I had my eligibility interview about 3 months ago after being fired for attendance issues - very similar to your situation! The most important thing I learned is that EDD distinguishes between being fired for "misconduct" versus being fired for other reasons. If your tardiness was due to circumstances beyond your reasonable control (like constantly changing schedules), that's NOT considered misconduct. During my interview, I made sure to emphasize how my employer would change schedules with little to no notice, making it nearly impossible to arrange childcare and transportation consistently. The interviewer asked about 6 questions total and the whole call was maybe 15 minutes. I mentioned I had text messages documenting the schedule changes and they seemed to take that seriously. Got approved about a week later! Just remember to stay focused on how the unpredictable scheduling created impossible working conditions rather than accepting full blame for the tardiness. Having those texts with your manager will definitely help your case. The interview really isn't as intimidating as you think - just be honest and explain how the circumstances were out of your control. You've got this!

I just wanted to add something that really helped me during my eligibility interview - practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand! I know it sounds silly, but I actually rehearsed how I would describe the schedule change issues and it made me so much more confident during the actual call. When you're nervous, it's easy to ramble or forget key points, but if you've practiced your main talking points, you'll sound much clearer and more credible. Also, keep a glass of water nearby during the interview - your mouth can get really dry when you're anxious! From everything I've read here, it sounds like you have a really strong case with all that documentation of the schedule changes. The fact that your manager kept changing your schedule without adequate notice is exactly the kind of circumstance that EDD considers beyond your reasonable control. You're going to do amazing on Thursday!

I went through this exact same thing when my hours got drastically reduced at my warehouse job! You definitely need to include ALL employers from the past 18 months - it's actually required and will likely help your husband's benefit amount since EDD uses your highest earning quarter to calculate weekly benefits. I was nervous about it too, but the application walks you through each employer section pretty clearly. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure his current employer reports this as a "lack of work" layoff, not voluntary separation. My supervisor had to clarify this with HR when EDD called to verify. Also, when he starts certifying for benefits every two weeks, he'll need to report any hours worked if they do call him back temporarily. The partial unemployment system is actually pretty common in industries with fluctuating work. Don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect - they verify everything anyway, so just be honest and thorough!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My employer reduced my hours to almost nothing for the past month and told me to file for unemployment. I was also confused about listing previous employers, but after reading all these responses, I feel much more confident. One thing I learned from my experience is to make sure you have your Social Security card handy when filling out the application - they ask for it to verify your identity. Also, if your husband has any pay stubs from his previous employer, keep those accessible too since the application asks for specific wage information by quarter. The whole process is definitely intimidating at first, but it sounds like you're doing everything right by gathering all the employment info upfront. Wishing you both the best with getting through this temporary rough patch!

I went through this exact situation 8 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline and tackling multiple approaches simultaneously since you're working against that 10-day deadline. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1) Download and start filling out the WG-007 form from the CA courts website immediately as your safety net, 2) Call your assemblyman's office first thing Monday (Connor's advice about this is spot-on - they got me connected within 48 hours), 3) Look up the DE 1446W waiver form while you're waiting for callbacks. The key is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Even if you think you might get the waiver or payment plan, having that WG-007 completed and ready to file gives you peace of mind. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers, etc. This whole process taught me that EDD's left hand doesn't always know what the right hand is doing, so having a paper trail saved me multiple times. You've got this - the community here gave you excellent advice and you still have 7 days to work with!

Just wanted to add another resource that might help - if you're a union member, many unions have legal aid services that can help with wage garnishment issues for free. I used my teacher's union legal services when I got hit with a similar situation last year. Even if you're not currently working in a union job, if you were ever a member they sometimes still provide assistance for unemployment-related issues. Also, some credit unions and community banks offer free financial counseling services that include help with debt negotiation and understanding legal documents like the WG-007. It's worth checking if you have any of these memberships that could provide additional support while you're working through all these other options everyone mentioned!

This is so frustrating but unfortunately very common! I had the exact same experience - my online account showed nothing while the mailed denial letter was sitting in my mailbox for days. What I learned after fighting with EDD for months is that their notification system is basically broken. The mail is considered the "official" notice and your online account is just supposed to be a convenience feature, but it fails constantly. For your appeal, definitely file ASAP since you're already eating into your 30-day window. The appeal clock starts ticking from the date on the letter, not when you received it. I'd also recommend calling your local assembly member's office - they have EDD liaisons who can sometimes help expedite things or at least get you answers faster than calling EDD directly. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your online account showing no denial notice, keep the envelope with the postmark, and note the dates. This kind of system failure happens so often that the appeals judges are familiar with it, and having proof that EDD's own system failed to notify you properly can help your case.

This exact situation happened to me in February! My UI Online account showed absolutely nothing about my denial - no status change, no notifications, nothing. But I got this thick denial packet in the mail dated almost 2 weeks earlier. When I finally got through to EDD (took forever), the rep explained that their online system and mailing system don't sync properly, especially for determination letters. She said the online account is just a "convenience feature" but all official notices MUST be sent by mail per state law. The really annoying part is that I had been checking my online account religiously thinking that's where I'd see any updates. Turns out I wasted almost my entire appeal window because I trusted their broken system! For your appeal, definitely mention the delayed notification issue - apparently it's so common that there's actually a checkbox on the appeal form specifically for "delayed mail delivery." File ASAP though, you're already pretty deep into that 30-day window from the letter date. Also, going forward, I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery so I can at least see when EDD mail is coming before it actually arrives. Their whole system is stuck in the 90s but we have to work around it somehow!

Hey Sean! I just had my RESEA appointment yesterday and wanted to share what actually happened to hopefully ease your anxiety a bit. The whole thing was way less scary than I built it up to be in my head. Here's the real deal: **What they actually asked about:** • How my job search was going overall • What types of positions I was targeting • Any challenges I was running into (childcare, transportation, skills gaps, etc.) • If I needed help with resume or interview prep **What they didn't stress about:** • Missing company addresses (seriously, they didn't even ask) • Which job sites I was using - Indeed was perfectly fine • Having every tiny detail documented perfectly The counselor spent most of the time asking how they could help me, not grilling me about what I'd done wrong. They offered some resources I didn't know about and even helped me think through my search strategy. Mine was scheduled for 2 hours but took about 1 hour 20 minutes. The time flies by faster than you think because it's mostly just a conversation. My advice: Go in with the mindset that they're there to help you succeed, not catch you messing up. Because that's actually what it is! You've got this! 💪

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through multiple RESEA appointments over the years - they've actually gotten a lot more streamlined and helpful! The key thing to remember is that the counselors are on your side. They're literally paid to help you find work, not to make your life harder. I've found that being upfront about any struggles you're having (whether it's finding jobs in your field, getting responses, interview nerves, whatever) actually leads to better help. Also, Sean - regarding the time commitment, I've noticed that people who are well-prepared like you're getting tend to have shorter appointments. Since you're already thinking about what info to bring and asking good questions here, you're probably going to breeze through it faster than the full 2 hours. One last tip: if they offer you any additional resources or workshops, seriously consider taking them up on it. I got connected to a networking group through my RESEA appointment that actually led to my current job. Sometimes these "bureaucratic hoops" can actually open doors you didn't even know existed! You're going to do great - the fact that you're preparing and asking questions shows you're taking it seriously, which is exactly what they want to see. 👍