UPDATE FROM OP (kind of): I called EDD today using Claimyr after seeing recommendations in this thread and actually got through to an agent within about an hour and a half. The agent was able to pull up my employer account and confirmed that my payroll service had NOT been remitting UI contributions on my wages as the owner — apparently they had flagged me as an excluded sole proprietor from day one. So regular UI is almost certainly off the table for me. HOWEVER, the agent told me to file anyway and list my staffing agency W-2 wages from 14 months ago because those are definitely covered wages and might be enough to establish a claim based on JUST those wages. Going to file tomorrow and see what base period calculation comes out to. Really appreciate everyone's help in this thread.

For anyone finding this thread later: the California EDD rules around business owner unemployment are genuinely complicated and vary by business structure. The short version: - Sole proprietors: almost always excluded unless you have other covered W-2 employment - Partnership partners: usually excluded - Corporate officers with proper payroll + UI tax remittance: potentially eligible - LLC members: depends on tax classification and payroll setup Always verify your UI contribution history with EDD before assuming you qualify OR don't qualify. The answer isn't always what you expect, and the only way to know for sure is to look at the actual records.

UPDATE: I filed this morning! It actually took me less than 30 minutes since I had everything ready based on all your advice. I selected 'lack of work' as my reason for separation, set up direct deposit, and got a confirmation number. Now it says my claim is being processed and I should hear within 10 business days. I also signed up for CalJOBS while I was at it. Feeling way less panicked than I was yesterday. Thank you everyone so much this thread genuinely helped me more than anything else I found online.

For anyone finding this thread later with the same question about how does filing for unemployment work - the short version: - File at UI Online as soon as possible after your last day - Pick qualifying separation reason (layoff = lack of work) - Certify every two weeks honestly - Register on CalJOBS within 21 days - Do 3 documented job search activities per week - Report any earnings when you certify - If your claim gets stuck or you need to reach EDD, be persistent - and if phone calls aren't working, services like Claimyr (claimyr.com) can help you actually get through to an agent The process itself isn't complicated. The complications come from edge cases, employer disputes, or the phone system when something needs fixing.

I'm in a similar boat - terminated last month from a tech job after a new manager came in and just started clearing out the team. No performance issues that I know of, was even praised in my last review. Filed my claim and it's been sitting in adjudication. Starting to panic about how long this takes.

Just want to close the loop for anyone reading this later - I got my determination letter today, about 11 days after filing. APPROVED. Two years of employment, no documented warnings, vague reason for termination = EDD sided with me. They scheduled me for an interview but it was brief, about 12 minutes on the phone, and the interviewer was professional and fair. Just answered honestly about what happened and it went fine. The job search and weekly certification requirements kicked in immediately so make sure you're on top of those. Good luck to everyone else going through this.

for anyone following this who still can't get through to California EDD employer services by phone - I tried the Claimyr thing mentioned earlier after seeing it in this thread and it actually worked for me. Had an employer account question about quarterly reporting and got connected to an agent in about 40 minutes without sitting there hitting redial. claimyr.com if you need it. not affiliated just genuinely impressed

To bring this back to OP's original question with a clean summary since the thread has gotten long: 1. As a sole proprietor: No, you did not need to pay UI on yourself. Correct situation. 2. After S-corp conversion: Your officer wages ARE generally subject to California UI/SDI/ETT unless you file for and qualify for the corporate officer exclusion. 3. As 100% owner: You likely qualify for the officer exclusion but must proactively file for it - it's not automatic. 4. Immediate action items: Check e-Services for Business to see if you're registered as employer, confirm with California EDD whether officer exclusion was elected, consult a California payroll specialist about back obligations if any. 5. Don't panic: Voluntary compliance is treated more favorably than being caught in an audit. Hope this helps clear it up for you and anyone else googling this in the future.

For anyone writing an appeal letter for a California EDD unemployment overpayment, here's a simple structure that works: Paragraph 1: 'I am writing to appeal the overpayment determination dated [DATE], Claim ID [NUMBER], in the amount of $[AMOUNT].' Paragraph 2: Brief factual background - when you filed, what type of work situation you had, that you made every effort to report accurately. Paragraph 3+: Week-by-week breakdown of disputed periods with specific dates and amounts. Final paragraph: 'I have attached the following documentation in support of my appeal: [list everything]' Sign with your full name, contact info, and date. Keep a copy. Send certified mail or upload to UI Online with confirmation.

One more thing nobody mentioned - after your appeal is filed and before your hearing, you can also request to see your complete EDD file. This includes everything EDD has on your claim - all your weekly certifications as they recorded them, employer wage reports, any notes on your account. Sometimes the overpayment is based on incorrect information IN that file and seeing it helps you know what you're actually arguing against.