Got 'Notice of Conditional Payment Pending Eligibility Review' from EDD - Confused about next steps

I got the exact same notice about 2 months ago! Don't worry too much - it usually means they just need to verify something specific about your claim. In my case, they wanted to confirm details about my employment separation. I kept certifying like normal, and after my eligibility phone interview (which took about 3 weeks to get scheduled), they approved all my pending weeks at once. Just make sure you answer your phone even if it's an unknown number because they might only call once! If you miss the interview, the whole process starts over and takes even longer.

ya this happens alot... they just do random checks i think. keep certifying & documenting ur job search!!!!

This notice is actually very common and is part of EDD's standard review process. There are several reasons why you might receive a conditional payment notice: 1. They need to verify your job separation reason (especially important for restaurant industry layoffs) 2. They're checking your work search requirements compliance 3. There might be a wage discrepancy they need to resolve 4. They could be verifying your identity or eligibility status Here's what you should do: - Continue certifying on your regular schedule - Keep detailed records of all work search activities - Check your UI Online inbox daily for interview scheduling notices - Make sure your phone number is updated in your contact information The eligibility interview is typically scheduled 2-4 weeks after this notice, though current backlogs can extend this timeline. If you haven't received an interview date within two weeks, I'd recommend trying to contact EDD for a status update.

I had something similar happen when I filed last year but it was a different notice. EDD is always looking for reasons to deny benefits if you ask me. The whole system is designed to be confusing and frustrating. Good luck getting through to anyone there - I spent WEEKS trying to talk to someone until I finally just gave up and waited it out. Eventually they paid me but I was almost evicted by then.

If you need to actually speak with someone at EDD about this notice, I'd recommend trying Claimyr.com - it saved me so much time and frustration when I was in a similar situation with a pending eligibility review. Their system basically connects you with an EDD rep without all the busy signals and hang-ups. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I was able to find out exactly why my claim was under review and got an interview scheduled much faster than just waiting for EDD to contact me. Definitely worth checking out if you're worried about the rent deadline coming up.

This reminds me of when I was on disability not unemployment and they kept sending me confusing notices too. The whole system needs an overhaul if you ask me. My brother-in-law works for the state (not EDD) and he says even the employees can't keep up with all the rule changes. Anyway hope you get it sorted out!

I work as an employment counselor and see this frequently with my clients. The "Notice of Conditional Payment Pending Eligibility Review" is actually a positive sign - it means EDD is processing your claim while simultaneously scheduling a verification interview. Some important points: - Approximately 25-30% of all claims receive this notice - it's routine - You WILL receive payments for properly certified weeks IF you pass the eligibility interview - These payments are typically released within 48 hours after a successful interview - If you're concerned about timing, you can request an expedited interview by calling EDD and explaining your financial hardship (rent due, etc.) My advice is to prepare for your interview by gathering documentation about your job separation (final pay stub, termination letter if you have one, etc.) and having your work search record easily accessible. This greatly speeds up the process when they do contact you.

dont stress out to much! i got this notice 2x during my claim last year. both times i still got paid while waiting for interview. just keep certifying and answering honestly. but def have good records of job search activities cuz thats what they asked me about in my interview.

Hey Wesley! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. I know how stressful it is, especially with rent coming up. Here's what helped me get through it: First, the good news - you'll likely still get paid while they do the review. I received all my conditional payments and they were converted to regular payments after my interview. The key is to keep certifying exactly as you have been. For your interview preparation, since you mentioned the restaurant closed suddenly, try to get any documentation you can - even a text from a coworker or manager confirming the closure can help. I had to explain a similar situation with my employer. One thing that really helped me was calling EDD early in the morning (around 8:02 AM) to ask about expediting the interview due to financial hardship. They were actually pretty understanding about the rent situation and got me scheduled sooner. Also, make sure you have your work search log super organized. I used a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, positions applied for, and method of contact. They asked for specific details during my interview. The waiting is the worst part, but try not to panic. Most of these reviews are just routine verification and as long as you've been honest and following the rules, you should be fine. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I went through something very similar earlier this year! Got the same notice and was completely panicked about what it meant. Here's what I learned - the "conditional payment" part is actually good news because it means they're still processing your payments while doing the review, rather than stopping them entirely. In my case, it turned out they just needed to verify some details about my work history since I had worked at multiple locations for the same restaurant chain before getting laid off. The interview was pretty straightforward - they asked about my job duties, how the layoff happened, and wanted to see my work search records. A few practical tips: Start preparing now by writing down everything you remember about your last day of work, any conversations with your manager about the layoff, and organize all your job search activities by date. Also, if you haven't already, set up a dedicated phone number or make sure your voicemail is professional - they sometimes call from random numbers. The timeline varies, but mine took about 3 weeks from notice to interview, then I got all my pending payments released about 2 days after the interview passed. Since you mentioned rent is due soon, definitely try calling to explain your situation - they do have options for expediting in cases of financial hardship. Hang in there! The uncertainty is the worst part, but most of these reviews are just routine verification and resolve positively if you've been following the rules.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got the same conditional payment notice about a week ago after being laid off from my retail job. The uncertainty is definitely nerve-wracking, but reading through all these responses has been so helpful and reassuring. From what everyone is saying, it sounds like this is way more common than I realized and most people end up getting their payments once the interview is completed. I've been keeping detailed records of my job search activities, but I'm going to take the advice here and organize everything into a spreadsheet format to make it easier during the interview. Wesley, I hope your situation gets resolved quickly, especially with your rent deadline coming up. Please keep us updated on how the process goes - it would be really helpful to know how long it takes and what the interview is like. The tips about calling early in the morning and mentioning financial hardship seem like they could make a real difference. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in dealing with this!

I just want to add that while waiting for your interview, it's worth checking if your former employer filed the separation information correctly with EDD. Since you mentioned the restaurant closed suddenly and your employer has been hard to reach, there might be a delay or discrepancy in how they reported your layoff reason to EDD. You can actually see this information in your UI Online account under "Claim History" - look for the separation reason listed there. If it shows something like "quit" instead of "lack of work" or "layoff," that could be why you're getting the eligibility review. If there's an error, having documentation ready (even photos of closure notices, news articles about the restaurant closing, or witness statements from coworkers) can really help speed up the interview process. Also, don't forget that you can still apply for emergency rental assistance programs in your county while you're waiting for this to resolve. Many programs are specifically designed for people with pending unemployment claims. Stay strong - you've got this!

I've been through this exact situation twice during different unemployment claims, and I know how scary that notice can be when you're already stressed about finances. The good news is that "conditional payment pending eligibility review" typically means you'll still receive payments while they verify your claim details. Here are a few things that helped me get through it faster: 1. **Check your separation reason immediately** - Log into UI Online and look at your claim details to see how your employer reported your job ending. If it shows anything other than "layoff" or "lack of work," that's likely why you're under review. 2. **Document the restaurant closure** - Since your employer is hard to reach, gather any evidence you can find: photos of closure signs, news articles, Yelp reviews mentioning the closure, texts from coworkers, anything that proves the business closed. 3. **Call EDD early morning (8:00-8:15 AM)** - Explain your rent situation and request an expedited interview due to financial hardship. They do have options for urgent cases. 4. **Prepare your work search documentation** - Have dates, company names, positions, and contact methods organized. They always ask for specific details during the interview. Both times I went through this, I received all my conditional payments after the interview (usually within 2-3 business days). The uncertainty is definitely the worst part, but most of these reviews are routine and resolve positively if you've been following the rules. You're doing everything right by continuing to certify and actively job searching. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours, Wesley. I just went through this exact same process about a month ago after being laid off from my retail management position. Got the same "Notice of Conditional Payment Pending Eligibility Review" and was completely panicked, especially since I had never filed for unemployment before. Like everyone else has mentioned, I kept certifying and did receive the conditional payments while waiting for my interview. What really helped me was following the advice I've seen mentioned here - I called EDD right at 8 AM and explained my financial situation (I was also worried about rent). They were able to schedule my interview for the following week instead of the usual 3-4 week wait. The interview itself was much less intimidating than I expected. They mainly wanted to verify my job separation details and review my work search activities. Having everything organized in a spreadsheet beforehand made it go really smoothly - the whole call took maybe 15 minutes. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have a quiet space for the call and good phone reception. My interview was scheduled for a specific time and they only gave me one chance - if I had missed it, I would have had to start the whole scheduling process over again. All my pending weeks were released within 48 hours after the interview, just like others have mentioned. You're going to get through this! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right.

As someone who just went through this process a few weeks ago, I wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring responses here. I received the exact same notice after being laid off from my office job, and like you, I was completely confused and stressed about what it meant. The key things that helped me were: 1. **Keep certifying religiously** - I continued my regular certification schedule and received conditional payments the entire time 2. **Document everything** - I created a detailed timeline of my layoff, including emails from HR, my final pay stub, and even screenshots of the company announcement about layoffs 3. **Be prepared for the work search questions** - They asked me for specific details about at least 5 different job applications, including company names, dates, and how I applied My interview was scheduled exactly 3 weeks after I received the notice, and like others mentioned, it was much more straightforward than I anticipated. The interviewer was actually quite professional and understanding. They mainly wanted to verify that my separation was indeed a layoff (not a quit or termination) and that I was genuinely looking for work. One thing that might help with your immediate rent concern - I was able to get a letter from EDD confirming my pending claim status, which I showed to my landlord. It bought me some extra time while waiting for the review to complete. All my conditional payments were converted to regular payments within 24 hours of passing the interview. You're going to be okay! The system is designed to be confusing, but most of these reviews are just routine verification. Hang in there!