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Can my son reopen his EDD claim after short temporary work ended?
My son was on unemployment from January through March 2025, then stopped claiming when he found a temporary/on-call position. He worked sporadically April-June but hasn't had any work assignments in the past two weeks. I'm confused about whether he should reopen his existing claim or file a completely new one? Also, does it matter that his work was temporary/on-call rather than permanent? Not familiar with the process for situations like this and want to make sure he doesn't make mistakes that could delay any benefits he might be eligible for.
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Can I get EDD benefits after PFL ends if I quit my job vs. being fired?
Hey everyone, I'm in a tough spot and need some advice about EDD benefits. My Paid Family Leave (PFL) is ending in two weeks, and I'm honestly not sure I want to go back to my current job. The situation there has become pretty toxic since I've been out (boss texting me work questions during my leave, coworkers being assigned my projects permanently, etc). Does anyone know if I'd be eligible for unemployment if I decide to quit after my PFL ends? Or would I only qualify if I got fired? I've heard conflicting things about "good cause" for quitting, but I'm not sure what EDD actually considers valid reasons. Would documenting the hostile work environment help my case if I quit? I've been at this company for almost 4 years, and honestly would prefer to just find something new rather than go back to that mess. Just trying to figure out if there would be any income support during my job search. Thanks in advance for any advice!
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honestly this whole thing depends on how your employer responds when EDD contacts them. my sister quit and got benefits no problem because her employer didn't bother to contest it. my cousin got fired and was denied because his work told EDD he was chronically late (which was true). so a lot of it depends on what your employer says and if they fight it.
That's an interesting point that hasn't been mentioned yet. I wonder if my employer would even bother contesting it. They're a pretty large company with high turnover anyway. Something to consider for sure.
Unpopular opinion maybe but if ur work environment is THAT toxic then ur health is worth more than struggling with EDD!!! Just quit if u need to - mental health comes first. Found job searches are WAAAY easier when ur not dealing with toxic workplace every day. Took me 4 weeks to find new job after I quit my hellhole job.
I appreciate this perspective too. Fortunately I've built up some savings during my PFL (spending less overall while caring for my mom), so I do have a bit of a cushion if needed. You're right that job searching while not in a toxic environment would be easier mentally.
EDD check already issued with wrong employer - need to report payroll company instead?
I'm stressing out about what might be a technical error on my UI claim. I just completed a 3-week contract job and correctly certified my earnings each week. When filling out the employer info, I listed the actual company I worked for (ABC Marketing) as my 'last employer' rather than their payroll company (PayFlex Solutions). EDD already processed everything and I received a benefit check yesterday, but now ABC Marketing contacted me saying I should have listed PayFlex as my employer since they handle all payroll and tax reporting. I haven't cashed the check yet because I'm worried this error might cause problems later. Do I need to contact EDD to fix this employer information even though they've already issued payment? Will this be considered false information if I cash the check? Also, I've been trying the main 800-300-5616 number for two days but keep getting the 'too many callers' message and getting disconnected. Is there any specific extension or alternative number to get this fixed quickly? Really appreciate any advice!
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i think wat matters is if u reported ur income correctly. thats wat they care about more than which employer name u put. i would just go ahead n cash the check, but keep all ur paystubs in case theres any questions later
Thanks! I did report all my income correctly each week, so hopefully that's the most important part. I'll definitely keep all documentation just in case.
Just to follow up on the earlier comments - I checked with an EDD representative about this specific situation recently. The official guidance is that you should list whoever issued your W-2 as your employer for UI purposes. However, they also confirmed that as long as your earnings were reported accurately, this kind of administrative correction won't affect your benefits or eligibility. If you do manage to reach EDD, ask them to add a note to your file about the correct employer name. This helps prevent confusion during any future claims or if there's a wage audit. But again, this won't affect the current benefits you've received.
Thank you for confirming! I feel much better about the situation now. I'll definitely try to get through to EDD to add that note to my file, but at least I know I can cash the check without worrying too much. Really appreciate everyone's helpful insights on this!
EDD claim approved but no Money Network card yet - should I be worried?
Hey everyone, I just got approved for UI benefits (filed on April 29) and my EDD account is showing all the right info - claim year established, weekly benefit amount of $450, and total benefit balance. My first certification is scheduled for May 12th, so I'm getting everything ready to make sure I don't mess that up. My concern is that I haven't received my Money Network debit card in the mail yet. Actually, I haven't received ANY physical mail from EDD since applying. I thought the card would come before my first payment, so I called Money Network customer service yesterday to check on status. The rep told me there's no account with my SSN or DOB in their system at all! She claimed this was normal and said my account won't be created until after my first payment is processed (around May 13th-ish). Does this sound right to you all? I was expecting to at least have the card in hand before my first payment hits. I don't want to be waiting extra weeks for money I really need right now. Did anyone else have a similar experience with Money Network?
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Update: Thanks everyone for your help! I checked my UI Online inbox and found the Notice of Award letter that I didn't know to look for. I also set up direct deposit so I won't have to wait for the card after my first payment. I feel much better knowing this is normal and not something wrong with my claim. I'll post again if I run into any issues with my first certification on Sunday!
direct deposit is def the way to go!! so much faster
EDD denied my claim after job change - appeal stuck since March with no updates
I'm so frustrated with this appeal situation and don't know what to do next. I worked at a marketing agency for nearly 3 years, then accepted a better position at a tech startup in December 2024. I gave proper two-weeks notice to my first employer and started the new job immediately after. Everything was going well until the startup suddenly laid off 30% of staff in late February 2025, including me (only 2.5 months after hiring me). When I filed for unemployment, EDD denied my claim saying I 'voluntarily quit without good cause' from my previous employer! That makes no sense - I left for a better opportunity and had continuous employment. I filed an appeal on March 19th and uploaded my termination letter from the startup as proof. It's now been over 7 weeks with absolutely no update. My UI Online account just shows 'Appeal Filed' status, no hearing date, nothing in the mail, and I can't even certify for weeks anymore. I'm completely stuck in limbo! I've tried calling EDD at least 25 times but can't get through to anyone. Has anyone dealt with this type of appeal situation? How long did your appeal process take? Do you think I have a legitimate case since I left for another job and didn't actually have any unemployment gap until the layoff? I'm doing some freelance work to survive, but it's nowhere near enough income.
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About your certification problem - try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache/cookies, and logging back in. Sometimes the UI Online system glitches and won't show certification weeks until you do this. Happened to me twice!
Thanks for the suggestion! I just tried it and unfortunately it's still showing the same status. I think it might be related to the type of appeal I filed, but I'm not sure. Really wish I could talk to someone about it.
One more important tip: call the EDD Appeals Office directly instead of the main EDD number. Their number is different (look for CA Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board) and often has shorter wait times. They can at least tell you if your appeal has been scheduled yet even if you haven't received the notice. Also, you mentioned doing freelance work - make sure you're reporting that income correctly. Even during appeal, you need to report any earnings. When/if your appeal is approved, they'll adjust your payments based on reported earnings during those weeks. Missing income reporting can create overpayment problems later.
That's a great tip about calling the Appeals Office directly! I'll look up their number. And yes, I've been keeping detailed records of all my freelance income, dates worked, and client information just to be safe. I just wish I could actually report it somewhere in the system right now.
Luca Greco
Just to update on the work search requirements discussion - the correct requirement is still 2 work search activities per week for most claimants in 2025, not 3 as someone mentioned. Your son should: 1. Keep a detailed record of all work search activities 2. Include employer names, contact information, positions applied for 3. Save copies of all job applications submitted EDD randomly selects claimants for work search verification, so having good documentation is important. The system works smoothly for temporary/on-call situations like your son's as long as everything is reported accurately.
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Nia Thompson
oh good i was worried! thx for clearing that up. keeping track of the job search stuff is such a pain i wish they made it easier
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Zara Malik
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! My son reopened his claim yesterday through UI Online. The process was pretty straightforward - he selected "lack of work" as the reason his temporary position ended. The system showed his weekly benefit amount is the same as before. Now we're just waiting for the claim to be processed. I really appreciate all the guidance!
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