EDD skipping the week I'm actually unemployed after certifying - UI application timing issue

The issue is with how you're reporting your work pattern. When you file a claim listing Friday as your last day, the first week becomes your 'waiting period week' and is not payable - it's basically a deductible week. EDD isn't 'skipping' your unemployed week; it's treating it as your waiting period. Each benefit year has one waiting period week. If you've already served a waiting period in your current benefit year, check your claim history to confirm this. Also make sure you're correctly answering the question about whether you expect to return to work with your previous employer.

This sounds like you're experiencing an issue with how partial employment and interrupted claim periods work. Since you're working intermittently, you should keep your claim open rather than filing a new claim each time. When you file a new claim, you trigger a new waiting period. Instead, just continue certifying for all weeks, reporting your earnings when you work, and reporting zero when you don't. EDD can adjust your benefits based on your weekly certifications. The system is designed more for continuous unemployment, not start-stop situations.

im in construction and have the same problem sometimes. you gotta file ONE claim and keep it open for the whole year. then just certify every week. if you work, report your earnings. if you dont work that week, report $0. dont keep filing new claims!!!!

I see your problem - you're essentially resetting your claim each time which means you're serving multiple waiting periods unnecessarily. For intermittent workers, here's the correct process: 1. File an initial UI claim 2. Serve your ONE waiting period week (unpaid) 3. Keep certifying EVERY two weeks regardless of whether you worked 4. Report earnings when you have them 5. For weeks with no work, you'll receive full benefits 6. For weeks with partial work, you'll receive reduced benefits 7. For weeks with full work, you'll receive zero benefits but keep your claim active Your benefit year lasts 12 months from initial filing. Don't file new claims for temporary work gaps - that's the key mistake.

So frustrating how EDD doesn't explain this clearly ANYWHERE on their website. I had the same issue last year and ended up calling them after trying for WEEKS. If you're having trouble getting through to someone at EDD to fix this issue, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a rep within 20 minutes after spending days trying myself. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Worth it to get this fixed because you could be missing out on a lot of money if your work is irregular.

To address your question about going back to claim missed weeks: You generally have 14 days to certify for a given benefit week, but you can request to backdate certifications for weeks you missed. Use the Contact EDD option in your UI Online account and explain your situation. They may allow you to certify for those missed weeks if you can show good cause for not certifying on time. Make it clear you misunderstood the process and didn't realize you needed to keep the claim open. Remember though, if you already filed multiple claims, they might consider your waiting period weeks as properly applied.

This litterally happened to me 2! The EDD system is soooo confusing. I kept refiling and hitting the same problem. Finaly got help from my cousin who works at at temp agency and she explained how to do it right. Once I stoped filing new claims every time and just kept certifying I got paid for my gaps without issues. The website should explain this better!!!

One more thing to be aware of: When you certify, be precise about reporting work and earnings. If you work just one day in a week, report those earnings even if you haven't been paid yet. Use the formula: hours worked × hourly rate = reportable earnings. If you're salaried, divide your weekly salary by 5 and multiply by days worked. Incorrect reporting can lead to overpayment notices later. Also, keep detailed records of all work periods, applications, and certifications in case there are questions about your claim later.

For gig workers and those with irregular schedules, I always recommend setting up a simple spreadsheet to track your work periods and certifications. Include columns for: week ending date, hours worked, gross earnings, employer name, and certification date. This helps you stay organized and provides documentation if EDD ever questions your claim. Also, if you're working short-term gigs regularly, consider whether you might qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) instead of regular UI - it's designed more for independent contractors and irregular workers. You can check your eligibility on the EDD website.

This is such a common issue for people in irregular work situations! I went through the exact same thing when I first started doing freelance video work. The biggest mistake I made was thinking I needed to close and reopen my claim every time my work status changed. What saved me was finally understanding that UI is designed to be kept active for your entire benefit year (12 months). Now I file once at the beginning of my benefit year and just certify every two weeks regardless of whether I worked. When I have a busy month, I report my earnings and get $0 benefits but keep the claim active. When work is slow, I get my full benefit amount. The system actually handles partial weeks really well once you understand how to use it properly. Don't feel bad about the confusion - EDD's instructions make it sound way more complicated than it actually is!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works in theater tech with a very similar schedule pattern! I made this exact same mistake when I first started claiming UI between shows. The key insight that helped me was realizing that EDD expects you to treat unemployment benefits like an ongoing relationship, not a series of separate transactions. Once I filed my initial claim and started certifying continuously (every 2 weeks without fail), everything became so much smoother. Even during busy seasons when I'm working 60+ hour weeks, I still certify and just report my full earnings - this keeps my claim active for those inevitable gaps between productions. The hardest part is remembering to certify on time even when you're busy working, but it's worth it to avoid the headache you're dealing with now. Also, keep all your paystubs and work records organized - irregular work means more documentation if EDD ever needs to verify your earnings patterns.