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UPDATE: I finally got through! I tried the Tele-Cert system like @profile2 suggested but it kept saying my information wasn't in the system (??). Then I tried logging in to UI Online at 5:30am this morning and it worked! The site was super slow but I managed to complete my certification before it crashed again. Thanks everyone for your help. For anyone else having this problem, definitely try early morning hours when traffic is lower. Now fingers crossed the payment comes through before my rent is due...
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when my money network card had issues I just gave up and switched to direct deposit lol. way easier. go to your ui online account and change payment preference. btw ur benefit amount is on ur ui online homepage, says something like "claim balance" - when that hits zero ur done until u qualify for a new claim by working again
Since you mentioned having trouble finding work in marketing, you might want to look into the EDD's job services programs while you still have some benefits left. California Training Benefits (CTB) can sometimes extend your eligibility period if you enroll in approved training. Also, check out the America's Job Center of California (AJCC) for free career counseling and job search assistance. They sometimes know about industry-specific programs that can help marketing professionals find new positions or develop additional skills.
I had no idea about these programs! I'll definitely look into the California Training Benefits option - maybe I can use this opportunity to expand my digital marketing skills while I continue searching. Thanks for this valuable tip!
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Quick question - are you reporting your TV work correctly? Make sure you're listing the production company as employer, not the network or studio. I made that mistake once and had to go back and fix everything which was a nightmare. Also be super careful with the dates - they need to match your pay stubs exactly or you could get flagged for an eligibility interview.
Yes, I'm listing the actual production company, and I've got all my start/end dates from my paystubs. That's good advice though - I can see how mixing that up would cause major headaches.
Once you finish catching up on all those certifications, I recommend continuing to certify every two weeks even during periods when you're working. You'll still report your earnings and get $0 for those weeks, but it keeps your claim active and prevents this backlog situation from happening again when your next job ends. Many entertainment industry workers do this to avoid the exact situation you're in now.
That's brilliant advice - I had no idea you could do that! So even during future jobs, just keep certifying and reporting income? That would save so much hassle between gigs. Will definitely start doing this from now on.
Exactly. Just keep certifying every two weeks, report your earnings truthfully, and you'll receive $0 during working periods but maintain an active claim. Then when work ends, you'll already be in the system's regular certification cycle and benefits can resume immediately without the backlog catch-up. It's a common practice for those of us with intermittent work schedules.
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AstroAdventurer
anyone else notice that money hits account faster if u have direct deposit instead of the money network card? switched to direct deposit and now my funds are available like 24hrs sooner
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Javier Mendoza
•This is an excellent point. Direct deposit typically processes 1-2 days faster than Money Network card transfers. The Money Network system requires an additional processing step as funds have to transfer from EDD to Money Network before becoming available on your card. With direct deposit, once EDD releases the payment, it goes straight to your bank account, often within 24-48 hours after showing "paid" status. I always recommend direct deposit for faster access to benefits when possible.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked and my status changed back to PAID about an hour ago. Thank you all for talking me off the ledge. Next time I won't panic over status changes (or maybe I'll just certify at a normal hour like a regular person 😅). For anyone finding this thread later with the same issue - just wait it out, the system does weird things overnight but it sorts itself out!
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Javier Mendoza
•Glad to hear it resolved as expected! This is why understanding the EDD processing cycles can help reduce stress during the unemployment process. For future reference, the optimal time to certify is actually Sunday morning between 6am-10am. The system tends to have fewer glitches during those hours, and your certification still gets processed in the Sunday batch.
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