Can I collect unemployment if I have no childcare? California EDD situation

Did you end up getting approved after your interview? I have a list of about 11 places I called and none of them had openings, plus emails and texts I saved. Hoping that's enough.

The determination came about two weeks after my interview and I was approved, yeah. Having the actual names and dates of the places you called is what matters - I had a notes app screenshot showing every call with the date.

How long did it take to actually talk to someone through that service? My phone interview is next week and I want to make sure I know what questions are coming.

The interview date and the questions they plan to ask are both on the DE 4800 notice EDD mailed - check that first, it lays out exactly what they'll cover. For just getting someone on the phone, it got me to an agent the same day.

Not automatic at all. EDD's standard is basically: did you have a real reason, and did you try to fix it before walking out? They look at the whole picture. The phone interview is specifically so you can explain your side.

That makes me feel better for my own situation honestly. My babysitter just moved out of state and I've been panicking thinking I'd have no shot.

EDD decides case by case after hearing from you and the employer, so there's no way to know ahead of time. What you can control is how well you document what you tried.

Totally different things. The interview happens before any decision is made - it's EDD's way of getting your side of the story. An appeal is what you do AFTER you get a Notice of Determination if you think they got it wrong. You'd only appeal if they denied you first.

Oh okay that makes way more sense. So the interview is not me fighting a decision, it's just them asking what happened. Got it.

Yeah I had the same confusion when I first read the paperwork. The DE 4800 notice explains what the interview covers, it's not scary once you know what it is.

A commute change is a different situation than losing childcare though - both go through the same interview process but the specific circumstances really do matter. The commute denial doesn't mean childcare cases get denied too.

Maybe, but I'd prepare for the worst. I had what I thought was a solid reason and still got the letter saying no.

Sorry that happened to you. Appeals are still an option if the decision comes back wrong - 30 days from the mailing date on the Notice of Determination to file one.

My notice says the interview is Thursday morning. So I just keep my phone on and wait for the call at that time, right? I don't need to call in or anything?

Exactly right. The interviewer phones you at the scheduled time. You don't initiate it.

Also worth knowing your claim can't be paid until after the interview is done AND you've certified AND EDD has made a decision - so the sooner the interview happens the better for getting weeks released.

Most claimants have to register in CalJOBS and get a resume posted within 21 days of the date on the notice EDD sends about it - the DE 8405. Missing that can pause payments. If you're not sure where you stand, check that notice or message EDD through UI Online to ask.

I never got anything called a DE 8405, so maybe I'm in a group that doesn't have to? I'll check my mail again.

Some claimants are exempt from the CalJOBS requirement - EDD tells you if that's you. If you got no notice about it, you might be fine, but definitely confirm rather than assume.

You can apply for CalFresh even while unemployed as long as you meet the income limits - unemployment benefits count as income once they start but being jobless right now doesn't disqualify you. Apply through BenefitsCal or call 1-877-847-3663 to start. The county decides how much you'd get.

Thank you, I didn't know I could apply before benefits even started. Going to do that this week.

211 is also worth calling - they can connect you to local resources for food and other help while you're waiting on EDD to process everything.

Pending weeks when there's a question about why you left - like a quit - is EDD's normal process. The weeks stay pending until after the interview and until EDD has made its eligibility decision. Once they clear it, all the certified pending weeks get processed together.

So I should keep certifying even though everything is pending? I stopped because I figured it was pointless.

Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what. EDD can only release payment for weeks that were certified - if you skip weeks now and get approved later, those skipped weeks can't be paid back.

Ugh okay restarting immediately. Really wish that was clearer somewhere on the site.

Whether you're currently able and available for work is what EDD asks about each week you certify - it's separate from why you left your job. If your mom watching your child means you're genuinely available to look for and accept work, that matters.

Okay so it's week by week basically. If she's watching him I'm available, if she's not I'm not. That makes sense.

Exactly. Each week you certify, you're saying you were able and available that week. Document your job search activities too - EDD requires that you're actively looking as part of collecting.

Can I ask what the determination said? Completely understand if you don't want to share.

Approved. I had a lot of documentation about the search for alternative care. I think that really helped.

This is encouraging to hear. How detailed was your documentation - like did you need actual proof or just your own account?

This is really helpful. I'm going to compile everything into a folder before Thursday.

Did EDD contact your employer too or just you?

EDD notifies the last employer when you file - they get a chance to respond. In my case I don't know if my employer said anything but it didn't seem to change the outcome.

Not Bank of America anymore - EDD's debit card is through Money Network now. You can also set up direct deposit to your own bank account through myEDD if you prefer that. Payments usually show up in UI Online the day after you certify online.

Oh good to know, I'd read old posts saying BofA and wanted to double check.

The appeals process goes to an administrative law judge through the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. You'd get a Notice of Hearing at least 10 days before - it's a real hearing under oath but you can represent yourself. You have 30 days from the date on the Notice of Determination to file the appeal, using the DE 1000M form or a letter to the address on the notice.

That's not as scary as I imagined. I thought an appeal meant going to court with lawyers.

You can bring a representative - a union rep, an attorney, anyone really - but you're allowed to do it yourself. Most people represent themselves at the first level.

Yeah the cap is $450 a week regardless of what you earned. The actual amount for each person comes from the highest-earning quarter in their base period - EDD's Unemployment Benefit Calculator on their site can estimate it before the official amount comes on the DE 429Z.

Wish I'd known that earlier so I could have planned better. The DE 429Z came about two weeks after I applied and that's when reality set in.

I'm going to look at that calculator today. I've been budgeting based on what a coworker told me and I should probably check my own numbers.

Report the actual wages you earned that week, for the days you did work, in the week they were earned. The certification asks what you earned during each week - report what's accurate and EDD handles the math from there.

Even if the paycheck for those days hasn't come yet?

Yes - EDD goes by when you earned it, not when the paycheck arrives. So report it in the week you actually did the work.

Mention it in the interview for sure. EDD asks about whether you explored options with your employer before leaving - requesting a leave is exactly the kind of thing they want to hear about. The fact that your employer refused is relevant context.

Okay good, I was worried bringing up the leave request would somehow complicate things.

It actually helps your case - it shows you tried to find a way to stay before quitting. That's the kind of effort EDD looks for when they're deciding if a quit had a good reason.

Every claim has one unpaid waiting week - it's the first week you're eligible, and it doesn't come back as payment later. The first certification usually covers both the waiting week and the first paid week together, so you'd see payment for one of those two weeks after that first cert.

So the total I can get isn't reduced, it's just that the first week gets skipped on payment?

The waiting week doesn't shrink the total your claim can pay - it's more like it starts the clock. Your 26 weeks of potential benefits still run from there.

How long after the interview did you finally see something change in UI Online?

About 10 days after I talked to the agent, payment showed up for the pending weeks all at once. So total from interview to payment was closer to three weeks.

The two-week silence after an interview is so stressful. Good to know that's just processing time and not a sign of denial.

In California right now there's no general extension once your 26 weeks are up. Extended Benefits are only available during periods of high unemployment under specific state or federal triggers - they're not currently paying. One thing that can add time is California Training Benefits if you're in EDD-approved school or training, but that has its own requirements and you'd need to look into it before your 16th week.

Okay so I need to treat 26 weeks as the real ceiling and plan around that. Got it.

Those are exactly the questions I've been prepping for. Did they also ask about why the specific daycares you found didn't work, or just whether you looked?

They asked why each option I found was not workable - not in an interrogation way, more like filling in the full picture. Have your reasoning ready for each place you ruled out.

Knowing the exact questions ahead of time helps so much. I've been dreading this but now I feel like I can actually prepare.

Congratulations - that must have been such a relief. I'm still waiting on mine but seeing outcomes like this helps.

The CalJOBS confirmation question is exactly what I'd need to ask. Glad to know that's something the agents can actually see.

They could see the registration timestamp and everything. Definitely worth confirming it went through rather than just hoping.