I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago! Filed by phone after my retail job suddenly closed, got that same confusing text, and had no idea what to do next. Here's what I learned: The "payment issued" text usually means your money will hit the debit card within 24-48 hours if you already have one, but since this sounds like your first payment, they're probably mailing your card now. I was able to track my card shipment by calling Bank of America at the number others mentioned - they could tell me it had been sent and when to expect it. One thing that saved me was setting up UI Online immediately. Even though I filed by phone, I could still create the online account using my SSN and the claim info from my paperwork. Having that online access made everything so much easier for future certifications and checking payment status. Also, don't stress too much about the amount varying - mine fluctuated based on whether I did any gig work that week. The system is confusing at first, but once you get into the rhythm of bi-weekly certifications through UI Online, it becomes much more manageable. You'll get through this!

Just wanted to chime in with some additional reassurance! I was in a very similar situation when I first filed - lost my job at a small accounting firm that closed unexpectedly, filed by phone, and then panicked when I got that text with no way to verify anything. One thing that really helped me was understanding that the EDD system, while confusing, is actually pretty reliable once you know how it works. That "payment issued" text is essentially their way of saying "your money is in the pipeline" - it's not instant like a bank transfer, but it's definitely coming. For your immediate rent situation, here's what worked for me: I called my landlord and explained I was waiting for unemployment benefits that had been approved and issued. Most landlords are understanding about EDD delays if you're proactive about communicating. Some will even accept a screenshot of the payment notification as proof that money is coming. Also, once you get your UI Online account set up (which I highly recommend doing today), you'll see a "Payment Activity" section that shows the exact status of each payment. It really helps with the anxiety of not knowing what's happening with your money. The learning curve is steep, but once you're in the system and understand the rhythm, it becomes much more manageable. You've got this!

Welcome to the community and congrats on the new job! I'm also new here but recently went through a very similar situation about 6 weeks ago. Your approach is exactly right - I was initially confused by the certification questions too, but it's really straightforward once you understand that you handle each week separately. For my situation: Week 1 was fully unemployed (YES to work search, NO to earnings), and Week 2 I started my job mid-week (YES to work search since working counts, YES to earnings for the exact days worked). The system processed everything perfectly - full payment for Week 1, partial payment for Week 2 based on my earnings. One thing that helped me was calculating my daily rate beforehand so I could report the precise amount for the days I actually worked. Don't overthink the wording of the questions - just be honest about your specific situation each week and the EDD system will handle the calculations correctly. Everyone's advice here is spot-on, and it's clear this type of mid-period job transition happens frequently and the system is designed to handle it smoothly!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's identical to your situation! I went through this exact same certification confusion about 3 weeks ago when I started a new job in the middle of my bi-weekly period. The advice everyone has given you is spot-on - I followed the same approach and it worked perfectly. Week 1 (fully unemployed): answered YES to work search and NO to earnings. Week 2 (started job Thursday): answered YES to work search (since working satisfies this requirement) and YES to earnings, reporting exactly 2 days worth of my hourly pay. EDD processed everything smoothly - I received full benefits for Week 1 and a small partial payment for Week 2 since I only worked 2 days. The certification notices automatically stopped after I reported consistent full-time earnings for a couple cycles. The key insight that helped me was realizing that the system is specifically designed to handle these mid-period employment changes - it happens all the time! Don't stress about the exact wording of the questions, just be completely honest about each week's situation individually. Congrats on your new job and trust that you're handling this correctly by asking questions first!

I'm new to this community and going through my first unemployment claim - this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! I have my eligibility interview scheduled for this Thursday and I've been a nervous wreck about it. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much more confidence about what to expect. The pattern that emerges from all your stories is really clear: when EDD processes payment the same day as your interview, it's essentially their system's way of telling you that you've been approved immediately. The interviewer obviously felt confident enough in your case to approve it on the spot, which explains why the payment gets triggered right away even though the official paperwork takes longer to process. What I find most helpful is understanding that this isn't some rare glitch - it seems to be the standard process when everything checks out cleanly during the interview. I'm going to make sure I have all my termination paperwork, pay stubs, and job search documentation organized so hopefully I can get that same quick approval. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is providing way better guidance than anything I've found on the official EDD website!

I'm completely new to this community and just created my account after finding this thread! I'm scheduled for my eligibility interview next Monday and I've been so stressed about it, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The consistent pattern of same-day payments indicating approval is something I never would have known from the official EDD resources. It makes total sense that when everything checks out during the interview, they can approve you immediately and the payment system processes faster than the notification system. What really stands out to me is how this community provides the real-world insights that you just can't get anywhere else. The fact that so many people had the exact same experience - payment the same day, followed by official determination letter days later - shows this is clearly the normal process for straightforward approvals, not some kind of system error. I'm definitely going to organize all my separation paperwork and job search documentation beforehand based on everyone's advice here. It's amazing how much more confident I feel going into this interview now that I understand what to actually expect. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone facing an eligibility interview!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently waiting for my appeal decision (hearing was last week) and seeing Dylan's timeline gives me so much hope. It's reassuring to know that 12 days to see status change to "paid" is actually pretty good compared to some of the longer waits people have experienced. The tip about checking certification history is huge - I had no idea you might need to go back and certify for weeks you missed during disqualification. Definitely going to make sure I'm caught up on that once I get my decision. Also really appreciate everyone mentioning the bank deposit limits issue. That's something I never would have thought of but makes total sense that a large lump sum could get flagged. Going to call my bank preemptively once I know my appeal outcome. Dylan, hope that money hits your account today! Thanks for sharing your experience throughout this whole process - it really helps those of us still waiting to know what to expect.

Dylan, congratulations on winning your appeal and getting to "paid" status! This whole thread has been such a valuable resource for understanding the timeline. I'm actually in week 3 of waiting after my own successful appeal, so seeing your 12-day timeline gives me hope that mine should update soon. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I learned the hard way that you should screenshot your "paid" status once it changes, because sometimes the EDD system glitches and temporarily reverts back to old statuses. Having that screenshot helped when I had to call and prove that payments had been authorized. Also, for anyone still waiting on their appeal decision - I highly recommend keeping detailed notes of every conversation with EDD reps, including dates, times, and what was discussed. It's been super helpful for tracking progress and avoiding having to repeat information when you call back. Really hoping that deposit hits your account today Dylan! Thanks for keeping everyone updated throughout your journey - it makes this stressful process so much more manageable when we can learn from each other's experiences.

I'm dealing with this same exact situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I received the "proof of social security ownership" request 3 days ago and was completely panicked because I thought it might be some kind of scam or mistake. After reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more confident about what I need to do. I'm planning to take clear photos of both sides of my SS card today using natural window lighting (thanks for that tip!) and also include my 2023 W-2 just to be extra safe. One question though - for those who have been through this process, do you remember exactly what the subject line of the message said in your UI Online inbox? I want to make sure I'm responding to the right request. Mine says "Action Required: Additional Documentation Needed for Claim Verification" but doesn't specifically mention "social security ownership" in the subject line, even though that phrase appears in the message content. Also, has anyone had experience with what happens if you miss the 10-day deadline? I'm only on day 3 but I'm curious if there's any appeal process if someone doesn't respond in time.

I went through this exact same process about 6 weeks ago and want to add a few things that might help. First, don't panic - this is totally legitimate and becoming very routine for EDD to request. A couple of additional tips from my experience: - When taking photos of your SS card, lay it flat on a dark colored surface (like a black folder) - this creates better contrast and makes the numbers/text more readable - If your SS card is old and worn/faded, they may reject it even with good photos. In that case, you can request a replacement card from SSA online (takes about 2 weeks) or use alternative documents like a W-2 or recent pay stub - Make sure your UI Online account contact info is current because they'll send status updates there The verification took 6 business days for me, and then payments resumed automatically. The most frustrating part is the complete lack of communication during those 6 days - you just have to wait and trust they're processing it. One last thing - if you have any middle names or name variations, make sure the name on your SS card exactly matches what you used on your UI claim. I've seen people get delayed because of minor name discrepancies between documents.