EDD only paying one week at beginning of claim - do we get the withheld week at the end?

This is normal and it's called the "waiting period week." It's the first week of your claim and by law EDD doesn't pay for it. Unfortunately, you don't get paid for that week at the end of your claim either - it's essentially a deductible week. Every new claim has this waiting period, so if you file again in the future, you'll have another waiting week.

ya its the stupid waiting week they never pay it. happened 2 me too

Actually, this is WRONG information being spread. The waiting period is indeed the first week, but during certain disaster periods they've WAIVED it. Like during COVID they waived it for a while. I think they stopped the waiver in like 2022 or something. But I'd double check if there's any current waiver in effect for your area - sometimes they waive it for specific counties if there are disasters like wildfires etc.

Same thing happed to me to!!! I was sooooo confused when i certified for 2 weeks and only got $$$ for 1!!! Called EDD like 50 times and couldnt get through to ask why. Nobody tells u about this stupid waiting week until AFTER u see the missing money!!!

just wanna mention that sometimes it LOOKS like they didn't pay you for a week but it's actually because of how the payment timing works. double-check your UI Online payment history to make sure it actually says "waiting period" for that week and not just pending or something else!

The waiting week is extremely frustrating, I know. When I was helping my sister with her claim last month, we faced the same issue. What's worse is that you still have to certify for that week and meet all eligibility requirements even though you don't get paid for it. It's basically like they're making you jump through all the same hoops but without the benefit. One thing to note - if your claim ends and you file a new claim immediately after (assuming you qualify), you'll have to serve ANOTHER waiting period week. The only exception is if you reopen the same claim within your benefit year.

That's correct. If you reopen the same claim within your benefit year (which is typically 12 months from when you first filed), you don't serve another waiting period. You only serve a new waiting period when you file a completely new claim after your benefit year ends.

THIS IS WHY I HATE EDD!! They take money from people who already lost their job and need every penny!! It's such BS!!! 😤😤😤

Thanks everyone for clearing this up. Still sucks but at least now I know what happened and can adjust my budget accordingly. Wish they would make this more obvious when you first apply instead of letting people find out when they're already counting on that money.

I totally understand your frustration Maria! The waiting week caught me off guard too when I first filed. One small tip that might help - if you're struggling with the lost week's income, some local food banks and community assistance programs don't require a long application process and can help bridge the gap until your next payment. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're claiming the maximum weekly benefit amount you're eligible for. You can check this in your UI Online account under "Claim Summary" to see your Weekly Benefit Amount. Every dollar counts when you're dealing with this kind of financial stress!

I went through the exact same thing last year and it's definitely frustrating! The waiting week policy is unfortunately standard across most states, not just California. What helped me was understanding that it's essentially like a deductible on insurance - you pay that "cost" upfront to access the benefit system. One thing that might help with your immediate situation: if you're facing a rent crisis, many counties in California have emergency rental assistance programs that can help cover missed payments while you get back on your feet. You can search for "[your county] emergency rental assistance" to find local programs. Also, don't forget to keep documenting all your job search activities during this time - EDD requires proof of work search efforts and staying on top of that now will prevent headaches later. The silver lining is that once you get through this first hiccup, the payments should come more regularly. Hang in there!

I know this is probably too late to help with your immediate rent situation Maria, but for anyone else reading this thread - I learned the hard way that you can actually request an "advance payment" in certain circumstances if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff. You have to provide documentation of the emergency, but EDD can sometimes release funds early. It's not widely advertised but it's worth asking about if you call their customer service line. Also, most landlords are more understanding than you'd expect if you communicate proactively about a late payment - especially if you can show proof of your pending unemployment benefits. Hope everything worked out for you!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just got my first payment and was so confused when only one week showed up. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the waiting week policy and like everyone else, I wish they explained this clearly upfront. It's especially frustrating when you're already stressed about finances after losing your job. Thank you to everyone who shared resources about rental assistance and food banks - I'm definitely going to look into those options. It's reassuring to know this is normal even though it sucks, and that the payments should be more regular going forward.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and honestly, the lack of clear communication from EDD about the waiting week is just inexcusable. When you're already stressed about losing your job and counting every dollar, finding out you're missing a week's payment after the fact is devastating. What really gets me is that they make you go through the entire certification process for that week - answering all the questions, proving you're eligible, meeting all the requirements - but then don't pay you for it. It feels like they're deliberately hiding this information because they know people would be upset if they knew upfront. I've started telling everyone I know who might need to file for unemployment about this waiting week so they can plan accordingly. No one should have to find out the hard way like we all did. At minimum, EDD should have a big warning on the application page that says "YOU WILL NOT BE PAID FOR YOUR FIRST WEEK" so people can budget properly. The fact that they bury this information is just wrong.

This whole thread has been really eye-opening! I'm currently between jobs and was considering filing for unemployment, but now I know to budget for that missing first week. It's crazy that in 2025, with all the technology and resources EDD has, they still can't figure out how to clearly communicate this basic policy to applicants. For anyone dealing with this situation right now - I work at a local community resource center and we see this confusion constantly. One thing I always tell people is to check if your city or county has a "one-stop" resource center. These places often have emergency assistance funds, food resources, and sometimes even small cash assistance programs specifically for people waiting on their first unemployment payments. Most people don't know these exist, but they can be a real lifeline when you're short that first week's payment. Also, if you're comfortable with it, consider reaching out to family or friends who might be able to spot you for essentials like groceries until your payments get regular. Most people understand that unemployment has weird timing issues and are willing to help bridge a short gap. Stay strong everyone - this waiting week thing is awful policy but you'll get through it!

I'm really sorry you're going through this Maria - the waiting week policy is one of the most frustrating aspects of the unemployment system. As others have confirmed, that first week is essentially lost forever, which is incredibly harsh when people are already dealing with the financial stress of job loss. What really bothers me about this is how EDD handles the communication around it. They could easily add a clear notice during the application process that says something like "Important: You will not receive payment for your first week of benefits (waiting period week)" but instead people discover it when they're already counting on that money. Since you mentioned your rent is due next week, here are a few immediate options that might help: Many counties have emergency rental assistance that can cover late fees or even full rent payments - search "[your county name] emergency rental assistance" online. Also, most utility companies will work with you on payment plans if you call and explain you're waiting on unemployment benefits. Don't wait until services get shut off - call proactively. For food assistance, 211 (just dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local food banks and emergency assistance programs in your area. Many don't require lengthy applications and can help same-day. This system is broken in so many ways, but you'll get through this. Once you're past this first hiccup, the payments should come regularly. Keep documenting your job search activities and hang in there!