To directly answer your question - no, you absolutely do not need to wait until you file taxes to start a new unemployment claim. The two systems are separate. EDD verifies your wages through employer reporting, not your tax returns. File your new claim immediately if you're currently unemployed, and make sure you're completing your work search activities every week.

Just wanted to add that when you file your new claim, make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready - sometimes the system asks you to verify your identity again even though you had a previous claim. Also, if your temp work was through a staffing agency, make sure EDD has the correct employer information because sometimes there can be delays if they can't verify wages from temp agencies. Good luck with your application!

One thing I wanted to add - the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who handle these cases typically have a large caseload. Under normal circumstances, they aim to issue decisions within 14 days, but there are several factors that can affect the timeline: 1. Complexity of the case 2. Whether additional evidence was submitted that needs review 3. If the judge requested post-hearing briefs 4. Current case backlog at your specific Appeals Office 5. If there were technical issues during the hearing If you're approaching the 30-day mark, that's when I'd start making calls to the Appeals Office to check on status. The main EDD line won't have information about appeal decisions - you need to contact the specific Appeals Office that handled your case (this information should be on your hearing notice).

I'm currently waiting for my appeal decision too - had my hearing 2 weeks ago and the anxiety is brutal! Reading everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like anywhere from 5 days to 8 weeks is possible depending on the circumstances. For what it's worth, the fact that the judge seemed understanding during your hearing is a really good sign. I've heard that when judges are skeptical of the employer's case, they sometimes take a bit more time to thoroughly review the evidence to make sure their decision is bulletproof. Hang in there - we're all in this together! 🤞

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what actually worked for me: I called my local state assembly office and spoke with their EDD liaison - they got my account unlocked in 2 days versus the months I'd been waiting. Also, if you can find ANY old EDD paperwork with your customer account number on it (even from years ago), bring that to the in-person appointment - it speeds up the identity verification process significantly. One more tip: if you have a trusted family member who can receive mail at their address, you can have EDD send verification documents there while you're getting your contact info sorted out. The key is being proactive with multiple approaches at once rather than waiting for one method to work. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are workarounds!

I work as a benefits advocate and see this situation frequently. Here are some additional options that might help while you're pursuing the in-person route: 1. **ID.me verification bypass**: If you can access the EDD website at all, look for the "Forgot Username/Password" option and try using ID.me verification instead of the old email/phone. Sometimes this works even when the contact info is outdated. 2. **Employment Development Department Disability Insurance (DI) offices**: These are separate from regular EDD offices and often have shorter wait times. They can sometimes help with UI account issues too - worth calling to ask. 3. **Document everything**: Keep records of every call, visit attempt, and person you speak with. If you end up needing to escalate to supervisors or file complaints, this documentation becomes crucial. 4. **Local workforce development boards**: Many counties have these and they often have direct lines to EDD that bypass the regular customer service bottleneck. The key is to have multiple irons in the fire simultaneously. While waiting for your in-person appointment, keep trying the assembly office route and other phone options. I've seen people get through faster by trying multiple approaches rather than waiting for just one to work. Stay persistent - you will get through this!

One more thing to consider - in your appeal, you can request a waiver of the overpayment even if you lose the main appeal. There are two grounds for waiver: 1. The overpayment was not your fault AND repayment would cause extraordinary hardship 2. The overpayment was received in good faith AND recovery would be against equity and good conscience Make sure to specifically request this waiver consideration in your appeal letter. You'll need to provide financial information showing hardship (rent/mortgage, utilities, medical expenses, income, etc.). Don't give up - many of these notices are automatically generated by their system and don't account for individual circumstances.

Hey Nia, I just went through something similar a few months back and wanted to share what worked for me. First off, definitely don't ignore those notices - that's the worst thing you can do. Here's what I learned: Start your appeal immediately but also try to get someone at EDD on the phone to clarify exactly what they're claiming. In my case, they said I had "insufficient work search" but when I finally got through to someone, they explained it was actually about not logging my job searches in their specific online portal (CalJOBS) rather than not doing enough searches. For the work search documentation issue - even if you didn't save confirmation emails, you can often go back to the company websites where you applied and screenshot your application history. Many job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. keep records of your applications. Also check your browser history for that time period - it can help reconstruct where you applied. The appeal process isn't as scary as it seems. I represented myself and just focused on being honest and organized. Gather whatever evidence you can find, write a clear timeline of what happened, and submit it with your appeal form. Even if your documentation isn't perfect, showing good faith effort goes a long way. You've got this! The system is overwhelming but lots of people successfully appeal these notices every day.

I had something similar happen last year with my bank (BofA). The first direct deposit took almost a week, but then it was pretty regular after that. My brother has a different bank (US Bank) and his always come faster than mine do. Definitely seems bank-dependent. The card is honestly easier in some ways but I like having everything in one account.

Update: The money finally hit my account this morning - took exactly 6 business days from when I certified. Thanks everyone for the info and reassurance. Going to stick with direct deposit for now since it sounds like future payments should be faster, but definitely good to know about the credit union option!