UPDATE: I called EDD this morning and got confirmation that disaster assistance grants do NOT need to be reported when certifying. The representative said that disaster relief is considered emergency assistance, not income. Thanks everyone for your help! Just wanted to post this in case anyone else has the same question in the future.

One final note on this topic: while disaster grants aren't reportable for UI purposes, remember that some types of assistance might have implications elsewhere. For example, while FEMA grants aren't taxable income, some other forms of disaster assistance might have different rules. Always good to document everything you receive and check with a tax professional if you're unsure about the broader implications beyond your UI claim.

Update to my previous comment: If you've been certifying regularly and have no income to report, when your claim is finally approved, the payment should process relatively quickly (2-3 business days). Make sure you've set up your payment preference in UI Online (direct deposit or BofA debit card). Also, when your interview finally happens, the EDD representative may ask if you've been looking for work during this time. Make sure you can provide at least 3 job search activities per week. This is a requirement that many people overlook, but it's essential for maintaining eligibility.

Just wanted to update everyone - I FINALLY got my eligibility interview letter in the mail today! Interview is scheduled for next Tuesday. I've been documenting my job search activities all along (thankfully) and have all my evidence ready about the scheduling issue. Thank you all for the advice and support during this frustrating wait. Will update after the interview on how it goes!

My sister had a similar job doing wine demonstrations at Costco. She said make sure you know exactly when your certification period begins and ends! Like if you worked on Sunday but that's technically the first day of your next certification period, don't accidentally report it in the wrong week. EDD gets really picky about that stuff.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel so much better now. I'll definitely report my earnings accurately when I certify and keep detailed records of my work hours/pay. It's a relief to know that sporadic gig work won't terminate my claim completely. I appreciate all of you taking the time to explain how this works!

update????? did u get it fixed? im curious cuz i might have the same issue happening again with my new claim

Finally got it resolved! I used the Claimyr service someone recommended here and got through to EDD in about 15 minutes. The first rep couldn't help but transferred me to a specialist. They confirmed exactly what people here said - my old claim was still partially active in one of their systems even though it showed as closed in another. They had to manually disconnect the old claim and refresh my account. I was able to certify right after the call. Such a relief!

Is anybody 100% sure the payments go on the same card? My cousin got UI then SDI and swears she got a separate card for SDI. This was in 2024 though, maybe they changed the system? Just don't want OP to miss any payments looking for money on the wrong card...

Update: I want to thank everyone for the helpful advice! I called EDD this morning and confirmed what most of you said - I should continue certifying for the backdated UI weeks before June 15th, but not certify for any weeks after SDI started. They said the payments will all go to the same Money Network card, and my backdated UI should process within 10 days. The rep also mentioned I should apply for Paid Family Leave after my SDI pregnancy benefits end, which will give me additional time for baby bonding. I feel much less stressed now knowing what to do. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!