EDD requiring eligibility interview before I can certify - no weeks available after termination

You need the eligibility interview because your employer probably contested your unemployment claim. When you're fired or terminated (vs laid off), the employer has to confirm whether it was for misconduct or not. If they say it was for misconduct, EDD has to interview you to get your side of the story before approving benefits. And yes, you SHOULD be able to certify for weeks even before the interview. Something isn't right there. After the interview, IF they approve your claim, you'll get backpay for all weeks you certified for (minus the one-week waiting period). The waiting period still applies regardless of the interview. Make sure you have all documentation about your termination ready for the interview - any emails, termination letter, final paycheck stub, etc. They'll ask pretty detailed questions about why you were let go.

i had this EXACT thing happen in janury!!! employer said i was fired for being late but it was only 2 times and i had dr notes. had to wait 18 days for interview and couldnt certify either. EDD lady was nice and approved my claim in 5 mins when i explained. got all backpay like 3 days later so dont worry

This is a common issue with termination cases. When you select "terminated" or "fired" on your initial application, EDD's system automatically flags the claim for eligibility interview. Here's what's happening: 1. Your employer has 10 days to respond to your claim. If they don't contest it, sometimes EDD can remove the interview requirement, but that's rare. 2. The system not showing certification weeks is unusual but not unheard of. Typically, your UI Online account should show "weeks available to certify" even if they're pending interview. 3. Yes, you will receive backpay for all eligible weeks once approved, minus the standard one-week waiting period. I recommend checking your UI Online inbox daily for any messages requesting additional information. Sometimes they'll cancel the interview if they get what they need from your employer. For the interview itself, be clear about why you were terminated. If it wasn't for misconduct (which means breaking rules deliberately or repeatedly after warnings), make sure to state that clearly. "Not working out" or "not a good fit" are not misconduct and shouldn't disqualify you.

You cant certify because EDD put a HOLD on your account until interview. It sucks but thats how they do it. When i got fired last year my boss told EDD i stole stuff (i DIDNT) and they made me wait almost a MONTH for interview!!!! Then they aproved me anyway because he had no proof. System is sooooo broken.

Has anyone tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD? I was in almost the exact same situation last month - couldn't certify, had an interview scheduled 3 weeks out, rent coming due. I was desperate and used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The rep was able to enable certification for me while I waited for my interview. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Honestly saved me so much stress since I was able to get my issue fixed before rent was due. The EDD rep even rescheduled my interview for the following week!

I work in HR and can tell you that your employers response to the EDD will determine everything. When someone is terminated, EDD always does an eligibility interview because they need to determine if the firing was for misconduct, which would disqualify you from benefits. If your employer reported the termination as "not meeting expectations" or "not a good fit" (performance issues rather than misconduct), you should be approved after the interview. If they claimed misconduct, you'll need to explain your side. The not being able to certify thing is odd though - typically the system still allows certification but just doesn't process payments until after the eligibility decision. Maybe call the technical support line instead of the regular EDD line? Sometimes they can fix account issues.

I don't understand why EDD makes EVERYTHING so complicated!!!! I got fired in February and had to wait 25 days for my interview and couldn't certify either. Then they CANCELED my interview without telling me and I had to start all over again. I ended up having to go to the food bank because I ran out of money waiting for these idiots to do their job. The whole system is designed to make people give up.

For your interview prep: Have clear, concise answers ready for: 1. Exactly why you were terminated (use their exact words if possible) 2. Any warnings or write-ups you received (or confirm you received none) 3. Your work history for the last 18 months (dates, employers) 4. Your final day of work and last paycheck details Be very factual and unemotional in the interview. Don't badmouth your employer even if they treated you unfairly. Just stick to the facts about your termination. The good news is that once your interview is complete and if you're approved, the payments process very quickly - usually within 48 hours in my experience.

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! I used the 2511 number and selected the option for technical assistance with UI Online. The rep confirmed that my account is on hold pending the eligibility interview, which is why I can't certify. She said once the interview is complete and if I'm approved, I'll be able to certify for all the weeks dating back to my filing date (minus the waiting week). She also told me to expect a call anytime between 8am-12pm on my interview date, and that the interviewer will only try calling ONCE, so I need to be ready. If I miss it, I'll have to reschedule and wait even longer. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! I'll update again after my interview.

Thanks for the update! That's great that you finally got through to someone who could explain what's happening. The technical support line is definitely a good tip for others dealing with similar account issues. Just a heads up - make sure your phone is charged and you're in a quiet place during that 4-hour window on interview day. I've heard horror stories of people missing their call because they stepped away for 5 minutes or their phone died. Some people even set up call forwarding to a backup number just in case. Good luck with your interview! Based on what you've described about your termination being performance-related with no misconduct, it should go smoothly. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Just went through this exact situation last month! The waiting is absolutely brutal, but hang in there. A few things that helped me: 1. Double-check that your phone number in UI Online is correct - they'll only call that number 2. Have a pen and paper ready during the interview to write down any reference numbers or next steps they give you 3. If they ask about job searches, be honest about what you've done so far (even if it's limited due to the short timeframe) The interviewer asked me pretty straightforward questions: why I was terminated, if I had any disciplinary actions, and about my work availability going forward. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes. One thing that surprised me - they approved my claim during the call and I was able to certify for back weeks within an hour of hanging up. Payments hit my account 2 days later. So there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel! Also totally agree with others about applying for CalFresh ASAP if you haven't already. That bridge really helps while waiting for UI to sort itself out.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're really struggling financially while waiting for the interview, check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs. Many counties in California have funds specifically for people waiting on unemployment benefits. I had to use this in San Diego County when my UI got delayed for 6 weeks due to identity verification issues. They covered my rent for 2 months while I waited for EDD to sort things out. Usually you just need to show proof that you applied for unemployment and are waiting for benefits. Also, don't stress too much about the interview itself. From what you've described, this sounds like a pretty clear-cut case of being let go for performance reasons rather than misconduct. The fact that your manager seemed understanding when they terminated you is actually a good sign - if it was for serious misconduct they probably would have been much more formal about it. You're doing everything right by preparing documentation and being ready for the call. Hang in there!

Hey there! I went through something very similar back in 2023 when I got laid off from my retail job. The eligibility interview requirement is frustrating but unfortunately pretty standard when you're terminated vs. laid off - even if it wasn't your fault at all. A couple things that might help while you're waiting: 1. Check your local food banks ASAP if you haven't already. Most don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap until your benefits come through. 2. If you have any credit cards with cash advance options, now might be the time to consider it as a very short-term solution (I know it's not ideal but sometimes necessary for rent). 3. Reach out to your landlord NOW and explain the situation. Many are more understanding than you'd expect, especially if you've been a good tenant. They often prefer working with you rather than dealing with eviction proceedings. The good news is that once your interview happens and you get approved, the backpay comes pretty quickly. In my case, I got about 3 weeks of backpay within 48 hours of my approval. Stay strong - this process is awful but it does work out in the end for legitimate claims like yours sounds to be. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! I just wanted to add that you might want to document everything about your termination while it's still fresh in your memory. Write down exactly what your manager said, the date and time of the conversation, and any witnesses who were present. Also, if you received any emails about your performance or the termination, make sure to save those. Even if your manager seemed understanding, sometimes HR departments or upper management can change the story when they respond to EDD. Having your own clear record of what happened will help you stay consistent during the interview. One thing I learned from my own experience - they might ask you about your availability to work and any limitations you have. Make sure you're clear that you're ready and able to work full-time, actively looking for jobs, and have no restrictions that would prevent you from accepting suitable employment. The waiting is absolutely horrible, but based on what you've shared about your situation, this really sounds like a standard performance-related termination that shouldn't disqualify you from benefits. You're being smart by preparing thoroughly!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! Filed on March 22nd after being let go for "performance reasons" and my eligibility interview isn't until April 8th. Like you, I can't certify for ANY weeks and it's driving me crazy. One thing that's helped me stay sane during this waiting period is setting up a daily routine of job searching and keeping detailed records of applications. Not only does it help with the anxiety of not having income coming in, but I know they'll ask about job search efforts during the interview. Also wanted to mention - if you're in a really tight spot financially, check if your utility companies have hardship programs. PG&E and other utilities often have emergency assistance for people waiting on unemployment benefits. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're stretching every dollar. The whole system really does seem designed to make people give up, but reading through all these responses gives me hope that it actually works out for people with legitimate claims like ours. Hang in there - we've got this! 🤞