EDD extension after regular benefits exhausted - confused about PEUC vs Fed-Ed in 2025

I went through this in January and can help clarify. As of 2025, here's how it works: 1. Regular UI benefits last 26 weeks 2. When those exhaust, you DON'T need to file a new claim if it's within your benefit year 3. EDD should automatically evaluate you for a PEUC extension (now called the Federal Extension Program) 4. You'll receive a notice in your UI Online inbox AND by mail about 5-7 days after your regular benefits end 5. IMPORTANT: You need to keep certifying every two weeks even during this gap period! The confusion happens because the old pandemic programs had different names and processes. Fed-Ed only kicks in after other extensions exhaust and only if unemployment rates are high enough in California (which they currently aren't). The key is to keep certifying and watch your UI Online account for notifications. Extensions are largely automatic now, but there can be a 1-2 week processing gap where it looks like nothing is happening.

my cousin said u gotta call them to get the extension. he waited 2 months thinking it was automatic and never got paid. finnaly called and they fixed it in 5 min. idk tho edd is weird sometimes

I just completed this process last month. Let me add some important details to what's already been shared: - The extension is called the "California Extended Duration Benefits" program now (they changed names again!) - You MUST meet new eligibility requirements for the extension that are slightly different from regular UI - The main requirement is that you earned 40x your weekly benefit amount in your base period - Most people qualify automatically if they had stable work before unemployment The extension provides up to 13 additional weeks at the same weekly benefit amount. As others said, keep certifying every two weeks without interruption! I had a small gap (about 9 days) between my regular benefits ending and the extension kicking in, but then I received all payments including the gap period. The system is actually more efficient in 2025 than it was before.

THE EDD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE!!! I've been through 3 claims over the years and EVERY TIME there's some stupid problem with extensions. They make it complicated ON PURPOSE so people give up! Watch your account like a hawk and if you don't see the extension show up within 10 days CALL THEM!!!!

I used a service called Claimyr when I needed to talk to an EDD rep about my extension issues. It only took about 20 minutes to get through instead of days of redialing. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Totally worth it for peace of mind during the extension transition. The rep I spoke with confirmed that while extensions should be automatic, there are occasionally glitches where you need to call in.

When my regular benefits exhausted in February, I kept certifying as usual and got a message in my UI Online inbox after 8 days saying I was approved for the extension. BUT here's what's important - my payment for those first two extension weeks showed as 'pending' for almost 14 days before it switched to 'paid'! I nearly had a panic attack thinking something was wrong. So my advice: keep certifying, expect at least a short delay in payments, and try not to stress too much during that gap. The extension DOES kick in automatically for most people now.

my benefits ran out last month and i got a letter saying i need to look for work in a different industry since mine (restaurant) had been struggling too long. anyone else get this? do i have to apply for jobs i don't want?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. Keep certifying even after my balance hits zero 2. Watch for notices in UI Online AND paper mail 3. The extension should be automatic but might take 1-2 weeks to process 4. Payments might show as 'pending' for a bit during the transition 5. I may need to expand my job search to other industries I feel much more prepared now. If I don't see any updates within two weeks after my regular benefits end, I'll try calling EDD (or use that Claimyr service if I can't get through). Really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add another data point - I'm currently going through this exact process right now! My regular benefits exhausted on March 15th, and I got the extension notice in my UI Online inbox on March 22nd (7 days later, just like Miguel mentioned). The extension is indeed called "California Extended Duration Benefits" and it automatically added 13 weeks to my claim. My first extension payment came through on March 24th, so total gap was about 9 days from when my regular benefits ended. One thing I wish someone had told me - during that gap period, I was so anxious checking my account multiple times per day. The key is just to keep certifying every two weeks like clockwork and try not to stress too much about the delay. The system really is more automated now than it used to be. For your job search in medical device sales, have you tried reaching out to medical device recruiters directly? That industry is actually seeing some growth with all the new AI diagnostic tools coming out. Might be worth expanding to related fields like healthcare technology or pharmaceutical sales too.

I just went through this transition in February and want to echo what others have said about keeping calm during the process. My regular UI exhausted on Feb 12th, and I was PANICKING by Feb 18th when I hadn't heard anything. But sure enough, on Feb 19th I got the notice in UI Online about my extension approval. One thing that really helped my anxiety was setting up text notifications in my UI Online account settings. That way I got immediate alerts when there were updates instead of obsessively checking the website. The extension kicked in seamlessly and I've been getting payments without any issues. For the medical device sales job search - definitely consider looking at startup medical technology companies too. A lot of them are hiring sales people with your background since they need folks who understand the healthcare market but can also speak to new technologies. Companies working on remote patient monitoring and digital health tools are especially hot right now. LinkedIn has been way more effective for me than traditional job boards for finding these opportunities. Hang in there - the extension process really has improved and you'll get through this gap period before you know it!

I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now - my regular benefits are set to exhaust next week and I've been super anxious about what happens next! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I work in biotech sales (similar to medical device) and the job market has been tough. Like you, I've applied to tons of positions with very few callbacks. It's frustrating because I know the skills are transferable, but companies seem to be really picky right now. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the key points are: keep certifying no matter what, expect a 7-10 day wait for the extension notice, and don't panic if payments show as pending for a bit. I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications that Brooklyn mentioned - that's a game changer for managing anxiety during the waiting period. Also really appreciate all the job search advice about expanding into digital health and working with specialized recruiters. Sometimes when you're stressed about money it's hard to think creatively about your career options. This thread has given me some new directions to explore while I'm waiting for the extension to kick in. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped more people than just yourself!

I'm in a similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly valuable! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - I created a simple spreadsheet to track my certification dates and any communications from EDD. It sounds nerdy, but having everything documented in one place really helped me stay organized during the transition period. Also, for anyone worried about the gap in payments, I'd recommend reaching out to your landlord/mortgage company and utility companies as soon as you know your benefits are ending. Most have programs for temporary payment deferrals or payment plans, especially if you can show them documentation that you're waiting for an extension to process. I was surprised how accommodating they were when I explained the situation proactively rather than waiting until I missed a payment. The medical device sales job market is definitely challenging right now, but I've noticed some uptick in hiring for roles that combine traditional medical sales with software/digital health platforms. Companies seem to value that hybrid skill set. Keep your head up - both the extension and the right job opportunity will come through!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact process in December 2024! My regular UI benefits exhausted right before the holidays (talk about stressful timing), but the extension process worked pretty much exactly as everyone here described. A few things that might help ease your anxiety: 1. I got my extension notice on day 6 after exhaustion, and payments resumed on day 8 - so right in that 7-10 day window everyone mentioned 2. The "California Extended Duration Benefits" program gave me the full 13 weeks at my same weekly amount ($580) 3. Most importantly - I kept certifying during the gap and all those certifications were honored once the extension kicked in One thing I wish I'd known: when you get the extension notice in UI Online, there's a small PDF attachment that explains the new work search requirements. Make sure to download and read it carefully because the requirements ARE slightly different for extensions (as someone mentioned about needing to expand your industry search). For medical device sales - have you looked into companies doing medical AI or remote monitoring devices? That sector is exploding right now and they really value traditional medical sales experience. A friend of mine transitioned from pharmaceutical sales to a company making AI diagnostic tools and said the earning potential is actually better than traditional med device. Hang in there - both the extension and the job market will work out. The system really has gotten more reliable over the past year!