EDD scheduled eligibility interview - should I be worried about losing benefits?

No need to panic! These eligibility interviews are pretty standard procedure. EDD conducts them for various reasons - it doesn't automatically mean they suspect anything wrong. They might just need to clarify some information from your application or verify the circumstances of your job separation. During the interview, they'll likely ask about why you're no longer working at the restaurant, what efforts you've made to find work, and any other income you might have. Just be honest, answer questions clearly, and have documentation ready about your layoff (any emails or paperwork from your employer would be helpful). As long as you were laid off due to lack of work and not fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause, you should be fine.

they do this all the time, i had one last month. its just them checking boxes tbh. the lady i talked to was actually super nice

EDD is ABSOLUTELY looking for ways to disqualify people! My brother-in-law had one of these interviews and they twisted his words around until they found a reason to deny him. Make sure you don't say ANYTHING about quitting or having any issues with your boss. Even if you had problems, just focus on the reduction in hours and layoff. They're trained to trip you up!!!

I had an eligibility interview back in January. It was actually delayed twice because the interviewer didn't call at the scheduled time! So frustrating. When they finally did call, it was quick - maybe 10 minutes? They just verified the info I already provided on my application. Since you were laid off (not fired or quit), you should be totally fine. Just be straightforward about what happened. Oh and make sure your phone is charged and you're in a quiet place with good reception! I almost missed my call because I was in a bad service area.

They give you a time window - mine was a 4-hour window which is ridiculous. But they could call anytime during that period. And if you miss it, it's a whole process to reschedule.

The biggest thing with these interviews is just being clear about your job separation. Don't accidentally say you quit when you were laid off. Don't say you were fired if you were laid off. They're very specific about the terminology and it matters for eligibility.

Been trying to reach EDD for weeks about my own eligibility issue and can't get through. The phone lines are impossible! I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in about 20 minutes after weeks of failed attempts. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I was skeptical but it actually worked. If you have any issues after your interview or need to talk to someone before it, might be worth looking into.

I think EDD is doing more of these interviews lately. My claim got flagged for an interview because I had worked part-time at two different jobs before being laid off from both. They just needed to verify dates and why I was no longer at either job. The interview was actually helpful because they found I was eligible for a higher benefit amount than initially calculated! Have ready: 1. Dates of employment 2. Contact info for your former employer 3. Reason for separation (layoff documentation) 4. Any notes about your work search activities They might also ask about your availability to work full-time and if you've turned down any job offers.

Update: Had my interview today and it went fine! It only lasted about 15 minutes. They asked about my layoff, verified some dates, and confirmed I'm still looking for work. The interviewer was actually really nice. My benefits are continuing without any issues. Thanks everyone for the advice and calming my nerves!