EDD phone interview completed but certifications suddenly switched from pending to disqualified - What happened?
I'm freaking out right now. I had my phone eligibility interview with EDD on Tuesday and thought it went okay. The interviewer asked about my job separation and I explained everything truthfully (laid off due to company restructuring). When I checked my UI Online account today, I saw that my last TWO certifications just changed from 'pending' to 'disqualified'!!! I was counting on that money ($874) to pay rent next week. Does this mean my claim is completely rejected? I never received any notification explaining why I was disqualified. Has anyone experienced this after their phone interview? Is there a way to appeal or should I call EDD directly? I'm seriously panicking because I don't have a backup plan for rent.
29 comments


Faith Kingston
This happened to me last month. The disqualification right after the phone interview usually means they determined you don't meet eligibility requirements based on something you said during the interview. You should receive a Notice of Determination in the mail within 5-7 days that explains exactly why you were disqualified. You definitely have the right to appeal - DON'T miss the deadline which is 30 days from the date on the determination letter! In the meantime, I recommend calling EDD to get clarification about why you were disqualified before the letter arrives.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Thank you for explaining. Do you think it's worth appealing or is it pretty much a done deal once they disqualify you? I'm worried because I need income ASAP and appeals sound like they might take forever.
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Emma Johnson
omg this exact thng happened to me 2!! my intervw was last wk & then boom DISQUALIFIED!! its so unfair how they do ppl. did u tell them u were looking 4 work? thats what got me in trouble i think
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Yes, I mentioned I've applied to at least 3 jobs each week since being laid off. Did you end up calling them to find out why? I'm worried they mistakenly thought I quit instead of being laid off.
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Liam Brown
Don't panic yet. There are several reasons why certifications can flip from pending to disqualified after an interview, and many can be resolved: 1. The interviewer may have misunderstood some information about your separation 2. You might have accidentally provided conflicting information between your application and interview 3. Your employer may have reported a different reason for separation 4. There could be an issue with your work search requirements 5. Sometimes it's just a system error You absolutely need to call EDD immediately to understand the specific reason before your determination letter arrives. This gives you time to prepare documentation for an appeal if needed. Appeals are actually quite successful when you have proper documentation showing you qualify. Also, keep certifying for benefits even while disqualified - if you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for all properly certified weeks.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Thanks for the detailed explanation. I'm going to try calling today. My employer definitely reported it as a layoff so maybe there was some misunderstanding during the interview.
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Olivia Garcia
I've been calling EDD for THREE DAYS straight trying to get someone to explain my disqualification. Can't get through at all - just constant busy signals or "we've reached our maximum callers" message. So frustrating when your financial life is hanging in the balance and you can't even get basic information about why you're being denied benefits you paid into for years!! The system is BROKEN.
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Noah Lee
•same here! their phone system is THE WORST. i spent like 6 hours yesterday just hitting redial
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Ava Hernandez
If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone (which we all know is basically impossible these days), try using Claimyr. I was in the exact same situation last month - disqualified after interview with no explanation. I used Claimyr.com and they got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes after I'd spent DAYS trying on my own. The rep explained exactly what the issue was (employer contested my claim) and helped me start the appeal process immediately. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Seriously worth it when you're in a time-sensitive situation like this where you need answers right away.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Thank you for the suggestion! I'll check this out if I can't get through today. I really need to know what happened ASAP so I can figure out what to do about my rent.
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Isabella Martin
Just wondering - did you report any income during the weeks you certified? Sometimes if you report earnings incorrectly it can trigger a disqualification. Also, did you answer YES to being available for work and looking for work? Those questions trip people up sometimes and can cause instant disqualifications.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•I didn't have any income to report for those weeks, and I definitely answered YES to being available and looking for work. That's why I'm so confused about the sudden disqualification.
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Faith Kingston
To answer your question about appeals - YES it's absolutely worth appealing if you believe you qualify. I was initially disqualified because my employer incorrectly reported that I quit when I was actually laid off. I appealed with documentation (severance letter, email from HR about the layoff) and won my case. It took about 5 weeks from appeal to hearing to decision, and I received all my backpay plus ongoing benefits. The key is to get solid documentation supporting your case. If your company truly did lay you off due to restructuring, ask for an email or letter stating that fact if you don't already have it. Company-wide announcements about layoffs, severance agreements, anything that proves your version of events will help tremendously.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•This is really helpful, thank you! I do have an official termination letter that specifically mentions the company restructuring. I'll definitely appeal if I need to. Glad to hear you were able to win your case!
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Noah Lee
u know whats weird? my friend got disqialified and then 3 days later it switched back to paid without him doing anything!! edd is so random sometimes maybe just wait a couple days?
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Liam Brown
•That can happen when there's a system error or when an EDD representative reviews and corrects an issue proactively. However, it's not common, so I wouldn't recommend just waiting. The OP should definitely be proactive about contacting EDD to understand what's happening with their claim.
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Olivia Garcia
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED TO DENY BENEFITS!! They ask trick questions during interviews to trip you up and then use ANY tiny inconsistency to disqualify you. I bet the interviewer deliberately misunderstood something you said. They have QUOTAS for denials!!!
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Faith Kingston
•This isn't accurate. EDD doesn't have denial quotas - they're actually measured on timely benefit delivery when claimants qualify. The real issue is outdated systems and overworked staff making mistakes, not some conspiracy to deny benefits. I worked in HR for years and dealt with many unemployment claims from both sides.
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Emma Johnson
wait i just remembered my friend had this happen and it was bcuz his former boss told edd he was fired for misconduct!! did u leave on good terms with ur boss? they might be fighting ur claim
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Oh no, I hadn't thought of that. I thought we were on good terms - my direct manager seemed genuinely sorry to let me go. But maybe higher up they're disputing it? This is stressful.
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Liam Brown
UPDATE: I was able to speak with an EDD representative today. They confirmed that the disqualification was due to a discrepancy between what my former employer reported and what I stated in my interview. My employer claimed I was terminated for performance issues while I said it was a company restructuring. The good news is that I've submitted documentation (including my termination letter that specifically mentions restructuring) and they're reviewing my case. The representative said it's not uncommon for employers to contest claims to avoid increases in their unemployment insurance rates. If my documentation doesn't resolve the issue immediately, I'll need to go through the formal appeal process. The rep emphasized that I should continue certifying for benefits each week while this is sorted out.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Thank you so much for sharing this update! I'm going to try calling again today. I have my termination letter ready too, which clearly states it was a reduction in workforce. Hoping my situation can be resolved quickly like yours!
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
I went through something very similar last year and want to share what I learned. The sudden switch from pending to disqualified right after a phone interview is usually because of conflicting information between your claim and what your employer reported. This happened to me when my company reported I was fired for attendance issues, but I had reported being laid off due to budget cuts. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Call EDD using the 2511 number at exactly 8:00 AM - you'll have the best chance of getting through 2. Ask specifically what reason was given for your disqualification 3. Request they email you the determination notice if possible (faster than waiting for mail) The appeal process isn't as scary as it sounds. I appealed with documentation proving my layoff was legitimate (email from my manager, company-wide announcement about cuts) and won my case in about 6 weeks. Got all my backpay too. Don't give up - if you were truly laid off due to restructuring and have documentation proving it, you have a strong case. Keep certifying every two weeks even while disqualified so you don't miss out on any benefits if your appeal is successful.
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Ryder Ross
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for the detailed advice and for sharing your experience. I'm going to set my alarm for 7:55 AM tomorrow and try calling right at 8:00. It's reassuring to know that appeals can actually work when you have proper documentation. I'll definitely keep certifying while this gets sorted out. Really appreciate you taking the time to help!
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Ava Martinez
I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the financial anxiety when your benefits get cut off unexpectedly is just awful. Based on what everyone's shared here, it really sounds like your employer contested your claim by reporting a different reason for your separation than what you told EDD. The fact that you have a termination letter specifically mentioning company restructuring is HUGE in your favor. That's exactly the kind of documentation that wins appeals. I'd recommend scanning/photographing that letter and having it ready when you call EDD. One tip that helped me get through to EDD faster: try calling the 800-300-5616 number instead of the main line. Sometimes it has shorter wait times. Also, if you do end up needing to appeal, don't stress too much about the timeline - I know rent can't wait, but many people here have successfully appealed similar situations. Have you considered reaching out to your former manager or HR department to get a written statement confirming the layoff was due to restructuring? Sometimes having that extra documentation from your employer can resolve these disputes without even needing a formal hearing. Hang in there - this sounds very fixable with the right documentation!
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Miguel Hernández
•Thank you so much for the encouragement and practical advice! I really appreciate you mentioning the alternative phone number - I'll definitely try that one too. You're absolutely right about getting additional documentation from my former manager or HR. I actually still have a good relationship with my direct manager, so I'm going to reach out to her today to see if she can provide a written statement about the restructuring. Having multiple pieces of documentation can only help my case. It's so relieving to hear from people who've actually been through this and come out the other side successfully. The financial stress has been keeping me up at night, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that this can be resolved. I'll make sure to have all my documentation ready when I call EDD tomorrow morning!
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Miguel Ortiz
I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - the sudden switch from pending to disqualified is incredibly stressful, especially when rent is due. Based on what others have shared, this typically happens when there's a mismatch between what you reported and what your employer told EDD about your separation. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company restructuring, I'd strongly recommend gathering every piece of documentation you can find that supports this - your termination letter, any company-wide emails about layoffs, severance paperwork, etc. Even reaching out to your former manager or HR for a written statement confirming the restructuring could be helpful. The appeals process might seem daunting, but many people here have had success when they have solid documentation. In the meantime, definitely keep trying to reach EDD by phone (the 8:00 AM call strategy others mentioned seems to work best) to understand exactly why you were disqualified before the determination letter arrives. Also, make sure to keep certifying for benefits even while disqualified - if you win an appeal, you'll receive backpay for all those weeks. You've got this, and it sounds like you have a strong case if you were truly laid off due to restructuring!
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Lucy Taylor
•Thank you for the detailed advice! I'm definitely going to gather all the documentation I can find. I actually just remembered that I also received a WARN notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) about 60 days before my layoff because it was part of a mass layoff due to the restructuring. That should be really strong evidence that this was a legitimate layoff and not a termination for cause. I'm feeling more confident about my case now after reading everyone's experiences. Going to call EDD first thing tomorrow morning and have all my paperwork ready. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help - this community has been a lifesaver during such a stressful time!
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Klaus Schmidt
I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - I can completely relate to the panic you're feeling right now. The exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago, and I know how devastating it feels when you're counting on that money for basic necessities like rent. Here's what likely happened based on my experience: during your phone interview, there was probably some discrepancy between what you told EDD and what your employer reported to them about your separation. Even if you were truthful, your employer might have reported it differently (sometimes to avoid their unemployment insurance rates going up). My advice is to act fast: 1. Call EDD immediately using the tips others mentioned - try right at 8:00 AM for the best chance of getting through 2. Ask for the SPECIFIC reason for your disqualification before you get the determination letter in the mail 3. Gather every piece of documentation about your layoff - termination letter, company emails about restructuring, anything that proves it wasn't your fault The good news is that appeals are actually quite successful when you have proper documentation. I won my appeal in about 4-5 weeks and got all my backpay. Keep certifying every two weeks while this gets resolved so you don't lose out on any benefits. I know the financial stress is overwhelming, but this sounds very fixable if you have proof of the restructuring layoff. You've got this!
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