Update: I finally got through to EDD this morning! I followed the advice here and specifically asked for the Collections Division and requested a Payment Reconciliation Review. The representative confirmed they owe me $1,250 and said my refund was "in process" but hadn't been issued yet. She put a note on my account about financial hardship and said that should expedite it. She also gave me a tracking number to reference in future calls. She estimated 2-3 more weeks, which is still frustrating, but at least I know it's actually being processed. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll update again when/if I receive the refund.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of having your own money held up by bureaucratic mistakes is awful. I went through something similar with EDD last year where they were taking double payments from my account for 2 months. A few additional tips that helped me: 1) Keep checking your bank account daily - when the refund does come, it might show up as "CA EDD REFUND" or just "EDD" with no advance notice, 2) If you have online banking, set up account alerts so you'll know immediately when any deposit hits, and 3) Document the financial impact this is having on you (late fees, overdrafts, etc.) because EDD can sometimes reimburse those costs too if you can prove their error caused them. Really hoping you get your money back soon - it sounds like you're doing everything right by staying persistent and using the specific terminology others have shared here.

This is excellent information - thank you for sharing your experience in detail. The double-reporting of severance pay is one of the most common issues that trigger the 'review required' status. EDD's system isn't intuitive about this at all. Just to clarify for others who might read this thread: 1. Report severance/vacation/sick pay ONLY on your initial application 2. Do NOT report these payments again during certification, even if that's when you physically received the money 3. If your claim gets stuck, call as soon as possible Glad you got this resolved! Your second week's payment should arrive on your EDD debit card or via direct deposit within the timeframe the representative mentioned.

This is such valuable information - thank you for the detailed update! I'm dealing with something similar right now and was wondering if I should wait it out or call. Your experience confirms I need to just bite the bullet and call EDD directly. Quick question: when you called, did you use the main 1-800-300-5616 number or the 833 number that Sean mentioned? And about how many times did you have to redial before getting through to someone? I'm trying to set realistic expectations for myself before I start the calling marathon tomorrow morning. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the resolution - this thread is going to help so many people who make the same severance reporting mistake!

Yes! Finally got through to someone yesterday using the tip about calling at 11:30. Turns out there was a flag on my account for

Glad to hear you got through and got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread - this is exactly why it's worth calling even if it takes multiple attempts. These continued claim forms (DE 2500A) seem to get stuck in their system pretty frequently, and what looks like "normal processing" online might actually be a flag or error that needs manual intervention. The EDD phone system is frustrating but sometimes it's the only way to get real answers about what's holding up your claim.

After reading all the comments, I want to provide some clarification. The official guidance from EDD is to answer truthfully - if you were sick and unable to work any day during the week, technically you should answer "Yes." However, I understand the practical concerns about payment delays. If you do answer "Yes," make sure to: 1. Only indicate the specific day you were sick (Wednesday) 2. Report the sick pay correctly as income 3. Be ready to provide your doctor's note if requested One day of illness with proper documentation shouldn't disqualify you from benefits for the entire week, though it might reduce your benefit amount for that specific day. The system is designed to accommodate temporary illness. If you've already certified and are worried, check your UI Online account for any notifications or requests for additional information.

Good luck with your certification! I hope you don't experience any delays. For future reference, I've found that keeping detailed records of sick days (including doctor's notes and pay stubs) really helps if EDD ever needs additional documentation. It's frustrating that the system isn't more straightforward about these common situations, but you made the right choice being honest about it. Please do update us on how it goes - your experience could help other people in similar situations!

did u get paid yet??? curious if it came through ok

Good to know this worked out! I'm new to the EDD system and was wondering about this exact scenario. It's reassuring to see that weekend certification timing really doesn't matter. I've been stressing about making sure I certify exactly on Saturday, but sounds like I have the whole weekend window. Thanks for sharing the update that your payment came through normally - that's super helpful for those of us still figuring out how all this works!