claim online, there's a section where you can upload supporting documents. I'd recommend uploading or attaching any layoff notification emails or documents from HR that clearly state your separation date. This creates a paper trail that can help prevent any confusion later if EDD has questions. Also, regarding job searching - since you're in tech, make sure you're familiar with the specific work search requirements. California requires you to make "reasonable efforts" to find work, and for professional roles like tech positions, that typically means 2-3 quality applications per week rather than just applying to anything and everything. Don't stress too much about the severance affecting your benefits - as others mentioned, lump sum severance typically doesn't impact your weekly benefit amount. Just be honest and thorough when reporting it during certification. You're being really smart by researching this thoroughly before filing. That puts you way ahead of people who just wing it and run into problems later. Best of luck with your claim and your job search! The tech market is challenging right now but there are still good opportunities out there, especially for experienced folks. 🚀