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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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This entire thread has been so helpful! I'm scheduled for RESEA in about 10 days and was honestly losing sleep over that minimum wage question. Reading everyone's real experiences makes it clear that around 15% below previous wage is the sweet spot. I was making $26/hr doing data entry and analysis, so I'm planning to put $22-23/hr as my minimum. It's encouraging to see that the interviewers actually seem to care more about helping you succeed than catching you in some kind of trap. The tip about bringing your resume and being ready to explain your wage reasoning is gold. I'm also really intrigued by all the job search resources people mentioned - CalJOBS, industry networking groups, specialized staffing agencies. I had no idea they provided access to resources beyond the typical job boards. One quick question for those who've been through it - about how long did your actual interview take? I'm trying to plan my day around the appointment. Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences so openly!
Your wage calculation looks perfect! $22-23/hr for data entry and analysis experience is right in that reasonable range everyone's been discussing. Regarding timing - my RESEA interview took about 45 minutes to an hour. They spend time reviewing your forms, discussing your job search strategy, going over your resume, and connecting you with resources. I'd plan for at least an hour to be safe, though some people mentioned theirs were shorter. The interview really is more of a consultation than an interrogation. My counselor spent a good chunk of time showing me how to use CalJOBS effectively and gave me contact info for a couple local staffing agencies I hadn't heard of. One thing I wish I'd known - they might ask you to update your CalJOBS profile during or right after the appointment, so if you don't have an account yet, it might be worth creating one beforehand. Makes the whole process smoother. You've got this! Sounds like you're well-prepared with a realistic wage expectation and all the great advice from this thread.
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm going through the same situation right now - got my RESEA notice last week and that minimum wage question had me completely stumped. I was making $35/hr as a software tester before getting laid off, and I've been agonizing over what number to put down. After reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like around $29-30/hr (about 15% reduction) would be reasonable for my situation. It's such a relief to hear that the interviewers are actually trying to help rather than looking for reasons to disqualify benefits. The advice about researching current market rates and being prepared to explain your reasoning is spot-on. I'm going to spend some time on Glassdoor and Indeed looking at current salary ranges for QA positions in my area before filling out the form. Thanks especially to those who came back with updates after their appointments - knowing that it went well and was actually helpful makes me way less anxious about the whole process!
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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I just got my first EDD payment last week and have been too scared to even activate my card after reading all the fraud horror stories online. My coworker lost $600 from her card getting skimmed at a grocery store ATM and it took EDD almost 3 months to investigate and return her money. I had no idea you could do cash advances at any bank! I thought you were stuck with just BofA ATMs or risking sketchy machines at random stores. This changes everything - there's a Chase branch literally 2 blocks from my house, so I can just walk over there instead of driving across town to find a "safe" ATM. Quick question - do you need to call ahead to let them know you're coming for a cash advance, or can you just walk in? And is there any difference in the process between weekdays vs weekends? Also definitely going to set up that Money Network app transfer everyone's talking about. Sounds like the safest long-term solution is getting money off that card as quickly as possible. Thank you so much for sharing this - you probably just saved me from weeks of anxiety every time I need to access my benefits!
No need to call ahead! You can just walk in during normal business hours. I've done this on both weekdays and weekends with no issues - weekends might be slightly busier but the process is exactly the same. Just walk up to any available teller with your ID and EDD card. Having a Chase branch so close is perfect! You'll be able to get your money safely without any of that anxiety about using ATMs. The peace of mind is honestly priceless when you're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. And yes, definitely get that Money Network app set up as your primary method once you're comfortable with it. The combination of having both options (cash advance as backup, app transfer as main) means you'll never have to worry about being stuck with unsafe ATM options again!
This is such a lifesaver! I've been on unemployment for 8 months and have been dealing with constant anxiety about using my EDD card. I actually had my card number stolen twice - once from an ATM skimmer and another time from using it at a gas station. Both times it was a nightmare trying to get through to EDD's fraud department and getting my money back. I wish I had known about the cash advance option months ago! I've been limiting myself to only BofA ATMs and even then I was always paranoid. The fact that you can just walk into ANY bank and get a cash advance is incredible. Definitely trying this next week. One question - has anyone had issues with banks being hesitant to do this or not understanding what you're asking for? I'm worried the teller might not know how to process a cash advance from a prepaid card. Should I mention it's a Money Network/Visa card specifically? Also want to say thanks to everyone sharing the Money Network app transfer info. Just downloaded it and going to set up the bank transfer tonight. Getting that money off the EDD card ASAP seems like the way to go. This whole thread has been so helpful!
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I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - missed interview on Monday and payments still pending. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful, especially knowing about the technical issues with EDD's phone system. It makes sense why so many people are having the same problem lately. @Sophia Carson your update about getting paid without the interview is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm going to follow the advice here and wait a few more days before trying to call. The stress of pending payments is real but at least now I know it's not just me. Thanks everyone for sharing - this community really helps when dealing with EDD chaos!
I'm so glad this thread is helping you too! It's amazing how much better it feels knowing you're not alone in this situation. The fact that so many people are experiencing the same missed interview issue really does point to those system problems rather than anything we did wrong. @Sophia Carson s'success story gives me hope for all of us waiting right now. I ve'been checking this thread daily for updates and it s'been such a source of comfort during this stressful time. Hopefully your payments will switch to paid status soon just like hers did! Keep us posted on how it goes.
This thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! I'm in a very similar situation - had my interview scheduled for Wednesday and never received a call. Like many others here, I've been obsessively checking my UI Online account hoping to see that status change to paid. Reading about the technical issues with EDD's phone system really puts things in perspective - it's clearly a widespread problem affecting many claimants right now. @Sophia Carson your success story gives me so much hope! It's reassuring to know that they're reviewing cases manually when the phone interviews don't happen. I'm going to follow the advice here and wait a few more days before attempting to navigate their phone system. The stress of pending payments is overwhelming, but this community makes it so much more bearable knowing we're all going through this together. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps!
I'm so grateful this thread exists! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - missed interview yesterday and been refreshing my account every hour since. The anxiety is real when you're counting on these payments for basic expenses. It's such a relief to know this is happening to so many people and not just user error on our part. @Sophia Carson your outcome gives me hope that mine might resolve automatically too! The information about EDD s'phone system issues from @Kennedy Morrison really explains why this is suddenly affecting so many claimants. I m going'to try to be patient and wait it out like everyone suggests before attempting to call. This community support means everything when dealing with EDD stress!
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I'm going through something similar right now with my name change after marriage! One thing that really helped speed up the process was creating a dedicated folder (both physical and digital) with all my name change documents - marriage certificate, updated SS card, new driver's license, etc. That way when any agency asks for verification, I can provide it immediately rather than scrambling to find paperwork. Also, I discovered that EDD has a specific form (DE 1101CZ) for reporting name/address changes that you can submit online through your EDD account portal. It might be worth checking if that's available in your situation too. The bureaucracy is definitely frustrating, but having everything organized and ready to go at least makes the process a bit smoother. Hang in there and congrats on your pregnancy! 💕
Oh wow, I had no idea about the DE 1101CZ form! That could be a game-changer. I've been going through the regular customer service route but having a specific form for name changes sounds way more efficient. Thanks for mentioning that - I'm definitely going to look into it. Your folder organization tip is spot on too. I started doing something similar after getting frustrated with hunting for documents every time someone asked for verification. It's amazing how much smoother things go when you're prepared! Really appreciate you sharing what's working for you in real-time since we're going through the same thing. 🙏
I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Just wanted to share what's been working for me so far. I updated my ID.me account first (took about 5 business days for verification), then used the EDD online contact form to explain my name change situation before trying to call. When I finally got through to someone, they already had my message in the system which seemed to help speed things up. Also, I found that calling around 2:30pm on Tuesdays has been less busy than other times I've tried. The rep told me that once everything is synced up, I should be able to file my SDI claim without issues. Still waiting for the final update, but feeling more optimistic now! It's definitely frustrating but you're not alone in this - so many of us are dealing with the same bureaucratic maze. Keep us posted on your progress! 🤞
PixelPrincess
Hey Keisha! Former Army National Guard here - went through a similar transition a couple years back. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure you understand the difference between your "battle assembly" weekends (regular drill) and any additional duty days you might pick up. Sometimes units offer extra training opportunities or make-up drills that pay differently and might affect your benefits timeline. Also, when you do start working with civilians who don't understand military schedules, be prepared to explain why you're unavailable one weekend per month. I had a few interviews where employers seemed confused about reserve commitments. Having your drill schedule upfront can actually work in your favor - shows you're organized and committed. The EDD reporting is definitely the trickiest part, but you're smart to get it right from the start. Keep all your military documents organized in one place - LES statements, orders, training certificates, everything. EDD audits can happen months later and having that paper trail ready makes all the difference. Hang in there - the transition gets easier once you find your rhythm with both civilian work and reserve duties. Thank you for your service!
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Zara Ahmed
•This is such great advice about the different types of drill pay! I hadn't even thought about make-up drills or additional training days potentially having different reporting requirements. My unit mentioned there might be some extra training opportunities coming up, so I'll definitely need to ask about how those are paid compared to regular battle assemblies. The point about being upfront with potential employers about reserve commitments is really smart too - I was actually wondering how to handle that in interviews without it seeming like a negative. Framing it as showing organization and commitment is a much better approach than apologetically mentioning it. Thanks for the reminder about keeping all military docs organized - I've been pretty good about that during active duty but I can see how it becomes even more important during this transition period when dealing with multiple pay systems and benefit requirements.
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Ella Thompson
Welcome to civilian life and thank you for your service! I'm currently Active Guard Reserve (AGR) but was on unemployment briefly between contracts a few years ago. One thing I learned that might help you - if you're doing your Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) or Traditional Reservist (TPU) drilling, make sure you understand exactly what type of duty status you're in when you drill. Most weekend drills are "Inactive Duty Training" (IDT) which is different from "Active Duty for Training" (ADT). The pay timing and reporting can be slightly different. IDT pay usually comes 2-3 weeks after your drill weekend, while ADT (like your Annual Training) often has different payment schedules. Also, don't forget that your reserve pay stubs will show federal taxes withheld, but California doesn't tax military pay for residents, so you won't see state tax withholding. This doesn't affect your EDD reporting, but it's good to know for tax season. Keep your Reserve Component Common Access Card (CAC) active too - you'll need it for accessing military pay systems to print your Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) if EDD ever requests documentation. The myPay system is your friend for tracking exactly when payments hit your account. Best of luck with the job search - the skills you learned on active duty are valuable, even if civilian employers don't always immediately recognize the translation!
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