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My cousin works at Warner Bros (not an actor) and he said they're already starting to schedule productions again, so from the studios' perspective the strike is definitely over. That might help your case with EDD since it shows the industry is returning to work. Just my 2 cents.
but we still can't work until after the vote!! thats the whole problem!!!
Just wanted to follow up - I checked with my actor friends and they said the key was answering "No" to the question "Are you currently on strike?" and "Yes" to "Are you able and available to accept work?" Then in the additional information section, they explained that the SAG-AFTRA strike has been called off by leadership but they haven't been called back to work yet. All of them got their claims approved within 3-5 days. Hope this helps!
This is exactly the specific info I needed! Thank you so much for checking. I'm going to file right now and answer exactly as you suggested. Fingers crossed it goes through quickly!
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To answer your follow-up question - yes, go ahead and certify for those uncertified weeks now. When you do, you'll enter your employment information and earnings for each week. This tells EDD you returned to work. You won't get in trouble for the delay - people sometimes forget to do this final step. What's important is that you didn't continue collecting benefits after starting work. Just make sure you accurately report your first day of work and earnings when you certify.
I just finished certifying for those weeks and reported my new job. The system shows my claim is now inactive. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help with this.
anyone know if this applies to part time work too? i just got a part time job but still eligible for some benefits
Different situation entirely. With part-time work, you need to continue certifying and report all earnings. EDD will calculate if you're eligible for partial benefits. Never stop certifying if you're working part-time and think you might still qualify for some benefits. Just report your hours and earnings accurately each certification period.
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FYI for anyone else who finds this thread - I had this same situation and my funds transferred fine, but my automatic bill payments had to be set up again with the new card. The card number changes, so anything on autopay needs to be updated after you activate the new card.
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THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! This is EXACTLY what's wrong with California's benefit programs. You pay into SDI with every paycheck but when you actually NEED it they find some technicality to deny you! Then you can't get UI either because you're injured. It's a TRAP designed to keep people from getting the benefits they deserve. I bet if you called 50 times you still wouldn't get a straight answer from anyone at EDD about what you qualify for!
ya the whole system is messed up fr. my bro was in the same boat last year, ended up having to borrow $ from family til he could work again
Just wanted to follow up with some additional information. Since your situation is somewhat unique, you might want to look into these options: 1. State Disability Insurance with Alternate Base Period (ask specifically about this) 2. County General Assistance/Relief programs 3. CalFresh as others have mentioned 4. Emergency Rental Assistance if available in your county 5. Short-term loans through credit unions (better terms than payday loans) The key is to get through to SDI first to fully understand why you were denied and what alternatives exist. If after using the Claimyr service to reach a representative you find there are no SDI options, then move quickly to apply for the county assistance programs. They can take time to process. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much for this comprehensive list! This gives me a clear plan of action. I'll start with trying to reach SDI tomorrow and then work through the other options. I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!
Sophia Russo
LOL at how EDD reps just expect us to understand their weird code language! "Your claim starts the 14th" apparently means "Yes you're approved" but heaven forbid they just SAY THAT when you ask directly! 🤦♀️
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Amara Torres
•Exactly! Would have saved me so much stress if she'd just said "Yes, you're approved" instead of repeating the date like I was supposed to understand what that meant!
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Olivia Van-Cleve
Since you mentioned you worked in tech, just a heads-up to prepare for the possibility of an eligibility interview. They sometimes schedule these for people in tech/professional fields to verify you were laid off and didn't quit or get fired for misconduct. Make sure you have your termination letter or any documentation showing it was a layoff. Most likely everything will go smoothly since they've already approved your claim, but having documentation ready will help if they do contact you for an interview.
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Amara Torres
•Thanks for the warning! I have my official termination letter that clearly states it was a reduction in force. I'll keep that handy just in case they want to verify.
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