This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, I wanted to add that I successfully got backdating approved last year in a very similar situation. I was laid off in May but didn't file until August due to a combination of job search optimism and honestly being intimidated by the whole EDD system. What really helped my case was documenting a timeline of events and being upfront about the mental health impact. After losing my job, I went through a period of depression and anxiety that made it really hard to focus on administrative tasks. When I finally got through to an EDD rep, I explained this honestly along with my job search efforts during that time. The rep told me that mental health struggles following job loss are absolutely considered valid reasons for delayed filing. She backdated my claim to my separation date, and I received about 14 weeks of back pay totaling around $6,000. My advice for anyone in this situation: don't minimize the psychological impact of job loss. It's real, it's documented, and EDD recognizes it as good cause. Be prepared with exact dates, any documentation you have (even informal notes about your mental state), and don't be afraid to be vulnerable about how losing your job affected your ability to navigate the system immediately. The callback feature on EDD's website is also much less stressful than repeatedly calling. Good luck everyone!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact situation! I was laid off in June but didn't file until September because I kept thinking I'd find something quickly and honestly had no idea how the EDD system worked. Reading through all these responses is giving me flashbacks to how stressed I was about potentially losing all that back pay. I'm happy to report that I was able to get my claim backdated successfully! The key was being honest about the mental health impact of job loss. After getting laid off, I went through a really rough period where I was dealing with anxiety and depression that made it super hard to focus on paperwork or deal with government agencies. Even simple tasks felt overwhelming. When I finally got through to an EDD rep (took about 15 tries over two days), I explained that losing my job had really affected my mental state and ability to handle administrative tasks right away. I also mentioned that I found the EDD system confusing and intimidating, which made me keep putting it off. The rep was actually really understanding and said this is super common - apparently a lot of people struggle with filing immediately after job loss due to the psychological impact. She backdated my claim all the way to my separation date, and I ended up getting about $5,200 in back pay. The whole process from approval to seeing the money took about 3 weeks. Omar - based on your post and the health issues you mentioned, I think you have a really good shot at getting this approved. Don't downplay the anxiety and overwhelm you felt during that time. Job loss trauma is real and EDD recognizes it. Call right at 8am, have your timeline ready, and be honest about how losing your job affected your mental health. Good luck!

This is really helpful to see everyone's experiences! I'm new to unemployment benefits and just got my Money Network card last week. Haven't had to certify yet but this gives me a good idea of what to expect with the timing. Sounds like checking the transaction history is key - I wouldn't have thought to look there instead of just the main balance. Good to know about potential delays too, especially around holidays.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone searching this topic later - I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now and the timing really does vary. Sometimes it's same day, sometimes 48 hours, and I've had it take up to 3 business days during busy periods like around major holidays. The key things I've learned: 1) Always check transaction history first like others mentioned, 2) Certify as early as possible on your day (seems to help with processing order), and 3) Keep a small buffer in your checking account for auto-pays since the timing isn't 100% predictable. The system has definitely been more reliable since they switched to Money Network compared to the old BoA system, but delays still happen. Hope this helps future readers!

Welcome to the community @b9ced393b56c! Don't feel overwhelmed - you're in the right place for support and advice. The EDD overpayment situation can definitely feel scary at first, but as you can see from Cynthia's experience and others here, there are ways to work with them. The key things I've learned from reading all these threads are: 1) Don't panic about them taking everything - there are legal limits, 2) Actually getting through to talk to someone makes a huge difference, 3) They do consider hardship situations if you explain your circumstances clearly. Make sure you understand exactly why you got the overpayment so you can avoid it happening again. Feel free to ask questions here - this community has been super helpful for navigating these situations!

Welcome to both of you newcomers! @ed5474bb5503 and @b9ced393b56c - you've definitely found the right community for EDD support. I've been lurking here for months and this thread is actually a perfect example of how helpful everyone is. The fact that Cynthia came back to update us on her resolution is exactly the kind of follow-through that makes this place so valuable. One thing I'd add from my own experience - when you do get through to EDD (whether through that Claimyr service or regular calling), have all your information ready: overpayment notice details, your financial situation breakdown, and specific questions written down. The reps are usually helpful but the calls can be rushed, so being prepared makes a huge difference. Also, don't be afraid to ask for supervisor escalation if the first person you talk to can't help with hardship reductions.

Maya, I completely understand that panic! I went through the exact same thing when I got laid off from my teaching position about 4 months ago. Filed my claim on a Friday and woke up Saturday morning to that eligibility questionnaire email - immediately thought my principal had changed her mind about not contesting even though she'd been super supportive during my exit meeting. Everyone here is absolutely right though - this questionnaire is sent to every single person who files a UI claim in California, no matter what. It's just EDD's required first step to collect your side of the story before they reach out to verify with your employer. The fact that your manager explicitly told you they wouldn't contest and to apply right away is actually a really positive indicator! When EDD contacts your employer (which they do automatically for every claim), they'll simply confirm the layoff details you provided instead of disputing anything. Just make sure you use the exact same terminology on the questionnaire that your manager used during your exit interview about the reason for the layoff. My claim ended up getting approved in about 17 days with zero issues, and I got backpay for the whole period. Since you filed yesterday and have 3 weeks until rent, you should definitely be covered if you submit that questionnaire promptly. The waiting is nerve-wracking when money is tight, but you're absolutely on the right track - this is just how the process works for everyone!

Hey Maya! I totally understand that initial panic - I had the exact same reaction when I filed my claim after getting laid off from my data analyst position about 7 months ago. Got that eligibility questionnaire within hours and immediately thought "wait, did my boss lie to me about not contesting this??" But everyone here is absolutely right - this questionnaire is completely standard procedure that EDD sends to literally every single person who files a new UI claim, regardless of the circumstances. It's just their required first step to document your version of the separation before they reach out to your employer for verification. Your manager telling you they won't contest is actually really good news! It means when EDD sends them the employer verification form (which happens automatically for all claims), they'll confirm you were laid off rather than claiming you were fired for misconduct or that you quit without good cause. The key thing is to be consistent - use the exact same wording on the questionnaire that your manager used when explaining the layoff reason during your exit interview. I used the precise "department elimination due to budget restructuring" language my supervisor gave me, and my claim was approved in about 20 days with no complications. Since you filed yesterday and rent is due in 3 weeks, you should definitely be covered if you submit that questionnaire quickly. I know the financial stress is overwhelming when you're unemployed, but this is just the normal process everyone goes through. You've got this!

I'm going through a very similar situation right now - had my appeal hearing about 10 days ago for a misconduct disqualification that was completely unfair (my employer claimed I violated attendance policy when I was actually dealing with a documented medical issue). The judge seemed receptive to my case and I felt good about how it went, but like you I'm anxiously waiting for the decision letter to arrive. Reading through everyone's timelines here is really helpful - it sounds like most people see the whole process wrap up within 2-4 weeks from hearing to payment, which is way better than I was expecting! I've been diligently certifying every two weeks even though it felt pointless, and I'm down to about $200 myself so I totally understand that financial stress. One thing I'm planning to do based on the advice here is call EDD immediately after I receive my decision letter (assuming it's favorable) to make sure they process it quickly in their system. Really hoping both of us get good news soon - this whole process has been such a nightmare but it sounds like there really is light at the end of the tunnel for people with legitimate cases like ours!

I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago - misconduct disqualification during probation that was completely baseless. My employer claimed I was "unprofessional" when I had simply asked HR about inconsistent policies. After winning my appeal, here's what my timeline looked like: received the favorable decision letter 12 days after the hearing, then payments started hitting my EDD card 8 days after that. So about 3 weeks total from hearing to money in account. A few things that really helped me during the waiting period: First, I set up a daily phone reminder to check my UI Online account rather than obsessively refreshing it throughout the day. Second, I called EDD about 2 days after receiving my decision letter just to confirm they had processed it - there can sometimes be delays between the appeals office and payment processing. Third, I made sure I had the EDD mobile app with notifications enabled so I'd know immediately when payment status changed. The backpay was significant after waiting over 4 months - close to $8,500 in my case. Just be prepared for that financial relief after being down to your last $120! One practical tip: consider setting aside about 20-25% for taxes since that lump sum might affect your tax bracket. Based on your lawyer's confidence and how the hearing went, it sounds like you have a strong case. Keep certifying every two weeks - all those weeks will get paid retroactively once the disqualification is lifted. You're so close to the finish line now! This whole system is incredibly stressful but they do eventually make it right when you legitimately deserve benefits.