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EDD approved UI based on harassment at new job but using my old employer's wages - confusing!
So I've been dealing with a really stressful situation at my current job (marketing agency) where my manager has been constantly harassing me for the past 3 months. Documentation, HR complaints, the whole nine yards didn't help at all. I finally couldn't take it anymore and quit last week. I applied for unemployment and surprisingly got approved quickly, but here's the weird part - my claim statement shows they're using wages from my previous employer (retail store) where I worked for 2 years before switching to this agency job 7 months ago. The EDD determination letter mentions "hostile work environment" as the reason for approval, but all the wage information is from my old job. Is this normal? Will this cause problems with my claim? I'm worried my previous employer might contest this since I left them voluntarily for better opportunities. Has anyone experienced EDD using a different employer's wages than the one you had issues with?
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EDD appeal hearing this Monday - childcare issues & need quick tips
My EDD appeal hearing is scheduled for this Monday over the phone, and I'm seriously starting to panic. I got disqualified after my employer claimed I quit (I was actually laid off due to downsizing but my manager reported it differently). I have a 3-year-old daughter and my usual childcare fell through for that day. I'm worried she'll be screaming or interrupting during the call and it'll mess up my whole case. The hearing is scheduled for 10:30am and could last up to 2 hours according to the notice. Does anyone know if these hearings usually take the full time? And is it super formal or can I maybe have my daughter coloring nearby? Also, any advice for what to say/not say during an appeal hearing would be REALLY appreciated! This is my first time dealing with something like this and I'm so nervous I'll say something wrong and lose my benefits permanently.
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My appeal was an absolute disaster and I lost because I wasn't prepared enough. Don't make my mistake! Make sure you understand the exact reason they disqualified you and address that specifically.
This is an important point. Your Notice of Determination should state the specific section of the unemployment insurance code they used to disqualify you. For voluntary quit cases, it's usually Section 1256. Make sure you understand what you need to prove to overcome their determination. For voluntary quit disputes, the burden of proof actually shifts to the employer - they need to prove you voluntarily left without good cause. If they don't participate in the hearing, your chances of winning increase significantly (though you should still be fully prepared). Also, the judge should send you a packet before the hearing with any evidence that's been submitted. Review this carefully - it will show what your employer has said about your separation.
Update us after your hearing! I'm scheduled for mine in 3 weeks (different issue - they claim I didn't report some income but it was actually reported on the following certification). Would love to hear how yours goes.
Good luck with your hearing too! For income reporting issues, make sure you bring copies of all your certification confirmations if you have them. Those cases often come down to very specific documentation.
EDD claim filed after recent layoff - how is process different from COVID era?
Got laid off from my tech job on June 10th due to 'company restructuring' and filed my EDD claim yesterday (June 28th). This is my first time dealing with unemployment since the pandemic when everything was chaotic. My manager gave me zero warning - just a sudden Zoom call with HR present, handed me my virtual walking papers. The HR rep actually encouraged me to file for UI since they're marking it as a layoff due to business necessity, not performance. I received my final paycheck on June 24th which included my last week and about $4,200 in unused PTO. I'm trying to figure out how the system works now compared to the COVID days. From what I remember, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the phone back then. Is it any better now? The EDD site says processing takes 3-5 weeks currently - is that accurate? I also noticed mentions of Money Network instead of BofA for payments - what's that about? I selected direct deposit during my application, but not sure if that's reliable or if I should expect problems. Also, I previously received pandemic unemployment in 2020 - will that history affect my current claim in any way? Any insights from people who've gone through this recently would be super helpful while I'm budgeting for this uncertainty!
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i got laid off in jan and the money network thing is new since covid. its ok but the app is kinda glitchy sometimes. the direct deposit works fine tho! takes like 1-2 days after ur certification gets processed. def faster than waiting for the card. my claim took exactly 22 days to get approved which was within their 3-5 week estimate. just make sure all ur info matches ur w2 exactly or it can cause delays!
Did you get paid for all the weeks while you were waiting for approval? I'm on week 2 and getting nervous about bills coming up...
One important thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you check your UI Online inbox daily. EDD sends important notices there that they don't always email you about. I almost missed a deadline to provide additional information because I didn't check my inbox for a week. Also, if your claim gets stuck in pending status for more than 2 weeks, that usually means there's an issue that requires manual review. That's when being able to reach someone by phone becomes critical. The regular customer service line (1-800-300-5616) is nearly impossible to get through on, but there are specific times when your chances are better - right when they open at 8:00 AM, around 11:30 AM when the morning shift changes, and about 30 minutes before closing. The process is definitely more streamlined than during COVID, but there are still plenty of frustrations. The biggest difference is volume - during COVID they were processing millions of claims simultaneously.
I'll definitely keep an eye on my inbox - great tip! And I'll try those specific calling times if I run into issues. Really hoping my claim is straightforward enough to avoid getting stuck in pending.
Can I get EDD benefits for reduced hours due to wildfire evacuations?
Just got evacuated from the Sierra Mountains area due to the wildfires. My workplace is still standing but closed for at least 10 days. I heard from a coworker that the one week waiting period for EDD benefits was waived because of the emergency declaration. Can anyone confirm if this is true? And bigger question - can those of us with just reduced hours (not completely unemployed) apply for partial benefits during this fire situation? I normally work 38hrs/week but will have zero for at least 2 weeks. Rent is due in 12 days and I'm getting nervous. Thanks for any help!
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NONE of this matters if your employer doesn't report it right!!! My boss messed up our disaster layoff paperwork last year and we ALL had to wait 6+ weeks and do appeals. Check that your employer knows what they're doing!!!! The system is BROKEN.
While it's true employer reporting affects claims, individuals can still apply independently. If there are discrepancies, EDD typically conducts a phone interview to resolve them. The system has improved since 2023, with better disaster claim processing protocols. I'd recommend applying regardless of what your employer does - worst case, you might need to provide additional documentation.
I almost forgot - make sure you're answering the certification questions correctly for a disaster situation. For the question "Were you too sick or injured to work?", answer NO unless you were actually sick/injured. For "Was there any other reason you could not accept full-time work?", also answer NO. The key is answering "Yes" to being ready and available for work, even though your specific workplace is closed. The disaster questions will be separate and that's where you explain the fire situation.
That's super helpful, thanks for the clarification! I'll be careful with those questions when I certify.
EDD payment still pending after 2 certifications - no card received & can't reach anyone
I'm at my wit's end trying to navigate this EDD maze. My claim was approved on January 8th and I've certified for benefits twice already (Jan 15th and Jan 29th), but everything is still showing as 'pending' in the system. No payments processed at all. I haven't even received my Money Network debit card yet! I've been calling the main EDD number literally 20+ times a day for the past week and either get the dreaded 'maximum callers reached' message or it disconnects me after going through all the prompts. I'm starting to panic because rent is due next week. Are there specific hours or a different phone number where I might actually reach a human being? Is there anything I can do to push this along? Has anyone else had their payments stuck in pending this long?
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So glad to hear this worked out! The assembly member route is seriously underrated for EDD issues. Glad you got the payments released!
Great news! And thanks for confirming it was indeed a quarterly wage review flag. That's becoming more common with EDD's enhanced fraud detection system. Make sure to keep certifying on time every two weeks, and once you receive the Money Network card, activate it immediately even if the funds haven't loaded yet.
Ava Garcia
I've worked for EDD (not anymore). What's happening is 100% normal. Separation issue = current employer. Benefit calculation = base period employers. Two completely separate things in the system. You're good as long as you weren't fired for misconduct or didn't just quit your retail job without good cause.
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Dylan Cooper
Wait so if the current employer who harassed them contests the claim, can they still lose eligibility even though they were already approved? The system is so confusing!
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Ava Garcia
Yes, the current employer has 10 days to respond to the claim notice. If they contest it after initial approval, EDD may schedule a phone interview and could reverse the decision. That's why documentation of harassment is crucial.
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GalacticGuru
Update: I called EDD this morning (took forever to get through) and they confirmed what many of you said. The claim is based on my separation from the marketing job due to harassment, but the benefit amount uses wages from both employers during the base period. They also said my former marketing manager hasn't contested anything yet, but they have a few more days to respond. Crossing my fingers! Thanks everyone for your help clearing this up.
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Amara Nnamani
Glad you got confirmation! Make sure you continue certifying every two weeks regardless of any pending issues. If they do contest it, you'll likely get a phone interview scheduled. Just present your documentation calmly and stick to the facts about the harassment.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
good news!! 🙏
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