I'm in the exact same boat right now - got my call in notice yesterday and have been calling since 7am this morning with nothing but the "too busy" message. The stress is unreal knowing I only have 9 days left to respond. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that the manual calling approach is basically impossible when you're working against this kind of deadline. I think I'm going to have to try Claimyr or one of those callback services everyone's mentioning. The $20-25 cost is painful when you're already struggling financially, but losing my entire benefit stream would be devastating. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding that I'm not alone in this nightmare and that there are actually viable solutions beyond this broken phone system. It's infuriating that we have to pay extra just to reach a government agency that's supposed to serve us, but when your livelihood is on the line, what choice do we really have?

I'm dealing with this exact nightmare right now too! Got my call in notice on Tuesday and have been calling obsessively for three days straight with absolutely zero success - just that soul-crushing "too busy" message over and over. The anxiety is eating me alive knowing I'm already halfway through my 10-day deadline and literally cannot reach a human being no matter what I do. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced that Claimyr is going to be my only realistic option at this point. It kills me to spend $20-25 when I'm already scraping by on unemployment, but losing my entire benefit stream would be financial disaster. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and strategies - this thread has been a genuine lifesaver in showing me I'm not going crazy and that there are actually solutions beyond EDD's completely broken phone system. It's absolutely insane that we have to pay a third party service just to access a basic government agency, but when your livelihood is literally on the line, what choice do we have? Don't let anyone tell you to "keep trying" with manual calling when you're facing a hard deadline like this - these 10-day limits are not negotiable and they absolutely will cut you off without mercy.

Good luck with your appeal! Just want to add that when you gather your documentation, make sure to include any written communication you had with your employer about the wage discrepancy. If you have emails or texts showing they acknowledged the error, that can really strengthen your case. Also, if you have your final pay stub from that job, compare it to what EDD shows they reported - sometimes the mistake is obvious when you see them side by side. The appeal process can take a while (like 2-3 months in my experience) but it's definitely worth it if you can prove the error wasn't your fault. You might even be able to get those penalty weeks removed retroactively.

Just want to jump in here as someone who went through a similar situation last year. I had 4 penalty weeks due to an employer wage reporting error and it was incredibly frustrating. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely need to appeal if the mistake wasn't yours - don't just accept the penalty weeks. I initially thought it wasn't worth the hassle, but after reading posts like this and getting advice from other community members, I decided to fight it. It took about 10 weeks total, but I eventually got the penalty weeks completely removed and received backpay for the weeks I had already served the penalty. The documentation is crucial - I gathered my pay stubs, tax forms, and even a letter from my former employer acknowledging their reporting error. Don't give up on the appeal process even if it seems daunting!

Congratulations on your new job! As someone who works in employment services, I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely want to do a proper final certification rather than just disappearing from the system. Here's the correct process: 1. Complete your regular bi-weekly certification this Sunday 2. Report your Monday start date and employment details accurately 3. Answer "Yes" to working and "No" to actively seeking work 4. Enter your employer information and full-time hours Your claim will automatically switch to inactive status but remain open for the full benefit year. This is actually beneficial - if something happens with the new job within that year, you can simply resume certifying without filing a completely new claim. Pro tip: Print or save a PDF of your final certification confirmation page. This serves as documentation that you properly reported your return to work on the correct date. The EDD system is designed to handle this exact scenario, so don't worry about it being "too simple" - it really is just a matter of accurately reporting your employment on that final certification. Best of luck with your new position!

Congratulations on your new job! I just went through this exact process last month and want to share what worked for me. The key is definitely doing that final certification properly - don't just stop filing! When you certify this Sunday, you'll report your Monday start date, employer details, and full-time status. The system automatically stops payments but keeps your claim open for the benefit year (which is actually great insurance if anything happens with the new job). One thing that really helped me was setting a reminder in my phone to check my UI Online account about a week after that final certification, just to confirm the status had changed to something like "claim inactive due to employment." It gave me peace of mind knowing everything processed correctly. Also, keep your login credentials somewhere safe - you never know if you might need to access your account later for tax documents or if circumstances change. The whole process ended up being much smoother than I expected once I knew what to do! Best of luck with your new position! 🎉

I'm new here but going through something very similar! Just got laid off from my administrative job at a medical clinic and starting to panic about how unemployment benefits will affect my existing Medi-Cal coverage. I'm 34 and have been on regular Medi-Cal through the expanded program, but I'm worried my UI benefits might push me over the income threshold. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs with varying income limits! The information about deductions and the different disability programs is exactly what I needed to understand. I don't have SSDI like some of you, but I do have documented anxiety and depression that sometimes makes it hard to work full-time. Would that potentially qualify me for any of the disability-related programs mentioned here, or are those specifically for physical disabilities? Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing county office tips - I've been dreading making those calls but the advice about calling early and asking for specialized workers gives me a much better game plan. This community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful situations!

I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 29 and just got laid off from my job at a nonprofit. I've been on regular Medi-Cal for about a year, but now I'm worried about how my upcoming unemployment benefits might affect my coverage. What I'm finding confusing is the timing of everything. I applied for unemployment but haven't received my first payment yet - should I report to Medi-Cal that I'll be receiving UI benefits before I actually start getting them? Or do I wait until the first payment hits my account? Also, I'm wondering about the interaction between different types of income. I have a small amount coming in from a rental property (just $300/month from renting out a room in my house) - does that get calculated differently than unemployment benefits for Medi-Cal purposes? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical tips. It's scary navigating these systems when you're already stressed about job loss, but reading everyone's stories gives me confidence that there are solutions out there. Planning to call my county office tomorrow morning armed with all the great advice from this thread!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly stressful situation. As someone who works as an employment counselor, I see cases like yours regularly, and I want to reassure you that you're absolutely on the right track with your thinking and preparation. Based on everything you've described - being a dedicated employee who's genuinely trying but facing increasingly unrealistic quotas - you would very likely qualify for EDD benefits if terminated. The California EDD specifically distinguishes between "misconduct" (which disqualifies you) and "inability to meet performance standards despite good faith effort" (which typically qualifies you). Your situation clearly falls into the latter category. A few additional points that might help: 1. The fact that they're raising quotas multiple times while market conditions are challenging actually strengthens your case significantly 2. Your clean attendance record and professional conduct history work heavily in your favor 3. Having documentation of the quota increases and your efforts to meet them is exactly what EDD looks for One thing I always tell my clients is to remember that unemployment benefits exist precisely for situations like yours - when good employees lose jobs through no fault of their own due to economic conditions or unrealistic employer expectations. You've paid into this system through your taxes, and you deserve to access it if needed. Keep taking care of yourself during this stressful time, and know that you have a strong support system here in this community. You're handling everything exactly right.

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!