EDD referred me to WIOA program after benefit exhaustion - anyone have success stories?

I went through the WIOA program about 8 months ago after my EDD benefits were about to run out. It's legitimate and can be really helpful, but you need to be proactive. The program varies quite a bit depending on which county you're in and which America's Job Center you work with. In my case, they covered a 12-week medical coding certification program that would have cost me $4,800. \n\nMy experience:\n1. First appointment was mostly paperwork and eligibility verification\n2. Had to attend a career assessment workshop (boring but required)\n3. Met with a career counselor who helped identify training programs\n4. Had to justify why the training would lead to employment\n5. Once approved, they paid the training provider directly\n\nThe best part was they also helped with gas money for attending classes and even helped with some job interview clothes. They have relationships with local employers too. I'm working in medical billing now, so it worked out for me.

That's actually really encouraging to hear! How long did the whole process take from your initial meeting until you were actually in training? I'm worried about the gap between my benefits ending and getting into a program. Did they help with any income support during training or just the cost of the program itself?

I tried WIOA after my benefits ran out in june and it was a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME!!! Waited 6 weeks just to get an appointment, then they told me I didn't qualify because I had a degree from 20 years ago even though it's completely useless in todays economy. The case workers are overloaded and half of them dont even know there own program rules. They kept sending me to these pointless resume workshops instead of actual training. Meanwhile bills are piling up and im about to lose my apartment.

Sorry you had such a bad experience. It does vary a lot by county. Which America's Job Center location did you go to? Some are definitely better managed than others.

U have to be careful with wioa btw they will approve you for training but only for certain jobs on there approved list. my freind was trying to get truck driving school but they said NO because it wasnt an approved program in our county. different countys have different approved lists.

That's good to know. I'll make sure to ask about their approved list before getting my hopes up too much. Did your friend end up finding a different program that was approved, or did they just give up on WIOA?

I've helped several clients navigate the WIOA program successfully after their EDD benefits expired. Here's what you need to know:\n\n1. WIOA eligibility is separate from EDD eligibility - having exhausted UI doesn't automatically qualify or disqualify you\n2. Priority is given to veterans, low-income individuals, and those with barriers to employment (your back injury might qualify here)\n3. The program offers Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) that can range from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on your local Workforce Development Board\n4. Training must be for an occupation on the local

This is such BS... they CLAIM they help with childcare and transportation but when I actually asked for it they said there was \

Listen, if you're trying to actually reach EDD to discuss WIOA options or get that referral process started properly, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was stuck in the endless phone loop for days trying to talk to someone about my situation and WIOA eligibility after benefits exhaustion. Claimyr helped me get through to an actual person at EDD who could help with the referral. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km\n\nThe EDD rep I spoke with was much more helpful about WIOA than just the generic info on the website. They connected me directly with the right person at my local America's Job Center instead of me having to figure it all out. Worth it just to skip the phone frustration.

Thanks for sharing this! Trying to get through to EDD is like banging your head against a wall. I've been calling for 2 weeks about my own situation.

i did the wioa thing last year and got certified in medical assisting it was pretty good they paid for everything but you gotta be patient cause theres waiting lists for the good programs. also make sure you dont miss any appointments or theyll drop you from the program!

How long was the waiting list for your program? I'm trying to figure out my budget for the gap between benefits ending and potentially starting training.

Just wondering... does anyone know if you can still collect EDD while doing the WIOA training? Or does it completely replace your unemployment benefits?

Great question. If you still have available UI benefits, you can potentially collect while in WIOA-approved training through the California Training Benefits (CTB) program. This allows you to attend training without having to look for work while receiving benefits. However, if you've exhausted your regular UI as the original poster has, WIOA doesn't provide additional UI benefit extensions. The training itself is covered, but not living expenses unless you qualify for specific supportive services based on need.

my couisin did the WIOA after being on EDD for like 4 months. he got into some IT training for network stuff and now hes making way more $ than before. but he had to like fight to get into the program cause they kept loosing his paperwork lol

That's encouraging to hear there are some success stories! I'm worried about the paperwork situation too - my whole EDD experience has been full of paperwork problems.

One thing I forgot to mention about WIOA - be prepared for the initial assessment process. They'll evaluate your skills, work history, and career interests to determine suitable training options. This can take 2-3 appointments before you're approved for actual training funds. During my experience, the most valuable resource was my career counselor. Some are definitely better than others, so if you don't connect with yours, you can request a different one.\n\nAlso, while the training is free, they expect job search activity during and after training. They'll check in regularly and want to see that you're actively applying for positions related to your new skills. Success rates are part of how the program is evaluated, so they're invested in helping you find employment after completion.

you got lucky. i went through 3 different 'career counselors' in 2 months because they kept quitting or transferring. then they expected me to start the whole process over EACH TIME! government efficiency at its finest...

I'm actually in a similar situation - just exhausted my UI benefits after working in retail management for 12 years and dealing with some health issues that make standing for long periods difficult. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful, both the positive and negative ones. It sounds like the key is being persistent and finding the right location/counselor. @Alexander Zeus - your success story gives me hope! Medical coding actually sounds like something I could transition into. Did they have any prerequisites for that program, or were you able to start from scratch? Also curious if the 12 weeks was full-time or part-time. I'm planning to contact my local America's Job Center next week, but after reading about the paperwork issues and waiting lists, I'm wondering if I should also look into other options simultaneously. Anyone know if you can apply to multiple workforce programs at the same time, or does WIOA have exclusivity requirements?

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info I needed to hear! It sounds like WIOA can be hit or miss depending on location and who you work with, but the success stories are encouraging. @Alexander Zeus - really appreciate the detailed breakdown of your process. The fact that they covered $4,800 in training costs plus helped with transportation and interview clothes shows they can provide real value when it works. @Alicia Stern - sorry you had such a frustrating experience, but thanks for the warning about the degree issue and overloaded caseworkers. I'll go in with realistic expectations. @Drake - your professional insight is super helpful. The priority for people with barriers to employment gives me some hope since my back injury definitely limits my options in construction. I think I'm going to move forward with contacting my local America's Job Center, but I'll also look into that Claimyr service @Sarah Jones mentioned to make sure I get properly referred through EDD first. Seems like having the right paperwork trail from the start could save a lot of headaches later. Will definitely keep everyone posted on how it goes. Fingers crossed I get one of the good locations and counselors!

I'm currently going through the WIOA process myself after my EDD benefits ended two months ago. Here's what I've learned so far that might help: The intake process is definitely slow - took me about 3 weeks to get my first appointment, then another 2 weeks for the career assessment. But once you're in the system, things move faster. My counselor was actually really knowledgeable and helped me understand that my previous warehouse work experience could transition into logistics/supply chain management. One tip that's helped me: when you call to schedule your initial appointment, ask specifically about their current training program availability and wait lists. Some programs (like healthcare) have 3+ month waits, while others (like office administration or basic IT) might start within 4-6 weeks. Also, they do offer some emergency assistance for people who've exhausted UI benefits - I qualified for a small amount of gas money and help with phone bills while waiting to start training. It's not much, but every bit helps when you're in that gap period. The key seems to be treating it like a part-time job itself - staying on top of appointments, following up regularly, and being flexible about training options. My program starts next month (medical administrative assistant), so I can't speak to job placement success yet, but the process has been legitimate so far. Hang in there - it's frustrating but there does seem to be real help available if you can navigate the bureaucracy!