Confused about bi-weekly EDD certification - steps to avoid payment delays?

You need to certify every two weeks, not weekly. Login to UI Online and look for the 'Certify for Benefits' button - it will only be active when your certification period is available. Make sure you report ANY income earned during each week, even small amounts. Missing a certification can delay your payments, but you can still certify late (up to 14 days) through UI Online. After that, you'll need to call EDD directly. Set calendar reminders for yourself every two weeks!

They USUALLY send email reminders when its time to certify but dont count on it, the system is glitchy. I missed certification once and had to call them to reopen my claim it was a nightmare!!!

im certifying right now lol. just answer the questions honestly especially about looking for work. they make you list job contacts now.

Your certification period is determined by your claim date. Most people certify every two weeks on Sunday, but your specific date might vary. You can see your next certification date right on your UI Online homepage after you log in. The certification questions are pretty straightforward - they ask if you looked for work, refused any work, worked any hours, were sick/unable to work, etc. You need to certify for each week separately (the system asks about Week 1, then Week 2 of your certification period). Most important thing: Be completely honest. If you make a mistake, it can trigger interviews or disqualifications that take forever to resolve. And yes, if you don't certify for too long (3+ weeks), your claim can go inactive and you'll need to reopen it by calling EDD.

I went through this same exact thing when I first filed. Here's what helped me: Download the UI Mobile app - it sends notifications when it's time to certify AND you can certify right through the app. Way easier than logging into the website every time. And a word of advice - if your certification sits in 'pending' for more than 3 days, don't wait around hoping it'll fix itself. You need to call EDD, but good luck getting through on their regular line. I wasted two weeks trying before I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD agent within 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Saved me so much frustration since I needed to get an eligibility issue resolved quickly. Regular certification is easy once you get the hang of it, but when problems come up, getting through to EDD is the hardest part.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you're working part-time while collecting unemployment, make sure you report your gross wages (before taxes) for the week you EARNED them, not when you got paid. This trips up a lot of people and can lead to overpayment notices later. Also, for your work search requirements, you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and be able to list them during certification. Keep track of all applications in a spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions, how you applied, and any responses. This saved me during a random eligibility interview! And if you ever see the status change to "Not Paid" instead of "Paid," call EDD immediately - it won't resolve itself.

Dont stress about certification so much, its easier than filing taxes lol. Just dont forget to do it or youll be sorry!!!!

If ur on phone the website is terrible, better use a computer for certification. I got logged out 3 times trying to certify on my phone last month and it made me answer all questions again from scratch!!! So frustraiting

You're getting great advice here! One more thing - if you hit the "Submit" button and then your internet cuts out or the page freezes, DO NOT panic and refresh or submit again right away. Wait a few minutes, then check your certification history to see if it went through. Submitting multiple times can flag your account for review. Also, if you're planning to travel outside your local area during your unemployment period, make sure to indicate that on your certification for those weeks. EDD rules require you to be available and ready to accept work, and they can check IP addresses to see where you're certifying from.

Since you're new to this, here's one more important tip: after you certify, your payment processes overnight and typically hits your Money Network card or direct deposit within 48 hours. If it takes longer than 3 business days, that usually means there's an issue requiring EDD review. The sooner you contact them about delays, the better. And remember, once you find full-time work, you still need to report those earnings on your final certification, even if it means you won't receive benefits for those weeks. Failing to do this final step is how many people end up with overpayment notices months later.

Great thread! One more thing that might help - if you ever get stuck during certification and the questions seem confusing, there's a "Help" link next to most questions that explains exactly what they're asking for. I wish I had known that my first time certifying because I was second-guessing every answer. Also, after you submit your certification, save or screenshot the confirmation page - it shows your certification was received and gives you a reference number. This has saved me twice when EDD claimed they never received my certification (even though I submitted it). The confirmation page was proof that I did everything correctly on my end.

One thing that really helped me when I started was printing out the EDD Handbook from their website - it has a whole section on certification that explains everything step by step. I kept it next to my computer for the first few months until I got comfortable with the process. Also, if you ever have to call EDD, the best times to get through are Tuesday-Thursday between 8:00-8:30 AM. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely - the wait times are insane. And keep your social security card and ID handy when you call because they'll ask for verification info right away. The certification process really does get easier once you do it a few times, so don't worry too much!

Just wanted to add something that saved me a lot of headaches - make sure you have backup ways to access your UI Online account. Write down your username and password in a safe place, and if you use security questions, write those answers down too (exactly as you entered them). I got locked out of my account right before a certification deadline because I couldn't remember if I capitalized something in my security answer. Had to wait 3 days for EDD to unlock it and almost missed my certification window. Also, if you're using a shared computer or public wifi, always log out completely and clear the browser history - you don't want someone else accessing your account. The certification process itself is straightforward once you get used to it, but account security issues can create unnecessary stress!