How long after EDD eligibility interview until they make a decision?
Just had my eligibility interview with EDD last Tuesday (feels like forever ago!!). The agent asked about my job separation and I explained everything about my layoff. She said she'd review my case but didn't tell me when to expect a decision. My UI Online account still shows my payments as 'pending' and I'm getting really anxious. This is my first time filing for unemployment and I'm not sure what's normal. Do you guys know how long it typically takes for them to make a decision after the phone interview? I'm checking my UI Online account like 10 times a day at this point. T.i.A
35 comments


Harper Hill
Usually takes 7-10 business days for most people, but it really depends on your specific case. EDD is reviewing the information you provided against what your employer reported. If everything matches up, you'll typically get a decision faster. If there are discrepancies, it could take longer while they investigate further. Keep certifying for benefits while you wait - if approved, you'll get paid for those weeks retroactively.
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Lucas Adams
•Thanks, that's helpful. Tomorrow will be 7 business days so hopefully I'll hear something soon. I've been certifying every two weeks like they told me to. Just hate this waiting game!
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Caden Nguyen
THEY TOLD ME 5 DAYS BUT IT TOOK 3 WEEKS!!! The system is completely broken and they don't care at all about people who are struggling. My interviewer was rude and barely let me explain my situation. Then I had to wait and wait with no updates at all. The whole time my rent was coming due and I couldn't even get anyone on the phone to tell me what was happening!!!!
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Avery Flores
•yeah same. took me 18 days after interview. i called like 50 times and couldnt get thru. the pending status is so stressful
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Zoe Gonzalez
In my experience helping clients with EDD claims, decisions typically come 5-10 business days after the eligibility interview, but there's significant variation based on claim complexity. If your separation was straightforward (clear layoff with documentation), you might hear back sooner. If there were any disputes about the nature of your separation, it could take longer. One important factor: EDD is currently experiencing higher than normal claims volume for this time of year, so some determinations are taking closer to 14 business days. If you don't hear anything by the two-week mark, I'd recommend trying to contact them for a status update.
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Lucas Adams
•Thank you for the detailed info. Mine should be pretty straightforward - I was laid off in a company restructuring and have the paperwork to prove it. My employer seemed to be on good terms with me so I don't think they'd dispute anything. I'll give it the full two weeks before panicking!
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Ashley Adams
this reminds me of when i applied last year after getting fired (they called it "position elimination" but whatever). had my phone interview and then nothing for like 3 weeks. i was freaking out!! turns out they sent the determination letter to my old address even tho i updated everything in the system. might be worth checking if your address is correct in ui online just in case
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Lucas Adams
•Oh that's a good point! I just checked my UI Online and my address is correct. I moved about 6 months ago but I made sure to update everything when I filed my claim. I'll keep an eye on my mail too just in case.
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Alexis Robinson
good luck!! im sending positive vibes your way 🙏 the waiting is the worst part honestly
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Aaron Lee
I went through this exact situation in March. After my eligibility interview, I waited for 9 business days with no update. Finally I decided to try reaching EDD to check on my claim status, but kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and disconnects. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an EDD representative within about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep I spoke with was able to check my claim and told me that my determination had actually been approved but was waiting for final processing. They expedited it and my payment switched from pending to paid the next day. Sometimes just getting someone on the phone can make all the difference.
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Avery Flores
•is that service legit? seems sketchy that u have to pay to talk to edd
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Aaron Lee
•It worked for me. I was skeptical too, but after trying to call EDD myself for three days with no luck, I was desperate. They just help you bypass the phone tree and get in the queue. The actual conversation is directly with an EDD rep.
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Harper Hill
One more thing to keep in mind: sometimes the determination is made but doesn't immediately reflect in your UI Online account. The system updates overnight, so even if a decision was made during the day, you might not see it until the next morning. Also, if approved, it can take 24-48 hours for payments to process after the determination is made.
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Lucas Adams
•That's good to know! I'll try to be patient and not check the website quite so obsessively. Hopefully I'll see some movement in the next few days.
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Chloe Mitchell
after my interview the lady told me id get a letter in 10 days but i got the determination in my ui inbox after like 6 days, never even got a physical letter. maybe check your ui inbox messages not just the payment status?
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Lucas Adams
•Just checked my UI inbox and there's nothing there yet except the original claim confirmation. I'll keep checking there too. Thanks for the tip!
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Zoe Gonzalez
Update us when you hear something! Good luck with your claim.
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Lucas Adams
•Thanks! I'll definitely post an update once I get a decision. Fingers crossed it comes through soon.
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Aria Washington
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Had my eligibility interview on Wednesday and it's been radio silence since then. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already stressed about finances. I keep refreshing my UI Online account hoping something will change, but it's still showing "pending" for all my certifications. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful - sounds like 7-14 business days is pretty normal, even though it feels like forever. Thanks for posting this question, I was wondering the same thing but felt silly asking!
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Arjun Kurti
•You're definitely not silly for asking! I was in the same boat and this community has been super helpful. It's crazy how they don't give you any timeline during the interview - would save so much anxiety if they just said "expect to hear back in 7-14 days." Hope we both get good news soon! The financial stress on top of the waiting is really tough.
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Savanna Franklin
I just went through this same process about 6 weeks ago and totally understand the anxiety! For what it's worth, mine took exactly 8 business days after the interview. The interviewer was actually really professional and walked me through what would happen next, but I still found myself obsessively checking UI Online multiple times a day. One thing that helped me was setting specific times to check (like once in the morning and once at night) instead of constantly refreshing. The determination letter showed up in my UI Online inbox first, then my payment status updated about 6 hours later. Since you mentioned this is your first time filing, just know that the waiting period is completely normal even though it feels endless. The fact that they scheduled an interview and you were able to explain your layoff situation is actually a good sign - they're just doing their due diligence. Hang in there!
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Samantha Hall
•This is really reassuring to hear! I like your idea about setting specific check times instead of constantly refreshing - I think I'm driving myself crazy checking every hour. It's good to know 8 days is pretty typical. Did you get any kind of notification when the determination was posted, or did you just happen to see it when you checked? I'm wondering if I should turn on notifications or if they even send them for this kind of update.
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Chloe Delgado
I'm in almost the exact same situation! Had my eligibility interview last Thursday and have been anxiously waiting ever since. The interviewer was nice but didn't give me any timeline either - just said they'd "review everything and make a determination." My claim is also showing pending for all my certification weeks. It's somewhat comforting to see that 7-14 business days seems to be the normal range based on everyone's experiences here. I've been laid off before but never had to go through an eligibility interview, so this whole process is new to me. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part - I just want to know one way or the other so I can plan accordingly. Thanks for asking this question OP, and thanks to everyone who shared their timelines. Definitely helps to know I'm not alone in this waiting game!
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Hunter Brighton
•I'm so glad I found this thread! I had my eligibility interview yesterday and I'm already starting to stress about the waiting period. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who have been through this exact same situation. The fact that you mentioned your interviewer was nice gives me hope - mine was pretty professional too and seemed to understand my layoff situation. I guess we're all just part of the "pending payment anxiety club" now! Hopefully we'll all get our determinations soon. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Caleb Bell
I'm in the exact same boat! Had my eligibility interview on Monday and it's now been 6 business days with nothing but "pending" status on all my payments. This is my second time filing (first was during COVID and it was much faster), so I know the drill but the waiting is still nerve-wracking. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like 7-14 business days is pretty standard, which is actually longer than I remembered from before. The part about checking your UI inbox for messages is really good advice - I completely forgot they sometimes post determinations there first before updating the payment status. @Lucas Adams thanks for asking this question! It's so helpful to see everyone's experiences and know that this timeline is normal. The not knowing is definitely the hardest part, especially when you're already dealing with job loss stress. Keeping my fingers crossed we all hear something positive soon!
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Malik Robinson
•You're so welcome! I'm glad this thread is helping everyone who's going through the same thing. It really does make me feel better knowing I'm not the only one obsessively checking UI Online and stressing about the waiting period. Your point about it being longer than during COVID is interesting - I wonder if they're being more thorough with reviews now or if they're just backed up. Either way, sounds like we're all in good company with this anxiety! I'll definitely update this thread once I get my determination so others know how long it actually took.
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Liam Sullivan
I went through this exact same process about 3 months ago and completely understand the stress you're feeling! My eligibility interview was on a Friday and I didn't hear anything for 11 business days - I was convinced something had gone wrong. Turns out everything was fine, they were just backed up with cases. A few things that might help while you wait: First, like others mentioned, definitely keep certifying for benefits even while pending. Second, I found it helpful to screenshot my UI Online account daily so I could track any small changes (sometimes little things update before the big status change). And third, try to have a backup plan ready just in case - it helped reduce my anxiety knowing I had other options if things didn't work out. The good news is that if your layoff was straightforward and you have documentation, you're probably in good shape. EDD just has to cross all their t's and dot their i's. Hang in there - the waiting is brutal but you'll get through it!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•This is such great advice, thank you! I love the idea of taking daily screenshots to track small changes - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense. Sometimes those little system updates happen before the big status changes become visible. I've definitely been keeping up with my certifications like everyone recommended, but having a backup plan is smart too. It's reassuring to hear that 11 business days still resulted in approval - I think I would have been panicking by day 10! Really appreciate you sharing your timeline and the practical tips.
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Chris King
I'm currently waiting for my determination too - had my eligibility interview 5 business days ago and checking UI Online obsessively like everyone else here! It's really comforting to read through all these experiences and see that 7-14 business days is the normal range. My interviewer didn't give me any timeline either, which seems to be pretty standard based on what everyone's sharing. One thing I noticed is that several people mentioned the determination sometimes shows up in the UI inbox before the payment status updates, so I've been checking both sections now. The waiting really is the hardest part, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of being unemployed. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - it definitely helps to know we're all going through the same anxiety-inducing process!
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Ethan Davis
•I'm right there with you - had my eligibility interview 4 business days ago and the waiting is killing me! I've been checking both the payment status and UI inbox like you mentioned, but nothing yet. It's so reassuring to see everyone's experiences here and know that this anxiety is totally normal. I keep telling myself that no news isn't necessarily bad news, but it's hard not to overthink every little thing. The 7-14 day range everyone's mentioned gives me hope that we should hear something soon. Thanks for sharing your timeline too - it helps to know there are others going through this exact same waiting period right now!
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
I'm going through this exact same waiting period right now! Had my eligibility interview 8 business days ago and still showing "pending" on all my certifications. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's reassuring to know that 7-14 business days is pretty typical, even though each day feels like a week when you're waiting. What's really struck me is how consistent everyone's experience has been with EDD not providing any timeline during the interview. You'd think they could at least say "expect to hear back within 2 weeks" to save people from this constant anxiety! I've been following the advice here about checking both the payment status AND the UI inbox, plus I started taking daily screenshots like someone suggested to track any small changes. The financial stress while waiting is real, but I'm trying to stay positive since my layoff situation was straightforward too. Thanks OP for starting this thread - it's been a lifesaver for my peace of mind knowing I'm not alone in this process!
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Effie Alexander
•I'm so glad you found this thread helpful too! I'm actually day 9 now since my interview and still nothing, but reading everyone's experiences has definitely helped calm my nerves. You're absolutely right about EDD needing to give people a basic timeline - it would save so much stress and constant checking! I love that you're taking the daily screenshots approach too - it makes me feel like I'm doing something productive instead of just anxiously refreshing the page. The financial pressure is definitely real, but seeing how many people have gotten through this exact same waiting period successfully gives me hope. Here's hoping we both get good news very soon!
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Grace Thomas
I just wanted to jump in and say how grateful I am for this thread! I'm currently on day 6 after my eligibility interview and have been going through the exact same anxiety spiral as everyone else here. The constant checking of UI Online, the worry about finances, the frustration at not getting any timeline from EDD - it's all so relatable. What's been really helpful is seeing the range of experiences here. Some people heard back in 6-8 days, others took 2-3 weeks, but the majority seem to fall in that 7-14 business day window everyone keeps mentioning. I'm trying to remind myself that my situation is pretty straightforward (laid off due to company downsizing with proper documentation), so hopefully I'll be on the shorter end of that timeline. The tips about checking the UI inbox for messages and taking daily screenshots are brilliant - I never would have thought of those strategies. Also keeping up with certifications while waiting is definitely important advice. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timeline updates. It really helps to know we're all in this together during such a stressful process!
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Diego Mendoza
•I'm on day 7 after my eligibility interview and feeling the exact same way! This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think something was wrong with my claim since I hadn't heard anything yet, but seeing everyone's experiences makes me realize this waiting period is totally normal. The daily screenshot idea is genius, I'm definitely going to start doing that too. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't give any timeline during the interview - even a simple "you'll hear back within 10-14 business days" would save so much stress! My layoff was also pretty straightforward so I'm hoping for good news soon. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping the positive energy going in this thread!
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Lily Young
I'm in almost the exact same situation! Had my eligibility interview last Friday and it's now been 6 business days with everything still showing "pending." The anxiety is real - I keep checking UI Online multiple times a day hoping something will change, but nothing yet. This thread has been incredibly reassuring though! Seeing that 7-14 business days is the normal range makes me feel so much better. My interview went well and my layoff was due to budget cuts with all the proper paperwork, so I'm trying to stay optimistic. I love all the practical tips people have shared here - checking the UI inbox for messages, taking daily screenshots to track changes, and definitely keeping up with certifications. The fact that EDD doesn't give any timeline during the interview is so frustrating! A simple "expect to hear back in 1-2 weeks" would save everyone so much stress. Thanks OP for asking this question and to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. It really helps to know we're all going through this same nerve-wracking waiting period together. Fingers crossed we all get good news soon!
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