Update: I spoke with an EDD rep today (finally!) and confirmed there are no extensions available. However, they suggested applying for CalFresh which I did online and might qualify for about $280/month in food assistance. Not enough to cover rent but at least I won't starve while job hunting. The rep also mentioned that any new claim would require earnings in the last 18 months that weren't used on my current claim, so that won't work for me either. Guess I'll be hitting the job search even harder now. Thanks everyone for the advice and support.

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted my benefits in December after being laid off from my marketing job. The job market is absolutely brutal right now, especially in tech-adjacent fields. I've been surviving on savings and gig work, but it's getting tight. One thing that's helped me is joining local job seeker meetups and networking groups. Sometimes they share leads that aren't posted online yet. Also, don't overlook temp agencies - I got a few short-term assignments that at least brought in some income while I keep searching for something permanent. The CalFresh suggestion is solid - I qualified for about $250/month which definitely helps with groceries. Also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs. Mine had a one-time payment program that bought me an extra month. Stay strong - this job market can't last forever, and your tech support experience should be valuable once things pick up. We're all in this together.

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation sounds incredibly stressful - that shock of seeing the "all benefits payable" message when you're expecting your benefits to continue must have been devastating, especially with such high rent to cover. After reading through all the helpful responses, it's become clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. I had no idea that the 26 weeks wasn't guaranteed for everyone until reading this thread - it really seems like EDD should explain this more transparently upfront instead of letting people assume they'll get the full duration. Since you mentioned you're in accounting, I wanted to add a few suggestions that might help during this difficult gap period: 1. Reach out to seasonal tax preparation companies like Jackson Hewitt or Liberty Tax - they're gearing up for tax season and often hire experienced professionals for temporary positions 2. Check with local credit unions about emergency hardship loans - some have specific programs for unemployed professionals that offer better terms than traditional lenders 3. Consider posting your bookkeeping services on Thumbtack or TaskRabbit - many small business owners need help with year-end financial organization and are willing to pay well for expertise 4. Look into whether your former employer has any alumni networks or referral programs that might lead to opportunities Also, I'd definitely encourage having that conversation with your landlord soon. Many property managers have seen this situation before and may be willing to work out a temporary payment plan, especially if you can demonstrate you're actively pursuing income opportunities. Your accounting background is definitely valuable, and with tax season approaching, the timing might actually work in your favor for finding temporary work. This community seems incredibly supportive - you're in good hands here for ongoing advice and encouragement!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation sounds absolutely heartbreaking - the shock of discovering your benefits are exhausted when you still have months left in your benefit year must have been devastating, especially with that $2,600 rent looming. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, it's clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. Like so many others here, I had no idea that the 26 weeks wasn't automatic for everyone - it's really frustrating that EDD doesn't make this clearer upfront instead of letting people assume they'll receive the full duration. Since you mentioned you're in accounting, I wanted to add a few specific suggestions that might help bridge this difficult gap until October: 1. Definitely contact Robert Half, Accountemps, and similar accounting staffing agencies immediately - with tax season approaching, they're often scrambling to fill urgent placements for experienced professionals 2. Reach out to local CPA firms about contract work for year-end closes and tax preparation - many are willing to bring on temporary help for specific projects 3. Check with your county's Workforce Development Board - they sometimes have emergency financial assistance specifically for professionals who've exhausted UI benefits 4. Consider offering freelance bookkeeping services to small businesses through platforms like Upwork or local networking groups - your experience could translate well to flexible contract work Also, please don't put off that conversation with your landlord. Being upfront about your situation and showing that you're actively pursuing solutions is usually received much better than waiting until you're behind on payments. Your accounting skills are definitely valuable and in demand, especially heading into tax season. This community has shown incredible knowledge and support - you're in the right place for ongoing guidance during this challenging time. Hang in there!

Another option is to check any old paperwork or mail you received from EDD when you first applied - your account number should be printed on award letters, determination notices, or other official correspondence. If you can't find any paperwork, you can also try logging into UI Online with your SSN and see if it automatically pulls up your account, or use the "Forgot Account Number" feature on the login page.

If you're still having trouble after trying the online portal, another tip is to check if you have the EDD mobile app installed on your phone. Sometimes the app stores your account info even if you can't remember it. Also, if you've moved recently, make sure to update your address with EDD first before trying to access your account, as mismatched addresses can cause login issues. The customer service lines are usually less busy early in the morning (around 8 AM) if you need to call.

Congratulations Maya! 🎉 This is such great news! I just went through this exact same process about 2 months ago, so I totally get the confusion about what to do next. Everyone here has already given you amazing advice, but I wanted to share one thing that really helped me feel more confident - the night before my first certification after starting work, I wrote down all my key info on a piece of paper: start date, hourly rate, total hours worked each day, and calculated my gross daily earnings. Having it all written out made the certification process super smooth and stress-free. Also, something that surprised me was how quickly the whole thing resolved once I started reporting work consistently. I thought it would be this long, complicated process, but EDD actually handled everything pretty efficiently once I was reporting my earnings properly. You're clearly being really thoughtful about doing everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. The most important thing is just that honest reporting during your regular Sunday certifications - no special hoops to jump through beyond that! Wishing you all the best with your new position! It feels so good to be back to work after a long job search. You've got this! 😊

Congratulations on the new job, Maya! 🎉 That's fantastic news after 4 months of searching! I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely on the right track. Just report everything honestly during your regular Sunday certification and you'll be fine. One small thing I learned when I went through this last spring: if your new employer uses a payroll company (like ADP or Paychex), your first paycheck might be delayed by a week or two while they get everything set up. Don't let that stress you out - just report the hours you actually worked and estimate the earnings based on what you agreed to when you got hired. EDD understands that first paychecks can be delayed. Also, save yourself some stress and maybe set a phone reminder for Saturday evening to gather all your work info before Sunday certification. I used to always scramble Sunday morning trying to remember exactly how many hours I worked each day! You're going to do great with both the job and the reporting process. This community has given you all the info you need - just stay honest and consistent, and everything will work out perfectly. Best of luck with your new position! 😊

I'm currently in my second week of unemployment after getting laid off from my tech job, and I was SO confused when I saw that "waiting period served" status for my first week with no payment. I actually called my mom panicking thinking I'd done something wrong with my application! This thread has been incredibly reassuring - knowing that literally everyone goes through this makes me feel so much better. It's honestly pretty shocking that EDD doesn't explain this anywhere obvious during the filing process. I spent like 2 hours digging through their website trying to figure out if I needed to resubmit something or contact them. A simple popup or notification during certification saying "your first week is an unpaid waiting period required by state law" would save so many people from this confusion. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community is way more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found!

This whole discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim after being let go from my marketing job last week, and I had absolutely no idea about this waiting period policy. Reading through everyone's experiences here has definitely saved me from what would have been a lot of unnecessary panic and confusion. It's honestly mind-blowing that EDD doesn't clearly explain this during the application process - like so many others have mentioned, a simple disclaimer would prevent so much stress for people who are already dealing with the anxiety of job loss. I really appreciate how this community comes together to help each other understand these confusing policies. Now I can go into my application knowing exactly what to expect for that first week and can budget accordingly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!