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I work for a company that processes unemployment claims in another state, and this scenario is incredibly common across different state systems. What you're experiencing is essentially a template mismatch - EDD's automated system uses standard letter templates that weren't designed to handle the specific situation where someone reports "returned to work" but is still employed with that same employer. When you certified and reported returning to work on February 5th, you did everything correctly. The system properly suspended your benefits, but then triggered an automated workflow that sends a "last employer" inquiry letter. Unfortunately, the template assumes you're no longer with that employer, which creates this confusing situation. I'd recommend contacting EDD through UI Online first with a brief explanation. Something like: "I received a letter dated [date] regarding my 'last employer' [company name]. This employer is actually my current employer where I've been working since January 23, 2025, as reported during my February 5th certification. Please update records to reflect I am still employed there." Keep it factual and reference specific dates. This helps them locate your file quickly and make the necessary corrections. Most importantly, don't worry - you handled your certification properly and this is just a system quirk that gets resolved routinely.
This is incredibly helpful insight from someone who works in the field! I really appreciate the suggested language for contacting EDD - having a specific template to follow makes this feel much more manageable. It's reassuring to know that this template mismatch issue happens across different state systems, not just California. I was worried I was the only one dealing with this kind of confusion. Your explanation about the automated workflow triggering the wrong letter template finally makes this whole situation make sense. I'm going to use your suggested message format when I contact them through UI Online. Thank you for taking the time to explain the technical side of what's happening!
I just went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago! Got that confusing "last employer" letter about my current job and panicked thinking I had messed up my certification somehow. Turns out it's just a really common glitch in EDD's system. When you report returning to work during certification (which you did correctly), their automated letter system gets confused and sends out a standard "last employer" inquiry even though you're still working there. I sent a message through UI Online explaining the situation and got a response back in about a week confirming everything was fine and my records were updated. The customer service rep even said this happens "all the time" and that I had certified properly. Don't stress about it - you did everything right! Just reach out to them through UI Online to get your records corrected so there's no confusion if you ever need to file again in the future. The peace of mind is definitely worth it.
I just got the same letter . It has my new employer as my last and also says I’m still working. Will my new employer get the notice as well. I would hate to lose my new job because they might think I’m filing against the .@Jamal Anderson
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I'm having a similar issue where I can't my UI Online account. It's been really frustrating trying to get through to by phone. Has anyone tried the ID.me verification process? I heard that might be required now for account access, but I'm not sure if that's related to this specific error message. Would appreciate any guidance from others who've dealt with this!
Yes, the ID.me verification is definitely required now for most accounts! I had to go through that process when I got locked out earlier this year. You'll need to create an ID.me account and verify your identity with documents like your driver's license and a selfie. Once that's approved (can take a few days), you should be able to link it back to your account. The whole process was a bit tedious but it did resolve my issue. If you haven't received any mail from about identity verification like Jordan mentioned, I'd definitely try the ID.me route first before paying for services.
I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! That error message usually means your account has been flagged for security reasons or identity verification. Here's what worked for me: First, check if you have any pending mail from about identity verification - sometimes it gets delayed or goes to spam. If not, try calling the technical support line at (800) 300-5616 early in the morning (around 8:01 AM) for better chances of getting through. They can tell you exactly why your account is blocked and what steps you need to take. In my case, I had to complete the ID.me verification process online, which took about 3-4 business days to get approved. Don't give up - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!
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One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're really worried about timing and can't wait for either the card or direct deposit to get set up, you can also check if your local EDD office does in-person payment pickup for urgent situations. I know someone who used this option when they were facing eviction and couldn't wait the standard processing times. It's not widely advertised but some offices will issue a paper check for immediate pickup if you can prove financial hardship. Might be worth calling your local office to ask about this option if you're really in a tight spot with rent coming up. Obviously direct deposit is still your best long-term solution, but this could be a lifeline if you need funds immediately while waiting for everything else to get sorted out.
Wow, I had no idea about the in-person pickup option! That's actually really good to know for emergency situations. I'm hoping my direct deposit gets set up quickly enough that I won't need it, but it's reassuring to know there might be a backup option if things get really tight with rent. Do you know if they require specific documentation to prove hardship, or is it more of a case-by-case thing? This whole thread has been so much more helpful than anything I could find on the official EDD website - you all are lifesavers!
I'm not sure about the specific documentation requirements for hardship pickup, but I imagine they'd want to see something like an eviction notice, past due rent notice, or shut-off notices from utilities. When my friend did this, they had to bring their lease and a letter from their landlord showing they were behind on rent. I'd suggest calling ahead to ask what they need - each office might handle it differently. And honestly, this whole thread has been way more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found too! The real experiences from people who've actually been through this are invaluable.
Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently went through this exact situation! Filed in November after not being on unemployment since early 2021. Since it had been over 3 years, EDD automatically sent me a new Money Network card about 8-10 days after my first payment was approved - no action needed on my part. However, I'd strongly recommend setting up direct deposit through UI Online as your primary method. It's SO much faster - payments hit my account within 1-2 days of certification vs waiting for the card. Plus you avoid any potential mail delivery issues. One heads up though - make sure your address is updated in BOTH UI Online AND with Money Network directly (call 1-866-692-9374). They don't sync and that's where people run into problems with card delivery. Also activate your new card immediately when it arrives - learned that lesson the hard way at an ATM! The combo of direct deposit + card backup has given me total peace of mind. Hope this helps ease your stress about the process!
This is super reassuring to hear from someone who just went through the exact same timeline! November to now is pretty recent so I feel confident this process is still working the same way. The 8-10 days for card delivery after first payment sounds way more reasonable than the 3 weeks I was worried about from my 2022 experience. Definitely going to set up direct deposit as primary and use the card as backup like you suggest. Thanks for the specific tip about calling Money Network directly for address verification - that separate system thing seems like such an easy trap to fall into. Really appreciate you sharing your recent experience!
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I'm on day 6 since mailing my application and this thread has been absolutely incredible for managing my anxiety! Just created my UI Online account yesterday after reading through everyone's experiences, and sure enough - "no claim found" just like everyone predicted. The waiting is so nerve-wracking when you're watching your savings disappear. I've got about $280 left and keep doing the math on how long it'll last. But seeing all these real timelines where claims showed up between days 10-14 is keeping me hopeful that I'm roughly halfway through the waiting period. It's honestly frustrating that EDD doesn't explain this processing delay anywhere on their official site. A simple "mail applications take 10-14 business days to appear online" would save so many people from unnecessary stress! This community is filling that gap and I'm so grateful. Planning to stick to checking once daily instead of refreshing constantly. Based on everyone's shared experiences here, I'm probably looking at another 4-8 days before my claim appears, but at least I'll be ready to certify online immediately. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their actual day-by-day timelines - you're literally keeping people sane during the worst part of this process! 🙏
You're doing everything right by staying informed and managing your expectations! Day 6 puts you right in that middle zone where it could really appear any day now based on everyone's experiences here. I know that $280 calculation is stressful - I was doing the exact same math when I went through this process a few months ago. The once-daily checking strategy is definitely smart. I found that obsessive refreshing just made the time drag even more. You're probably looking at somewhere between 4-8 more days based on all the timelines people have shared, which means you're actually closer to the finish line than the starting point now! This community really has been amazing at filling the information gaps that EDD should be providing. Once your claim does appear, you'll be able to move so much faster with the online certification process. Hang in there - you're almost through the hardest part of not knowing! 💪
I just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and can confirm everything people are saying here. My timeline was: - Mailed application: Day 0 (Friday) - Created UI Online account: Day 5 (showed "no claim found" - totally normal!) - Claim appeared online: Day 12 - First certification completed: Same day - Payment received via direct deposit: Day 14 The waiting period is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about money, but this community's advice about creating the online account early is spot-on. Once your claim appears, you can immediately start the online certification process instead of waiting for more mail back and forth. A few tips that helped me: - Set up direct deposit the moment your claim appears - it's WAY faster than the EDD debit card - Start tracking your work search activities now, even while waiting, since you'll need to report them during certification - Check once daily at a set time instead of obsessively refreshing (easier said than done, I know!) For anyone currently in the waiting period - you're not alone and this process does work! The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but based on all the timelines shared here, most mail applications appear online between days 10-14. Once you're in the system, everything moves much smoother. This thread has been more helpful than anything on the official EDD website. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences! 🙏
This is such a helpful detailed breakdown! I'm currently on day 8 of waiting after mailing my application and your timeline gives me so much hope. Seeing that yours appeared on day 12 and you got paid just 2 days later is incredibly encouraging - it really shows how much faster everything moves once you're actually in the system. I love your tip about starting work search tracking now. I honestly hadn't thought about that requirement yet but it makes total sense to be prepared. Also definitely planning to set up direct deposit immediately based on multiple people mentioning how much faster it is than the debit card. The once-daily checking is so hard to stick to when you're anxious, but you're right that obsessive refreshing just makes time crawl. This thread really has been a lifeline during this stressful waiting period - way more useful than anything on EDD's official site. Thanks for adding another real timeline to help those of us still in limbo! 🙏
Freya Collins
As a newcomer here, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress while preparing for surgery! Your employer's Monday/Friday restriction policy is completely illegal under California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act. I recently went through something similar when I needed oral surgery - my boss tried to claim I needed "supervisor approval" for any sick days that created a 3-day weekend. Total nonsense! What worked for me was sending a very direct email stating: "I am formally requesting [X] days of accrued paid sick leave for medically necessary surgery recovery from [specific dates]. Per California Labor Code Section 246.5, employers cannot restrict when employees use sick leave for legitimate medical purposes." I attached my doctor's note and made sure to keep copies of everything. My employer backed down within 24 hours once they realized the potential liability. The key is being professional but firm, and showing you understand your rights. If they continue to give you trouble, don't hesitate to file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner's Office - they take these violations seriously and can impose significant penalties. Focus on your health and recovery, that's exactly what paid sick leave is designed for! Wishing you a smooth surgery! 💙
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Amy Fleming
•Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing your oral surgery experience! It's incredible how similar these employer tactics are - the "supervisor approval for 3-day weekends" restriction is just as ridiculous as all the other day-of-the-week limitations people have mentioned. It's like they think our bodies can schedule medical recovery around their staffing preferences! Your email template is really helpful - I love how direct and professional it is while clearly stating the law. The fact that your employer backed down within 24 hours just proves how quickly they cave once they realize they're violating labor laws. It gives me so much confidence to see all these success stories where people stood their ground and got the sick leave they were legally entitled to. I'm definitely going to adapt your approach for my situation. Having the doctor's note attached and keeping copies of everything seems to be the consistent advice from everyone here. It's frustrating that we have to become our own advocates and educate our employers about basic worker protections, but clearly it's worth it to get the time off we need for recovery. Thank you for the encouragement about focusing on health and recovery - you're absolutely right that this is exactly what paid sick leave is designed for! Reading all these experiences has really helped me feel prepared to handle this properly.
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Jacob Lewis
As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful everyone has been in breaking down this complex situation! Reading through all these experiences has really opened my eyes to how common these employer violations are across California. What strikes me most is how consistent the pattern seems to be: employers try these illegal restrictions on sick leave usage, but they almost always back down immediately once employees demonstrate they know their rights and cite the specific Labor Code sections. It's both frustrating that we have to become legal experts just to use our earned benefits, and empowering to see how effective standing your ground can be. For anyone else dealing with similar employer interference, the advice in this thread is gold: - Always make formal written requests (email creates the perfect paper trail) - Cite California Labor Code Section 246.5 specifically - Emphasize medical necessity rather than just wanting time off - Keep copies of ALL communications - Don't let them intimidate you - the Labor Commissioner's Office has your back Your employer's Monday/Friday restriction policy is textbook interference with protected sick leave rights. Surgery recovery is exactly what paid sick leave is designed for, regardless of which day of the week it falls on. Focus on your health and don't let their illegal policies add stress to an already challenging time. Wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy recovery! This community clearly has your back. 💪
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