EDD making payments before eligibility determination - should I be worried?

This is actually standard practice for EDD - they'll often pay benefits while eligibility is still being determined. It's part of their 'pay now, verify later' approach. If you end up being found ineligible after your interview, THEN they'll hit you with an overpayment notice. My advice? Set the money aside in a separate account if you can and don't spend it until after your eligibility interview. That way if worst comes to worst, you can just pay it back without stress.

Yep thats how edd works!! they paid me for like 6 weeks b4 my interview then decided i was ineligible lol had to pay back almost $4k... wish i had saved it but i needed rent $$$

Whatever you do, DO NOT call and ask them to stop payments!! The system is designed to provide benefits while they investigate. If you call and specifically request they stop payments, you might accidentally trigger a voluntary stop on your claim that could be difficult to restart if you ARE found eligible. My brother-in-law made this mistake in 2023 thinking he was being responsible, and it created a massive headache that took months to resolve. Just set aside the money if you can, and wait for the interview. If your employer contested your claim, you WILL definitely have an eligibility interview, but it could take 4-8 weeks to be scheduled these days.

I'm going through something similar right now! Had my eligibility interview last week after receiving 5 weeks of payments while waiting. The interview wasn't as scary as I thought - just make sure you have documentation ready about your separation. Bring any emails, performance reviews, or termination letters that support your side. One tip: if your employer claimed it was performance-based, be ready to explain if you ever received formal warnings, if you were on a performance improvement plan, or if the issues were ever documented. EDD typically sides with the employee unless the employer can prove misconduct, which is a pretty high bar. Simple poor performance usually isn't enough to disqualify you.

EDD is such a broken system! They do this all the time - pay people then demand it back when they decide you weren't eligible. CLASSIC BUREAUCRACY AT ITS FINEST! Meanwhile people who actually need the money are left waiting for weeks. Their phone lines are still a joke in 2025 too.

Have you tried using Claimyr to reach EDD? After failing to get through for two weeks straight, I used their service and got connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They basically call EDD for you and transfer you when they get through. Saved me huge headaches when I had a similar situation with contested eligibility. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

From my experience working with unemployment cases, here's what's happening: EDD automatically begins paying claims that meet basic eligibility requirements upon initial filing, but when an employer contests a claim, they flag it for further review while continuing payments. This process actually benefits most claimants because the vast majority of contested claims are still found eligible after investigation. However, you're right to be cautious. About 30-35% of contested claims do result in disqualification, especially in cases where the employer has solid documentation of policy violations or misconduct. When you have your eligibility interview, be extremely clear about the circumstances of your separation. Avoid saying anything that could be interpreted as you violating company policies or admitting to performance issues that you were warned about previously.

Quick update on wait times - I just had my eligibility interview yesterday after waiting exactly 6 weeks from filing. They told me they're experiencing higher than normal volumes right now, so interviews are taking longer to schedule than usual. Just wanted to give you a realistic timeline based on current experience.

To actually answer your original question directly - no, there's no way to have them hold payments until a final eligibility determination. The system isn't designed that way. Your options are basically: 1. Continue certifying and receiving payments, but set aside the money until after your interview 2. Stop certifying entirely (not recommended as it could affect your claim) 3. Withdraw your claim completely (definitely not recommended unless you're certain you're ineligible) The first option is what most people do. Just be prepared for the possibility of repayment if found ineligible.