California Unemployment
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EDD keeps disconnecting after 5-hour calls & flagging substitute teacher certifications for interviews
I'm at my wit's end with EDD! Been a substitute teacher for 3 years and filed for unemployment during summer break. After waiting 4 weeks with no payment, I've spent the last 5 HOURS trying to reach someone who can actually help. Finally got through after 37 redials only to be transferred to THREE different people who all claimed they were 'just answering phones' and couldn't help with my claim. Then got disconnected completely! Worst part? The last person I spoke with dropped this bomb: apparently if you report ANY work for a school district (even as a substitute), they automatically flag EVERY certification for an eligibility interview! No wonder my payments are delayed. Has anyone else experienced this substitute teacher nightmare? Any advice on how to actually reach someone who can HELP instead of just transferring me until I get disconnected? I'm behind on rent and completely stressed out.
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EDD payment timing after certification - still waiting after 3 days
I just certified for my UI benefits on Sunday morning (around 8am), and it's now Wednesday afternoon and still nothing in my account. My claim status shows 'paid' in the portal but my Money Network card hasn't received any deposit. Is this normal? In previous weeks it seemed to hit my card within 24 hours of certifying. Should I be worried or is the system just backed up? This is only my third certification period so I'm still figuring out the patterns. Anyone know how long it typically takes for the money to actually become available after certification shows 'paid'?
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Just a follow-up about the Money Network timing: if you certified early Sunday morning, your payment likely was processed in Monday's batch. Money Network typically receives the funds Tuesday, then takes 1-2 business days to make them available on your card. So Thursday is actually right on schedule. One tip: try setting up alerts in the Money Network app. This way, you'll get a notification as soon as funds are deposited.
Just got the deposit notification a few minutes ago! Looks like you were exactly right about the timing. I'll definitely set up those alerts for next time. Thanks again for the help!
this one time i certified and it said paid but money didnt come for TWO WEEKS!! found out there was a flag on my account for "excessive earnings" even tho i only reported like $120 from my side gig lol. EDD is weird sometimes but if urs already says paid ur probably fine
THIS!!! They always find some excuse to hold our money! Meanwhile bills don't wait!
EDD eligibility after 1-month job termination - will previous employer be charged?
Just got fired after only one month at a dental office. Boss initially said I was doing great, then suddenly claimed patients were complaining but refused to tell me what the complaints were. Made me sign a termination paper stating I was let go because 'it wasn't a good fit.' I was collecting about $425/week on unemployment before this job and kept my claim open. When she found out her name was on some EDD employer list, she seemed really angry about it. I'm completely blindsided - I actually enjoyed the job and might have tried too hard to impress. My main question: Since I only worked there for a month, will she be charged for my unemployment benefits if I reactivate my claim? Also, am I even eligible to continue benefits after being terminated like this? The whole 'not a good fit' thing feels like a way to avoid saying I was fired for cause.
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my cousin got fired after 2 months and still got benefits they just asked more questions and had a phone interview
Just make sure you SAVE EVERYTHING - any messages where she said you were doing a good job, the termination paper, EVERYTHING! EDD interviews are all about EVIDENCE. If you have proof she was initially happy with your work, that strengthens your case that there was no misconduct. The burden of proof is on HER to show why you shouldn't get benefits. The system isn't perfect but at least has SOME protections for workers!
Good advice. I don't have text messages, but I do have some emails from the first two weeks where she compliments my work. I'll gather those up now before responding to EDD.
EDD benefits exhausted and WGA strike affected my industry - what are my options?
I've been receiving UI benefits for almost a year but just exhausted my claim last week. The system says I can't file a new claim until August 2025 (6 months from now). The problem is that I work in post-production for TV, and with the WGA strike happening, there are virtually no jobs available in my field right now. I've applied for over 20 positions outside my industry but haven't gotten any callbacks. My savings are almost gone, and I'm getting really worried about paying rent. Does anyone know if there are any extensions or special programs for people in industries affected by strikes? Or am I just out of luck until August?
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I went thru this last year and ended up doing Instacart, which was better than food delivery cuz I didn't have to drive as much. just shopping and then dropping off in my neighborhood. not great money but better than nothing!
UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning! The rep said I DO qualify for a new claim, but at a much lower benefit amount ($97/week vs. my previous $450). She said this is because my base period only includes that one quarter with the November job. It's not much, but it's something to help with groceries while I keep searching for work. She also confirmed the CalFresh application should be approved since my income is now so low. Thank you everyone for the advice and support. For anyone else in a similar situation - definitely check if you have ANY earnings during your benefit year that might qualify you for a new claim, even a small one.
That's awesome news! $97 isn't much but it's definitely better than $0. Glad you got something figured out!
Great news! And remember, once the strike ends and you're able to get back to work, make sure to report any earnings correctly. You can still collect partial benefits if you work part-time but earn less than your weekly benefit amount. Every dollar helps right now.
EDD appeal hearing after employer falsified my resignation letter - need urgent advice
I just received an EDD appeal notice in the mail and I'm completely shocked by what my former employer did. I quit my retail management position back in March due to a hostile work environment, but my appeal documents show they submitted a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT resignation letter than what I wrote! They're claiming I quit for 'personal reasons' when my actual resignation cited poor management and a hostile workplace. Here's what happened: After I reported inventory mismanagement (that cost the company around $25,000) to the district manager, my direct supervisor started targeting me with false write-ups. When I finally decided to quit, they pressured me to 'rewrite my resignation without bashing anyone' if I ever wanted to transfer to another store location. I stupidly agreed because I had interviews lined up with other branches. But now 9 months later, they've submitted a FAKE resignation letter to EDD that I never wrote! My appeal hearing is in 12 days and I'm freaking out. I never thought they'd go this far. Has anyone dealt with this kind of employer deception during an EDD appeal? What documentation should I bring? How do I prove the letter isn't mine?
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just curious wht kind of job was this? retail? office? factory? different industries have different standards for what counts as "hostile" so it might matter
It was retail management at a large chain store. I was an assistant manager who reported inventory mismanagement, then suddenly started getting written up for things I didn't do.
ok thats helpful bc retail has super clear standards about inventory reporting and retaliation. make sure you mention your position title at the hearing
On the day of your hearing, arrive early (at least 30 minutes), dress professionally, and bring multiple copies of all your evidence (one for you, one for the judge, and one for the employer's representative). Also, as stressful as it may be, try to get a good night's sleep beforehand so you can think clearly. Finally, don't be afraid to respectfully ask the judge for clarification if you don't understand a question. And remember that if the employer doesn't show up for the hearing (which happens quite often), that significantly increases your chances of winning as long as you can articulate your case clearly.
Do you know if these hearings are still being done by phone due to COVID or are they in person now? The letter wasn't totally clear. And that's a good point about bringing multiple copies - I wouldn't have thought of that.
Most EDD appeals are still being conducted by phone in 2025, but it varies by office and case type. Your appeal notice should specify whether it's phone or in-person (usually in small print near the bottom). If it's by phone, have all your documents organized and in front of you, and make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception. If you're not sure, call EDD to confirm - this is another situation where getting through to a representative is crucial.
Debra Bai
Just explain exactly what happened - that you're a substitute teacher trying to collect legitimate benefits during summer break, have been waiting X weeks, and can't get anyone on the phone who can actually help. They'll have you fill out a form authorizing them to inquire about your case. Their office deals with EDD problems constantly, so they know exactly what to do.
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Nathaniel Stewart
AuthorPerfect, thank you! Between trying Claimyr, the specific call sequence, and reaching out to my Assembly member, I finally feel like I have a plan of attack. Will update here if anything works!
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Laura Lopez
I know this is frustrating, but there's actually a reason behind the school employee flags. EDD is required by federal law to verify that school employees don't receive benefits if they have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work after a break. The system automatically flags ALL school employees for this verification - it's not personal or targeted at you specifically. Once you have your interview, clarify your substitute status with no guarantee of hours. Having documentation ready will speed things up. After the initial interview, you might still see pending payments but they should resolve all at once when your eligibility is established.
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Nathaniel Stewart
AuthorThanks for explaining WHY this happens. No one at the district warned me about this when I filed. The frustrating part is spending hours trying to reach someone just to get disconnected. But at least now I understand the process better.
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