I'm really sorry you're going through such a stressful situation. As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, your story really resonated with me because I'm dealing with something similar in my current role. Reading through all the responses here, it's clear you're getting excellent advice from people who really know what they're talking about. The consensus seems very strong that performance-based terminations (especially with documentation showing unrealistic quota increases) typically qualify for EDD benefits in California. I wanted to add one small thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you do end up getting terminated and filing for EDD, consider setting up direct deposit for your benefits payments right when you file your claim. It can speed up the process of actually receiving your benefits once approved, and every day counts when you're the primary income earner. Also, just wanted to echo what others have said about taking care of your mental health through this. The uncertainty and pressure you're describing sounds absolutely exhausting. You're clearly a thoughtful, responsible person who's doing everything right in a difficult situation. Wishing you the best outcome, whether that's landing a new position before anything happens with your current job or successfully navigating the EDD process if needed. This community seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stressful situation. As someone who went through a very similar experience in healthcare sales about 18 months ago, I want to reassure you that you're approaching this exactly the right way by documenting everything and seeking advice early. I was terminated from a medical device company for not meeting quotas that had been raised three times in eight months, despite market conditions getting worse. Like you, I was terrified about EDD eligibility since I'd never been unemployed before. But I was approved for benefits within about two weeks of filing. A couple of things that really helped my case: - I had saved emails showing the quota increases alongside declining industry performance data - During my eligibility interview, I focused on specific examples of my efforts (extra training completed, overtime hours, new strategies attempted) - I was honest about the performance issues but emphasized that I was genuinely trying despite unrealistic targets The EDD representative told me they see a lot of these cases from healthcare sales right now and that performance-based terminations are very different from misconduct in their evaluation process. One practical tip: if you do get terminated, ask HR to email you the official reason for separation. Having it in writing can be really helpful for your EDD application. You sound like you're handling this really professionally, and the fact that you're being proactive shows you'll navigate this well regardless of what happens. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Got let go from a marketing agency after only 2 weeks because they said I "wasn't meshing well with the team dynamics" - which honestly felt like they just realized they hired too quickly. The sudden termination was such a shock, especially after they sold me on it being a "career opportunity." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. @Luca your perspective as a former EDD adjudicator is absolute gold - knowing that short-term employment periods actually work in our favor completely changes how I was viewing this situation. I was so worried that EDD would see this as suspicious or think I was trying to game the system somehow. I immediately took everyone's advice and sent a follow-up email to my former supervisor requesting written documentation. Got a response confirming it was due to "team fit concerns" which sounds much better than what I was imagining they might say. Having that paper trail ready is giving me so much peace of mind. @Chloe it sounds like you're handling this perfectly by getting everything documented and being proactive about reopening your claim. The fact that so many people here have gone through similar experiences and had positive outcomes is really encouraging. This community support is exactly what you need when dealing with unemployment anxiety! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should honestly be required reading for anyone navigating short-term employment situations with EDD. You're all helping so many people feel less alone in these stressful situations! 🙌

I'm going through a very similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! Got let go after just 6 weeks from a finance role for "not meeting performance expectations" despite never receiving any formal feedback or performance reviews. The sudden termination left me panicking about my EDD benefits too. What's been most helpful is @Luca's insider perspective about how these cases are actually evaluated - knowing that short employment periods work in our favor rather than against us completely flipped my anxiety about the situation. I was convinced EDD would think I was trying to abuse the system somehow. I took everyone's advice and immediately emailed my former manager requesting written documentation. Got a response within 24 hours confirming the separation was due to "performance alignment issues" - which sounds way less intimidating than I originally feared. Having that paper trail ready is giving me so much confidence going into the reopening process. @Chloe your proactive approach to documenting everything and following all the advice here shows you're handling this perfectly. Reading about everyone's success stories (@Carmen @ElectricDreamer @CosmosCaptain and others) with similar timelines really proves these situations have positive outcomes when handled correctly. This community knowledge about creating paper trails, understanding EDD's actual evaluation process, and managing the anxiety around short-term employment endings is invaluable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's helping so many of us navigate these stressful situations with much more confidence! 🙏

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through almost the exact same situation! I was so confused when I got my first payment because like you, I was expecting separate deposits for each week. The single payment threw me off completely. What really helped me understand was logging into UI Online and looking at the detailed breakdown in the Payment Activity section - it shows exactly what happened with each week. In your case with the commission, that's actually a super common issue that trips up new claimants. The timing rules are so weird - it doesn't matter that the commission was from work you did before filing, what matters is that you received it during your claim week. I made a similar mistake with a final vacation payout and had the same panic when my payment was less than expected. The good news is you didn't do anything wrong and there's no penalty - you just learned one of those EDD quirks that nobody explains clearly upfront. Keep asking questions here when you're unsure about anything - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the confusing EDD rules!

I'm new to EDD and this thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who just filed and is waiting for my first certification, I had no idea about the "when you receive it vs when you earned it" rule. This would have definitely caught me off guard too since I'm expecting some final reimbursements from my previous employer. Reading through everyone's explanations here has helped me understand that I need to report ANY money that comes in during my claim weeks, regardless of the source or when I actually did the work to earn it. It sounds like the key is being prepared and tracking any expected payments so you can budget accordingly. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that the EDD website doesn't explain clearly!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! Your employer is definitely trying to game the system to avoid their unemployment insurance costs going up. This is unfortunately really common, but the good news is you have strong documentation on your side. A few additional tips that might help: - If you have any emails or text messages you sent to friends/family right after the layoff mentioning you were let go, those can serve as contemporaneous evidence - Check if your company issued any press releases or internal communications about the RIF that you could reference - If you received COBRA paperwork, that's also evidence of involuntary termination since people who quit usually aren't eligible The fact that you have official RIF documentation puts you in a much stronger position than many people dealing with contested claims. EDD sees this employer tactic all the time and they know what to look for. Keep pushing forward with all your evidence and don't let them intimidate you into giving up. You were legitimately laid off and deserve those benefits!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you're already dealing with job loss! Your case sounds very strong though. Having official RIF paperwork that explicitly states it was an involuntary termination is exactly the kind of documentation EDD needs to see. One thing I'd suggest is to also check if your company filed a WARN notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) if the layoff was large enough. These are public records and would further prove it was a legitimate reduction in force, not individual resignations. Also, when you submit your written statement to EDD, be very specific about the meeting where you were informed of the layoff - include who was present, what was said word-for-word if you remember, and emphasize that you were told your position was eliminated, not that you had any choice in the matter. The fact that you received severance is also a huge point in your favor. Companies don't typically give severance packages to people who quit voluntarily. Make sure EDD has a copy of that severance agreement too. Hang in there - with all the documentation you have, this should resolve in your favor once EDD reviews everything properly.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation too! Just submitted my name change request through UI Online about a week ago after getting married. It's so helpful to read everyone's experiences here - sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty standard, which makes me feel better about the wait time. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've gone through this, did EDD require any additional documentation besides the marriage certificate? I uploaded mine but I'm wondering if they sometimes ask for other proof like updated driver's license or passport. Also, has anyone had success checking the status by calling that identity verification number someone mentioned earlier? Thanks for asking this question! The responses have been super informative and reassuring. Definitely going to stick with my maiden name for certifications until I get that confirmation email.

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Got married 6 weeks ago, updated with SSA right away, and submitted my name change request to EDD about 12 days ago. Still showing "pending review" and I have certification coming up this Friday. Based on all the responses here, sounds like I need to stick with my maiden name for certification until I get that official confirmation email. It's really frustrating that it takes so long when other agencies can process name changes much faster, but at least now I know what to expect timeline-wise. Has anyone noticed if submitting on certain days of the week makes a difference in processing time? I submitted mine on a Wednesday afternoon and wondering if that affects anything. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was starting to worry something was wrong with my submission.