EDD approved my claim but it's been 15 days with no way to certify - normal wait time?

It's pretty normal to wait 2-3 weeks before you can start certifying. EDD has to process your claim completely before certification options appear in your UI Online account. If you received your award letter with your weekly benefit amount, that's a good sign! The system should automatically update to allow certification when you reach your first certification period (usually every two weeks). I'd give it until the end of this week before getting too concerned.

had the same issue back in January took like 19 days before i could certify but then they paid for all the weeks i missed so its not like u lose that money

The EDD system is COMPLETELY BROKEN in 2025!! They tell you one thing and do another. I applied in February and couldn't certify for 22 days while my savings drained away. Then when I finally could certify, they put me in pending for 'identity verification' even though I already verified through ID.me during application! The whole thing is designed to frustrate you into giving up. If you don't see certification by day 21, start calling IMMEDIATELY because they've probably messed something up on their end.

check ur mail real good sometimes they send u a paper certification form the first time my cousin thought he was supposed to wait for online but they sent him papers to fill out n mail back

After struggling to get through to EDD for weeks about my certification issue, I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have this system that basically calls EDD for you until they get through, then connects you. Saved me days of frustration. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The rep I finally spoke with was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my certification options and fixed it on the spot.

I work with UI claimants regularly, and there are a few things that might be happening here: 1. Your claim might be under review, which is common for first-time filers, especially those coming from industries with seasonal work like construction. 2. There could be a quarterly wage review happening if your claim was filed near the end of a quarter. 3. Your benefit year might be set up but the certification periods haven't been established yet. I recommend checking your UI Online account for any messages under "Notifications" or "History". Also look for any correspondence under "Contact History". If nothing appears by day 20, you should definitely call. The earliest certification period is typically set 2 weeks after your claim effective date, but system delays can extend this. When you do get access to certify, you'll be able to certify for all eligible weeks since your claim began, so you won't lose any benefits you're entitled to.

I had something similar happen but it's because I accidently checked the wrong box somewhere in my application. Do you have a disability or did you check something about being unable to work? Sometimes that routes your claim differently and causes delays. Just a thought.

Thanks everyone for the help! Based on all your advice, it sounds like my situation is actually normal and I should be patient for a few more days. My claim effective date was April 12th, so I'm guessing I'll be able to certify starting April 26th for my first two weeks. If nothing happens by then, I'll try calling EDD (or maybe use that Claimyr service if I can't get through). Really appreciate all the input - this process is way more complicated than I expected!

Romeo, you're definitely on the right track! Just want to add that it's also worth keeping an eye on your EDD debit card situation. Bank of America usually sends the EDD debit card automatically once your claim is approved, but it can take 7-10 business days to arrive. Since you're at day 15, you might want to watch for that in the mail too - sometimes people get so focused on the certification piece that they forget about setting up the payment method. The card should arrive around the same time your certification becomes available. Good luck!

Romeo, I was in almost the exact same situation last month! Filed my claim, got approved with my weekly benefit amount, then waited what felt like forever to certify. In my case, it was 18 days before the certification option showed up in my UI Online account. The waiting is nerve-wracking, especially when bills are due, but it sounds like you're following the normal timeline based on what others have shared. One thing that helped me was setting up a daily reminder to check my UI Online account at the same time each day (I did it with my morning coffee) so I wouldn't obsess over it throughout the day. Since your effective date was April 12th, you're probably looking at being able to certify around April 26th. Hang in there - the backpay will cover those waiting weeks once everything kicks in!

I went through this exact same waiting period about 6 months ago after being laid off from my job. The 15-day wait feels eternal when you're stressed about money, but from what I experienced and what everyone here is saying, you're right on track. My certification didn't show up until day 17, and then I was able to certify for all the back weeks at once. One thing that really helped me during the waiting period was calling 211 to see if there were any local emergency assistance programs for utilities or food while I waited for EDD to kick in. Some counties have programs specifically for people waiting on unemployment benefits. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're documenting any job search activities you're doing now - you'll need to report those when you do start certifying. The wait is frustrating but sounds like you're doing everything right!