I'm also a first-time claimant going through this exact same situation! Certified Sunday night, shows "paid" but still no "issued" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to panic thinking my claim was messed up somehow. It's amazing how many of us are all dealing with this identical timeline right now! The Bank of America tip is brilliant - I had no idea we could call them directly instead of wrestling with EDD's phone system. Definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow morning. Also just set up the text notifications so I'll stop compulsively checking my account every few hours. Thank you everyone for sharing your timelines and reassuring us nervous newcomers that this delay is totally normal. The waiting game is brutal when you're stressed about bills, but knowing we're all in this together makes it so much more bearable. Will definitely update when my status changes and when my card arrives!

I'm also a first-time claimant experiencing this exact same situation! Certified on Sunday night and my payment shows "paid" but I'm still waiting for the "issued" status to update. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - I had no idea that the delay between "paid" and "issued" was completely normal! I was starting to worry something was seriously wrong with my claim. The tip about calling Bank of America directly instead of trying to get through to EDD is genius - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning based on all the positive experiences people have shared here. It's so comforting to know that so many of us are going through this identical timeline right now. The anxiety of waiting for that first payment when bills are due is real, but reading everyone's experiences and timelines gives me hope that this will all work out normally. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community for anxious newcomers like me! Will definitely update when my status changes and when I receive my card.

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I went through something very similar to Connor last year - had penalty weeks from an old claim I barely remembered, served them all while certifying every two weeks, then saw that confusing "waiting period served" message. Like everyone here has explained, it really does mean you're completely done with both penalties AND the standard waiting week. The relief when I got my first payments was incredible! One tip for anyone currently serving penalty weeks: I found it helpful to keep a simple calendar marking off each penalty week as I completed it, just so I could track my progress and know exactly when I should expect to see that "waiting period served" status. It made the waiting feel more manageable. Connor, so happy you finally got paid - I know how exhausting that whole process is both financially and emotionally!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently on week 3 of my penalty weeks and was feeling pretty lost about what all the different EDD messages mean. Connor, your journey from penalty weeks to finally getting paid gives me so much hope - and congratulations on getting through it all! The explanation about "waiting period served" actually being GOOD news rather than another delay is mind-blowing. EDD's messaging system is so backwards - who would think that message means you're finally done with everything? I've been stressing about this whole process, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel like I'm not alone in navigating this confusing system. Definitely keeping this thread bookmarked for when I hopefully see that magical "waiting period served" message in a few more weeks. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is way more helpful than anything on EDD's website!

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm currently 2 months into my claim and have been documenting everything from the start, but I'll admit I was second-guessing myself because of friends like your cousin who just click "No" and seem fine. What really stands out to me from everyone's responses is how the system is essentially offering you a choice: take 5 minutes to protect yourself, or gamble with your benefits. When you frame it that way, it's a no-brainer. I actually had a mini panic attack last month when I got what I thought was an eligibility review notice (turned out to be something else), but having all my work search activities already documented in the system with timestamps gave me immediate peace of mind. I can't imagine how stressful that would have been if I had to scramble to prove months of job searching from scratch. For anyone still debating - the "technically optional" wording is misleading. Sure, you CAN skip the reporting, but you'd be choosing to make your life potentially much harder later. Your instinct to document everything is absolutely right. Keep doing what you're doing and don't let your cousin's seemingly easy approach tempt you into taking unnecessary risks with your benefits!

I went through this exact confusion when I started my claim 4 months ago! The way EDD phrases that question is so misleading - it really does make work search reporting seem like just an optional convenience feature when it's actually your best protection against potential issues down the road. Here's what I wish someone had told me from day one: yes, work search activities are required for most people, but the system lets you choose whether to create an official record of your compliance. Not documenting is like doing all your homework but choosing not to turn it in - you're still doing the work, but you have no proof if the teacher asks. I've been religiously clicking "Yes" and logging everything (usually 4-5 activities per week to be extra safe), and it's become such a routine that it barely feels like extra work anymore. I even created a simple system where I do most of my applications early in the week so they're fresh in my memory when I certify. The peace of mind is honestly priceless. I know that if EDD ever questions my eligibility, I have months of timestamped, detailed records right there in their own system. Your cousin might be skating by for now, but he's essentially playing Russian roulette with his benefits. Keep doing what you're doing - those extra few minutes each week are the best investment you can make in protecting your claim!

UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked my UI Online account this morning and I have an award letter in my inbox! They approved my claim without needing the interview. Now I just need to wait for my first certification period. Thanks for all the help and reassurance!

Congratulations Teresa! That's such great news and a huge relief! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic when EDD cancels interviews - more often than not it means they have what they need to approve your claim. Thanks for coming back to update us with the good news. It really helps other people in similar situations to see these positive outcomes. Now you can focus on getting those certifications done on time!

Another option that worked for me when I couldn't get through by phone - try using the "Ask EDD" feature on their website. I know it sounds like it would just be automated responses, but I actually got a real person to respond within 3 business days when I explained my situation there. I was dealing with a similar "pending medical certification" issue after my shoulder surgery, and the EDD rep who responded via the online system was able to see exactly what was missing from my file and told me what needed to be resubmitted. It's not as fast as getting someone on the phone, but it's way less frustrating than calling 50 times a day! Just make sure to be really specific about your claim details and what you're seeing in your online account when you submit the inquiry.

Just wanted to share another resource that might help - if you're really stuck and can't get through by phone or online, you can also try contacting your local state assembly member's office. I know someone mentioned this earlier, but I wanted to emphasize how effective it can be. I had a similar issue with my disability claim getting stuck in "pending" status for months, and within 48 hours of my assembly member's office contacting EDD on my behalf, I had a case worker assigned who called me directly. They have special contacts at EDD that bypass the regular phone system completely. You can find your assembly member on the CA legislature website just by entering your zip code. It shouldn't have to come to this, but sometimes political pressure is the only thing that gets EDD to actually do their job!