EDD benefits between jobs? Unexpected start date delay - can I apply?
So I'm in a really frustrating situation right now. I resigned from my sales manager position last Friday (August 30) because I had accepted a new job that was supposed to start tomorrow (Sept 6). I just got an email saying my new employer is pushing my start date back to October 24 - almost 7 weeks away! They said something about project timeline changes and budget approval delays. I had no idea this was coming and now I'm stuck with no income for way longer than I planned. Can I apply for unemployment benefits to cover this gap period even though I technically quit my last job? I left my previous position in good standing and have documentation showing my original start date was supposed to be tomorrow. I wouldn't have quit if I knew there would be this huge delay. Does EDD consider this type of situation? I've never filed for unemployment before so I'm totally lost about whether I qualify. Any advice would be really appreciated!
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Mia Rodriguez
Yes, you absolutely can apply for benefits in this situation! This is called a "good cause quit" in EDD terms because you left your previous job with a reasonable expectation of other employment that fell through (or in your case, got significantly delayed). The key is that you need to document everything - save that email about the delayed start date, your original offer letter with the Sept 6 start date, and your resignation letter if you have it. When you file, make sure to explain clearly that you quit ONLY because you had confirmed employment starting immediately, and that this new position was unexpectedly delayed through no fault of your own. You had no way to foresee this change when you made the decision to resign. Just be prepared that you might need to have a phone interview with EDD to explain the situation, but these circumstances typically qualify for benefits.
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Mason Davis
•Thank you so much for this info! I do have all the documentation - the original offer letter with the Sept 6 date, my resignation email, and now the delay notification. Should I submit all these when I apply or wait until they ask for them? And if I do qualify, would benefits start from when I apply or could they backdate to when I stopped working (Aug 30)?
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Jacob Lewis
i went through something similar last year but my case got denied because they said i voluntarily quit... make sure you REALLY explain the timeline clearly!! the edd people can be super picky about this stuff
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Mason Davis
•Oh no, that's concerning. Did you have documentation showing you had another job lined up when you quit? I'm worried they'll just see that I resigned and automatically deny me.
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Jacob Lewis
•yeah i had everything but i think i messed up how i explained it on the application. just make sure you say VERY clearly that you only quit because you had this other job confirmed to start right away. i think i focused too much on other reasons why i left my old job which made it sound voluntary
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Amelia Martinez
This situation is specifically covered under EDD regulations. It's considered "good cause" to quit when you have a definite assurance of another job and then that job falls through or is delayed. Here's what will happen: 1. When you file your claim, you'll indicate that you're not working because you quit your last job 2. This will automatically trigger an eligibility interview (phone call from EDD) 3. During the interview, explain that you quit SOLELY because you had a firm job offer with a specific start date 4. Provide your documentation showing the original start date and the delayed start date You should qualify for benefits from the time you apply through October 23 (the day before your new job starts). One thing to remember: you must be "able and available" for work during this time, meaning if another job opportunity came up that started sooner, you would be expected to take it rather than waiting for the October 24 position.
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Mason Davis
•This is very helpful, thank you! One more question - do you know how long it typically takes to get benefits after applying? I'm trying to figure out our budget for the next few weeks.
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Amelia Martinez
•Under normal circumstances, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks from application to first payment IF you don't have any issues that require additional review. However, since your case will need an eligibility interview, it could take 4-6 weeks before you see any money. The interview itself might be scheduled 2-4 weeks after you apply. If approved, payments would be backdated to when you first applied (not when you quit your job). That's why it's important to apply ASAP even though the process might take some time.
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Ethan Clark
Ugh this happened to me in January!!! It's so stressful when employers do this to people! I applied for unemployment and got it but it took FOREVER. The phone interview thing was scheduled like 3 weeks after I applied and I was checking my UI Online account like 10 times a day lol
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Mason Davis
•3 weeks just to get the interview scheduled?! That's so long to wait without income. Was the actual interview process difficult? I'm worried about saying something wrong and getting denied.
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Mila Walker
If you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone (which is very likely), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to an EDD representative quickly instead of dealing with busy signals and disconnections. It saved me hours of frustration when I had a similar situation with delayed employment last year. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Getting through to an actual person at EDD can help clarify your specific situation and potentially speed up the interview scheduling process. Sometimes they can even conduct the eligibility interview on the spot if you explain your circumstances.
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Mason Davis
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check this out because waiting weeks for an interview sounds terrible. Did you find that talking to someone directly helped speed things up for you?
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Mila Walker
•Yes, absolutely. I was able to explain my situation to a real person and they scheduled my eligibility interview for the following week instead of waiting 3+ weeks. The rep also gave me specific advice on what documentation I needed to have ready for the interview. Well worth it for peace of mind alone.
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Logan Scott
when u file make sure u put the EXACT dates!!! my husband got denied cuz he was off by like 2 days on when he quit vs when he was supposed to start the new job. they r super strict about that stuff. also keep checking ur UI Online inbox EVERY DAY cuz sometimes they send important messages and only give u like 10 days to respond
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Mia Rodriguez
•This is excellent advice. EDD is very detail-oriented when reviewing these cases. It's also worth noting that if your husband's claim was denied due to date discrepancies, he could have appealed that decision. Many initial denials get overturned on appeal when you can provide supporting documentation and clarification.
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Chloe Green
I'm just curious - what happens if your new job gets postponed AGAIN? I know someone who had a job offer rescinded completely after they'd already quit their previous position. I think in that case they had to start an entirely new job search while on unemployment. The system isn't really designed for all these weird modern employment situations where people have gaps and delays between jobs.
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Mason Davis
•Oh god, I hadn't even considered that possibility. That would be a nightmare. I guess I'd have to update EDD if that happened? My new employer seems pretty solid but with this unexpected delay, I'm now worried about the stability.
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Amelia Martinez
•If your start date gets pushed back again, you would need to report that to EDD. Your claim would likely continue, but they might want updated documentation. And yes, if the offer gets rescinded entirely, you would still qualify for benefits, but you'd need to meet the work search requirements and look for new employment. The key is to always report any changes to EDD promptly to avoid overpayment issues later.
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Mason Davis
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply today and make sure I explain everything VERY clearly about quitting only because I had this confirmed job offer with the specific start date. I'll gather all my documentation (original offer letter, resignation email, and the delay notification) to have ready for the eligibility interview. I'll also check out Claimyr to see if I can get through to someone directly since it sounds like the wait times are pretty brutal otherwise. I'll update this thread once I have any news about my claim!
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