EDD asking about school/training during certification - will answering 'Yes' stop my payments?
I'm filling out my bi-weekly certification and I'm confused about the question that asks if I've 'begun attending any school or training.' I just signed up for a 4-week online Excel course to help with my job search (I was laid off from accounting). If I answer 'Yes' to this question, will EDD stop my payments? I'm still available for full-time work and actively job searching, but I've heard horror stories about people's benefits being cut off when they try to improve their skills. Should I just answer 'No' to avoid complications? The course is flexible and won't interfere with job interviews or anything. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Andre Rousseau
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.
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Carmen Ortiz
AuthorOmg thank you! I definitely don't want to commit fraud. Do you know if they automatically put your payments on hold when you answer Yes to the school question? I'm worried about delays since my rent is due next week.
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Zoe Papadakis
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.
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Jamal Carter
I did the same thing with an online coding class last month. Payments were on hold for 2 weeks until my phone interview. Just make sure you answer the interview call! I missed mine and it took another week to reschedule 😫
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AstroAdventurer
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
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Carmen Ortiz
AuthorI've already had my first two lessons, so I think that counts as having started. I don't want to risk answering incorrectly and getting in trouble!
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Mei Liu
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!!
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Liam O'Sullivan
I understand your frustration, but this isn't entirely accurate. EDD isn't trying to punish you - they're required by law to verify your availability for work. The problem is their understaffed phone lines and interview backlog, not the policy itself. Many claimants successfully receive benefits while in training, especially for short courses that don't affect availability.
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Amara Chukwu
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.
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Carmen Ortiz
AuthorI had no idea this existed! My Excel course is probably too short to bother with this, but I've actually been considering a more comprehensive accounting certification program. I'll definitely look into CTB for that. Thanks for the tip!
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Liam O'Sullivan
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.
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Carmen Ortiz
AuthorThank you for breaking it down so clearly! I'll answer honestly and prepare for a possible delay. If my payment gets stuck in pending too long, I might try that Claimyr service. I've been trying to call EDD for days with no luck.
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Jamal Carter
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
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Zoe Papadakis
Your friend gave you bad advice. The question isn't about "real school" - it's about ANY training that might affect your availability for work. Always answer truthfully, even for informal training. The penalties for misrepresentation can include disqualification, overpayment assessments, and even fraud penalties with monetary fines.
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AstroAdventurer
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!!
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Andre Rousseau
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.
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Carmen Ortiz
AuthorThat's super helpful advice - I would've assumed I should wait until this was resolved. I'll definitely keep certifying on schedule. Thank you!
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Noland Curtis
I went through this exact situation about 3 months ago when I started an online QuickBooks course while on unemployment. I answered "Yes" truthfully and here's what happened: my certification went to pending status for about 10 days, then I got a phone interview where they asked about my course schedule and availability for work. Once I explained it was a flexible online course that wouldn't interfere with job searching or accepting work, they approved me and released all the pending payments. The key is being prepared for that interview - have your course details ready (hours per week, schedule flexibility, end date) and emphasize that you remain available for full-time employment. Don't let the pending status panic you too much, it's pretty routine for them to verify this stuff. Better to deal with a short delay than risk fraud penalties later!
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