This has been such an enlightening thread to read through! I'm about 3 months into my unemployment claim and have been consistently documenting everything, but honestly wasn't 100% sure I was making the right choice until now. Seeing all these real experiences from people who've been through eligibility reviews, appeals, and audits really drives home why that "optional" reporting is actually essential. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned that EDD reps specifically told them cases go smoother when activities are documented in the system. That's basically official confirmation that while they can't require the online reporting, they definitely prefer and expect it. For anyone still debating this - I think the consensus here is crystal clear. The work search requirement itself is mandatory, and the smart money is on documenting everything in the system even though reporting is technically "optional." Those few extra minutes per week could literally save your entire claim if you ever get reviewed. I'm definitely going to keep doing what I'm doing and document every single activity!

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm currently 2 months into my claim and have been documenting everything from the start, but I'll admit I was second-guessing myself because of friends like your cousin who just click "No" and seem fine. What really stands out to me from everyone's responses is how the system is essentially offering you a choice: take 5 minutes to protect yourself, or gamble with your benefits. When you frame it that way, it's a no-brainer. I actually had a mini panic attack last month when I got what I thought was an eligibility review notice (turned out to be something else), but having all my work search activities already documented in the system with timestamps gave me immediate peace of mind. I can't imagine how stressful that would have been if I had to scramble to prove months of job searching from scratch. For anyone still debating - the "technically optional" wording is misleading. Sure, you CAN skip the reporting, but you'd be choosing to make your life potentially much harder later. Your instinct to document everything is absolutely right. Keep doing what you're doing and don't let your cousin's seemingly easy approach tempt you into taking unnecessary risks with your benefits!

Has anyone else notice that the EDD website seems to work better late at night? I couldn't complete my application during daytime hours for like 3 days straight, then randomly tried at 11:30pm and it went through smoothly! Maybe fewer people using it then?

UPDATE: Firefox worked!!! I was able to complete my application just now. The page looked slightly different than on Chrome/Safari and didn't freeze up at the employment history section. Thank you all for the suggestions! For anyone else having similar issues, definitely try a different browser before giving up.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too - just got my disqualification letter yesterday for "inadequate work search documentation" and I'm honestly panicking about the timeline. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to prepare for at least 6-8 weeks minimum, which is terrifying since I'm already behind on bills. @Zoe Kyriakidou your breakdown is super helpful - I'm definitely going to start printing out all my job applications and emails right now rather than relying on digital copies. @Collins Angel I'm also going to call about the hardship expedite first thing Monday since my car payment is due next week and I'm already getting late notices on utilities. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone had success getting temporary assistance from family/friends by showing them the EDD paperwork and expected timeline? I'm trying to figure out how to approach asking for help when I can at least give people a realistic timeframe for when I'll be able to pay them back. The uncertainty makes it so much harder to plan or even ask for support. Also going to call 211 tomorrow to see what emergency programs are available in my area. This community has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences during such a stressful time!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the EDD disqualification stress is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already tight on money. Based on all the timelines people have shared here, it looks like you're realistically looking at 6-11 weeks for the full process, with work search disqualifications potentially being on the faster end of that range. Here's what I'd prioritize immediately: 1) Call about the hardship expedite as soon as you get your appeal form - mention your rent deadline specifically, 2) Start gathering ALL your job search documentation now (screenshots, confirmation emails, application receipts) and print physical copies, 3) Look into emergency rental assistance in your county - many have programs for people in unemployment limbo, 4) Consider signing up for gig work apps to bridge the gap financially. The 211 service that @Miguel Ramos mentioned is clutch for finding local emergency resources, and definitely request your claim file early so you know exactly what EDD is disputing. I know the waiting feels impossible when you're already struggling, but the success rate for work search appeals is pretty good when you have solid documentation. Also don't be afraid to reach out to family/friends with a specific timeline - having concrete examples like the ones shared here makes it easier to ask for temporary help. Hang in there!

UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked my UI Online account this morning and I have an award letter in my inbox! They approved my claim without needing the interview. Now I just need to wait for my first certification period. Thanks for all the help and reassurance!

Congratulations Teresa! That's such great news and a huge relief! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic when EDD cancels interviews - more often than not it means they have what they need to approve your claim. Thanks for coming back to update us with the good news. It really helps other people in similar situations to see these positive outcomes. Now you can focus on getting those certifications done on time!

As someone who's been collecting partial unemployment benefits while working part-time for about 3 months now, I wanted to share a few things that have really helped me stay organized and avoid any issues: First, download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it makes certification so much easier and you can do it from anywhere. I set myself a recurring reminder for every other Sunday morning to certify. Second, create a simple system for tracking your hours that works for YOUR schedule. I use a small notebook that I keep in my work bag where I jot down my start/end times each day. At the end of each week, I total up the hours and write down my gross pay calculation (hours × $hourly rate). This takes maybe 2 minutes but saves so much stress during certification. One thing I learned after a minor scare with EDD - if you ever make a mistake on your certification (like accidentally putting 8 hours instead of 7.5), call EDD immediately to correct it rather than waiting. They appreciate the honesty and it's much easier to fix mistakes proactively. The partial benefits have been a financial lifesaver while I search for full-time work. You're doing the right thing by asking these questions upfront - that preparation mindset will definitely keep you out of trouble. Best of luck with your new retail job!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so similar to yours! I was laid off from my logistics coordinator job in February and just started a part-time position at a local coffee shop last month (about 22 hours/week at $17/hour). The transition to partial benefits was actually much smoother than I expected after reading so many scary stories online. The key things that helped me were: 1) Setting up a simple Google Sheet to track my daily hours and weekly totals, 2) Always reporting hours worked during the certification week regardless of when I get paid, and 3) Being extremely precise with my time tracking (I use my phone's clock app to timestamp my actual start/end times each shift). My weekly benefit amount dropped from $380 to about $95, but combined with my part-time earnings, I'm actually doing better financially than on unemployment alone. Plus, having some structure and income from work has really helped my mental health during this job search process. One specific tip for retail work - make sure you understand your store's policy on breaks and meal periods, since those unpaid times need to be subtracted from your total hours when reporting to EDD. My coffee shop automatically deducts 30 minutes for shifts over 6 hours, so I had to factor that into my calculations. You're asking all the right questions upfront, which puts you way ahead of where I was when I started! The EDD system really does work when you're accurate and consistent with reporting.