EDD letter shows current employer as 'last employer' after reporting return to work
I'm so confused about my EDD claim right now! I started working at a new job on January 23rd, 2025. When I certified for my UI benefits on February 5th, I honestly reported that I had returned to work (as required). I didn't receive any payment for that period, which makes sense since I'm employed again. Here's the weird part - I just got a letter from EDD in the mail about my 'last employer' and why I'm no longer working there. But the employer they listed as my 'last employer' is actually my CURRENT employer that I just started with on January 23rd! Did I mess something up when I certified? The system seemed to think I'm no longer working at my new job, but I am! Should I call EDD to fix this, or will it cause problems with my claim? I'm worried they think I quit my new job or something, when I'm actually still there. Has anyone dealt with this kind of mix-up before?
29 comments


Cassandra Moon
This is a common EDD system quirk. When you report returning to work during certification, their automated system sometimes generates a standard follow-up letter that incorrectly frames your current employer as a 'last employer.' It doesn't mean you did anything wrong when certifying. You should still contact EDD to clarify this situation though. Their records need to accurately reflect that you're currently employed, not that you left this job. If left uncorrected, it could potentially cause issues if you ever need to file for unemployment again in the future.
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Eli Wang
•Thanks for explaining! That's a relief to know it's a system thing and not my mistake. Do you think this is urgent enough to call them right away, or could I just send them a message through UI Online?
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Zane Hernandez
omg same thing happened to me last year! the EDD systems are so messed up lol. i just ignored it and nothing bad happened 🤷‍♀️
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Genevieve Cavalier
•I wouldn't recommend ignoring correspondence from EDD. While it might not affect anything immediately, inaccurate records could come back to bite you if you ever need to file another claim. Better to address it now than deal with potential complications later.
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Ethan Scott
YOU NEED TO CALL THEM ASAP!! When I had something similar happen, it caused a HUGE mess with my claim and took MONTHS to fix!!! They thought I had quit a job and almost made me pay back $4,200!!! Don't wait, call them tomorrow morning!!!
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Lola Perez
•not everyone has that experience though. my sister had this exact situation and literally nothing happened. edd probably wont even notice tbh
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Nathaniel Stewart
I had this exact issue back in December. What happened was that when you marked "returned to work" the EDD system automatically generates a notice about your "last employer" - which in this case is technically your current employer. It's definitely a good idea to contact EDD, but getting through on the phone can be nearly impossible. I spent two weeks trying to reach someone before I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an EDD agent much faster. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to an agent, they were able to update my records in just a few minutes and confirmed everything was fine with my claim. Definitely worth clearing this up so it doesn't cause problems later!
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Eli Wang
•Thank you for the suggestion! I've been dreading the phone wait times. I'll check out that website - anything that makes dealing with EDD easier is worth looking into.
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Riya Sharma
its not a big deal man the edd system is weird like that...when u say u returned to work they just assume ur not working there anymore even if u are, probbly becuz most poeple report it when they get fired or quit again but your still getting paychecks so system gets confused
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Genevieve Cavalier
•This isn't quite accurate. The EDD system doesn't automatically assume you've stopped working at your new job. It's just that the form letter wasn't designed to handle this specific scenario clearly. There's a difference between reporting you've returned to work (ending your claim properly) versus reporting you've stopped working at a job (potentially starting a new claim). The OP should contact EDD to ensure their records accurately reflect their employment status.
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Cassandra Moon
One other important thing to note: When you reported returning to work, your claim wasn't closed - it was just suspended. EDD keeps claims open for a benefit year (typically 12 months from when you first filed), but stops payments once you report full-time employment. If for some reason you lost your job again within that benefit year, you'd potentially be able to reopen the claim rather than filing a completely new one. That's another reason why having accurate employer information on file is important - it affects how they would process any future claim activity.
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Eli Wang
•I didn't realize my claim was still technically open! That's good to know. So if I lost this job in the next few months (hopefully not!), I'd reopen rather than start over. That makes fixing this mix-up even more important.
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Lola Perez
when i was on unemployment last year i got sooo many random letters that didnt make sense lol. the whole system is messed up. i wouldnt worry about it unless they actually say theres a problem with your benefits
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Genevieve Cavalier
To clarify what's happening: When you certified and reported returning to work, the EDD system correctly stopped your benefits. However, their automated notification system generated a standard letter about your "last employer" that wasn't appropriate for your situation. I recommend taking these steps: 1. Send a message through UI Online explaining the situation (keep it simple and factual) 2. If you don't get a response within 10 business days, then call 3. Keep a copy of the letter and your certification where you reported returning to work This is mostly about making sure your records are accurate. While some people may have ignored similar issues without consequences, it's better to have correct information in the system, especially if you need unemployment benefits again in the future.
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Eli Wang
•Thank you for the detailed advice! I'll send a message through UI Online today and see if that resolves things. I appreciate everyone's help with this confusing situation.
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Yuki Tanaka
I work as a benefits specialist and see this confusion regularly. What happened is completely normal - EDD's system generated an automated "last employer" inquiry because their workflows weren't designed to distinguish between "I returned to work (claim suspension)" versus "I'm no longer working for this employer (potential new claim)." The good news is this doesn't indicate any problem with your certification or claim status. However, I'd strongly recommend contacting EDD to update your records. Even though your claim is currently suspended due to employment, having incorrect employer information could create complications if you ever need to reactivate benefits. The easiest approach is usually through UI Online messaging first, but if you need to speak with someone directly, try calling right at 8:00 AM when the phone lines open - you'll have the best chance of getting through then.
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Ava Rodriguez
•This is really helpful to hear from someone who works in benefits! I was getting worried that I had somehow messed up my certification, but it sounds like this is just a quirky system issue. I'll definitely try the UI Online messaging first since that seems less stressful than trying to get through on the phone. Thanks for the reassurance and the tip about calling at 8 AM if I need to go that route!
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Charlee Coleman
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Got the same confusing letter about my "last employer" when it was actually my current job. Like others have mentioned, it's just how their system processes the "returned to work" status. I ended up calling EDD (took about 3 hours of trying to get through), and the representative explained that this happens because their letter templates assume you're no longer with that employer. She updated my file in about 5 minutes and said it wouldn't affect anything, but it was good that I called to clarify. One tip: if you do call, have your certification confirmation handy where you reported returning to work. It helped speed up the process when I could reference the exact date and details of when I reported my employment status change.
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Dmitry Popov
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's reassuring to know that calling actually resolved it quickly once you got through. I'm definitely going to have my certification details ready if I end up needing to call. Did the representative mention whether this kind of mix-up is something they see often, or if there's any way to avoid it happening again in the future if I ever have to file for unemployment again?
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Astrid Bergström
I had a very similar experience when I returned to work after my unemployment claim last fall. The "last employer" letter threw me off completely because like you, it was referring to my current job that I had just started! What I learned from calling EDD is that their system automatically generates these letters whenever there's any employer-related activity on your claim, but the template language isn't sophisticated enough to distinguish between different scenarios. When you properly reported returning to work during certification, it triggered their standard employer inquiry process even though you're still employed there. I'd definitely recommend reaching out to EDD through UI Online first - that's what worked for me. I sent a brief message explaining that I received a "last employer" letter about my current employer after reporting my return to work, and they responded within about a week confirming that my records were updated correctly. The peace of mind was worth it, especially since as others mentioned, having accurate employer information is important if you ever need to reactivate your claim. Don't stress too much though - you did everything right when you certified!
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Sofia Torres
•This is exactly the reassurance I needed! It's so helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing and got it resolved smoothly through UI Online messaging. I was really worried I had somehow screwed up my certification, but it sounds like this is just a quirky system issue that happens regularly. I'm going to send that message today explaining the situation. Thanks for sharing your experience - it definitely helps ease my anxiety about this whole mix-up!
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Lena MĂĽller
This exact thing happened to me too! I was so confused when I got that letter about my "last employer" being the job I had just started. It's definitely just a glitch in how EDD's system processes the "returned to work" status. I ended up sending a message through UI Online explaining the situation, and they got back to me within about 5 business days confirming everything was correct in their system. The representative said this happens fairly often because their automated letters weren't designed to handle the nuances of different employment situations. Don't panic - you certified correctly! The system just sends out these standard form letters that don't always make sense for your specific situation. Getting it clarified is definitely the right move though, just for peace of mind and to make sure your records are accurate if you ever need benefits again.
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Taylor To
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's such a relief to hear from multiple people who went through this exact same situation. I was really starting to worry that I had made some kind of mistake when certifying, but it sounds like this is just a common quirk with EDD's automated system. I'm definitely going to send a message through UI Online today to get it sorted out. It's good to know that 5 business days is a reasonable timeframe to expect a response. Really appreciate you taking the time to reassure me about this!
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Diego Rojas
I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Just got off the phone with EDD after receiving one of those confusing "last employer" letters about my current job. The representative I spoke with confirmed that this is indeed a common system issue - their automated letter generation doesn't properly account for people who report returning to work and are still employed. What helped me get through quickly was calling right at 8:00 AM sharp and having my Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the date I certified ready. The whole call took less than 10 minutes once I got through, and they updated my records immediately. The rep also mentioned that while these letters are confusing, they're not urgent - but it's still good practice to get them resolved so your employment history is accurate in their system. She said they see this particular mix-up several times a week, so you're definitely not alone in this situation!
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Nina Fitzgerald
•This is so reassuring to hear! I've been stressing about this letter all day thinking I somehow messed something up. It's really helpful to know that calling at 8 AM sharp is the key to getting through quickly - I was dreading spending hours on hold. Having all those details ready beforehand is great advice too. The fact that EDD reps see this mix-up several times a week actually makes me feel a lot better about the whole situation. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
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Miguel Ramos
I work for a company that processes unemployment claims in another state, and this scenario is incredibly common across different state systems. What you're experiencing is essentially a template mismatch - EDD's automated system uses standard letter templates that weren't designed to handle the specific situation where someone reports "returned to work" but is still employed with that same employer. When you certified and reported returning to work on February 5th, you did everything correctly. The system properly suspended your benefits, but then triggered an automated workflow that sends a "last employer" inquiry letter. Unfortunately, the template assumes you're no longer with that employer, which creates this confusing situation. I'd recommend contacting EDD through UI Online first with a brief explanation. Something like: "I received a letter dated [date] regarding my 'last employer' [company name]. This employer is actually my current employer where I've been working since January 23, 2025, as reported during my February 5th certification. Please update records to reflect I am still employed there." Keep it factual and reference specific dates. This helps them locate your file quickly and make the necessary corrections. Most importantly, don't worry - you handled your certification properly and this is just a system quirk that gets resolved routinely.
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Megan D'Acosta
•This is incredibly helpful insight from someone who works in the field! I really appreciate the suggested language for contacting EDD - having a specific template to follow makes this feel much more manageable. It's reassuring to know that this template mismatch issue happens across different state systems, not just California. I was worried I was the only one dealing with this kind of confusion. Your explanation about the automated workflow triggering the wrong letter template finally makes this whole situation make sense. I'm going to use your suggested message format when I contact them through UI Online. Thank you for taking the time to explain the technical side of what's happening!
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Jamal Anderson
I just went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago! Got that confusing "last employer" letter about my current job and panicked thinking I had messed up my certification somehow. Turns out it's just a really common glitch in EDD's system. When you report returning to work during certification (which you did correctly), their automated letter system gets confused and sends out a standard "last employer" inquiry even though you're still working there. I sent a message through UI Online explaining the situation and got a response back in about a week confirming everything was fine and my records were updated. The customer service rep even said this happens "all the time" and that I had certified properly. Don't stress about it - you did everything right! Just reach out to them through UI Online to get your records corrected so there's no confusion if you ever need to file again in the future. The peace of mind is definitely worth it.
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Camelia Best
•I just got the same letter . It has my new employer as my last and also says I’m still working. Will my new employer get the notice as well. I would hate to lose my new job because they might think I’m filing against the .@Jamal Anderson
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