@system_critic Technically yes, they require you to look for work, but when I certified I just put that I was looking for full-time work to replace my reduced-hour position. They never questioned it or asked for details. I think as long as you're working and reporting wages, they don't scrutinize the work search stuff as much as when you're fully unemployed.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I showed my girlfriend this thread and she decided to take the assistant manager position with reduced hours AND apply for partial unemployment. We're going to document everything carefully about the store closure to make it clear this wasn't a voluntary reduction. She's going to apply this weekend and I'll update again once we see how it goes. Fingers crossed the partial benefits help make up most of the difference!

Just a suggestion - have your husband check that his identity verification through ID.me is complete. Sometimes claims get stuck in pending status if there are identity verification issues, even when you've received the Money Network card. The card issuance is automatic but the claim approval requires identity confirmation. If there's any issue there, it would explain the delay.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my husband's claim was finally approved! The letter came yesterday, almost exactly 4 weeks after he applied. The money was deposited to the Money Network card about 12 hours before we got the letter. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice and reassurance during this stressful time!

Another important thing: while you're trying to get through on the phone, make sure you're still certifying for benefits every two weeks on time. Even if your claim is pending, don't miss your certification dates. Many people focus so much on calling that they miss certification and that creates a whole new problem that can further delay payments.

Update for anyone still following: I called the technical support line that someone suggested above (1-833-978-2511) at exactly 8:00 AM this morning, went through the prompts, and after a 45-minute wait, I got through to a representative! They were able to see that my identity verification was flagged for a manual review, which was causing the pending status. The representative expedited the review, and they said my payments should be processed within 3-5 business days. For anyone else stuck in pending status - sometimes it's an identity verification issue that needs manual intervention. Keep trying the phone numbers early in the morning!

Thank you so much for this insider perspective! This makes me feel much better about filing right away. One quick follow-up question - when I report the severance on my certification, do I report it as \

You report it as wages for the week you receive it. There isn't a separate category specifically for severance. When completing your certification, in the section asking about income, include the gross (pre-tax) amount of your severance as wages for that specific week.\n\nAlso, make sure to keep documentation of exactly when the severance was paid to you (like a bank statement or pay stub) in case there are questions later. EDD sometimes audits these reports, especially for larger amounts.

To answer your specific questions: 1. No, there is no direct email option for EDD. You can only send secure messages through UI Online or use the Ask EDD form on their website. 2. About reapplying: After exhausting regular UI benefits, your husband must wait until his benefit year ends before filing a new claim. A benefit year is 12 months from the Sunday of the week he initially filed. 3. Eligibility for a new claim requires sufficient earnings in the base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing). He needs approximately $1,300 in his highest quarter to qualify. 4. If he worked during this benefit year and earned enough wages, he might qualify for a new claim after exhausting current benefits, even if his benefit year hasn't ended. This is called a "recomputation" and is worth investigating. I recommend having him check his UI Online account for his benefit year end date. It should be listed on the claim summary page.

I'm going through something similar right now. My payments are about to run out next month but my benefit year doesn't end until November! I've been looking EVERYWHERE for answers about what to do during that gap period. Something nobody mentioned yet - if your husband can't file a new claim right away, he should still certify for benefits every two weeks even after receiving his final payment. My friend's uncle's EDD rep told him this keeps his claim active in the system and shows he's still looking for work. Not sure if it helps with anything but that's what I'm planning to do... Also does anyone know if we're supposed to close our claim somehow after benefits run out or just leave it open?