i had my interview last week and the lady was actually super nice! wasnt scary at all. just be honest

Hey Sofia! I went through a similar situation a few months ago with temp work and an EDD interview. Just wanted to add that when they ask about your job search efforts since leaving those temp positions, definitely mention those 20+ applications you've been submitting - it shows you're actively seeking work which is a requirement for benefits. Also, if you have any email confirmations from job applications or responses from employers, keep those handy. Sometimes they ask for proof of your job search activity during the interview. The fact that you've been consistently looking for work since the temp jobs ended really supports your case. One more tip - write down a timeline of events before your interview (dates you started/left each temp job, when you reported the hostile environment, etc.). Having everything organized will help you stay focused during the call. You've got this!

is the bofa card the one with the picture of the bear on it? i got one of those but thought it was fake lol

This thread has been really helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation - just received what looks like a legitimate BofA EDD card but was expecting Money Network. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like if you had a previous claim with a BofA card that's still valid, EDD's system automatically reuses it instead of issuing the new Money Network cards. For anyone else dealing with this: check your card's expiration date first - if it's from a previous claim and still valid, that's probably why you got BofA instead of Money Network. You can use it safely as long as your UI Online account shows "Debit Card" as your payment method. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

Update: I tried the Claimyr service that someone recommended here, and it actually worked! Got through to an EDD rep this morning. Turns out my claim was flagged for an eligibility review because my last employer contested it (even though I was laid off, not fired). The rep scheduled me for a phone interview next week and said my payments should release after that. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

Congratulations on finally getting through! That's such a relief. Your situation with the employer contest is actually pretty common - a lot of people don't realize that employers can dispute claims even for legitimate layoffs, which automatically triggers a review. The good news is that if you were truly laid off and have documentation (like a layoff notice or termination letter stating "lack of work"), the eligibility interview should go smoothly. Just make sure to have all your paperwork ready and be clear about the circumstances of your separation. The whole process is frustrating but at least now you're in the system and moving forward!

btw what did u do to get the penalty? just curious cuz im paranoid about making mistakes

Just went through something similar recently! One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your bank account info updated and verified in your UI Online account before you certify. Sometimes after penalty periods, EDD will randomly flag accounts for additional identity verification or banking verification, which can delay payments even after you've served your time. Also, keep screenshots of your certification confirmations and payment history showing you completed all 10 penalty weeks. If there are any issues with your first payment, having that documentation ready can help speed up resolution. The EDD system isn't always great at tracking penalty completion automatically. Good luck getting back to regular payments - you've definitely earned it after 10 weeks of that nonsense!

Update for anyone with the same issue: I got my certification to go through using the workaround that @profile2 suggested (clicking next to the radio button rather than on it). After submitting, I got the confirmation page right away, and my payment is now showing as pending in the portal. Hopefully it processes normally from here! Thanks everyone for your help.

I just ran into this exact same issue about an hour ago! The workaround with clicking next to the radio button instead of directly on it totally saved me. It's such a bizarre glitch - makes you wonder how many people get stuck on this and just give up trying to certify. Really hope EDD gets this fixed soon because missing certification deadlines over a website bug is incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared solutions!