I'd like to summarize what's been shared here for the OP since there's been a lot of information: 1. Quitting for "good cause" can qualify you for benefits - misrepresentation of job conditions can meet this standard 2. Document everything about how the job differs from what was promised 3. Keep certifying every two weeks even while waiting for your eligibility interview 4. Be prepared for a 4-8 week wait for the interview (consider Claimyr if you need to reach EDD) 5. During the interview, be specific about the discrepancies between what was promised and reality 6. If denied, you have the right to appeal One last thing - if you haven't quit yet, you might consider discussing your concerns with the employer first. This demonstrates good faith effort to resolve the issues, which strengthens your case with EDD if you do end up quitting.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you also document the transportation costs for those split shifts! If you're having to make two separate trips to work in one day, that's additional gas/transportation expense that wasn't disclosed. I had a similar situation where the commute costs made the job financially unsustainable, and EDD considered that as part of my good cause argument. Also, split shifts with long gaps like that (4 hours between shifts) can be considered unreasonable working conditions since you can't really do anything productive during that break time. Good luck with your conversation with the manager tomorrow!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I'm in a similar situation with weeks pending verification. From what I've seen in this community, the ID.me verification process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on their current backlog. After you complete ID.me, EDD still needs to review your case internally which can add more time. I'd recommend checking your EDD account daily for updates and maybe try calling using one of those methods Tom shared if you don't see progress after 2-3 weeks. Keep all your documentation handy in case they need additional verification. Hang in there - the waiting is frustrating but most people do get through eventually.

Just an update on a recent policy change - the California EDD has actually been instructed to more carefully evaluate self-employment situations since 2023. They now look more closely at whether your business is "completely idle" versus "just not getting clients." In your case, since you're still actively marketing, they might consider you "still working but with reduced income" rather than unemployed. But again, each case is unique and they'll evaluate your specific circumstances. When you get to the phone interview (and you likely will), be prepared to discuss: 1. Your regular work hours before the slowdown 2. Your current activities related to the business 3. Whether you've taken definitive steps to close or suspend the business 4. Your willingness to accept full-time work elsewhere Document everything - your marketing efforts, lack of client inquiries, financial statements showing the business has no income, etc. This documentation will be crucial if there's any question about your eligibility.

I'm not an expert but I've been following similar situations in my area. One thing that might help is looking into the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program if it's still available, or any state programs specifically for self-employed individuals. Also, have you considered reaching out to your local Small Business Development Center? They sometimes have resources or emergency funding programs for small businesses going through tough times. Another thought - since you mentioned you're still actively marketing, you might want to document exactly what that entails and how many hours per week you're spending on it. If it's just a few hours of posting on social media vs. 40 hours a week of active prospecting, that could make a difference in how EDD views your situation. The more you can show that your business activity has significantly decreased from normal operations, the better your case might be. Good luck with whatever you decide!

UPDATE: My payment finally hit the Money Network card this morning! So that's exactly 3 business days after it showed 'paid' on the EDD website. Definitely slower than the old Bank of America system, but at least it came through. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. I'm definitely setting up those text alerts and looking into the direct deposit option!

Glad your payment finally came through! I'm dealing with the same transition headache right now. Been waiting 2 days since my status changed to 'paid' and getting anxious. The BofA card was so reliable - this uncertainty is really stressful when you're depending on these payments for basic expenses. I'm curious - for those who've had the Money Network card for a while now, have you noticed if certain days of the week are better for timing? Like if you certify on different days, does it affect when the funds actually hit? Just trying to figure out if there's any pattern I can plan around. Also going to look into that direct deposit option mentioned earlier. Sounds like it might be worth the hassle of switching if it's more consistent.

The reality is there's no special San Bernardino number anymore. We're all in the same statewide queue competing with 20+ million other Californians. The math just doesn't work for manual calling.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been super helpful. I think I'm done torturing myself with manual calling - going to try Claimyr this week. The fact that so many people here have had success with it makes me feel better about spending the money. It's crazy that we have to pay a third party service just to reach our own state agency, but here we are. Will report back if it works!