EDD certification confusion - quit old job for new job but start date delayed - what to report?

ur supposed to report that u quit but make sure to say it was for a new job that fell through in the comments section they give u

This is a common situation and you need to be precise with how you report it. When you certify, you should select that you voluntarily quit, but in the explanation section, clearly state: "Voluntarily quit previous employment to accept new position with start date of [original date]. New employer has now delayed start date to January 15, 2025." EDD considers quitting to accept other employment as "good cause" IF the new job was supposed to start within a reasonable timeframe. You'll likely be scheduled for a phone eligibility interview where you'll need to explain the situation and provide documentation of both your resignation and the job offer with the delayed start date. Save any emails or texts about the delay! The key here is documenting that you quit for what's considered good cause under UI Code Section 1256.

this happened to me too!! i quit my job at target for a warehouse position and then they pushed my start date back TWO MONTHS. i nearly had a heart attack. put 'quit' on the form but make sure you keep EVERYTHING - emails, texts, offer letter, the delay notice, everything. they will ask for it.

it took like 5 weeks total... they scheduled me for a phone interview but kept rescheduling it which was super frustrating. eventually got approved tho

When you quit for another job that falls through, EDD usually finds that to be good cause for quitting. HOWEVER, they'll still put your claim in pending status until they do an eligibility interview to verify everything. Make sure you're available for that phone interview when they schedule it or your payments will be delayed even more.

For the eligibility interview, be prepared to answer questions about: 1. Exactly why you left your previous job 2. The timeline of events (when you quit, when you were supposed to start) 3. Why the new job was delayed 4. What efforts you're making to find work during this gap Also, very important: keep certifying for benefits EVERY TWO WEEKS even while your claim is pending. If approved, they'll pay all the weeks you've certified for. If you don't certify, you won't get paid for those weeks even if eventually approved.

I had EXACTLY the same issue last year and couldn't get anyone at EDD on the phone for THREE WEEKS!!! The automated system kept saying "we're experiencing high call volume" and hanging up on me. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep was able to expedite my eligibility interview and got everything sorted out. Saved me weeks of stress!

Here's what you need to know: When you certify, select "voluntarily quit" and provide a CLEAR explanation. Under California UI law, quitting to take another job is considered good cause IF the new job was definite and reasonably certain. Your case is a bit complicated because of the delay. You should also immediately begin looking for other work while waiting for your delayed start date. This shows EDD you're making efforts to mitigate the gap in employment, which strengthens your case. When EDD schedules your eligibility interview (typically 2-3 weeks after your first certification), have these documents ready: 1. Separation paperwork from previous employer 2. Offer letter from new employer 3. Communication about the delayed start date 4. Record of job search activities during this period Be honest and consistent in all your statements to EDD. Contradictory information will complicate your claim.

Yes, absolutely get something in writing from the new employer that explains the reason for the delay. An official letter on company letterhead stating the original start date, the new start date, and the business reason for the delay would be ideal. This documentation will significantly strengthen your case during the eligibility interview.

Just be careful with how you word things on your certification!!! I had a similar situation and I got disqualified because I didn't properly explain that I quit for a new job. I just checked the "quit" box and didn't realize I needed to provide details. Then I had to go through the whole appeal process which took MONTHS. Be super specific in your explanation and don't assume the EDD representative will connect the dots.

Yes I won the appeal but it took 11 weeks to get a hearing date and then another 3 weeks to get the judge's decision. The whole time I wasn't receiving any benefits. It was a nightmare. Just make sure you document EVERYTHING.