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Gael Robinson

Can I certify for past weeks after missing certification deadlines with EDD?

I really messed up and need some help. Lost my job at the restaurant where I was working for 3 years (budget cuts) and filed for unemployment back in January. I got approved and was receiving benefits for about 2 months. Then I got a temp job that lasted about 3 weeks in March, reported it properly, but when that ended I completely forgot to start certifying again! It's been about 5 weeks now since I should have been certifying but wasn't. I logged into UI Online today and saw that my claim is now listed as "Reopen Your Claim" instead of letting me certify. My question is - if I reopen the claim now, will I be able to go back and certify for those 5 weeks I missed? Or am I just out of luck for that money? I really need those back payments since I still haven't found steady work. Has anyone had this happen and been able to backdate certifications after reopening?

You can definitely reopen your claim, but there are some important things to know. When you reopen, the system will typically only let you certify for the most recent two weeks. For those other 3 weeks you missed, you'll need to contact EDD directly to request retroactive certification. They may require you to complete a form called "DE 1075A - Claimant Statement" where you explain why you failed to certify on time. Legitimate reasons like illness, confusion about reporting requirements, or technological issues are generally accepted. Make sure you're honest in your explanation. The reopening process itself is straightforward through UI Online, but getting those back weeks can be tricky without speaking to a representative.

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this happened to me last year! it was a NIGHTMARE getting thru to them on the phone to fix those missed weeks... took me like 2 weeks of calling

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Thank you for the detailed explanation! Do you know if there's a time limit for how far back they'll let me certify? I'm worried 5 weeks might be too long...

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The other comment is correct, but I want to add that EDD technically allows retroactive certification for up to 14 days after the certification deadline without penalty. Since you're past that 14-day window, you'll need to provide "good cause" for why you didn't certify on time. When you reopen your claim, you'll only see the current certification weeks available, not the missed ones. Here's what worked for me: After reopening my claim, I called EDD directly (took many attempts) and explained my situation. The representative manually allowed me to certify for my missed weeks. Be prepared to explain why you didn't certify - forgetting is technically not considered "good cause," so you might want to emphasize any confusion you had about the process after your temporary work ended. Also, make sure when you reopen that you enter the correct last day worked (from your temp job), or it could further complicate things.

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Forgot to add - when u reopen just remember it might take a few days to process before u can certify for anything!

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That's really helpful information. I didn't know about the 14-day grace period. I'll definitely emphasize the confusion after my temp job ended rather than just saying I forgot. I appreciate the tip about the last day worked too - I need to double check my records to make sure I get that right.

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I was in almost the exact same situation last year!! lost track of certifying for like 6 weeks after a short gig. when i reopened i could only certify for the new weeks going forward. i tried calling EDD like 50 times and couldnt get through. kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and it would hang up on me. SUPER FRUSTRATING!!! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. they have this system that calls for you and holds your place in line. you can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km i explained my situation to the rep and they were able to release those weeks for me to certify. had the money in my account like 3 days later. you def need to talk to an actual person to fix this kind of issue!

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is that service legit? sounds kinda sketchy giving someone access to call EDD for u

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they don't actually talk to EDD for you - they just get you through the phone system so you can talk to EDD yourself. saved me hours of redialing!

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DONT LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE SAYING ITS EASY TO FIX!!! The EDD system is BROKEN!!! I missed certifying for 3 weeks last winter and when I reopened my claim they made me WAIT 6 WEEKS before I could even certify for NEW weeks!!! And I NEVER got paid for those missed weeks even after talking to 3 different reps who all told me different things. One said I could get the back weeks, another said I needed to file an appeal, and the third said I was permanently out of luck. The whole system is designed to make you give up!!!

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I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. Results definitely vary depending on which representative you speak with and the specific details of your case. If you received conflicting information, you can request to speak with a tier 2 specialist who has more authority to resolve complex issues.

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Wow, I'm really sorry that happened to you. Now I'm even more worried. Did you submit any kind of written explanation about why you missed those certifications? I'm wondering if that might help my case.

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This is a common situation, so don't panic. Here's the official process: 1. Reopen your claim through UI Online 2. Once processed (usually 1-3 days), you'll be able to certify for current weeks 3. For the missed weeks, you need to request retroactive certification by contacting EDD Missed certifications beyond the 14-day grace period require good cause. Valid reasons include: - Illness or injury preventing timely certification - Confusion about reporting requirements (especially after working) - Website technical issues or access problems - Misinformation from EDD staff Document everything. When you speak with a representative, get their ID number and note the date/time of your call. If your first attempt is unsuccessful, try again - different representatives may interpret policies differently. The key is persistence. While the system is designed to process claims efficiently, it sometimes requires multiple contacts to resolve these situations. Don't give up!

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Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I'll definitely keep records of all my communications with EDD from now on. Would you recommend reopening online first, then calling about the missed weeks? Or should I try calling first before reopening?

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quick question - did u report ANY earnings during those 5 weeks u missed certifying? cause that makes a difference. if u didnt work at all during that time its usually easier to get those weeks released for payment

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No, I didn't have any work or earnings during those 5 weeks. I was actively looking for work but didn't have any income. Does that make my case easier?

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everybody keeps saying to call EDD but nobody mentions HOW IMPOSSIBLE it is to get thru!! i spent 3 days trying once. best time to call is right when they open at 8am or try right before lunch or right after lunch break ends. dont even bother on mondays its the worst day

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This is true - calling strategy matters. In addition to what's mentioned, try calling Wednesday-Friday in the late afternoon (after 3pm). The call volume often decreases then as many staff are finishing their queues for the day.

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Thanks for the tip! I'll try calling during those less busy times. Do you know if there's a specific number that's better for reopening claim issues versus the main number?

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Following up on my earlier comment - I just wanted to emphasize that when you reopen your claim, make absolutely sure that you don't accidentally create a new benefit year. You want to reopen your existing claim, not start a new one. The distinction might not be clear in the UI Online system. Also, once you get through to a representative, ask them to check if you have any "conditional payments" that might be available while they sort out your certification issues. Sometimes they can release payments on a conditional basis while they process your retroactive certification request. Lastly, start certifying on time immediately once your claim is reopened, even if the past weeks issue isn't resolved yet. You don't want to compound the problem by missing more weeks.

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That's a really good point about not accidentally starting a new benefit year. I'll be careful about that. And I'll definitely start certifying regularly once the claim is reopened, regardless of what happens with the missed weeks. I don't want to make this situation any worse than it already is.

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Based on the information you've shared and all the comments, here's what I recommend: 1. Reopen your claim online immediately 2. Wait for it to process (typically 1-3 days) 3. Begin certifying for current weeks as soon as they become available 4. Contact EDD for the missed weeks (use the contact strategies others mentioned) 5. Prepare a clear explanation for why you failed to certify (confusion after temp work ended) 6. Request retroactive certification for the specific weeks (have the exact dates ready) Since you had no earnings during those missed weeks, and it's only been 5 weeks, you have a reasonable chance of getting this resolved. The fact that you properly reported your temp work shows you were following the rules before, which works in your favor. Keep us updated on how it goes!

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Thank you for this step-by-step plan! I'm going to reopen my claim tonight and start the process. I'll definitely update this thread once I make some progress. Really appreciate everyone's help and advice.

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I went through something similar about 6 months ago. One thing I learned that might help - when you call EDD, ask specifically for them to check if your claim shows any "pending" certifications in their system. Sometimes those missed weeks will show up as pending on their end even though you can't see them in UI Online. Also, if the first rep you talk to says they can't help with retroactive certification, politely ask to be transferred to a "claims specialist" or "tier 2" representative. The front-line reps sometimes don't have the authority to release those weeks, but the specialists usually do. One more tip - if you have any documentation from your temp job (like your last paycheck stub or termination notice), have that ready when you call. It helps prove exactly when your work ended and can support your explanation for why you got confused about when to restart certifying. Good luck - it's definitely fixable, just takes patience with the system!

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Just wanted to add my experience from last month - I had a similar situation where I missed 4 weeks of certifications after a temp job ended. When I reopened my claim, I was able to get through to EDD using their "2-1-1" method (press 2 for existing claim, then 1, then 1 again when prompted). This seemed to get me to a rep faster than the main number. The rep was actually pretty understanding when I explained that I was confused about when to restart certifying after my temp work ended. They released all 4 weeks for me to certify that same day, and I got paid within a week. Make sure when you explain your situation that you mention you were unsure about the process after temporary work - that seems to be considered valid "good cause" since the rules around reporting temporary work can be confusing. Don't just say you forgot, frame it as confusion about the requirements. Also, once you get those weeks released, certify for them right away! They gave me a 7-day window to complete the certifications before they would expire again.

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This is really encouraging to hear! The "2-1-1" method sounds like it might be worth trying. I'm glad you were able to get all 4 weeks released so quickly. I'll definitely frame it as confusion about the process after temp work rather than just forgetting. That makes a lot of sense - the transition from working back to unemployment can be confusing, especially with temporary jobs. Thanks for the tip about the 7-day window too - I'll make sure to certify immediately once they're released!

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I just wanted to share some additional encouragement - I was in a very similar situation about 8 months ago where I missed 6 weeks of certifications after a short-term contract ended. I was absolutely panicking thinking I'd lost all that money forever. The key things that worked for me: First, I reopened my claim online right away (took about 2 days to process). Then I called EDD using the strategies others mentioned - early morning around 8:15am worked best for me. When I got through, I was honest about being confused after my temporary work ended about when to restart certifying, and I emphasized that I had been compliant before (reporting my temp work properly, etc.). The representative was able to release 5 out of the 6 weeks for retroactive certification. I lost one week because it was outside their policy window, but getting 5 weeks back was still a huge relief. The whole process from reopening to getting paid took about 2 weeks total. Don't give up - based on what you've described, you have a good chance of getting most if not all of those weeks back. The fact that you properly reported your temp work shows you were following the rules, and confusion after temporary employment ending is generally considered valid good cause. You've got this!

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Mei Lin

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that you were able to get 5 out of 6 weeks back even after missing 6 weeks total. That gives me a lot of hope for my situation since I'm only dealing with 5 missed weeks. I'm definitely going to emphasize the confusion aspect after my temp job ended rather than just saying I forgot - it sounds like that framing makes a big difference with the representatives. I appreciate everyone in this thread sharing their experiences and tips. I'm feeling much more confident about tackling this now!

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I'm in almost the exact same boat right now! I missed 4 weeks of certifications after my seasonal retail job ended in February. Just saw all these helpful responses and wanted to add one more thing that might help - when I called EDD yesterday, the rep mentioned that they can sometimes see a "certification history" that shows why you stopped certifying. In my case, it showed that I had properly reported work ending, which helped support my explanation about being confused when to restart. Also, I found that calling the technical support line first (1-800-300-5616) and then asking to be transferred to claims sometimes gets you through faster than calling the main number directly. The tech support line has shorter hold times, and they can transfer you internally. I'm still waiting to hear back about my missed weeks, but the rep seemed optimistic since I had no unreported income during that time. Fingers crossed for both of us! This thread has been incredibly helpful - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

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That's a great tip about calling the technical support line first! I hadn't thought of that approach. It's also really helpful to know that EDD can see your certification history - that could definitely work in my favor since I properly reported when my temp job ended. Thanks for sharing that strategy, and I really hope you hear back soon about your missed weeks! It sounds like we're both in similar situations, so hopefully we'll both get good news. I'll definitely try the tech support transfer method when I call.

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I've been following this thread and wanted to share some additional insight from someone who works adjacent to these issues. A few key points that might help: First, the "confusion after temporary work" angle that several people mentioned is absolutely the right approach. EDD recognizes that the transition from temporary employment back to regular UI certification can be genuinely confusing, especially since you have to report the work ending and then figure out when to restart certifying. Second, when you call, be prepared with specific dates. Have your temp job start date, end date, and the exact weeks you missed certifying written down. This shows you're organized and makes it easier for the rep to help you. Third, if you get pushback from the first representative, don't be afraid to hang up and call back. Different reps have different interpretations of policies, and some are more willing to help with retroactive certifications than others. I've seen cases where the second or third call yielded completely different results. Finally, consider documenting your job search activities during those missed weeks if you haven't already. Even though you weren't certifying, showing that you were actively looking for work during that time can strengthen your case for good cause. The system is definitely flawed, but based on what you've described - proper reporting of temp work, no unreported income during missed weeks, relatively short gap - you have a solid case. Stay persistent!

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This is incredibly detailed and helpful advice! I really appreciate you taking the time to break down the key strategies. Having specific dates written down is definitely something I need to do before I call - I want to make sure I have my temp job start date (March 2nd), end date (March 23rd), and the exact weeks I missed readily available. The point about different reps having different interpretations is also really valuable to know. I won't get discouraged if the first call doesn't go well. And you're absolutely right about documenting job search activities - I have been actively looking for work and applying to jobs during those 5 weeks, so I should gather that information too. Thank you for the encouragement and practical tips!

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I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. I work as a benefits counselor and see these situations frequently. The good news is that your case has several factors working in your favor: you properly reported your temporary work, you have no unreported income during the missed weeks, and it's only been 5 weeks (I've seen people successfully get retroactive certification for longer periods). One thing I always tell people in your situation is to be very specific about the "confusion" aspect when you speak with EDD. Don't just say you were confused - explain that after properly reporting your temp work ending on March 23rd, you were uncertain about the exact timing for when to restart your biweekly certifications. This shows you were trying to follow the rules correctly. Also, if possible, try to speak with a Tier 2 specialist rather than a Tier 1 rep. Tier 2 specialists have more authority to make exceptions and release retroactive certifications. You can specifically request to speak with a specialist when you call. Keep detailed notes of every interaction - date, time, representative's name/ID, and what they told you. If you need to escalate or call back, this documentation will be invaluable. Based on everything you've shared, I'm optimistic you'll be able to get those 5 weeks restored. The key is persistence and presenting your case clearly. Good luck!

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This is exactly the kind of professional insight I was hoping to find! Having someone who works as a benefits counselor weigh in really helps me understand that my situation isn't hopeless. I especially appreciate the tip about being specific when explaining the confusion - saying I was "uncertain about the exact timing for when to restart biweekly certifications after properly reporting my temp work ending" sounds much more professional than just saying I forgot. I'll definitely ask to speak with a Tier 2 specialist when I call, and I'm going to start keeping detailed notes right away. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise - it's really encouraging to hear from someone who sees these cases regularly and thinks I have a good chance of getting those weeks restored!

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I'm a new member here but wanted to chime in because I literally just went through this exact situation last month! I missed 4 weeks of certifications after a temp gig ended and was terrified I'd lost all that money. Here's what worked for me: I reopened my claim online (took 2 days to process), then called EDD at 8:05 AM on a Wednesday. Got through on my third try using the "2-1-1" method someone mentioned. When I spoke to the rep, I explained that I was "confused about when to restart my certification schedule after my temporary employment ended" - I made sure NOT to say I just "forgot." The rep was actually really understanding and said this happens a lot with temp workers. She was able to release all 4 weeks for me to certify that same day. I had the payments in my account within 5 days! One thing that really helped my case was that I had kept applying for jobs during those missed weeks, so I could show I was still actively seeking work even though I wasn't certifying. The rep mentioned this demonstrated good faith on my part. Don't lose hope - your situation sounds very similar to mine and you have several things working in your favor. The fact that you properly reported your temp work shows you were following the rules. Just be persistent with calling and frame it as confusion about the process, not forgetfulness. You've got this!

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Welcome to the community! Your success story is exactly what I needed to hear right now. It's so reassuring to know that someone just went through this exact same situation and got all 4 weeks back. I'm definitely going to use your approach - calling early in the morning on a weekday and emphasizing the confusion about when to restart certifications after temp work ended rather than just saying I forgot. The fact that you kept applying for jobs during those missed weeks is a great point too - I did the same thing, so I should definitely mention that to show I was still actively seeking work. Thank you for sharing such a detailed account of what worked for you. It gives me a lot of confidence going into this process!

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I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - your situation is definitely fixable! I went through something similar about a year ago where I missed 3 weeks after a short contract ended. The key things that helped me were: 1) Reopening online first (don't wait!), 2) Calling right at 8am when they open (Wednesday-Friday are best), and 3) Having all your dates ready (when temp job started/ended, which specific weeks you missed). When you talk to the rep, definitely emphasize that you were confused about the certification timing after your temp work ended, not that you simply forgot. I used almost those exact words and the rep said "oh that makes total sense, temp work transitions are confusing" and released my weeks immediately. One more tip - if you get the "we're experiencing high call volume" hang-up message, try calling back immediately. Sometimes you'll get through on the second or third attempt. The phone system can be glitchy but don't let that discourage you. You properly reported your temp work and had no unreported income during those 5 weeks, which puts you in a really good position. Stay positive and persistent - based on all the success stories in this thread, you're very likely to get those weeks back!

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This is such an encouraging thread to read as someone who's completely new to dealing with unemployment issues! I'm not in this exact situation yet, but reading everyone's detailed experiences and success stories really helps me understand how the EDD system works. It's clear that persistence and the right approach make a huge difference. The consistent advice about framing it as "confusion about certification timing after temp work" rather than just forgetting seems to be key. Thanks to everyone for sharing such specific, actionable tips - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable for people navigating these challenges!

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Just wanted to add another success story to give you even more hope! I missed 6 weeks of certifications last fall after a seasonal job ended and was absolutely panicking. After reading similar advice in forums like this, I reopened my claim online and then called EDD at 8:10 AM on a Thursday. The rep I spoke with was incredibly helpful once I explained that I was "uncertain about the proper timing to restart my biweekly certifications after my seasonal employment concluded." She actually said that seasonal and temp workers often have this confusion because the transition back to regular UI isn't always clear-cut in the system. What really helped my case was having a timeline written out: my seasonal job end date, the specific weeks I missed, and proof that I was still job searching during that time (I had saved screenshots of job applications). The rep was able to release 5 of the 6 weeks for retroactive certification - I only lost one week because it was right at their policy limit. The whole process took about 10 days from reopening to getting paid. Most importantly, don't get discouraged if you have to call multiple times. My first call got disconnected, second call the rep said she couldn't help, but the third call was the charm! Your situation sounds very manageable given that you properly reported your temp work and it's only been 5 weeks. Stay persistent and professional - you'll get through this!

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Thank you so much for sharing another success story! It's incredibly helpful to hear that even with 6 missed weeks, you were able to get 5 of them back. The specific language you used - "uncertain about the proper timing to restart my biweekly certifications after my seasonal employment concluded" - sounds very professional and I'm definitely going to use similar wording when I call. Having a written timeline is a great idea too - I need to get all my dates organized before I call. Your point about not getting discouraged if the first few calls don't work out is really important. It sounds like persistence really pays off with EDD. Thanks for the encouragement - hearing all these success stories is giving me so much more confidence that I can get this resolved!

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I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from a similar experience. I missed 4 weeks of certifications after a short-term contract job ended and successfully got all weeks restored last month. The most important thing is to reopen your claim online immediately - don't wait any longer. Once that processes (usually 2-3 days), you'll be able to certify for current weeks while you work on the retroactive ones. When calling EDD, timing is crucial. I had the best luck calling at 8:05 AM on Tuesday through Thursday. Avoid Mondays completely - the call volume is insane. Use the "2-1-1" method (press 2 for existing claim, then 1, then 1 when prompted) that others mentioned. For your explanation, frame it as being "confused about when to restart certification after temporary employment ended" rather than saying you forgot. This is considered valid good cause since temp work transitions can genuinely be confusing. The rep I spoke with said they see this situation frequently with temporary workers. Have these ready when you call: - Your temp job start date and end date - Exact weeks you missed certifying - Documentation that you were job searching during those weeks Since you properly reported your temp work and had no unreported income during the missed weeks, you're in a strong position. The 5-week timeframe is also very reasonable - I've seen people get longer periods restored. Stay persistent and don't get discouraged if the first call doesn't go well. Different reps have different approaches. You've got this!

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Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing such detailed advice! Your step-by-step approach is really helpful, especially the specific timing recommendations (8:05 AM Tuesday-Thursday, avoiding Mondays). I appreciate you confirming the "2-1-1" method that others have mentioned - it's good to see multiple people having success with that approach. Having all the documentation ready before calling is definitely something I need to do. I'm going to write out my temp job dates (March 2-23) and gather evidence of my job search activities during those 5 missed weeks. It's really encouraging to hear another success story where someone got all 4 weeks restored. The consistent advice across all these comments about framing it as confusion rather than forgetfulness is clearly important. Thanks for the encouragement - I'm feeling much more prepared to tackle this now!

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I just went through this exact situation two months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! I missed 5 weeks of certifications after a temp warehouse job ended in January. I was absolutely terrified I'd lose all that money. Here's my step-by-step process that got me ALL 5 weeks back: 1. Reopened my claim online immediately (processed in 2 days) 2. Called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday using the 2-1-1 method 3. Got through on my second attempt and spoke with a really helpful rep 4. Explained I was "confused about when to resume my certification schedule after my temporary employment concluded" 5. Had all my documentation ready: temp job dates (Jan 15-Feb 8), specific missed weeks, and proof of continued job searching The rep was super understanding and said temp work transitions are genuinely confusing for claimants. She released all 5 weeks for immediate certification that same day, and I had my payments within a week! What really helped my case was emphasizing that I had properly reported my temp work ending and continued actively job searching during those missed weeks. The rep said this showed "good faith effort" on my part. Your situation sounds nearly identical to mine - you properly reported your temp work, no unreported income during missed weeks, and it's only been 5 weeks. You're in a really strong position! Don't give up - this is absolutely fixable with the right approach and persistence. Pro tip: If you don't get through on your first few calls, keep trying. The phone system can be glitchy but persistence pays off. Good luck!

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This is exactly the kind of detailed success story I needed to see! Your step-by-step breakdown is incredibly helpful, and the fact that you got ALL 5 weeks back in a situation that sounds nearly identical to mine gives me so much hope. I especially appreciate you sharing the exact language you used - "confused about when to resume my certification schedule after my temporary employment concluded" - that sounds much more professional than what I was planning to say. Having all the documentation organized beforehand seems crucial too. I'm going to follow your process exactly: reopen online first, call Wednesday morning at 8 AM using the 2-1-1 method, and emphasize that I properly reported my temp work and continued job searching. Thank you for taking the time to share such specific details - this community has been incredibly supportive and I'm feeling much more confident about resolving this situation now!

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I've been reading through all these responses and I'm really impressed by how supportive this community is! As someone who's dealt with EDD issues before, I wanted to add one more piece of advice that might help. When you call EDD, try to stay calm and patient even if you're on hold for a long time or if the first rep you speak with isn't helpful. I've found that being polite and understanding goes a long way with these representatives - they deal with frustrated people all day, so a calm, respectful approach can make you stand out in a positive way. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions if something isn't clear. If the rep tells you something that doesn't match what you've read here or elsewhere, politely ask them to clarify or explain the policy. Sometimes there are nuances to individual cases that affect the outcome. Based on everything you've shared and all the success stories in this thread, you're in a really good position to get this resolved. The fact that you properly reported your temp work and have been actively job searching during those missed weeks shows you've been acting in good faith throughout this process. That matters a lot to EDD. Keep us posted on how it goes - I think we'd all love to hear another success story added to this thread!

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