Yes, networking activities can count toward your work search requirements! When you certify, EDD gives a list of qualifying job search activities that includes: - Submitting job applications - Attending job interviews - Networking with professional contacts for job leads - Attending job fairs or workshops - Registering with employment agencies - Taking skills assessments or certification courses Just document those coffee meetings (date, person's name, company, what was discussed) same as you would job applications. Regarding your EDD claim processing: If it's been more than 14 days since filing and your claim still shows as pending, it might be worth trying to speak with a representative. Many people find success calling right when they open (8am) or trying the technical support line instead of the main line.

Another resource you should look into immediately is your local 211 service - they can connect you with emergency financial assistance programs in your area. Many counties have rapid rehousing funds specifically for people who've lost jobs unexpectedly. Also, if your startup was funded by VC money, check if they offered any employee assistance programs that might still be available even after layoff. For your medication, call your doctor's office and explain the situation - many have sample supplies or can help you apply for manufacturer patient assistance programs. Don't wait on this since your insurance ends soon. One more tip: start your job search documentation NOW even though you just filed. EDD can ask for proof of job search activities going back to your claim start date, so having everything tracked from day one will save you headaches later. Good luck - you're going to get through this!

One more thing to note - make sure you continue certifying every two weeks even if you're working part-time hours. As long as your claim is active and you're earning less than your weekly benefit amount, you should continue the certification process. This keeps your claim active and ensures you'll receive benefits if your hours drop further.

Hey Aria! I went through almost the exact same thing a few months ago when my retail hours got cut from 35 to about 20 per week. The pending status is totally normal for partial benefits - it usually takes 3-5 business days for them to calculate everything and switch it to "paid." One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of my hours and earnings each week, just in case they ever needed verification. Also, don't panic if it stays pending a bit longer than usual - sometimes they do random reviews on partial benefit claims, but it doesn't mean there's a problem with your claim. You're doing everything right by reporting honestly. The partial benefit amount might seem small, but like others mentioned, it keeps your claim active which is super important if your hours fluctuate. Hang in there - the restaurant industry is tough right now but things will get better!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out there was an issue with my ID verification - even though I completed ID.me successfully, it somehow didn't properly link to my EDD account. The rep was actually really helpful and reactivated the verification process on their end. She said I should receive instructions in my UI Online inbox within 48 hours and once I complete that, my disqualification should be removed within 5-7 business days. Thank you all for your advice! I've still submitted an appeal just in case (better safe than sorry), and I'm contacting my assembly member today too as backup. Will update again once everything is resolved.

So glad you got through and figured it out! The ID verification linking issues have been plaguing EDD for months now - you're definitely not alone in this. I had a similar problem where my ID.me verification completed successfully but somehow didn't sync with my claim. It's infuriating because there's no way for us to know this happened without speaking to someone directly. Your persistence with calling paid off! For anyone else reading this thread dealing with the same issue, Logan's experience shows it's worth filing that appeal as backup even when you think you've resolved the main issue. EDD's systems are unpredictable enough that having multiple safety nets is always smart.

I went thru something similar at a hospital last yr... they were short staffed and kept making me do heavy lifting even tho I had a doctors note for my herniated disk. my doctor told me to stop working completely and apply for disability but i was worried about $$$. wish i had listened bc i ended up making my injury WAY worse and now im on permanent disability. don't make my mistake!!! if ur doctor says u need time off for treatment LISTEN TO THEM not ur employer!!

Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! I'm going to follow your advice and apply for both UI and SDI. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss my work restrictions and treatment plan, so I'll get updated documentation. I'm feeling much more confident about navigating this process now. One last question - if my employer contests my UI claim (which they probably will), how long does that typically extend the process?

Quick update on what I included with my appeal form since you asked: I sent the form plus my final paystub, a letter from my employer confirming my last day of work, and a timeline I wrote out showing all the dates I'd certified and when I received the disqualification notice. The more documentation, the better! And yes - using Claimyr was a game-changer. I wasted so many hours getting busy signals and disconnections before finding them. The EDD rep I finally spoke with actually helped correct some info on my file that might have been causing the problem in the first place.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got disqualified last week and still haven't received the appeal form they promised would come in 3-5 days. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! For anyone else in this situation, I just want to emphasize what others have said about the 30-day deadline being FIRM. I almost made the mistake of just waiting around for their mail. Downloaded the DE 1000M form this morning after reading this thread and I'm getting it in certified mail tomorrow. One thing I learned from calling around - if you're dealing with ID.me verification issues at the same time as a disqualification (like I am), those are two separate processes that don't automatically talk to each other. So even if you complete ID.me successfully, you still need to file the appeal for the disqualification separately. Has anyone had success getting their case expedited due to financial hardship? I'm about to lose my apartment and wondering if there's any way to speed up the appeal timeline.