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Yes, they are different for EDD purposes. Being laid off (reduction in workforce, position elimination, etc.) generally qualifies you for benefits without issue. Being fired can be more complicated - if it's for misconduct, benefits might be denied, but if it's for performance reasons or not being the right fit, you might still qualify. The original poster mentioned being laid off, which is why consistency in the termination paperwork is important.
Update: I talked to my former supervisor about my concerns. She explained that the form is just standard HR documentation they need to close out my file and doesn't get sent to EDD. I reviewed it carefully and made sure nothing contradicted my layoff status. Everything matched my layoff letter, so I felt comfortable signing it. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! My benefits are still coming through normally.
Question for anyone who knows - is this the same for professional licenses like real estate? My license expired and I didn't complete the continuing ed in time. Different situation I know, but wondering if anyone has experience with that.
That's actually a different situation. Not completing required continuing education could be considered negligence or a willful failure to maintain your license. The key distinction in OP's case is that they genuinely attempted to pass the exam but couldn't, versus choosing not to complete required education. Your situation might be viewed as misconduct unless there were extenuating circumstances that prevented you from completing the CE requirements.
UPDATE: Just got the determination letter - I was approved! The letter specifically mentioned that my inability to pass the credential exam despite genuine efforts doesn't constitute misconduct. Thank you everyone for your help and support through this stressful time!
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.
Trying to reach EDD right now is IMPOSSIBLE. I've been trying for TWO WEEKS to get someone on the phone about my claim that's been pending forever. Keep getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then they hang up! How is anyone supposed to get help?? I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real EDD agent in about 45 minutes. You might want to check it out at claimyr.com when you need to talk to someone about your claim. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Especially since your situation is complicated with quitting and the hostile work stuff, you'll probably need to actually speak to someone at some point. Just my two cents from someone stuck in EDD hell right now.
Thanks for the tip! I was wondering how impossible it would be to get through. Has your pending issue been resolved since you got through to someone?
I've been helping people with EDD claims for years, and I want to emphasize something important: the difference between regular wage claims and EDD qualification comes down to DOCUMENTATION. For your EDD interview, prepare a clear timeline showing: 1. When the hostile behavior began 2. Specific incidents with dates 3. All attempts to resolve the issue internally 4. How it affected your health/wellbeing (get a doctor's note if possible) 5. Why continuing to work was not feasible For the wage theft issue (30 min deductions), calculate EXACTLY how much you're owed and gather: - Pay stubs - Time records if you have them - Employee handbook sections about breaks - Any communications about the policy File the wage claim with DLSE here: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/HowToFileWageClaim.htm Final tip: In your EDD interview, focus on how the environment affected your HEALTH and SAFETY, not just that it was unpleasant or unfair.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you. Should I submit the wage theft documentation with my EDD claim as well, or keep those processes completely separate? I'm worried about making my EDD claim too complicated.
Keep them completely separate. The EDD claim is specifically about why you had good cause to quit (hostile environment, retaliation). The wage theft is a completely different process through DLSE. Mixing them could actually confuse your EDD claim. However, you CAN mention in your EDD interview that one of the forms of retaliation/hostile environment was the illegal wage practice, and that you're pursuing that separately with DLSE. This shows you're being proactive and responsible, which looks good to EDD adjudicators.
Aria Washington
Just wanted to share that my husband had an interview scheduled at 10AM that didn't happen until 2:30PM THE NEXT DAY! EDD is running incredibly behind on everything. But good news is he got approved despite the delay. Just keep your phone nearby and answer everything!
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ApolloJackson
•That makes me feel a lot better, thanks! I'll just keep waiting and hope they call soon.
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Rajiv Kumar
Quick update question: It's been about 24 hours since your original post - have you received any calls or UI Online account updates yet?
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ApolloJackson
•They just called me 30 minutes ago! The interviewer was actually really nice and said they're running 2 days behind schedule. The interview went well - they asked about my doctor's note and the timeline of events with my employer. She said I should receive a determination in 7-10 days, but everything sounded positive. Thanks everyone for the support and advice!
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Isabella Russo
•thats awesome!! told ya theyd call eventually lol. EDD always runs late but at least u got ur interview done!
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