EDD retroactive certification help - can I certify for weeks I missed while caretaking?

You can absolutely certify retroactively! Call EDD and explain that you need to certify for past weeks that aren't showing up in your UI Online account. They can release those weeks for you to certify. This happens fairly often when claims take time to process. Make sure to have your specific dates ready when you call (when you stopped working and when you returned to work). You generally have up to 14 days to certify for a given period, but EDD can grant exceptions especially when the weeks weren't made available to you.

Calling them is your best bet but GOOD LUCK with that!!! I had a similar issue last year and spent 3 WEEKS trying to get through to someone. Their phone system is a complete joke - either "too many callers" message or they just disconnect you after 2 hours on hold. It's absolutely infuriating!!!

wait so ur saying u filed in january but they just now gave u weeks to certify?? that's crazy! system is broke af

You need to be clear about your situation when you contact EDD. You were unemployed during a specific period (mid-January to mid-March) due to your client's hospitalization, which temporarily eliminated your job. That's different from regular unemployment where someone is completely separated from their employer. Make sure they understand you're seeking retroactive certification for only the specific weeks you had zero work available. When you get through to a representative, ask them to backdate your certifications to cover the weeks you were out of work. They can release those weeks in the system so you can certify for them. Be prepared to explain why you couldn't certify during the normal time frame (because EDD hadn't processed your claim yet). Also, bring up that you've already reported your return to work, which shows you're being honest about your employment status.

I went thru something similar when I was on medical leave from my retail job. The key is being super persistent with calling EDD. I had to call right when they opened at 8am and kept redialing for like 45 minutes straight before I got in the queue. The rep should be able to release all those back weeks for you to certify as long as you explain clearly that you were actually unemployed during that time. The system isn't set up well for caretakers with irregular work.

just wondering how come u didn't apply for disability instead of unemployment? isn't caretaking more like SDI territory?

MAKE SURE you check your claim history after they release the weeks!!! When this happened to me they released the wrong weeks and I had to call AGAIN and wait ANOTHER 3 hours to get it fixed!!! The whole system is designed to make you give up!

Once you get through to EDD and they release your back weeks for certification, make sure to certify for them right away. The retroactive weeks will appear in your UI Online account under the "Certify for Benefits" section. You'll need to complete each certification separately, being careful to report accurately that you were not working during those specific weeks and were available for work. Since you've returned to work now, you'll report earnings for any current/future weeks. This approach is completely legitimate - you're just certifying for the period you were actually eligible.

After calling literally 27 times this morning, I finally got through to EDD! The representative was actually super helpful and released all my back weeks for certification. They said this happens all the time with delayed claims and it wasn't a problem at all. I'm going to certify for everything tonight. Just wanted to update in case anyone else runs into the same issue. Persistence pays off!