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I'm going crazy waiting for EDD to process my ID verification docs! They put my claim on conditional payment hold in January (something about needing additional verification), and I sent in everything they asked for through UI Online. The confirmation shows they RECEIVED my documents on February 13, but here we are in March and my payments are still on hold! The EDD website just says 'pending' with no other info. Does anyone know how long it typically takes for them to lift a conditional payment hold after receiving verification docs? Should I call them or just keep waiting? My rent is due next week and I'm getting seriously worried...
I'm having the weirdest experience with EDD and I'm seriously stressing out. Applied for UI in early February after losing my restaurant management job. I asked to backdate my claim to January 20th when I was actually laid off (I was honestly just overwhelmed with job hunting and didn't file right away). EDD denied my backdate request saying my reason wasn't compelling, which I get - but then they went nuclear and disqualified me from ALL benefits, not just the backdated weeks! Never seen that before. Instead of appealing, I submitted a simple request for a copy of my determination letter through the Contact EDD feature. Surprisingly, whoever handled that request must have reviewed my case because they sent a message saying they OVERTURNED the disqualification and that I was now eligible with 5 certification weeks available. I was so relieved! Immediately certified for all 5 weeks last night, being super careful with my answers and documenting my work searches properly. Logged in this morning to check the status and somehow I'm showing DISQUALIFIED AGAIN?? What is happening? EDD office is closed today so I can't call. Has anyone experienced this bizarre flip-flopping? Could this be a system glitch or am I really disqualified again after briefly being approved?
UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD this morning! The representative confirmed it WAS a system issue. Apparently when my disqualification was overturned, it wasn't fully processed in all their systems. The person who reviewed my case made the change in their case management system, but it didn't properly sync with the payment system. The rep had to manually override the disqualification codes in the payment system and said my payments should process within 48-72 hours. She also said this happens fairly often with manually overturned determinations - the different EDD computer systems don't communicate well with each other. For anyone dealing with something similar, make sure you specifically ask if all systems show the same status for your claim!
Glad you got it sorted out! Did they give you any kind of confirmation number or reference for the fix? ALWAYS get a confirmation number with EDD - I've had them "fix" things multiple times only to have no record of it later.
Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so glad you got it resolved. This is exactly why I always screenshot everything with EDD - their systems are so unreliable. Your experience is going to help so many people who run into this same issue. I've been dealing with EDD for years (unfortunately) and the number of times I've seen people panic over system glitches like this is crazy. The fact that you got a service request number is huge - that paper trail will protect you if anything goes wrong again. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!
Hi Jujubeans! Congratulations on receiving your appeal decision letter! Without seeing the specific language in your letter, it's hard to say definitively, but if you received a favorable decision from the judge, it should mean you won your appeal. Look for key phrases like "decision is reversed," "claimant is eligible," or "benefits are granted." If the judge ruled in your favor, EDD should process the back payments automatically, though it can take several weeks. I'd recommend checking your EDD online account regularly and maybe trying to call during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to get through to someone who can confirm the status. You can also try contacting your local assembly member's office - they often have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help cut through the phone maze. Hang in there, and I hope this is the good news you've been waiting for!
I just got disqualified from my unemployment benefits after my eligibility interview. The EDD is claiming I voluntarily quit my job without good cause, but that's completely untrue. My boss basically forced me out by cutting my hours to just 8 hours a week (from 40) and moving me to the night shift knowing I have childcare issues. When I couldn't make those shifts work, he told me not to come back. Now EDD is asking me to repay $5,800! I've already filed an appeal but I'm wondering if I should hire a lawyer. Has anyone gone through this process with or without legal help? What was your experience? Did having a lawyer make any difference in winning your appeal? I'm really stressed about potentially having to repay all that money, but lawyer fees aren't cheap either.
One thing nobody has mentioned - check if your former employer is even going to contest the appeal. Sometimes they don't bother showing up to the hearing, which makes it MUCH easier to win your case. You could potentially call your former HR department (not your boss) and ask if they plan to participate in the appeal hearing. If they don't, self-representation becomes much more viable.
That's a really interesting point I hadn't considered. It's a small company (only about 15 employees) without a formal HR department, but I could try to find out if the owner plans to participate. If he doesn't show up, would that basically mean I win by default?
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified after my eligibility interview and facing a $3,200 overpayment. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really helpful! I'm leaning toward trying to represent myself first since my case seems straightforward (employer cut my hours from 35 to 12 per week), but I'm definitely going to get a free consultation with an attorney just to be safe. One question for those who've been through this - how long did you have to prepare between filing your appeal and the actual hearing? I want to make sure I have enough time to gather all my documentation and organize everything properly. Also, did anyone record their conversations with their boss? I have a few voice recordings on my phone from when we discussed the schedule changes but I'm not sure if those are even admissible. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's scary going through this alone but this community really helps!
So I'm in a really weird situation and not sure what to do. I was on disability (SDI) for almost 2 years (20 months to be exact) due to a serious back injury. Just as I was getting cleared to return to work with some restrictions, my employer let me go. They said my position was filled and they didn't have anything else available that would accommodate my restrictions. Now I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits? I paid into the system for years before my injury, but I'm confused about whether being on disability and then getting fired affects my UI eligibility. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I'm worried about how I'll pay bills while I search for a new job that can work with my limitations.
One more tip: when you have your eligibility interview (they'll likely schedule one given your situation), be very clear that: 1. You were ready and willing to return to work with the doctor-approved restrictions 2. Your employer couldn't accommodate those restrictions 3. You're actively looking for work that you can perform with your medical limitations Avoid mentioning that you were "fired" as that term can sometimes trigger concerns about misconduct. Instead, explain that your employment ended because your position was filled during your disability leave and no suitable alternative positions were available that could accommodate your medical restrictions. Good luck with your claim! With the documentation you have, you should be in good shape.
I'm in California and went through something very similar - was on SDI for about 15 months due to a work injury, then my employer terminated me saying they couldn't hold my position any longer. I was nervous about applying for UI but it actually went pretty smoothly. A few things that helped me: I applied online right after my SDI ended, made sure to emphasize that I was medically cleared to return to work (with restrictions), and had documentation showing my employer couldn't accommodate me. They did use my pre-disability wages to calculate my benefit amount, which was actually better than I expected. The key is being honest about your medical restrictions while showing you're genuinely able and available for suitable work. I had to do a phone interview about 3 weeks after applying, but once I explained the situation clearly, my claim was approved. Don't let the horror stories scare you - many of us have successfully transitioned from SDI to UI without major issues.
Brooklyn Foley
so did u get this sorted out? i'm curious cuz I have same issue now
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Ana Erdoğan
AuthorUpdate: I finally got through to EDD yesterday using the identity verification number someone shared above (tried 12 times before getting through). The rep looked at my documents and said they were fine but hadn't been reviewed yet due to backlog. She manually processed them and my status changed from pending to paid within hours! All my back weeks were paid too. So definitely CALL them - don't just wait like I was doing. Good luck with yours!
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Raúl Mora
Congrats on getting it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to be persistent with calling EDD. I went through something similar last year and it took me literally 47 phone calls over 2 weeks to get through, but once I did, the rep fixed my issue in 5 minutes. The system is so broken that claims just sit there indefinitely unless you force them to look at it. For anyone else reading this - save that ID verification number (866-401-2849) and keep calling until you get through. Also try calling right when they open at 8am or after lunch at 1pm for better chances. Don't give up!
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