i wonder if they wer suposed to give u unepployment pamflet too when they fired u. my company always gives them out when people leave. might b another violation??

One more thing to consider - while you're fighting for your final paycheck, make sure you're diligent about your EDD claim requirements. Remember to: 1. Complete your bi-weekly certifications on time 2. Register for CalJOBS if required 3. Keep records of your work search activities 4. Be available for the phone interview Missing any of these steps could delay your benefits. I've seen people get so focused on wage claims that they miss certification deadlines and create new problems for themselves.

I need to caution about this suggestion. SDI (State Disability Insurance) requires medical certification of a condition that prevents you from performing your regular or customary work. It's not meant as a replacement when UI benefits run out, and applying for it without a legitimate qualifying condition could potentially be considered fraud. Additionally, there's a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and the application process itself can take time for medical verification.

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and 1) called the new company who agreed to start me May 13th instead of the 20th (one week earlier), and 2) finally got through to EDD after using the Claimyr service. The EDD rep confirmed there's no extension available for my situation BUT suggested I apply for CalFresh immediately which could help with groceries for the gap period. She also mentioned I should double-check with my county's General Assistance program which sometimes provides very short-term emergency help. \n\nStill going to be tight financially but cutting one week off the gap helps a lot! Thanks everyone for your suggestions - this community has been so helpful during this stressful unemployment journey!

One more thing - when your sister certifies for benefits, she needs to report any income she receives, including if the employer eventually pays those bounced checks. But she should definitely file now rather than waiting to see if they pay. The EDD will establish what's called a "last day worked" which will be important for determining eligibility. If the employer contests the claim, she'll have an opportunity to explain the situation during the phone interview.

Yes, that's exactly what she should explain. Just be very clear about the timeline: when paychecks bounced, last day actually worked, when the office was found locked, last communication from management, etc. The EDD interviewer will understand this situation - it happens more often than you'd think. They just need to establish that she didn't quit voluntarily and is available for full-time work.

After reviewing your situation, I think you have a good chance on appeal if you focus on the housing habitability issues. California recognizes uninhabitable living conditions as potential good cause for leaving employment. Document everything about your previous housing: maintenance requests, photos of issues, police reports about the neighbor, communication with landlord. For your current job situation, you might qualify for partial benefits due to reduced earnings, but that's contingent on the appeal for your separation being approved first. The certification email followed by disqualification happens because the system sends automatic certification notices regardless of claim status. Keep certifying though - if your appeal is successful, they'll pay those weeks. Good luck!

can someone please clarify what counts as 'good cause' for quiting?? i always thought u basically had to have proof ur employer was breaking the law or something. does housing really count?? im so confused about edd rules sometimes!!

Update for anyone dealing with access code issues: EDD has actually created a new dedicated phone line specifically for UI Online access problems as of February 2025. The number is 1-866-401-2849 and they're open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. They can help with access codes, password resets, and account recovery. I just learned about this from an EDD representative I spoke to last week, and it seems to be less overwhelmed than the main line. Might be worth a try!

i had a friend who went thru this last month and she said what worked was calling EXACTLY at 8:01am not 8:00 because everyone tries right at opening. also she said try the 2511 number which sometimes has different people answering