EDD scheduled phone interview after weeks of receiving benefits - should I panic?

This happened to me in January. Don't panic! These interviews are pretty standard - sometimes EDD randomly selects claims for verification even after they've been paying you. In my case, they wanted to double-check that my layoff was legit and not a voluntary quit. Bring all your documentation to the phone interview - your layoff letter, any emails about the company downsizing, contact info for HR if possible. The interview is usually quick, about 10-15 minutes of basic questions. And yes, they'll backpay you for any weeks on hold as long as the interview goes well. One tip: prepare a one-minute explanation of your layoff situation. They'll ask you to describe what happened, and being clear and concise helps a lot.

First off, definitely keep that documentation handy. EDD randomly does these eligibility interviews - sometimes triggered by your former employer responding to their notice or sometimes just random verification. I went through this too. In my experience, they're checking one of these things: 1. Making sure it was truly a layoff/reduction in force 2. Verifying you're actively seeking work 3. Double-checking your availability for work 4. Following up on any discrepancies in your certifications If your employer confirmed the layoff reason, it should be straightforward. Just answer honestly and provide those layoff documents. The interview is actually a good sign - means they're processing your claim fully.

dont worry 2 much, they probly just wanna check ur work search efforts. make sure u can list the jobs u applied to!!! happened to me in decmeber

Thanks everyone for the input. I'm still nervous but feeling a bit better. I've got my layoff letter, final paystub, and I've been keeping a detailed job search log (just in case). Really hope this is just routine like some of you mentioned.

my sister works for edd (not telling me anything specific about claims don't worry) but she says they're super backed up on interviews still from covid backlog lol. so ur probably just coming up in the queue now even tho they started paying u. as long as everything u told them is true ur good

Update: I actually got a letter in the mail today explaining the interview. They're verifying my reason for separation, and it says my former employer reported that I was terminated for performance reasons??? This is absolutely FALSE - we had an entire department layoff with documentation stating restructuring/downsizing! Now I'm even more stressed!

Now that you've received the letter, you know exactly what to prepare for. This happens more than you'd think - HR systems often have different codes in their system versus what they tell employees. Bring your layoff letter, any emails discussing the layoff, and names of others laid off if possible. Keep your explanation simple and consistent: "I was part of a mass layoff where our entire department of X people was eliminated due to company restructuring." I'd also recommend calling your old HR department to ask about this discrepancy before your interview. There might have been a simple coding error on their part when responding to EDD.

EMPLOYERS DO THIS ALL THE TIME to avoid their unemployment rates going up!!!! They're LYING to pay less in unemployment insurance!!!! Make SURE you fight this with ALL your documentation and DON'T back down!!!! They're counting on you getting scared and giving up!!!!

If I were you, I'd try using Claimyr to reach an EDD rep right away instead of waiting for the interview. I had exactly this situation (employer claimed misconduct when it was clearly a layoff). The rep I reached through Claimyr was able to note my account and even release one of my payments while waiting for the interview. Their system got me through to someone in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days: claimyr.com - worth checking their demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

Final update: Had my phone interview today! The EDD interviewer was actually really nice and understanding. I explained the mass layoff situation, sent her my documentation during the call, and she immediately said she could see it was a legitimate layoff. She even mentioned they've had several others from my company recently. Payments have been released and she said I should see the money in my account within 48 hours. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the advice and support through this stressful week.