One more tip about the prescription situation - if you know the exact medication you need, use GoodRx.com to check prices without insurance. Sometimes it's surprisingly affordable (like $4-15 for generic meds) at certain pharmacies. You could potentially pay out of pocket for a month's supply while waiting for Medi-Cal approval if you can scrape together the money. Just need to find a community clinic doctor who can write the prescription first.

Just wanted to mention that in California, we have a law that pharmacies can provide emergency refills of certain medications (including many blood pressure meds) without a new prescription in urgent situations. It's usually a 3-5 day supply to bridge gaps in care. Explain your situation to the pharmacist where you last filled your prescription - they may be able to help with a small emergency supply while you get to a clinic appointment. Also, when you do get your Medi-Cal approved, remember it can be retroactive for up to 3 months from your application date, so keep all medical receipts during this period as you might get reimbursed.

u should also no that when u file ur claim u don't have to say u chose to be laid off... just say u were laid off due to lack of work or business necessity. that's technically true bc they didn't have work 4 u at ur current position/pay. don't overthink it man

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I've decided to take the layoff with severance since it seems like I should qualify for benefits - the pay cut is definitely substantial enough. I'll make sure to get everything in writing, be completely honest on my application, and properly report the severance payment. I'm feeling a lot better about the decision now. I'll update after I apply to let you know how it goes in case anyone else runs into this situation in the future.

Update: I tried clearing cookies, using incognito mode, and even a completely different browser but still having the same login issues. I tried calling the technical support line but of course couldn't get through. Starting to panic a bit since it's been 3 days since I certified and I have no way to check the status of my payment! Does anyone know if there's an email address I can contact about the account access problems?

If ur payment gets stuck on pending for more than 3 days definitely call!! Don't wait like I did thinking it would fix itself. Wasted 3 weeks before I got someone to manually push my payment through. Good luck!

also once u get the card make sure u setup the online account on moneynetwork website so u can see ur balance and stuff. easier than calling that automated phone system thing

Just a follow-up - if you urgently need the funds before your card arrives, you can contact Money Network customer service at 1-866-692-9374 and request expedited delivery of a replacement card. There's usually a fee for this service (around $10), but they can get it to you in 3 business days. You'd need to verify your identity with them first.

Update on your specific issue: For return-to-work date changes, if you're seeing "pending eligibility" on UI Online, that's actually a good sign. It means the system registered your change but needs manual approval. Once you get through to EDD (however you manage it), ask them to look specifically at your "return-to-work date extension request" and the "pending eligibility week" associated with it. Use those exact terms and they'll know exactly what screen to look at. They'll need to remove a flag in their system, and payments typically process within 24-48 hours after that flag is removed. They can also expedite it if you explain your rent situation.

Did you get through yet? Just checking in because I know how stressful this can be when rent is due soon. If you're still having trouble, there's also the option of contacting your state assembly member's office. They have EDD liaisons who can sometimes help move things along. Worth trying if you're still stuck by tomorrow.