EDD asking about school/training during certification - will answering 'Yes' stop my payments?

DO NOT LIE ON YOUR CERTIFICATION!!! EDD can and will flag your account for fraud if they find out you're taking classes but answered No. I made that mistake last year and ended up with a 6-week penalty and had to repay benefits. You should answer Yes but then indicate that you're still available for full-time work. There's a section where you can explain that it's a flexible online course that won't interfere with your job search.

Answer truthfully but don't panic. The school/training question is there because EDD needs to know if you're still able to work full-time. When you answer 'Yes', they'll likely schedule an eligibility interview to confirm your training doesn't affect your availability for work. Your payments might be pending until after that interview. Since it's just a short online Excel course, you should be fine as long as you explain it clearly.

wait did u already start the class or just sign up for it??? i think the question is if u BEGAN attending, so if u just enrolled but havent started yet maybe u can say no??? not sure tho lol

The EDD system is designed to PUNISH people for trying to better themselves! I answered yes to that question when I started a night class and they froze my payments for 6 WEEKS while "investigating" if I was available for work. Had to borrow money from family to pay rent. The whole system is rigged against us!!

Have you looked into the California Training Benefits (CTB) program? If you're taking a course to improve job skills, you might qualify for CTB, which would allow you to attend school/training AND still receive benefits without having to look for work during that period. For a short Excel course, it might be overkill, but worth knowing about for the future if you decide to pursue more extensive training.

Here's what normally happens when you answer "Yes" to the school/training question: 1. Your certification may be marked as "pending" until EDD verifies your availability 2. EDD schedules an eligibility interview (can take 1-3 weeks currently) 3. During the interview, explain your course schedule and confirm you're available for full-time work 4. If approved, they release all pending payments If you need to reach EDD quickly to explain your situation or check on pending payments, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They connect you with EDD phone representatives without the endless busy signals. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Be honest on your certification - a short online Excel course shouldn't disqualify you as long as you're available for work.

this happened to me too!!! i started a youtube course on photoshop and answered yes and then my payment got stuck for like forever. so stressful. but my friend said i could have just said no since it wasnt like a real school thing?? idk the whole system is so confusing

good luck with your excel class!! i took one last year and it really helped me get my current job. hope edd doesnt give u too much trouble!!

Once you answer Yes, make sure you keep certifying for benefits every two weeks even if your payments are pending! A lot of people make the mistake of stopping certification while waiting for EDD to resolve the school issue. Then when they finally approve you, they can only pay for weeks you properly certified for.