The waiting period after an eligibility interview is definitely nerve-wracking! I went through this same process about 6 months ago and remember that anxious feeling all too well. In my case, it took exactly 6 days from interview to decision. What helped me stay sane during the wait was setting specific times to check my UI Online account (like once in the morning and once in the evening) instead of constantly refreshing throughout the day. One thing that might ease your mind - the fact that your interviewer was nice and professional is actually a good sign. In my experience, if there were major red flags with your case, the tone would probably be different. The tech startup layoff sounds pretty straightforward, especially if you have documentation about the company restructuring. Keep certifying for benefits if you're in that cycle already, and definitely keep doing your work search activities during this waiting period. The backpay will cover any weeks you were eligible for once approved. Hang in there - you're almost through the hardest part!

Just wanted to add my experience to help others going through this same anxiety! I had my eligibility interview about 2 months ago and got approved in 5 days. Like others mentioned, it was a straightforward layoff situation (company downsizing). One thing that really helped me during the wait was preparing for what to do AFTER approval - like making sure my direct deposit info was correct, understanding the certification schedule, and having my work search log ready to go. It gave me something productive to focus on instead of just obsessing over when I'd hear back. Also, if anyone is worried about rent/bills during this waiting period, some utility companies and landlords are understanding about unemployment situations if you explain what's happening. I called my electric company and they put me on a payment plan while I waited for benefits to start. Don't be afraid to reach out for help - most people understand that EDD processing times are out of your control. Hang in there everyone - the waiting is the worst part but once you get through it, things get much more manageable!

Great advice from everyone here! I went through this exact same confusion when I transitioned off unemployment last year. One thing I'll add is to make sure you keep all your pay stubs and work records organized - EDD may ask for documentation later to verify the earnings you reported. Also, if your job has an irregular schedule or varying hours, consider setting up a simple calendar or note system to track exactly which days you worked each week. This becomes super important if you ever need to appeal an overpayment notice or if EDD audits your claim. The "report when you earn it, not when you're paid" rule applies to ALL types of work - freelance, contract, part-time, full-time, etc. Congrats on the new job and best of luck with the transition!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're transitioning from unemployment to work, make sure to continue certifying for benefits even during weeks when your earnings might disqualify you from receiving a payment. Stopping your certifications entirely can close your claim, and if your hours get reduced later or you lose the job, you'd have to file a whole new claim instead of just resuming your existing one. I learned this the hard way when my "permanent" job turned out to be temporary! Keep that claim active by certifying honestly about your work and earnings, even if you don't receive benefits for those weeks.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same worry! I've been collecting UI for about 7 months and have a money market account that earned around $20 total in interest. Like many of you, I was initially confused because the EDD system can be so unclear about what exactly needs to be reported. After reading through all these responses and doing my own research, I'm now confident that we only need to report income from actual work when certifying - not passive investment income like interest or dividends. The certification form is pretty specific about asking for work-related income. However, I do want to emphasize what others have mentioned - both your UI benefits AND any investment income still need to be reported on your tax returns, just not during the biweekly EDD certification process. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't make this distinction clearer, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where we can help each other navigate these confusing situations. Thanks OP for asking this question - I'm sure it's helped a lot of people who were silently worrying about the same thing!

I've been lurking on this community for a while but finally decided to create an account because this exact question has been stressing me out for weeks! I've been on unemployment for about 5 months and have a small CD (certificate of deposit) that matured last month and earned about $45 in interest. I was literally having nightmares about accidentally committing fraud because I wasn't sure if I needed to report it during certification. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - the distinction between "work income" (which you report to EDD) and "passive investment income" (which you only report on taxes) finally makes sense. I went back and re-read my certification questions and you're all absolutely right - they specifically ask about work and earnings from work, not investment returns. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to research and share their experiences, especially those who called their banks to check actual amounts or clarified the EDD requirements. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - navigating unemployment is stressful enough without having to worry about accidentally breaking rules that aren't clearly explained. I feel like I can finally sleep better knowing I've been doing my certifications correctly!

I've been lurking in this community for a while but had to create an account to share my experience with this Money Network app nightmare. I went through the EXACT same freezing issue about 2 months ago and it nearly drove me insane! What finally worked for me was a combo of several suggestions I've seen here: First, I set up my account completely through the website on my laptop (thanks to whoever mentioned that - game changer!). Then I made sure to use WiFi instead of cellular data when trying the app. But here's the weird part that I haven't seen mentioned yet - I had to turn off my phone's auto-brightness and set it to manual at about 75% brightness. Apparently some phones have display settings that can interfere with the app's verification process. I know it sounds crazy but after I did that, plus waiting about 15 seconds before hitting continue like someone else suggested, it worked perfectly. The whole ordeal took me about 3 weeks to figure out but now the app runs smoothly. Hang in there everyone - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's shared their solutions here! I've been struggling with this same Money Network app freezing issue for over a week now and was getting desperate. Reading through all these different approaches gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved. I'm going to try the website setup first approach that Theodore mentioned, combined with the WiFi connection and waiting 15 seconds before hitting continue. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely call their customer service number that Keisha provided. It's really frustrating that such a basic app has so many technical issues, especially when people are depending on it to access their unemployment benefits. But seeing how many people have eventually gotten it working makes me feel more optimistic. Will update if I find success with any of these methods!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help since I recently went through a similar situation. When my UI benefits were ending, I discovered that many staffing agencies have "rapid placement" programs specifically designed for people whose unemployment is running out. These agencies prioritize quick placements and often have relationships with employers who need immediate help with project management, administrative coordination, and client services - all skills that translate perfectly from event management. What made this particularly valuable was that many of these staffing agencies also offer "skills bridging" services where they help you identify how your event management experience applies to different industries. They coached me on how to present vendor coordination as supply chain management, client relations as account management, and timeline oversight as project management during interviews. I also wanted to mention that some community organizations and chambers of commerce host "hidden job market" networking events specifically for career changers. These events connect job seekers with employers who have openings they haven't posted publicly yet. I found several opportunities through these events that never appeared on job boards. One last tip - don't forget to check if any of your event industry contacts have moved to corporate roles. I reached out to former clients and vendors who had transitioned to other industries, and several were able to refer me for positions at their new companies. Sometimes your existing network is the best resource, even when changing career paths. The transition is definitely stressful, but there are so many more resources and pathways than I initially realized. This thread has been incredibly helpful in showing all the different options available. Good luck with your search!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped me when I was facing the same situation last year. When my UI benefits were ending, I discovered that some companies actually have "returnship" programs specifically designed for people who've been out of work for extended periods - these are like internships but for experienced professionals transitioning back into the workforce. What made these programs particularly valuable was that they often lead to full-time offers and they understand that participants might be coming off unemployment benefits, so they're designed to move quickly through the hiring process. I found several through professional associations in adjacent industries to events - like the American Marketing Association and Project Management Institute - that had member companies offering these programs. I also wanted to mention something that hasn't been covered yet: some states have "Self-Employment Assistance" programs where you can continue receiving partial UI benefits while starting your own business. California has had this program on and off, and it might be worth asking EDD if it's currently available. As an event manager, you probably have the skills to do freelance event consulting or project management while building up to something bigger. One more resource - if you have any professional liability or business insurance from your event management work, check if it includes "business interruption" coverage that might provide some financial assistance during career transitions. Mine had a small benefit I didn't know about that helped with professional development costs during my job search. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how many safety nets exist when you know where to look. The anxiety about benefits ending is so real, but seeing all these resources gives me hope that others in similar situations can find pathways forward too!