EDD eligibility interviewer said claim would be authorized - am I approved?

Yes, if the interviewer said they'll "authorize" your claim, it means you've been found eligible! This is good news. The next step is processing your payment, which typically takes 2-3 business days. After that, you'll see the money on your EDD debit card or direct deposit (depending on what payment method you selected when you filed). Make sure you keep certifying for benefits every two weeks even while you're waiting for this first payment!

congrats!! same thing happened to me last month! got approved during the phone call and money showed up 4 days later

Don't celebrate yet! They told me the EXACT same thing in February and then a week later I got a disqualification notice in the mail! Apparently the interviewer doesn't have final say and someone higher up reviews their recommendation. Check your UI Online account daily and also watch your mail. You're not officially approved until the payment actually hits your account.

I've been through this a few times, and "authorizing the claim" usually means you've passed the eligibility interview. You should see your payment status change from "pending" to "paid" in the next 24-48 hours. You can check this on your UI Online homepage. One thing to keep in mind - the first payment can sometimes take a bit longer than subsequent ones. If you haven't seen any changes to your account after 3-4 business days, that's when you might want to call EDD to follow up. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone (which is pretty common), I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through. It basically keeps calling EDD for you until it gets through, then connects you. Saved me days of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

My sister works for EDD (not supposed to tell people lol) and she says when they say theyll authorize it means ur approved BUT sometimes the computer system takes time to update so dont panic if it still says pending for another day or two

Just to clarify some confusion in this thread: When an interviewer says they will "authorize" your claim, it means they are recommending approval, but there is technically a review process. However, in most routine cases (like a standard layoff), the interviewer's decision is final. The process goes like this: 1. Interview complete 2. Interviewer authorizes claim 3. Status changes from "pending" to "paid" (usually within 48 hours) 4. Payment processing (1-2 business days) 5. Funds available in account Total time from interview to money: typically 3-5 business days. The only exception would be if there's something unusual about your case that triggers additional review OR if your former employer contests the claim after the fact. Keep certifying for benefits every two weeks regardless!

anybody know if the first payment includes retropay for the weeks you were waiting for the interview? i had to wait 5 weeks for my interview and im confused about if ill get all that money at once

UPDATE: You all were right! Just checked my UI Online account this morning and the status changed from "pending" to "paid" for my first two weeks. The payment isn't in my bank account yet, but at least I know it's coming. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!