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EDD benefits in jeopardy after refusing unsuitable work - employer set me up?
I've been unemployed for about 2 months and recently had a battle with EDD over my claim. After weeks of back-and-forth, my claim was finally overturned and approved yesterday. Today, out of nowhere, my former employer called me FOUR times offering me a position that starts at 6AM. Here's the thing - they KNOW I rely on public transportation and physically can't make it for a 6AM shift. When I was employed there before, this was a documented accommodation because bus service doesn't run early enough for me to arrive by 6AM.\n\nI'm 100% convinced they're trying to trap me into refusing work so they can report me to EDD and get my benefits cut off. The timing is just too suspicious - radio silence for two months and then suddenly urgent calls the DAY AFTER my claim gets approved?\n\nI did refuse the position since it's genuinely impossible for me to get there that early. I'm planning to honestly report this when I certify, but I'm freaking out that this will automatically disqualify me. Does refusing unsuitable work based on transportation limitations protect me at all? Or did my former employer just successfully sabotage my unemployment benefits?\n\nAny advice appreciated - I'm stressed about how to handle this on my certification.
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EDD website won't let me file for unemployment online - any workarounds?
Hey everyone, I'm having trouble filing for unemployment online. The system keeps giving me errors and won't let me complete the application. Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to get it done? I really need to file ASAP and I'm getting frustrated with the website.
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idk if this helps but I had issues filing online too. Turns out my claim was flagged for identity verification. Had to upload extra docs. Might be worth checking if thats whats holding up your application.
Oh interesting, I didn't even know that was a thing. How did you find out your claim was flagged?
I got an email about it, but it went to my spam folder at first. Might be worth checking there too!
I had the exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was using an incognito/private browsing window and disabling all browser extensions. Also make sure you're not using any VPN or proxy - the system seems to block those. If you're still stuck after trying the browser fixes, there's also a paper application you can mail in as a backup option. The form is DE 1101 and you can download it from the EDD website. It takes longer to process but at least it's something while you keep trying online. Hang in there!
School employee eligibility for EDD benefits during summer layoff - will I qualify?
I'm a classroom aide at a public elementary school in San Diego and will be laid off from June 15 to August 22 (about 10 weeks). The district sent me a notice saying they 'reasonably expect' to rehire me when school resumes, but there's no actual guarantee. My supervisor mentioned I might qualify for unemployment during this period, but I'm confused about the rules for school employees. Does anyone know if I'm eligible for EDD benefits during summer break even with the 'reasonable assurance' letter? My family really depends on my income and I'm worried about making it through summer without any payments coming in.
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UPDATE: I filed my claim online yesterday and already have a confirmation number! The application specifically asked if I worked for an educational institution and if I had reasonable assurance of returning. I answered honestly that I had a letter stating they 'expect' to rehire me but it wasn't guaranteed. Now I'm waiting for the EDD determination. I'll keep everyone posted about what happens in case others are in the same situation!
Great! You did exactly the right thing. Now just keep an eye on your UI Online account and your mail. You'll likely get a notice about a phone interview to discuss your educational employment. Make sure to answer that call when it comes, as missing it could delay your claim.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I feel much better about applying now. I'll update this thread once I hear back from EDD about my eligibility.
I'm a new member here but wanted to share my experience as a school bus driver who went through this exact situation two summers ago. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - my layoff notice, the "reasonable assurance" letter, and even emails from my supervisor about the uncertainty of my position. When I applied, EDD initially approved me because my letter used language like "anticipated" and "subject to budget approval" rather than guaranteeing my job. I ended up receiving benefits for about 8 weeks of summer break. My advice is to apply immediately since processing takes time, and document everything in case you need to appeal. The worst case scenario is they say no, but you won't know unless you try!
EDD payment timeline after eligibility interview - waiting since April 8th
I submitted my unemployment claim on April 8th, but my eligibility interview isn't scheduled until the 23rd (two weeks away). Has anyone gone through this process recently? I'm trying to figure out how long after the interview I'll actually start getting payments. My rent is due May 1st, and I'm getting worried about covering it. This is my first time on unemployment and the timeline seems really stretched out. Will I get paid for the weeks I've been certifying while waiting for the interview? Or does the money only start coming after the interview?
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I just went through this in March. Applied March 5, interview March 18, got my first payment March 21. But then my second certification got stuck on pending for some reason and I had to call in to fix it. The whole process is so unpredictable honestly.
did they pay u for all the weeks before interview too??
I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim on April 3rd and my interview is scheduled for April 25th. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It sounds like most people do get their backpay pretty quickly after approval, but the inconsistency is stressful when you're counting on that money. I've been keeping all my documentation organized just in case. Has anyone had experience with appeals if the interview doesn't go well the first time?
EDD: When can I reapply for unemployment after receiving benefits last year?
Hey everyone, I'm trying to figure out when I can apply for unemployment again. I received benefits last year, but I know there's a waiting period before you can reapply. Does anyone know exactly how long I have to wait? Is it a full year from when I last got benefits? Any help would be appreciated!
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Has anyone else noticed that the unemployment website is always down when you need it most? Like, do they do that on purpose or what? 🤔
omg yes! I swear its a conspiracy to make it harder for us to claim benefits lol
Nah, it's probably just overloaded. Remember how bad it was during the pandemic? System couldn't handle all the claims.
yall ever think about how wild it is that we gotta jump through all these hoops just to get help when we're already stressed about not having a job? system's broke af 😤
For real! It's like they designed the system to discourage people from using it. I spent three weeks just trying to verify my identity last time - had to upload documents like 5 times because their system kept "losing" them. Meanwhile bills don't stop coming just because bureaucracy is slow 🙄
Yara Nassar
Im dealing with someing similar right now with my claim. I refused a job because the schedule was different than what was advertised. It's been 3 weeks and my payments are still pending while they investigate. So frustrating. Hope you have better luck!
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Ruby Blake
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it definitely sounds like your former employer is trying to manipulate the system. The timing is way too suspicious to be coincidental. I went through something similar last year where my old job suddenly offered me a position they knew I couldn't accept (night shift when I had documented childcare responsibilities). The good news is that you have strong grounds for refusing this offer. Since you had a documented accommodation for transportation limitations when you worked there before, they absolutely know this is unsuitable work for you. When you certify, be completely honest about refusing the job and explain the transportation issue clearly. Make sure to mention that this was a previously documented accommodation. Also, definitely document everything - save any voicemails they left, note the exact times they called, and if possible, get something in writing about the job offer details (especially the 6AM start time). If they try to report you to EDD, having this documentation will help prove they knowingly offered you unsuitable work. You're doing the right thing by refusing work you literally cannot perform due to transportation constraints. Don't let them intimidate you!
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