Applied for UI yesterday - How long for EDD determination and interview scheduling?

It's totally unpredictable with EDD right now. I applied in February this year (2025) and got my determination letter in 9 days with no interview needed. But my roommate applied two weeks after me and is STILL waiting for her interview that's scheduled for next week. That's like 6+ weeks of waiting! I think it depends if there are any discrepancies between what you reported and what your employer reported. Did you have any issues when certifying?

The timeline varies based on several factors. For a straightforward claim (where your reason for separation isn't contested by the employer), you might get a determination in 7-10 days. If an interview is needed, they typically schedule it 2-3 weeks out from your filing date. When you check your UI Online account, watch for any messages or alerts. If an interview is scheduled, you'll see it listed under "Appointments" and you'll receive a notice with the date/time and instructions. The most common reason for interviews is when the employer contests the separation reason or when there are wage discrepancies. Make sure all your certifications are completed on time (every two weeks) even while waiting for a determination. If approved, you'll be paid for those weeks retroactively.

Got my determination in 2 weks no interview. friend of mine took 5 weeks and had interview. just depnds i guess

The ENTIRE system is designed to make you wait as long as possible!!! I applied back in January and they made me wait SIX WEEKS before even scheduling an interview. Then they CANCELLED it the day before without telling me and rescheduled for 2 weeks later!!! By that point I'd already been 2 months without income. They do this ON PURPOSE to discourage people from claiming benefits we PAID INTO with our taxes!!! Don't expect anything reasonable or fair from EDD - they work for the employers, NOT the workers who need help!!!

After trying for DAYS to reach EDD about my delayed determination (kept getting the "maximum callers" message), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have this system that essentially calls EDD repeatedly and puts you in when there's an opening. Saved me hours of redial hell. It wasn't free but totally worth it for the peace of mind. They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I talked to said determination timelines are all over the place right now - anywhere from 7 days to 6 weeks depending on claim complexity and current volume. Anyway, check out claimyr.com if you need to actually talk to someone at EDD without losing your mind!

Omg I remember when I filed last year after my startup went under and I was so confused about the whole determination vs certification thing lol. Basically determination is when they decide if you qualify at all, and certification is the biweekly thing you do to get paid. I kept thinking certification WAS the determination and got super stressed when I didn't get paid right away! 🤦‍♀️ For me, the initial determination took like 12 days. No interview needed. My first payment came about 3 days after that. But then I had that weird issue with my certification where I accidentally reported vacation pay wrong and THAT triggered an interview like 3 weeks later. So sometimes interviews happen later in the process too. The whole system is confusing af!

When I called EDD (after using Claimyr to get through), the rep told me something really important about interviews - if they schedule one, make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown/blocked numbers! Apparently, lots of people miss their interviews because they don't pick up when EDD calls, thinking it's a spam call. And if you miss that call, it can delay your claim by weeks while you wait for a reschedule.

I just went through this whole process! Filed in early March, got my approval in 10 days with no interview needed. My first payment hit my account 3 days after I did my first certification. Make sure you set up your payment preference in UI Online right away (direct deposit vs. debit card). I didn't do that initially and it delayed my first payment by a few days.

I had an interview last month and it was actually pretty quick and painless. The EDD interviewer just asked me to clarify why I left my job (I said laid off but my employer reported performance issues). We sorted it out in about 15 minutes and my claim was approved 2 days later. Just be honest and have any documentation ready like emails about your separation or severance agreement. The interviewers are actually pretty nice if you're prepared.

One more thing to keep in mind - sometimes EDD sends you tasks to complete in UI Online that can affect your determination timeline. Make sure you check your UI Online account daily and complete any tasks or questionnaires they send promptly. This can prevent unnecessary delays. Also, when you do start certifying, answer all questions carefully. Mistakes on certification can trigger additional reviews or interviews. The work search requirements are being enforced again, so be prepared to document your job search activities for each week you certify.