Filed for EDD after surprise layoff - what to do while waiting for payments?

first thing - ur doing the right steps so far. call ur pharmacy ASAP and ask for a vacation override on ur meds. they can usually get u a month supply even if its early. costs a copay but worth it. for rent, check if ur county has emergency rental assistance programs - google "[county name] rent relief". dont waste time calling EDD right now, online is faster.

I went through something similar last year. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Contact your landlord and explain the situation - some will work with you on payment plans or grace periods 2. File for CalFresh (food stamps) online today - with zero income you'll likely qualify and can get approved within 7 days for emergency benefits 3. Contact your utility companies and ask about their low-income assistance programs - most have them if you provide your EDD award letter 4. For healthcare, apply for Covered California immediately and check if you qualify for Medi-Cal based on your current income situation (which would be free) 5. Start tracking all your expenses ruthlessly and eliminate everything non-essential One thing to know about EDD - your first certification period won't be available until 2 weeks after your initial filing, and payment usually comes 1-2 days after you certify.

whatever you do DON'T waste time constantly calling EDD!!!! total waste!!!! the system is BROKEN and nobody picks up anyway. ive been on unemployment twice and both times sitting around waiting for them to process my claim was the WORST. if you need money fast try doordash/uber/instacart. won't affect ur claim as long as u report the income.

omg so sorry about ur layoff! this happened 2 my cousin in jan & she was sooo stressed. have u tried asking family for a loan? also maybe sell stuff u don't need on marketplace? my cousin made like $600 selling old clothes and electronics she wasn't using anymore. good luck!!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my experience, EDD is DELIBERATELY slow with first-time claims. The system is designed to make you desperate so you'll take ANY job rather than wait for benefits you PAID INTO through your taxes. My first claim took 6 weeks to process and that was WITH calling them every single day. My advice? Don't count on that money coming when they say it will. Sell whatever you can, take any gig work, and prepare for the worst. And make sure you answer your phone for ANY unknown number - they'll try to do eligibility interviews and if you miss it, they'll delay your claim even more without telling you why.

hey just wondering did u get any severance package from your company?? sometimes even small startups will give 2 weeks pay. if not, might be worth emailing HR to ask. also did they give you your final paycheck already?? in california they have to pay you all wages owed including unused vacation time ON your last day. if they didn't do this they owe you waiting time penalties.

I work with unemployment cases frequently, and here are some key points that might help you: 1. EDD has an estimated processing time of 10-14 days for straightforward claims, though it can take longer if they need to verify your identity or employment details. 2. When you certify for benefits (which you'll do every two weeks), make sure you do it promptly as soon as it becomes available. You'll receive an email notification when it's time to certify. 3. For healthcare, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period with Covered California due to loss of employer coverage. Don't wait - you have 60 days from loss of coverage to enroll. For your medications, ask your doctor for samples or check if the manufacturer has patient assistance programs. 4. 211 is a great resource to call for emergency assistance programs in your area - they can connect you with rent assistance, food banks, and utility payment help. 5. Document everything related to your layoff and unemployment claim. Keep copies of all communications with EDD and your former employer.

forgot to mention - check ur local food banks too. no shame in using them while ur between jobs. saved me a ton of money on groceries when i was waiting for my claim. also cancel all subscriptions u don't absolutely need right now - netflix, spotify, whatever. every dollar counts!

To answer your question about certifying - yes, you need to be looking for work and you should keep a record of your job search activities. EDD requires you to make a reasonable effort to find work each week, which typically means applying to at least 3 jobs per week. They may not ask for details of every application in your certification, but they can audit you and request your job search record at any time. I recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet with: - Date of application - Company name - Position title - How you applied (company website, LinkedIn, etc.) - Any follow-up or response This serves both your EDD requirements and helps you stay organized in your job search.

Yes, networking activities can count toward your work search requirements! When you certify, EDD gives a list of qualifying job search activities that includes: - Submitting job applications - Attending job interviews - Networking with professional contacts for job leads - Attending job fairs or workshops - Registering with employment agencies - Taking skills assessments or certification courses Just document those coffee meetings (date, person's name, company, what was discussed) same as you would job applications. Regarding your EDD claim processing: If it's been more than 14 days since filing and your claim still shows as pending, it might be worth trying to speak with a representative. Many people find success calling right when they open (8am) or trying the technical support line instead of the main line.