EDD disqualification weeks confusion - am I permanently denied benefits?

This doesn't necessarily mean your entire claim is denied. When EDD says weeks are "applied to your disqualification," they're essentially serving you penalty weeks. This usually happens when they determine you provided incorrect information. Since you accidentally reported zero work when you actually got paid for 3 hours, they've imposed a disqualification period. The standard penalty is typically multiple weeks where you won't receive benefits, even if you'd otherwise qualify. The good news is that once you serve these penalty weeks, you can start receiving benefits again assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements.

got the same message last year!!! dont worry ur not perma-denied. they just make u serve penalty wks b4 u can get paid again. keep certifying!!

This is what's called a false statement penalty. When EDD determines you provided incorrect information (even accidentally), they impose penalty weeks where you must continue to certify but won't receive benefits. The number of penalty weeks depends on what they determined: - Minor discrepancies: 2-5 weeks - More significant issues: 5-10 weeks - Serious misrepresentations: 10+ weeks You should have received a Notice of Determination explaining the specific disqualification period. Check your UI Online inbox or wait for mail correspondence. Important: You MUST continue certifying during penalty weeks or you won't receive benefits when the penalty period ends.

EDD IS RIDICULOUS! They act like you committed fraud when it was an honest mistake about 3 HOURS of work!!! I had something similar happen and they gave me SEVEN penalty weeks for forgetting about a single day of training pay. The system is designed to punish people who make tiny errors while the real fraudsters get away with millions. It's completely backwards!!

my cousin went through this. he did try to appeal but they said since he technically did work those hours even if it was honest mistake it still counts as false statement. frustrating system but what can ya do

If you need to talk to an actual EDD rep about this (which I highly recommend), try using Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with penalty weeks and couldn't get through on the phones for days. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD agent in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for over a week on my own. They have a good explanation video here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The rep was able to explain exactly how many weeks I needed to serve and confirmed I was certifying correctly so I wouldn't miss payments after the penalty period.

Impt question: during these penalty weeks are u required to do the work search activities? I mean since ur not getting paid anyway why bother? Just wondering cuz i might be in same boat soon...

Just to add - once you serve your penalty weeks, I'd recommend double-checking your claim balance to make sure it's correct. Sometimes after disqualifications, the system can take a bit to update properly. Also, the week after your last penalty week, call to confirm your certification was processed correctly if you don't see a payment pending within 2-3 days.

BTW my friend had the EXACT same thing happen (disqual for not reporting training pay) and when she finally got thru to EDD they told her she could have requested a waiver of the penalties since it was an honest mistake with proof! Of course they don't advertise this option anywhere!!! Might be worth asking about if u can ever reach a human there.

I went through something very similar last year! The "applied to your disqualification" language is confusing but it just means those specific weeks are penalty weeks, not that your entire claim is denied. I made a similar mistake - forgot to report a small payment from my previous employer and got hit with 4 penalty weeks. The key things to know: 1) Keep certifying every two weeks during the penalty period or you'll lose eligibility, 2) You still need to do work searches and meet all requirements, 3) After your penalty weeks are served, benefits should resume normally. It's frustrating but the system does work - I eventually got all my regular benefits once the penalty period ended. Hang in there!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got hit with penalty weeks for not reporting some freelance work I did (completely slipped my mind when certifying). Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this mess. One thing I wanted to add - I found that keeping detailed notes of all my certifications during the penalty period has been really useful. I write down exactly what I reported each week, what job searches I did, etc. That way if there are any questions later, I have everything documented. Also, @Lena Schultz, I'm really interested in learning more about that waiver option your friend used - that could be a game changer for a lot of people dealing with honest mistakes like this!

I've been through this exact scenario and wanted to share some practical advice that helped me get through it. First, those penalty weeks are definitely not permanent - you'll be able to receive benefits again once you serve them. During my penalty period, I called 211 (dial 2-1-1) which connected me to local assistance programs that helped with rent and utilities while I was waiting for benefits to resume. Many counties have emergency assistance funds specifically for situations like this. Also, some food banks and community organizations don't require proof of income status, just that you're experiencing hardship. For the EDD side, I'd strongly recommend getting everything in writing - screenshot your UI Online account showing the penalty weeks, save all determination notices, and document every certification you submit. When your penalty period ends, having this documentation made it much easier to resolve a small glitch that delayed my first payment back. The system does work, but it's definitely stressful while you're going through it. Hang in there!

Just want to echo what others have said - you're definitely NOT permanently denied! I went through this exact same thing last year when I forgot to report a small consulting payment. Got 6 penalty weeks that felt endless at the time, but once I served them, my regular benefits kicked back in without any issues. The key things that saved my sanity: 1) Set up automatic reminders to certify every two weeks (I almost forgot once during the penalty period which would have been disaster), 2) Keep a simple spreadsheet of your work search activities - EDD can ask for details even during penalty weeks, 3) If you're really struggling financially, check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs - many don't require you to be receiving benefits, just proof that you're unemployed. I know 5 weeks feels like forever when you're stressed about bills, but you WILL get through this. The penalty system is harsh but it's not permanent. Stay strong and keep certifying!

I'm new to this community but going through something very similar right now! Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - reading through all these responses has been such a relief. I'm currently in week 3 of 4 penalty weeks for basically the same thing (forgot to report some overtime pay from my last day of work). The financial stress has been overwhelming, but seeing that so many people made it through this and got their benefits back gives me hope. @Laila Prince, I'm definitely calling 211 tomorrow - had no idea that resource existed! And @Oliver Zimmermann, starting my detailed documentation notebook today. It's crazy how one small mistake can cause so much anxiety, but this community support is amazing. For anyone else going through this - we've got this! It's temporary even though it feels endless right now.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got penalty weeks for not reporting some training pay that I completely spaced on during my first certification. The "applied to your disqualification" language is super confusing - I thought it meant my whole claim was dead too. But after reading everyone's responses here, I feel so much better knowing it's just temporary penalty weeks that I have to serve. The financial stress is real though - I'm on week 2 of 5 penalty weeks and already behind on bills. Definitely going to try that 211 number @Laila Prince mentioned and look into the waiver option @Lena Schultz brought up. Has anyone had luck getting through to EDD lately to ask about waivers for honest mistakes like this? The phone system seems impossible to navigate. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just went through something almost identical - got penalty weeks for not reporting some part-time work I did during my first week of unemployment. That "applied to your disqualification" message is terrifying when you first see it, but everyone here is right - it's NOT a permanent denial of your entire claim. Think of it as EDD making you sit in timeout for a few weeks, not kicking you out of school entirely. During my penalty weeks, I kept a simple calendar where I marked off each week as I completed it, which helped me feel like I was making progress toward the end. The hardest part is the financial stress while you're serving the weeks, but there really is light at the end of the tunnel. One tip that saved me - I called my utility companies and explained I was temporarily without unemployment benefits due to a penalty period, and most of them offered payment deferrals or hardship programs I didn't know existed. Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what, document everything, and remember this is temporary! You've got this!

I'm currently going through the exact same situation and this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I got hit with 4 penalty weeks for not reporting a small cash tip I received on my last day of work that I completely forgot about when I first certified. Like many of you, I saw that "applied to your disqualification" message and immediately panicked thinking my entire claim was denied. The relief I felt reading everyone's experiences here is indescribable! I'm on week 2 of my penalty period right now and the financial anxiety has been brutal, but knowing that this is temporary and that so many others have successfully gotten through it gives me hope. I've already called 211 based on @Laila Prince's recommendation and found a local food bank that's helping me stretch my grocery budget. Next step is to try the Claimyr service to see if I can get through to ask about that waiver option @Lena Schultz mentioned. Even if the waiver doesn't work out, just having a clear timeline and knowing what to expect makes this so much more manageable. Thank you all for sharing your stories and practical advice - this community is amazing!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year and I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now! That "applied to your disqualification" language is absolutely terrifying when you first see it, but everyone here is giving you solid advice - it's NOT a permanent denial. I got 3 penalty weeks for forgetting to report some on-call pay from my previous job. The whole experience taught me that EDD's system is designed to be confusing and scary, but once you understand what's happening, it becomes manageable. During my penalty weeks, I kept a simple journal where I wrote down my daily job search activities and any communications with EDD - it helped me stay organized and gave me something productive to focus on instead of just worrying. The hardest part is definitely the financial stress, but there are resources out there to help bridge the gap. I also want to add that when your penalty period ends, make absolutely sure your first certification goes through smoothly. I recommend calling the day after you certify (once your penalty weeks are served) just to confirm everything processed correctly. Some people have reported glitches where the system doesn't automatically switch them back to payable status. You're going to get through this - 5 weeks feels like forever when you're stressed about money, but it really is temporary!