California Unemployment
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EDD eligibility with mixed cash/on-the-books work history - can I file?
I've been working under the table (cash) for the past 3 years at various construction jobs. Before that, I had a regular W-2 job at a warehouse where they reported my income using my social security number for about 2 years. I recently got injured and can't do construction work anymore. Can I still file for unemployment based on those older W-2 jobs, or am I completely out of luck because of my recent cash-only work? I've never filed for unemployment before and don't really understand how the system determines eligibility. Will EDD even consider those older jobs or is there some kind of time limit?
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Success story: EDD claim resolved in 2 days with help from local Congressional office
After 3 months of pure EDD hell with my disability claim stuck in 'pending' status, I'm actually in shock right now. I called my US Representative's office yesterday (Congressman Megan Dahl's Sacramento office) completely desperate, and they had a district coordinator who helped me. TWO DAYS LATER my entire claim is processed and payment is on the way?! I had called EDD literally 97 times (I kept count), spent hours on hold when I did get through, and nothing ever changed. The congressional office has some kind of special hotline or connection to EDD that bypasses the regular channels. Their number is (916) 206-4954 if anyone else is dealing with an impossible situation. Just sharing because I wish someone had told me this months ago before I nearly lost my apartment waiting for benefits.
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ive heard about this before but thought it was just rumors. do u have to provide them with personal info? like how do they kno your not just making up a problem
Yes, they need your personal info to help - name, address, claim number, last 4 of SSN, and details about your specific issue. They can't just call EDD without identifying whose claim they're asking about. But they're official government staff who handle sensitive info all the time. They also had me sign a privacy release form before they could contact EDD on my behalf.
This is excellent advice! I'm a former EDD employee, and I can confirm that congressional inquiries receive priority handling through special units at EDD. When a representative's office contacts EDD, it typically gets routed to the Legislative Liaison Unit rather than regular claims processing. Just remember that they can't change EDD's determination on eligibility - they can only help push through claims that are stuck in processing limbo or escalate issues that aren't getting proper attention through normal channels. Make sure to prepare all your documentation before contacting them: claim number, dates of contact with EDD, any relevant paperwork, and a clear explanation of the issue.
So they can't actually override a disqualification? I was hoping they might be able to help with my appeal that's been pending for 10 weeks with no hearing date.
Can EDD backdate my claim to March after medical delay in filing?
I got laid off on March 18th and haven't filed for unemployment yet due to some serious health issues. Ended up in the ER twice (April and May) and was hospitalized the second time. Between recovering and trying to gather all my employment history for the past 18 months, I'm only now ready to submit my claim. My question is: if I file my EDD claim today, will they backdate my benefits to my actual layoff date in March, or will the 26-week benefit period start from today's date? I'm worried I've lost nearly 3 months of potential benefits due to my medical situation. Does anyone know EDD's policy on backdating in situations like mine? Thanks for any info!
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One more thing - when you do get approved and have to certify for all those back weeks, make sure you report any income accurately if you had any sick pay or PTO payout after your layoff. EDD will cross-check with your employer and it can cause major headaches if the numbers don't match up.
Good point! I did receive my final paycheck which included some unused PTO in late March. I'll make sure to report that correctly when certifying for that period. I definitely don't want any overpayment issues down the road.
If they deny your backdate request (which happens ALOT) immediately appeal it!! You only have 30 days to appeal a denial. And make sure to keep certifying for current weeks while waiting for backdating decision. They won't tell you this but you can lose current benefits if you miss certifications while dealing with backdating issues.
This is correct - always continue certifying for current weeks even while dealing with backdating issues or appeals. Your current eligibility is separate from the backdating decision. And yes, the appeal deadline is strictly enforced, so mark your calendar for 30 days from any denial notice.
Must my husband report 4-hour mandatory meeting pay while on EDD partial benefits?
My husband works in construction and is currently collecting partial unemployment since he's on call (not enough work due to the rainy season). His company just told him there's a mandatory safety meeting this Friday that all employees have to attend, even those currently on reduced hours. They're paying everyone 4 hours for attending. We're confused about reporting - does he need to report these 4 paid hours when he certifies for benefits next time? Will those 4 hours mess up his claim or reduce his weekly benefit amount? This is our first time dealing with partial unemployment and I don't want us to get in trouble for not reporting correctly. Thanks for any help!
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why is edd so confusng with there rules????? i swear they try 2 make it hard on purpose so people mess up and they can deny benefits smh
One other important detail - when he certifies, make sure he answers "Yes" to the question "Did you work or earn money, WHETHER YOU WERE PAID OR NOT?" for the week containing that Friday meeting. Then he'll enter Friday's date, the number of hours (4), and the gross amount he'll be paid. The system will prompt him through all the necessary information.
Thank you for the step-by-step guidance! This is exactly what I needed to know. Will make sure he follows these instructions when certification time comes around.
Is calling EDD still impossible in 2025? My UI claim needs immediate attention
Has anyone successfully reached an EDD rep by phone recently? I filed my UI claim 3 weeks ago after being laid off from my warehouse job, and there's an issue with my account that I NEED to resolve ASAP. I've tried calling literally 37 times over the past week (counted them!) at different times between 8am-5pm, and either get the dreaded "we're experiencing high call volume" message or it disconnects me after 15 minutes on hold. This is getting desperate - my rent is due next week and I have $267 left in my account. Is the phone system still as broken as it was during COVID? Are there better hours to call? I tried the technical support line too but they said they can't help with my specific issue. Any advice would save my sanity right now!
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Another tip: when you do get through to someone, get their ID number or name and take detailed notes about what they tell you. I've had situations where one rep tells me something completely different from another, and having documentation of previous conversations helps tremendously, especially if you need to file an appeal later.
Update for anyone wondering - I FINALLY got through this morning! Used the 8:01am trick and called on the Spanish line (pressed 2, then asked for English when someone answered). Only waited about 20 minutes. Turns out my former employer contested my claim saying I quit (I didn't - was definitely laid off with 30 other people). Now I have to wait for an eligibility interview in two weeks, but at least I know what's happening now. The rep also expedited my interview since I explained my financial situation. Thanks everyone for your help!
Excellent news! Make sure you gather any documentation that proves you were laid off (termination letter, emails, text messages with supervisors, etc.). Having these ready for your eligibility interview will speed things up significantly. Also, continue certifying every two weeks while waiting for the interview.
Keisha Robinson
I think you should just file anyway and see what happens. The worst they can say is no, right? My cousin's boyfriend got approved even though he had some gaps in his work history. Everyone's situation is different.
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Connor O'Neill
While there's no harm in applying, it's important to be honest on the application. Gaps in work history are different from unreported cash work. EDD may investigate discrepancies, and misrepresenting employment history can lead to penalties.
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Zainab Ismail
Thanks everyone for the responses. I think I'll try to get through to EDD directly to ask about my specific situation, and also look into the general assistance programs that were suggested. Seems like regular unemployment probably won't work out, but at least I have some other options to explore now.
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