EDD asking me to certify after 1 week instead of 2 - benefits ending early?

Don't panic! This is actually pretty common and doesn't necessarily mean your benefits are ending. There are several reasons why EDD might ask you to certify after one week instead of two: 1. It's likely just a schedule adjustment. EDD sometimes does this to align everyone to the same certification weeks. After this one-week period, you'll probably go back to the normal two-week cycle. 2. Did you report any earnings recently? Sometimes that can trigger a one-time schedule change. 3. If there was a holiday or system update, they sometimes split certification periods. As long as you have money in your claim balance (which you mentioned you do), you should still be able to collect for the full 26 weeks of benefits. The claim balance is the most important indicator - when that runs out, that's when benefits end.

Same thing happened to me back in january!!!! it's so annyoing how they dont explain these changes. i called and they said it was a "standardized schedule alignment" or something like that. basiclly they were putting everyone on the same schedule i think. went back to normal after that one weird week. dont stress

You only get 26 weeks total in California, not a full year. But your benefits don't end because of a certification schedule change. They end when either: 1) you use up all 26 weeks of benefits, or 2) you reach the end of your benefit year (which is 12 months from when you first filed). The certification schedule has nothing to do with when benefits end. As long as you have money in your claim balance, you're good.

I've been dealing with EDD for years (unfortunately) and this is totally normal. It's usually a system adjustment thing. But here's a tip: if you're really worried, you should call and confirm. I know it's nearly impossible to get through to EDD on the phone these days with their crazy call volume, but I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually connects you directly to an EDD representative without the endless redial game. Saved me hours of frustration when I had a weird payment issue last month. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Worth checking out if you need peace of mind and want to confirm what's going on with your certification schedule.

This is a schedule alignment issue. You'll typically see this happen at the end of calendar quarters (March, June, September, December) or when there are system updates. The important things to understand about your benefits: 1. Your benefit year is 12 months from when you filed (so March 2025 to March 2026) 2. Within that year, you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits 3. Your weekly benefit amount determines your maximum claim balance 4. You certify for benefits until either your balance is depleted OR you reach 26 weeks A one-week certification period has absolutely no impact on your total benefit eligibility. Next certification should return to the normal two-week cycle. If you still have $5,800 in your claim balance, you have plenty of benefits remaining.

I had something similar happen and freaked out too! For me it happened because I reported some wages during one certification period, and it somehow messed up my regular schedule. After that one weird week, everything went back to normal two-week certifications. The EDD system is so sensitive to little changes!

Has anyone else's certification amount actually CHANGED when they switched to the 1-week certification? Mine was lower for that one week and I panicked thinking they reduced my weekly amount permanently but then it went back to normal. Check if your weekly benefit amount is the same!

The 26 weeks dont have to be consecutive btw. if you find temporary work and stop certifying, then lose that job, you can go back and use remaining weeks (as long as your still in benefit year). And yes, even with the weird schedule this week, your benefits would only end if you used all 26 weeks or your benefit year ended, whichever comes first.