Hey everyone! Just wanted to add another option that worked for me when I was in this exact same situation last year. If you have a Costco membership (or know someone who does), their customer service desk will cash government checks for members with just a $2 fee - way cheaper than most other places! They're usually pretty fast too since not many people know about this service. Also, if you're worried about carrying cash around after cashing your check, many places like Walmart and grocery stores will let you immediately buy a prepaid Visa card or money order with the cash, which can be safer than walking around with hundreds in cash. Just another tip to add to this super helpful thread - this community really knows how to help each other navigate EDD's confusing system!

Hey Raúl! I just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago and was SO frustrated too. EDD definitely has a weird policy where they send the first payment as a paper check even when you select the debit card option - it's like their "security measure" or something, but they don't explain it anywhere which is super annoying! For cashing it, I'd definitely recommend Walmart over check cashing places. I made the mistake of going to a check cashing place first and they wanted $25 on a $400 check - absolutely ridiculous! Walmart only charged me $4 (since my check was under $1000) and the process was super quick. Just make sure you bring your ID and have exact cash for the fee. Your Money Network card should arrive within 7-10 days after this first payment, and then all future payments will go directly on that card. Hang in there - I know it's stressful when you really need that money!

I've been dealing with the same logout issue! What finally worked for me was using the "Sign Out" link at the very bottom of the page - it's in tiny text in the footer. The dropdown menu logout wasn't working for me either, but that footer link did the trick. Hope this helps!

I had the exact same problem last week! The regular logout button wasn't working at all. What ended up working for me was completely closing my browser and reopening it - seems like there was some kind of session bug. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering with the site's functionality. The EDD website is notoriously finicky with ad blockers and privacy extensions.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I got laid off from my manufacturing job 4 weeks ago and have been considering an electrical apprenticeship program, but I was terrified it would mess up my UI benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much confidence to move forward. The apprenticeship meets 2 evenings a week (Monday/Wednesday 5-8pm) and every other Saturday morning, so I'd still be completely available for full-time work during regular weekday hours. After seeing how many people successfully navigated this by being upfront with EDD, I'm definitely going to report it honestly and look into the CTB program. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker @Fatima Al-Farsi - thank you for the detailed breakdown of the process! The DE 1906 form and documentation tips are exactly what I needed to know. I had no idea EDD actually had programs to support people getting training while on unemployment. @Carmen Ruiz @Ashley Simian - your recent success stories with trade-related training are especially encouraging! The electrical field has huge demand right now and this apprenticeship could really set me up for a solid career with great pay and job security. It's so clear from reading this thread that honesty and proper documentation are key. Thanks to everyone who shared - you've helped me understand that using unemployment time to gain valuable skills is actually something EDD supports rather than discourages!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone in my situation! I was laid off from my hotel front desk job about 6 weeks ago and have been considering a medical assistant certification program at my local community college. I was absolutely terrified that enrolling would automatically disqualify me from UI benefits, but reading through everyone's detailed experiences here has given me so much clarity. @helpful_guidance @skilled_worker @Fatima Al-Farsi - the breakdown of the CTB program and DE 1906 form is exactly what I needed! I had no idea EDD actually had specific support for people wanting to upgrade their skills during unemployment. Your tips about being very specific with availability hours and keeping organized documentation are incredibly practical. @Carmen Ruiz @Hannah Flores @Ashley Simian - seeing your recent success stories with various training programs is so encouraging! The fact that EDD representatives actually viewed your proactive training goals positively gives me real confidence to move forward. My medical assistant program would be Tuesday/Thursday mornings (8am-12pm) with one evening lab per week, leaving me available Monday/Wednesday/Friday for full-time work plus all afternoons. After reading all these experiences, I'm definitely going to be completely transparent on my next certification and apply for CTB. The healthcare field has such strong job prospects and stable employment, and this feels like the perfect opportunity to make a career change into a recession-proof industry. Thanks to this entire community for sharing such detailed, practical guidance - you've completely transformed my understanding of what's possible while on unemployment!

Hey Carmen! Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through multiple unemployment claims in California over the past few years. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice about using October 4th as your last day worked - that's absolutely the right approach. I wanted to add one thing that might help with your peace of mind: EDD actually expects some confusion around separation dates vs. final pay dates, especially with layoffs. It's super common for companies to provide continuation pay after the actual layoff date, so you're definitely not the first person to deal with this situation. When you file your claim online, make sure you're in a quiet space with good internet connection and give yourself plenty of time. The application can take 30-45 minutes if you have all your information ready, and the system sometimes logs you out if you're idle too long. Also, once you submit your application, you'll typically receive your first notice to certify for benefits about 2-3 weeks later. Don't panic if it takes a while - that's totally normal processing time. One last thing: save yourself some stress and don't try to call EDD unless you absolutely have to. The online system handles 95% of what you'll need, and the phone lines are genuinely impossible to get through most days. You're handling this really well by doing your research upfront. Wishing you the best with your claim and job search! 🙌

Hey Carmen! Welcome to the community - you're definitely asking all the right questions for your first unemployment claim! I went through a very similar situation when I was laid off from a SaaS company last year. Everyone here is absolutely correct about using October 4th as your last day worked on your EDD application. That's the date that matters for benefit eligibility, not when your final paycheck covers through. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that really helped me - when you're ready to file online, have a notepad ready to jot down any error messages or confirmation numbers as you go through the process. The EDD website can be glitchy sometimes, and having notes helped me troubleshoot issues without starting over. Also, regarding your severance timing - you don't need to wait for it to arrive before filing your claim. I made that mistake initially and it just delayed my benefits for no reason. File now with your 10/4 separation date, and when your severance does come through, you'll report it during your bi-weekly certification. The tech job market is definitely challenging right now, but starting your job search immediately (which you'll need to do for EDD work search requirements anyway) can actually lead to opportunities. I ended up finding my current role through a former colleague I reached out to during my unemployment period. You've got this! This community is super supportive if you run into any issues along the way. Good luck! 🍀

As someone who just went through this process last year, I want to emphasize how important it is to keep extremely detailed records of everything! I was doing IHSS for my grandmother while working part-time at a pharmacy, and when I lost the pharmacy job, having organized documentation saved me so much hassle. Beyond what others have mentioned, I'd recommend taking screenshots of your weekly timesheets before submitting them to the county, keeping copies of all your direct deposit receipts, and even documenting any schedule changes or care plan updates. EDD can be very thorough in their reviews, especially if there are any discrepancies in your wage reporting. Also, don't be surprised if your initial benefit calculation seems off - it took about 6 weeks for all my IHSS wages to fully appear in their system, and I had to call (multiple times!) to get it corrected. The wait was frustrating, but having all my documentation organized made the correction process much smoother. One last tip: if you use any payroll apps or county portals to track your IHSS work, make sure to download or print monthly summaries as backup records. Technology glitches happen, and you don't want to lose important wage history! This thread really covers everything perfectly - wish I had found something like this when I was going through the process!

This thread has been absolutely amazing - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences! I'm in a very similar situation to many of you: I've been doing IHSS for my elderly mother while working part-time as a medical receptionist. My hours at the clinic just got cut from 25 hours/week down to 8 hours/week due to staffing changes, so I'm planning to file for partial unemployment benefits this week. Based on everything I've read here, I now understand that my IHSS wages will definitely count toward my UI calculation since I'm caring for my parent (not spouse or minor child). The breakdown of how the $99 threshold and 75% reduction works is incredibly helpful - I had no clue about that formula! One thing that really stood out to me is how important accurate record-keeping seems to be. I'm going to start tracking my hours by EDD's Sunday-Saturday certification weeks starting this week, and I love the suggestion about taking screenshots of timesheets before submitting them to the county. Has anyone had experience with how quickly EDD processes claims when you have both traditional employment and IHSS work? I'm hoping the combination doesn't slow things down. Also, should I expect any additional verification steps since I'll be reporting two very different types of employment? Thanks again to everyone - this thread has been more helpful than any official government website I've found!