i waited 8 months to file my claim after being laid off and it was fine!! EDD says you have 18 months from ur last day of work to file a claim so ur still good!! just make sure u say exactly WHY u quit with all the details about the pumping situation because thats what matters most. they have to give u a fair chance to explain. good luck!!!!!

Remember that when you file, you'll need to report any income you've had since leaving that job. If you've done any freelance work or part-time jobs, even cash work, you need to report it. False reporting can lead to penalties and overpayment issues down the road. Also, once you start certifying (if approved), you'll need to list 3+ job contacts each week and be able to provide details if they audit your work search. This includes company name, position, date applied, contact method, and contact person if available. My final advice - keep extremely detailed records of everything from this point forward. Save screenshots of job applications, confirmation emails, and any correspondence with EDD. The system is often frustrating and documentation is your best protection.

@originalPoster The guidance document is on the EDD website under "Information for School Employees" - it's not very prominently displayed. If you search "EDD Reasonable Assurance" it should come up. One more thing - when you do reach a representative, ask them to check if your previous benefit year is causing any issues. Sometimes there's a glitch where the system thinks you're still in your previous benefit year even though it's been years.

I finally got my issue fixed! For anyone else with similar problems: 1. Called at 8:12am exactly (right after the initial rush) 2. Explained I was laid off from teaching position (permanent separation) 3. Rep transferred me to claims specialist who manually verified my wages 4. Had to submit layoff documentation by fax (yes, fax in 2025 🙄) 5. Took about 10 days for everything to process The key was getting to the right department - regular reps can't override the system for education employees.

my cousin had something like this happen and it was bcuz he didnt do enough job searches or something? did u make sure to list all ur work search activities when u certified???

Since you mentioned working part-time in January, that's almost certainly the trigger. When quarterly employer wage reports come in, the system automatically flags claims where there's any difference between what the employer reported and what you certified - even if it's just a small timing difference. The good news is that this is usually resolvable with a phone call to EDD. Once you speak with a representative, they'll likely release the hold if everything matches up. They might need to perform a quick eligibility interview, but that can often be done on the spot. Make sure you have records of your work dates and earnings available when you call.

UPDATE: I finally got through! Used the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above, and it worked exactly as described. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. Turns out there was a "stop payment alert" on my account because the system flagged a potential identity issue, even though I had completed ID.me verification! The rep was able to remove the flag and release my payments. She said without calling, this could have sat in the system for another 2-3 weeks waiting for manual review. All my waiting weeks switched to "paid" status within hours after the call. The money should hit my account in 24-48 hours. Such a relief! If you're stuck in pending like I was, definitely call. Don't just wait and hope it resolves itself.

I'm going through EXACTLY the same thing right now!!! Been calling and calling and calling - busy signals, disconnects, or the dreaded "we're experiencing high call volume" message. So frustrating!!!! Did anyone try the EDD Contact Center (different from the UI line)? It's 1-800-480-3287. I read somewhere that sometimes you can get help there too?? Desperate at this point... 😩

My cousin had this exact problem with his community college job!! He appealed and won but it was because he could prove his hours weren't guaranteed to be the same. Took forever tho and we had to loan him money for rent while waiting :/

While you're waiting for the appeal process, check if your husband qualifies for any emergency assistance programs. Some options: - CalFresh (food assistance) - you may qualify even with income slightly above the normal limits due to having reduced income - Local rental assistance programs (many counties have emergency funds) - Utility payment assistance programs (LIHEAP or similar) - Credit union emergency loans (often have better terms than payday loans) Also, has your husband checked if the university offers any summer grants or hardship funds for staff? Some institutions have emergency funds for employees that most people don't know about.