California Unemployment
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Need current EDD phone number after reopening claim - can't find working number
I just reopened my unemployment claim yesterday through UI Online but now I'm stuck. I need to talk to an actual human at EDD about some issues with my previous claim that might affect this one (had some part-time work that might have been reported wrong). Every phone number I try is either disconnected or has an automated message saying they can't take calls. Does anyone have an ACTUAL working phone number to reach EDD representatives in 2025? The ones on their website just lead to automated systems that don't help with my specific situation.
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How long does EDD appeal hearing take? Filed 3 weeks ago - no response yet
I got disqualified due to "voluntary quit without good cause" even though I was basically forced to resign due to unsafe working conditions (restaurant with no COVID protocols still in 2025!). Filed my appeal exactly 3 weeks ago through UI Online and mailed the required documents with delivery confirmation. Still haven't received ANY communication - no hearing date, no acknowledgment, nothing! My account just shows "Appeal Filed" status. I'm seriously stressing because my rent is due next week and I've already burned through my savings. Has anyone gone through the appeal process recently? How long did it take to get a hearing scheduled? Do they contact you by mail or email? I'm checking both obsessively every day.
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im confused... isnt there a differents between appeal and eligibilty interview?? i had to do an interview but not an appeal. or are they the same thing?
They're different steps in the process. An eligibility interview happens before a determination is made. If you're disqualified after that interview, then you can file an appeal for a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. The OP already had a determination (disqualified for voluntary quit) and has filed an appeal to challenge that determination.
ohhhh ok that makes sense. i passed my interview so i guess i didnt need the appeal part. thx for explaining
Has anyone tried contacting their state representative's office? My cousin did this when his appeal was taking forever and suddenly it got scheduled within a week. Worth a shot!
That's a great idea I hadn't thought of! I'll look up my state rep right now. Did your cousin just call their office or was there a special process?
He just called the local office and explained the situation. They have caseworkers who help with state agency issues. Had to fill out a form giving permission for them to inquire about his case. DEFINITELY worth trying!!!
Laid off after only 5 months at factory job - EDD eligibility question
Hey everyone, just got laid off from my assembly line job at the manufacturing plant last week. I was only there for 5 months (started in January, laid off end of May). The supervisor said it was due to 'production downsizing' or something like that. This was my first real job after finishing trade school. \n\nI'm worried because I've heard you need to work a full year to qualify for unemployment benefits? Is that true? I really need some income while I look for another position. My rent is due in 2 weeks and I've got maybe $800 in savings. \n\nDoes anyone know if I can still apply for EDD benefits with only 5 months at this job? I did work part-time at a warehouse for about 3 months last year during the summer if that helps. Thanks in advance!
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Great job filing! Yes, you do need to conduct work search activities each week, but it's not just limited to applying to jobs. Other qualifying activities include:\n\n- Submitting job applications/resumes\n- Going to job interviews\n- Registering with CalJOBS (definitely do this)\n- Contacting former employers about rehiring\n- Attending job fairs or networking events\n- Taking job skills workshops\n\nKeep detailed records of everything - company names, contact info, position, date of application, etc. EDD doesn't always ask for this documentation with every certification, but they can audit you and request proof later. If you're ever audited and can't provide records, you might have to repay benefits.\n\nWhen you certify every two weeks, you'll just check \
EDD certification timing question - will payment arrive same day as biweekly certification?
I'm coming up on my next certification date (10/2/24) and really need to plan my finances carefully this month. When I certified two weeks ago, I received my payment the same day on 9/18/24. Is this always the case? Will I definitely get my benefit payment on the same day that I submit my certification? I'm worried because I have rent due on 10/3 and I'm cutting it really close. Does anyone know if there's ever a delay between certifying and payment posting to your account? Thanks for any insight!
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when my friend had this problem where he needed the money by a specific date he just called his landlord and explained the situation... most landlords will give u a couple extra days if u communicate ahead of time js
That's actually smart... I should probably just call my landlord tomorrow and explain that I might be a day late. Better to communicate ahead of time than to stress so much about it. Thanks for the advice!
Glad to see you're getting good advice here. One final tip: after you certify, keep checking your UI Online account throughout the day. You'll see when your payment status changes from "pending" to "paid" - which usually means the money is on its way. If it's still showing "pending" by late afternoon on 10/2, that might indicate there's going to be a delay and you should contact your landlord as suggested.
That's a great suggestion - I'll keep refreshing my UI Online account to track the status change. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much better prepared now.
EDD certification after quitting job but new job start date delayed - what to report?
I'm kinda freaking out about my next certification and don't want to mess up my claim! Here's my situation: I voluntarily quit my restaurant job 2 weeks ago because I accepted a position at a tech company that was supposed to start this week. I even signed the voluntary quit paperwork at my old job. But yesterday the HR person from the new company called and said they're pushing back my start date until January 9th (after winter break). So now I have no income for like 5 weeks! For my certification next week, what do I put? Do I say I quit voluntarily (which I did) or that I had a job lined up that fell through? Will I even qualify for benefits during this gap period? I already used up 8 weeks of my claim earlier this year when I was laid off from a different job. So confused and worried about bills right now!
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wait im confused... isn't this kinda the new employers fault? like they should pay u for the time they promised u would be working. did u sign a contract or anything? maybe u should be going after them instead of EDD??
I signed an offer letter but it states the employment is "at-will" and they can change the terms. Super frustrating but I don't think I have any legal recourse against them. I still want the job so I don't want to cause problems before I even start.
Unfortunately, offer letters rarely guarantee a specific start date in a legally binding way. Most contain clauses allowing the company to modify terms. It's extremely common, especially around holiday seasons, for start dates to shift. While frustrating, it's not something you could successfully seek compensation for in most cases.
One additional important point: Make sure you're meeting the work search requirements while waiting for this to be resolved. You need to be completing job search activities and documenting them, even if you have a job lined up for January. EDD may ask for this information during your eligibility interview, and failing to conduct a work search could jeopardize your benefits for reasons completely separate from the voluntary quit issue.
That's good to know! Should I be applying to actual jobs even though I plan to start this new position in January? Or would activities like updating my resume and networking count toward the requirements?
For maximum protection, I recommend applying to at least some actual positions each week. Resume updates and networking count as work search activities, but EDD generally expects to see actual job applications as part of your work search. You're not obligated to accept offers, but demonstrating you're actively seeking work is important. Document everything thoroughly.
Evelyn Martinez
try calling exactly at 8:01am not 8:00am everyone calls right at 8 lol thats my secret trick
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Benjamin Carter
omg this actually works tho! i tried for days at 8:00 sharp and kept getting the busy message but tried 8:01 instead and got thru on my 3rd try!!
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Cameron Black
Just wanted to check back - were you able to get through to EDD? If you're still having trouble, remember that reopening a claim sometimes triggers an automatic review that can take 7-10 days before anything happens. During that time, you might not be able to get specific help about your claim status because it's in a processing queue.
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Victoria Jones
AuthorI finally got through! Called at 8:02am (tried that trick someone mentioned) and only had to redial 6 times. The rep was able to fix the issue with my previous work history reporting and confirmed my reopened claim should process normally now. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
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