EDD claim status confusion - can't tell if I'm approved despite disqualified weeks

the first wk is always a waiting period n not paid, but ur 2nd wk being disqualified means something's wrong. check ur inbox for any messages about eligibility interviews or id verification requirements. they changed everything in the system last month n now its hard 2 find stuff

When both weeks show as disqualified, it usually means there's an eligibility issue with your claim. The system won't necessarily give you a clear 'approved' or 'denied' status. Instead, look for a section called 'Claim Information' or 'Claim Summary' that should show your weekly benefit amount (WBA). If you see a dollar amount there, your claim was approved, but there's still an issue preventing payment. Common reasons include: 1. Incomplete work search information 2. Reporting earnings incorrectly 3. Answering a certification question in a way that triggered automatic disqualification 4. Identity verification still pending You should call EDD directly to find out exactly what's happening, as this won't resolve itself without action.

my claim was like this too. the system is so glitchy after the update. i couldnt even log in for 4 days after their maintenance window. just keep certifying every 2 weeks even with the disqualified status, that way when they fix whatever the issue is youll get backpay

This is definitely an issue that requires calling EDD directly. The disqualification status means there's a specific reason they're not paying you, and it's not just the waiting week policy. It could be anything from answering a certification question incorrectly to needing to verify your identity. In the online portal, check these areas: 1. Claim Summary - see if there's a weekly benefit amount shown (indicates approved claim) 2. Certifications - look for specific error messages under each week 3. Notifications/Messages - sometimes there are letters that don't show up as inbox messages If you're still not seeing anything explaining the disqualification, you'll need to call EDD. Make sure to note your claim start date and have your ID ready when you call.

I went through this EXACT same situation in January! Both weeks disqualified but had a WBA amount. Turns out I had answered NO to being able to work because I was in the hospital for 2 days (thinking I needed to be honest). I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through on the phone lines - constantly busy or "we're experiencing high call volume" messages. Finally I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep told me I just needed to file a simple appeal for those weeks and explained how I could still certify for current weeks while that was pending. Seriously saved me so much frustration after wasting hours trying to call myself.

@OP: Based on your follow-up comment that you see a Weekly Benefit Amount of $425, your claim has indeed been approved. The disqualifications are specific to those two weeks, not your entire claim. This is actually good news because it means you just need to resolve whatever caused those specific weeks to be disqualified. The most common certification errors that cause disqualification are: - Answering "No" to being available for work - Reporting that you refused work - Not completing the required work search activities - Reporting school attendance without indicating you're still available for work Did you answer differently on any questions for those weeks compared to how you would normally answer?

@user7: I totally understand the frustration about having to pay for something that should be free. I felt the same way! But after spending literally hours redialing for weeks (and potentially missing out on thousands in benefits), the connection fee was worth it to me. Saved me so much stress. But yeah, in an ideal world, we shouldn't need services like this.

@OP: Yes, not listing your work search activities could absolutely be the reason! EDD has gotten much stricter about work search documentation since 2025 began. You need to list at least 3 work search activities per week with specific details. You have two options here: 1. File an appeal using the "Appeal Form" in your UI Online account under the "More Services" section. Explain that you did perform work searches but didn't understand you needed to document them. Include details of the searches you did. 2. Call EDD and explain the situation. Sometimes they can remove the disqualification without a formal appeal if it was clearly a misunderstanding. For future certifications, always document your work search activities in detail. This includes employer names, positions, application dates, contact methods, and any follow-ups.

u know what's weird is that the first week should be unpaid waiting period but not DISQUALIFIED. when i had my claim it just said "not paid - waiting week" but never said disqualified. something else is def going on with ur claim

@OP: Regarding your first week - when the system shows "disqualified" instead of "waiting week not paid," it usually indicates that the disqualification reason (likely the work search documentation issue) is overriding the waiting week status. Once you resolve the disqualification issue, that first week will still remain unpaid as your waiting week, but the status will probably change to reflect that. For your second week, once you resolve the issue, that should change to paid status. When you call, make sure to ask specifically about both weeks so you understand exactly what's happening with each one. And remember to continue certifying every two weeks while this gets sorted out!

u might also wanna check if u reported any earnings during those weeks? even small amounts can mess things up if u didnt report them right. like if u worked part time or got vacation pay