EDD backpay question - laid off in August but applied in November - will I get all missed weeks?

Don't stress too much! I went through something similar last year. You can request that EDD backdate your claim by calling them and explaining your situation. They can go back up to the date you became unemployed if you have a good reason for the delay in filing. The key is getting through to an actual rep who can help you with the backdating request. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through the phone lines when I kept getting the 'too many callers' message. They got me connected to an EDD rep in under an hour, and I explained my situation. The rep was able to backdate my claim after I explained my situation. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - totally worth it for potentially recovering months of benefits!

You need to have a good reason for not filing sooner to get a claim backdated. EDD generally won't automatically backdate your claim - you have to specifically request it. Valid reasons might include not knowing you were eligible, illness, or being given incorrect information about unemployment insurance. Without a qualifying reason, your claim will start from when you actually filed (November 30). If you want to try for backdating, you'll need to: 1. Contact EDD by phone (this is the most effective method) 2. Specifically request backdating and explain your reason for delayed filing 3. Be prepared to provide documentation supporting your reason Even with a valid reason, backdating isn't guaranteed. It's at EDD's discretion whether they approve your request. I'd suggest calling as soon as possible since this impacts potentially thousands of dollars in benefits.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE!! They will NOT backdate automatically - EDD starts your claim the Sunday of the week you apply. Period. You have to FIGHT for backdating and they make it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone!!! I lost out on almost $5000 because I waited too long to file after my restaurant closed. The system is DESIGNED to save them money by making it difficult!!! 😡

idk bout everyone elses experience but when i filed late last yr they backdated my claim no problem. just had to ask for it when i finally got thru on the phone. took like 2 weeks extra but they approved it and i got all my backpay. my situation was different tho maybe

Here's the official policy: EDD can backdate a claim if you can show good cause for filing late. Health problems, misinformation from EDD representatives, employer telling you incorrect information, or language barriers are considered good cause. "I thought I'd find work quickly" typically isn't sufficient, but if you had health issues during that period, document those carefully. I'd recommend: 1. Write down a clear timeline with exact dates (last day worked, job search efforts, health issues) 2. Gather any medical documentation for the period between August and November 3. Be prepared to explain why you waited (be honest but emphasize any factors beyond your control) 4. Request backdating specifically during the phone call Technically, you can backdate up to 52 weeks, but you must have good cause for the entire period of delay. The longer the gap, the stronger your documentation needs to be.

To add to what others have said - even if your claim gets backdated, remember you'll still need to retroactively certify for all those weeks. This means accurately reporting any income, job search activities, or job refusals for each week going back to August. Be prepared to provide detailed information about your job search efforts during that entire period. Make sure you're honest about any part-time work, gig jobs, or cash jobs you might have had during that period, as unreported income could lead to an overpayment situation later. EDD can cross-reference with tax records and employer reporting systems.

my cousin waited like 2 months to file and they told him no way jose for the backdating thing. but my neighbor got backpay for like 6 weeks cuz she was in the hospital and couldn't file. seems like they just decide however they want tbh

One more tip: if they deny your backdate request, you can actually appeal that decision! The appeal process is separate from regular claim issues. You'll need to fill out the appeal form within 30 days of the denial, and you may need to attend a hearing. Sometimes people have better luck with an appeal than with the initial request.

I work as a claims specialist and can tell you that health issues during the delay period definitely strengthen your case for backdating. The key is having documentation - even if it's just doctor visit records, prescription dates, or medical bills from that August-November timeframe. EDD considers physical or mental health conditions that prevented you from filing as valid good cause. When you call, be specific: "I was laid off August 14th but was dealing with health issues that prevented me from filing until November 30th." Have your dates ready and any documentation you can reference. Don't oversell it, but if you genuinely had health problems during that period, that's much stronger than just job searching delays. Also, call right at 8am when the lines open - you'll have the best chance of getting through. Good luck!

Been following this thread and wanted to add my experience - I was in a similar boat last year (laid off in June, didn't file until September). The health issues angle definitely helped me get backdating approved. I had been dealing with anxiety and depression after losing my job, which made it hard to navigate the whole process. What really helped was being very organized when I called. I wrote down exactly what happened each month - when I lost my job, what health issues I was dealing with, any job search efforts I made, etc. The EDD rep appreciated having clear dates and details rather than me fumbling around trying to remember everything. One thing I learned: even if you don't have formal medical records, you can mention things like struggling with mental health, difficulty concentrating, or feeling overwhelmed by the process. They understand that job loss can be traumatic and affect people's ability to handle bureaucratic tasks right away. The whole process took about 3 weeks from my call to actually seeing the backdated payments, but it was worth thousands of dollars. Don't give up - you have a legitimate case with the health issues you mentioned!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully got backdating approved earlier this year! I was laid off in March but didn't file until June due to a combination of health issues and honestly just being overwhelmed by the whole process. What worked for me was being completely honest about both the health struggles AND the fact that I was intimidated by the EDD system. When I finally got through to a rep (took about 20 tries over 3 days), I explained that I had been dealing with anxiety and some physical health problems that made it difficult to focus on filing, plus I was honestly scared of messing up the application. The rep was actually really understanding and said that mental health impacts from job loss are considered valid reasons for delayed filing. She backdated my claim to my last day of work, and I got about $4,800 in back payments about 2-3 weeks later. My advice: don't downplay the health issues you mentioned. If you were dealing with any kind of physical or mental health challenges during that August-November period, that's a legitimate reason. Just be honest about your situation and have your timeline ready. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised at how understanding they can be. Good luck Omar!

Hey Omar! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago. I was laid off in July but didn't file until October because I kept thinking I'd land something soon and honestly didn't know much about how EDD worked. The good news is that I was able to get my claim backdated all the way to my separation date! The key things that helped me were: 1) I mentioned that I was dealing with stress and anxiety after losing my job which made it hard to navigate the system, and 2) I was completely honest about being overwhelmed and not understanding the process initially. When I finally got through to an EDD rep (used the callback feature on their website which worked way better than calling), I explained that losing my job had really affected my mental health and ability to handle bureaucratic tasks right away. The rep was super understanding and said this happens to a lot of people. She backdated my claim and I ended up getting about 12 weeks of back pay. My tip: call right at 8am, have your exact dates written down, and don't be afraid to mention the health/anxiety issues you dealt with during that time. Even if you don't have formal medical records, the mental health impact of job loss is considered a valid reason for delayed filing. You've got a good case - don't give up!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - was laid off in September but just filed last week because I was so overwhelmed by everything. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me hope! It sounds like there are definitely people who have successfully gotten backdating approved, especially when health/anxiety issues were involved. @Omar - from what I'm seeing in these comments, it seems like your best bet is to call right at 8am Monday, have all your dates organized, and be honest about any health issues you dealt with during that time. Even anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by the system after job loss seems to count as "good cause" for some reps. One thing I noticed is that multiple people mentioned being specific about mental health impacts - it's not just physical health issues that qualify. Job loss can be really traumatic and affect your ability to handle bureaucratic stuff right away, which sounds exactly like what you (and I) went through. Fingers crossed for both of us! Let us know how your call goes - I'll probably be calling later this week once I get my timeline organized too.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, I wanted to add that I successfully got backdating approved last year in a very similar situation. I was laid off in May but didn't file until August due to a combination of job search optimism and honestly being intimidated by the whole EDD system. What really helped my case was documenting a timeline of events and being upfront about the mental health impact. After losing my job, I went through a period of depression and anxiety that made it really hard to focus on administrative tasks. When I finally got through to an EDD rep, I explained this honestly along with my job search efforts during that time. The rep told me that mental health struggles following job loss are absolutely considered valid reasons for delayed filing. She backdated my claim to my separation date, and I received about 14 weeks of back pay totaling around $6,000. My advice for anyone in this situation: don't minimize the psychological impact of job loss. It's real, it's documented, and EDD recognizes it as good cause. Be prepared with exact dates, any documentation you have (even informal notes about your mental state), and don't be afraid to be vulnerable about how losing your job affected your ability to navigate the system immediately. The callback feature on EDD's website is also much less stressful than repeatedly calling. Good luck everyone!