California Unemployment
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Transitioning from SDI to UI benefits - when does the waiting period begin?
I've been on State Disability Insurance since last November after a major surgery. My SDI claim was approved through March 24, 2025, but I was actually laid off from my job back in December while still recovering (talk about bad timing). Now that my disability benefits are ending, I filed for unemployment yesterday and got approved pretty quickly - I think already having an EDD account and being verified through the SDI system streamlined things. \n\nMy confusion is about the one-week waiting period for UI. Does my waiting period start the day after my SDI ends (March 25), or does it start from when I actually filed for unemployment? Or worst case - would it somehow start from my original layoff date in December? I'd really rather not waste hours trying to reach an EDD rep if anyone has been through this specific SDI-to-UI transition before. Any insights appreciated!
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How long for EDD appeal hearing in CA after quitting job? 4 months and still waiting!
I quit my retail management position in April 2025 (toxic workplace, was having panic attacks). Filed for unemployment right away, but EDD sent me a disqualification notice in May saying I quit without good cause. I immediately filed an appeal online and got confirmation they received it May 12th. It's now mid-September and I STILL haven't received any court date for my hearing! The appeal confirmation letter said 6-8 weeks, but it's been over 16 weeks now. Called EDD twice but all they say is "it's in process" and "be patient" - not helpful when my savings are almost gone! Has anyone gone through the appeal process recently? How long did your appeal hearing take to get scheduled after quitting? Is 4+ months normal or should I be doing something else to speed this up?
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Just want to add one important tip: while you're waiting for your appeal hearing, you must continue to certify for benefits every two weeks even though you won't receive payments until (and if) you win your appeal. If you stop certifying, you could lose eligibility for those weeks permanently even if you win your appeal later. Many people don't realize this and it causes them to lose potential back payments.
Thank you for this reminder! I have been certifying every two weeks even though it feels pointless right now. Glad to know I'm doing the right thing.
btw when u finally get ur hearing dont stress too much. just be super honest bout why u quit. like explain the panic attacks and how they were caused by the job. dont try to make stuff up or exaggerate cuz the judges can tell. they hear these cases all day everyday. just be real and bring ur docs.
Thanks for the advice! I'm definitely planning to just be straightforward about everything. I've got emails to HR about the situation before I quit and notes from my doctor, so hopefully that's enough documentation.
EDD claim reopened after appeal - paid after certifying without interview?
Finally got my claim reopened in February after winning my appeal (took 3 months!)... I certified yesterday but I'm super confused about the payment timeline. When I called EDD last week, I actually got through to someone who said I wouldn't need another eligibility interview since I already went through the appeal process. I completed my bi-weekly certification yesterday (Sunday) and I'm wondering - will the payment hit my Money Network card tomorrow? Or does it still go through some kind of review process first? I've got rent due Friday and I'm stressing out!!! This is the first time I've certified since the appeal was approved.
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Another important thing to remember is to keep certifying for benefits every two weeks, even if one payment is pending. Missing a certification can create more problems with your claim. And make sure all your work search activities are properly documented for each week you certify.
Yes, I've got reminders set for every other Sunday! And I've been keeping detailed notes of all my job applications and interviews. Not making that mistake again - that documentation issue is what caused my disqualification the first time around.
Telephone EDD Appeal Hearing Tips & Can My Spouse Help If English Is My Second Language?
I'm freaking out about our upcoming EDD appeal hearing that's scheduled for next month. Our situation is that EDD is listed as the 'defendant' not my previous employer which I find really confusing. The weird part is that an EDD rep actually admitted to me they made a mistake when reviewing my case, but now I'm worried they'll just stick together and deny everything. I tried to prepare by watching their tutorial video, but it shows people meeting in person with the judge while our hearing will be over the telephone. Does anyone know if the process is different for phone hearings? Are there specific things I should prepare? Also, since English isn't my first language, I really want my husband to help me during the call to make sure I understand everything correctly. Is this allowed or do I need to request this in advance? I've been unemployed for 3 months now and this appeal is for about $5,800 in benefits they initially approved then said I wasn't eligible for. Any advice or resources would be SUPER appreciated!
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my cosin had a appeal and the EDD ladie lied about EVERYTHING!!! so be carful and make sure u record the call if u can!!!
Important correction here - you CANNOT legally record the hearing without permission from the judge and all parties. The hearing is already being recorded officially. Attempting to make your own recording without permission could actually hurt your case. Instead, take detailed notes during the hearing.
When I had my phone hearing last year, I kept getting interrupted and couldn't finish explaining my situation. The EDD rep kept talking over me, and I got flustered. So here's my advice: 1. Practice explaining your case BRIEFLY - like a 2-minute summary 2. When the judge asks if you have questions for the EDD rep, ALWAYS ask something - this is your chance to point out contradictions 3. If you get cut off, politely say "Excuse me, I wasn't finished with my explanation" 4. DEFINITELY have your spouse help you 5. If you win, be prepared for EDD to still take 3-4 weeks to process your payments Oh and DO NOT hang up until the judge officially closes the hearing! Sometimes they pause to review documents, and it might seem like it's over, but it's not.
Did you win your case? I'm having my hearing next week and I'm so scared the EDD person will talk over me too. I get nervous and then my mind goes blank.
Should I wait for promised final paychecks before filing EDD claim? Company relocated out of state
My employer just relocated to Nevada with barely any notice and my last official workday was May 15th. My manager promised they'd continue to pay me through the end of June (same salary, same payment schedule) as a goodwill gesture since the move was so sudden. I'm sitting here with no job, but expecting more paychecks for the next 6 weeks. I'm confused about when I should file for unemployment with EDD. If I apply now while still receiving these promised payments, will my claim get rejected? Should I wait until all the promised money comes through before filing? I don't want to mess up my claim or be accused of fraud, but I also don't want to delay benefits once those final checks stop coming. Any advice would be super appreciated!
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dont forget u gotta be looking for work too!!! they ask u every time u certify if u looked for jobs. u need at least 3 job contacts per week I think...or maybe its 5 now? anybody know??
The current work search requirement is to conduct a reasonable search for work each week. While EDD doesn't specify an exact number of job applications, they recommend keeping a detailed record of your job search activities. This includes applications submitted, networking events, job fairs attended, etc. You might be asked to provide this information if they conduct an eligibility determination interview.
Update: I just applied for unemployment following everyone's advice here! I listed May 15th as my last day worked, and I'll report my continuing payments during certification. I also emailed my boss asking for written confirmation of our payment arrangement through June. Thank you all so much for helping clear this up - I feel much more confident now about handling this correctly.
Great decision! You're doing exactly the right thing. Now you're in the system and won't face delays when your employer payments end. Make sure to certify on time every two weeks and accurately report any income. Good luck with your job search!
StarStrider
oh i didnt know that. thx for explaining
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Liam Sullivan
UPDATE for anyone who finds this thread later: My claim did indeed get stuck in pending after the initial
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