EDD only approved benefits from April - missing 6 weeks of February/March payments

The EXACT same thing happened to me!!! I got laid off Jan 9th but my claim didn't start til early March. When I called they said something about how I didn't file right away so they used the "effective date" of when I actually submitted my application. Such BS because who even knows to file immediately the DAY they get laid off?? The system is designed to cheat us out of benefits we deserve!

This is a common issue that confuses a lot of claimants. Your claim effective date is based on when you actually filed your claim, not your last day of work. If you didn't file until mid-March, for example, that's why your benefits didn't start until April (after your waiting period week). EDD does allow backdating in some cases if you had "good cause" for not filing earlier. Good cause could include things like: - You were ill or injured - You were misinformed by EDD staff - Natural disaster prevented filing - You weren't aware you could file for benefits If any of these apply, you can request to have your claim backdated by submitting a written request to EDD explaining your reason. Include your name, SSN, and the date you want your claim backdated to.

happens all the time. they don't tell u this but u gotta file the SECOND ur laid off. i waited like 3 weeks and lost $$$ too

Have you tried calling EDD to ask about this directly? Sometimes they can adjust your claim start date if you have a legitimate reason for filing late. I'd definitely call and explain the situation. Be persistent!

I successfully got my claim backdated by 6 weeks last year. The key is to speak directly with an EDD representative who can submit the backdate request internally. You'll need to explain your "good cause" reason for filing late. If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone (which is common), I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an agent within 30 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once you get through to an EDD rep, be clear about why you didn't file immediately. If your employer told you to wait, definitely mention that as it could qualify as misinformation. The rep can submit the backdate request while you're on the phone.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, being told by your employer to "wait until all paperwork was processed" could potentially qualify as being misinformed. That's definitely worth mentioning in your backdate request. To request backdating, you can either: 1. Call EDD and explain the situation directly to a representative 2. Submit a written request via UI Online using the Contact EDD feature 3. Mail a letter to the address on your claim paperwork Include specific details about why you delayed filing (your employer's instructions), the date you want to backdate to (Feb 13, 2025), and any supporting documentation if you have it. Just be aware that backdating isn't guaranteed - EDD will review your reason and make a determination.

I just went through this exact thing. Filed in March 2025 but was laid off in January. EDD initially denied my backdate request but I appealed and won! Here's what helped me: 1) I had an email from my HR dept telling me to "wait until we process your final paycheck before filing" which counted as misinformation 2) I was super specific about dates in my request 3) I emphasized I would have filed immediately if I had known the rules Stick to your guns but be prepared for a wait. My backdate appeal took about 4 weeks to process, but I eventually got about $3,600 in back benefits!

Don't get your hopes up. I tried to get mine backdated and they denied me TWICE. Classic EDD making it impossibe to get what we're entitled to. Let us know if anything actually works for you.

@OP: To answer your question about timing - when I got my claim backdated, the EDD rep submitted the request while I was on the phone, but the actual processing took about 10 days. After that, the additional weeks appeared in my portal and I had to certify for them all at once. The payments came through about 48 hours after I certified. Keep in mind that if you do get approved for backdating, you'll need to certify for all those past weeks and verify you were eligible during that period (not working, able and available, actively looking for work, etc.).

anybody else notice how the edd website NEVER explains any of this stuff clearly?? feels intentional so people miss out on benefits tbh