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. 👍

I just went through this same process last month! Here's what worked for me: For immediate needs like rent, definitely go the ATM route first. Use the Money Network app to find fee-free ATMs near you - I found several at CVS and Walgreens that didn't charge extra fees. You can typically withdraw up to $1000 per day. For the bank transfer setup, log into moneynetwork.com and add your bank account info. The first transfer does take longer (3-5 business days) because they need to verify your account, but it's worth setting up for future payments. After verification, transfers usually take 1-2 business days. Pro tip: While you're dealing with this payment, definitely switch to direct deposit in your UI Online account for future payments. Go to "Payment Method" and change it from the EDD card to direct deposit to your bank. This way you won't have to deal with the card transfer delays again. Also make sure the name on your bank account matches exactly what's on your EDD claim - even middle initials matter or the transfer could get rejected. Hope this helps and congrats on finally getting your payment!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Here's what I learned: For your immediate rent situation, definitely go the ATM route since you need cash ASAP. Use the Money Network app to find fee-free ATMs - there are tons at major banks like Chase, BofA, and Wells Fargo. You can withdraw up to $1000/day at most ATMs. For bank transfers, yes you can do them through the Money Network website or app. You'll need your routing and account numbers. The catch is that the FIRST transfer takes 3-5 business days because they verify your account with micro-deposits. After that verification, regular transfers are much faster - usually 1-2 business days. Since your landlord is already impatient, I'd suggest: 1. Get cash from a fee-free ATM today for rent 2. Set up the bank transfer now so it's ready for your next payment 3. Switch to direct deposit in your UI Online account under "Payment Method" so future payments go straight to your bank One important note - make sure the name on your bank account matches EXACTLY what's on your EDD claim (including middle initials) or the transfer might get rejected. The waiting sucks but you're almost there! Good luck with your landlord!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was laid off from my restaurant management job 5 weeks ago and have been considering a culinary arts program at the community college. I was completely terrified that enrolling would jeopardize my UI benefits, but reading through everyone's detailed experiences has given me so much clarity and confidence. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker @Fatima Al-Farsi - the breakdown of the CTB program and DE 1906 form requirements is exactly what I needed! I had no clue EDD had specific programs to support people upgrading their skills during unemployment. The tip about being very specific with availability hours rather than just saying "weekdays" is gold. @Carmen Ruiz @Connor Byrne @Ashley Simian - your recent success stories are so encouraging! It's amazing that EDD actually views proactive skill-building positively rather than as something problematic. My program would be Monday/Wednesday mornings (9am-2pm) with some weekend lab sessions, leaving me available Tuesday/Thursday/Friday for full-time work. After reading all these experiences, I'm realizing that being completely transparent from day one is clearly the winning approach. The restaurant industry is slowly recovering and having formal culinary training could really set me apart from other candidates. Plus many culinary programs lead directly to job placement opportunities. Thanks to this entire community for sharing such detailed, practical advice - you've transformed my understanding of what's possible while on unemployment benefits!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! I was laid off from my graphic design job about 3 weeks ago and have been considering a web development bootcamp, but I was completely paralyzed by fear of losing my UI benefits. Reading through all these detailed success stories has completely changed my perspective. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker @Fatima Al-Farsi - the step-by-step breakdown of the CTB program, DE 1906 form, and documentation requirements is exactly what I needed! I had absolutely no idea EDD had programs specifically designed to support skill development during unemployment. The tip about being super specific with work availability hours is so practical. @Carmen Ruiz @Connor Byrne @Zainab Ahmed - your recent experiences are incredibly encouraging! It's amazing that EDD actually views proactive training positively rather than as something suspicious. The fact that multiple people have had EDD reps compliment them for using unemployment time productively really gives me confidence. My bootcamp would be evenings (6-9pm) Monday through Thursday, leaving me completely available during all normal business hours for full-time work. The program is online and self-paced, so I could easily adjust around job interviews or work if I got an offer. After reading everyone's advice, I'm definitely going to be completely transparent on my next certification and look into applying for CTB. The web development field has such strong job prospects right now, and this unemployment period feels like the perfect opportunity to make a career pivot into tech. Thanks to this entire community for sharing such detailed, practical guidance - you've given me the confidence to pursue both my training goals and properly manage my UI benefits!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been locked out for 3 weeks and finally worked up the courage to call after reading all these success stories. Just wanted to add - if you're calling and getting nervous about what to say, I wrote down a simple script beforehand: "Hi, I'm locked out of my UI Online account and can't answer my security questions. I need help with a password reset." Having that ready helped me not stumble over my words when I finally got through. Also keeping a notepad handy during the call to write down any reference numbers or instructions they give you. This thread has been a godsend - knowing other people have been through this exact situation and made it out the other side makes it feel so much less overwhelming!

This whole thread is incredible! I'm dealing with the same lockout issue right now - forgot my password and those security questions are impossible. I've been putting off calling because I was dreading the busy signals, but seeing Norman's success and everyone's detailed advice has given me the confidence to try. I'm going to call the 1-833-978-2511 number tomorrow at 8am sharp with all my documents ready. The tip about writing down a script is brilliant - I always get tongue-tied on important calls. It's so reassuring to know this is a common problem with actual solutions. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips - this community support makes dealing with EDD issues so much less stressful!

I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to share what finally worked for me after trying everything mentioned in this thread! Like many of you, I tried updating notification preferences first - that helped with some emails but the certification reminders kept coming. Then I called EDD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (totally worth it to skip the hold time) and spoke with a rep who was actually knowledgeable about this issue. The magic words are asking them to set your account to "inactive - benefit year expired" status. This is different from just asking them to stop emails or mark you as "do not contact." The rep explained that when your benefit year officially ends, there's a manual step they have to do in their system to prevent the automated certification triggers. She also mentioned that if you had any pandemic-related extensions (PUA, PEUC, etc.), sometimes their system doesn't properly recognize when ALL benefits are exhausted, which causes the endless certification emails. It's been about 6 weeks since that call and I haven't received a single EDD email. The account is still accessible if I log in (for tax docs, etc.) but completely quiet otherwise. @Ava Johnson - I'm still super curious about that "Manage Claimant Account" feature you mentioned! I've looked everywhere in UI Online and can't find anything with that name. Could you clarify what section of the interface it's in? Would love to know if there's an easier way to do this!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just wanted to add that I tried the notification preferences route about a month ago and while it stopped most of the general emails, I'm still getting those weekly "time to certify" reminders even though my claim has been exhausted since December. Based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like calling EDD and asking them to manually set the account to "inactive - benefit year expired" status is the most reliable solution. @Justin Chang thanks for sharing those specific words to use - that's really helpful since I wasn't sure exactly how to phrase what I needed when I call. I'm also really curious about @Ava Johnson's "Manage Claimant Account" feature. I've been through my UI Online account multiple times looking for any kind of self-service option to stop these notifications and haven't found anything like that. If it exists, it would definitely be easier than dealing with their phone system! For anyone else in the same boat - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not just me missing something obvious. Sounds like EDD's system just has some quirks when it comes to properly closing out accounts after benefit years end, especially if you had any of the pandemic extensions.