One more thing - make sure you report you were looking for work during this period EVEN THOUGH you had this short gig. Since it's temporary, you're still available for full-time employment and should be continuing your work search efforts. I got tripped up on this and almost lost benefits because I didn't report my work search activities during a week I had a short contract job.

OMG the EDD system is THE WORST for self-employed and contract workers!! I had to deal with this for MONTHS during the pandemic. Sometimes I think they intentionally make it confusing so they can later say you did it wrong and make you pay everything back. It's like they don't understand that not everyone has a simple hourly job with regular paychecks!!

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... 😩

when my husban card expired we couldn't do transfers online at all we had to wait for new card. so frustrating!!! but my neighbor said she could do it fine so maybe it depends on how ur account is setup?? wish they would make it more clear

For anyone else reading this with an active EDD card that hasn't expired yet: go set up your Money Network account with a username and password NOW, not just using your card details. This will save you from being locked out when your card eventually expires. Also, consider setting up direct deposit to your bank account rather than keeping large amounts on the EDD card - it's much more convenient and avoids exactly this kind of situation.

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.