How to backdate my EDD claim when I missed filing for several weeks?

Yes, you can request to backdate your claim! I was in the same boat last year - waited almost 2 months to file because I was promised my construction job would restart. When it didn't, I called EDD and explained my situation. They have a process for this, but it's nearly impossible to reach someone on the regular line. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a rep quickly - they got me connected in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. There's a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Once I got through, the rep submitted a backdate request for me, and I had to provide a good reason for filing late. They approved it about a week later.

To backdate your claim, you need to contact EDD directly and submit a formal backdate request. Be aware that they'll only approve it if you have what they consider a "good cause" reason. Valid reasons usually include: - You were misinformed by an EDD representative - You were physically or mentally unable to file - Your employer told you not to file yet - Natural disaster prevented filing - You didn't know you could file/were eligible Your situation might qualify under the last category. When you speak with a representative, explain clearly why you didn't file right away. Be honest but make sure to emphasize any factors that prevented you from understanding your eligibility or the importance of filing immediately.

DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP!!! They've gotten SUPER strict about backdating since COVID!!! I tried to backdate my claim in February and they DENIED it even though I had documentation proving I couldn't file because I was in the HOSPITAL!! The rep I finally talked to (after 73 attempts calling) said they're rejecting almost all backdate requests now unless you have PROOF that the EDD website was down or an EDD employee gave you wrong information. The whole system is DESIGNED to deny benefits we're entitled to!!!

I think u can do it online now. Somewhere in ui online there's a contact option where u submit backdate requests. that's what the lady at the job center told me last week when i was there for the workshop thing

Professional advice from someone who worked with EDD claims for years: 1. Submit your backdate request through Ask EDD (https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/) - select "Unemployment Insurance Benefits" then "Claim Questions" then "Backdate the Effective Date of my Claim" 2. Alternatively, call the EDD directly at 1-800-300-5616. Be persistent as lines are often busy. 3. When explaining your reason, focus on why you didn't understand your eligibility or the filing requirements. "Not knowing you should file immediately" can be acceptable if explained well. 4. Be prepared to certify for all backdated weeks if approved. 5. The process typically takes 7-14 days for a decision. Backdating is not automatic - the success of your request depends entirely on your specific circumstances and how well you explain your reason for delay.

I just went through this last month. You MUST call and speak to a Tier 2 specialist to get your claim backdated. The Ask EDD method takes forever and often gets denied without proper review. When you call, make sure to ask specifically for a "backdate request form" to be submitted. Regular reps will often tell you they can't help. Keep asking to speak to a Tier 2 specialist who has the authority to process these requests. Good luck getting through though - took me 47 calls over 3 days.

i got mine backdated 4 months actually. they can go back up to 1 year i think. but u need good reason. i said i was taking care of my sick mom and didnt know i could claim while doing that. took like 3 weeks to get approval then all the $$ came at once. was like $13k it was crazy lol

To add to my earlier comment, here are the specific steps for filing through Ask EDD since the menu options have changed recently: 1. Go to https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/ 2. Select "Unemployment Insurance Benefits" 3. Now select "Claims Questions" 4. Then "Claim Filing" 5. There should be an option about "Effective Date" or "Claim Date" If you can't find it, another approach is to select the general inquiry option and clearly state in your message that you need to backdate your claim. Be very specific about the exact date you want to backdate to and your reason. But honestly, calling is usually faster if you can get through. The written requests tend to take 2-3 weeks just for a response.

One more thing to keep in mind - when you do get through to submit your backdate request, make sure you have all your employment information ready. They'll want to know exactly when your last day of work was, your employer's information, and any severance or final pay you received. Also, be prepared that if they approve the backdate, you'll need to certify for benefits for ALL those weeks at once, which can be overwhelming but just take it one week at a time. The key is being persistent with calling - I found that calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours (12-1pm) gave me the best chance of getting through. Don't give up after just a few tries - it really does make a difference to keep calling back to back.

I successfully got my claim backdated 6 weeks last year after being laid off from my retail job. Here's what worked for me: I called the EDD number first thing in the morning (8:00 AM sharp) and got through after about 15 tries over two days. The key was having a clear, honest explanation ready. I told them I didn't file immediately because I genuinely thought I'd find work quickly and didn't realize how important it was to file right away. They asked for my last day of work, final paycheck date, and reason for the delay. The rep was actually pretty understanding and submitted the backdate request during that call. I got approval in about 10 days and then had to certify for all 6 weeks at once, which was a bit tedious but worth it. The lump sum payment really helped catch up on bills. Don't let the horror stories scare you - many people do get approved, especially if you're honest about your situation and persistent with calling.

@Reina Salazar - I just went through this exact process 3 weeks ago! Similar situation - lost my warehouse job in December but didn't file until February because I kept thinking something would come up. Here's what worked for me: I used the Ask EDD method that Jake mentioned, but I also called simultaneously. The calling actually worked faster - got through on my 23rd attempt by calling at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday. The rep was surprisingly helpful and explained that "not knowing you should file immediately" is actually a pretty common and often accepted reason, especially if you can show you were actively job searching during that time. Make sure you have your last day of work, final pay stub, and any job search records ready. They approved my 8-week backdate in 12 days, and I got about $3,200 in back benefits. The certifying for all weeks at once was tedious but straightforward - just answer the same questions for each week. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but it does work if you're persistent. Good luck!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Lost my job at a coffee shop in late January but just filed last week because I kept thinking I'd land something quickly. Reading through everyone's experiences here is super helpful - sounds like there's definitely hope for getting those missed weeks back. I'm planning to try both the calling method (starting bright and early tomorrow at 8 AM) and the Ask EDD route simultaneously like some of you suggested. Has anyone had success recently with the online Ask EDD method, or is calling really the only reliable way? Also, for those who got approved, did you need to provide any proof of your job search activities during the weeks you missed, or was your explanation enough? I kept some records but not super detailed ones. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's really encouraging to see that people are actually getting their backdates approved despite all the horror stories online!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - lost my bartending job in December but didn't file until February because I was sure something would come through. The good news is that you absolutely can get your claim backdated! I successfully got mine backdated 7 weeks. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number every morning starting at exactly 8:00 AM. It took me about 4 days of persistent calling (probably 80+ attempts total) but I finally got through to a rep who was really understanding. My reason was similar to yours - I genuinely didn't realize how important it was to file immediately and thought I'd find work quickly. They submitted the backdate request during that call and I got approval about 2 weeks later. The key is being honest and persistent. When you do get through, have your last day of work, final paycheck info, and any job search activities ready to discuss. Don't let the busy signals discourage you - keep calling back to back, especially right when they open. Those 7 weeks of back pay made a huge difference for me. You've got this!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation! Lost my job at a local diner in mid-January but only filed for unemployment two weeks ago because I kept thinking I'd bounce back quickly. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's reassuring to know that so many people have successfully gotten their claims backdated despite the challenges. I'm planning to start the calling marathon tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp using the 1-800-300-5616 number. From what I'm gathering, persistence is absolutely key, and having your employment details and honest explanation ready is crucial. My reason is similar to many others here - I simply didn't understand the importance of filing immediately and genuinely believed I'd secure new employment within a few weeks. For those who've been successful, did you find that calling on specific days of the week worked better, or is it really just about calling right when they open regardless of the day? Also, should I prepare any specific documentation beyond my last day of work and final pay stub? Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - this thread is giving me the motivation to keep pushing through what I know will be a frustrating but hopefully worthwhile process!

Just want to add my recent experience to help others going through this! I successfully got my claim backdated 5 weeks after losing my job at a local grocery store in February. Like many of you, I waited because I was confident I'd find work quickly and didn't realize the importance of filing immediately. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number every single day for a week, starting at exactly 8:00 AM. The breakthrough came on day 6 when I got through after about 35 attempts that morning. The rep was actually very understanding when I explained that I didn't know I should file right away and had been actively job searching. She submitted my backdate request during that call, and I got approval in exactly 9 days. The key things that helped: 1) Being completely honest about my situation, 2) Having my employment end date and final pay information ready, 3) Mentioning that I had been job searching during those weeks (even though I didn't have detailed records), and 4) staying persistent with calling. When the approval came through, I certified for all 5 weeks at once - it was tedious but straightforward, just answering the usual questions for each week individually. The back payment of about $2,800 was a lifesaver for catching up on bills. Don't give up - persistence really does pay off, and your reason for waiting is totally understandable and commonly accepted!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Lost my job at a small retail store in early February but didn't file until this week because I kept thinking something would come up quickly. It's so reassuring to see that so many people have successfully gotten their claims backdated despite the initial challenges. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm planning to start calling the 1-800-300-5616 number tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp and keep at it until I get through. My situation sounds very similar to many others - I genuinely didn't understand how important it was to file immediately and was actively job searching, thinking I'd land something within a few weeks. For those who've been successful recently, I'm curious - did you find that having a script or specific talking points prepared helped when you finally got through to a rep? I want to make sure I explain my situation clearly and don't stumble over my words after all that effort to get connected. Also, did anyone have success using the Ask EDD method as a backup while also calling, or is the phone really the most reliable approach? Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - knowing that people are actually getting approved gives me the motivation to push through what I know will be a frustrating but hopefully worthwhile process!

I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago! Lost my job at a local bakery in December but didn't file until February because I was convinced I'd find something quickly. The good news is I successfully got my claim backdated 8 weeks, so there's definitely hope for your situation! Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number religiously every morning starting at exactly 8:00 AM. It took me 5 days of persistent calling (probably around 90 attempts total) but I finally got through to a really helpful rep. My explanation was almost identical to yours - I didn't realize how crucial it was to file immediately and genuinely thought I'd secure new employment within a couple weeks. The rep was understanding and submitted my backdate request right during that call. I got approval in about 11 days and received around $4,100 in back benefits which was absolutely life-changing for catching up on rent and bills. The key things that helped: being completely honest about why I delayed, having my last day of work and final pay info ready, and mentioning that I had been actively job searching (even though my records weren't perfect). Don't get discouraged by the busy signals - keep calling back to back, especially right when they open at 8 AM. Your reason is totally valid and commonly accepted. You've got this!

I successfully got my claim backdated 6 weeks just last month! Lost my job at a hotel in January but didn't file until March because I kept thinking I'd find something in the hospitality industry quickly. Here's my step-by-step approach that worked: I called 1-800-300-5616 every single morning at exactly 8:00 AM for 6 days straight. Finally got through on day 6 after about 42 attempts that morning. The rep was actually very understanding when I explained I didn't know filing immediately was so important and had been job searching the whole time. She processed my backdate request during that same call! Got approved in 13 days and received $3,400 in back benefits. Key tips: Have your last day of work and final paycheck date written down, be completely honest about why you waited, and don't give up on the calling - those busy signals are frustrating but persistence absolutely pays off. Also, I mentioned I had been applying places (even though I didn't have perfect records) and that seemed to help my case. Your reason is totally valid - so many of us made the same mistake of thinking we'd bounce back quickly! Keep calling right when they open and you'll get through eventually.

I'm currently going through this exact same process and wanted to share what I've learned so far from calling EDD multiple times this week. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I started calling the 1-800-300-5616 number at 8 AM sharp every day. It took me 4 days and probably 60+ attempts, but I finally got through yesterday! The rep was actually really helpful and understanding when I explained that I lost my job in late January but didn't file until recently because I thought I'd find work quickly. She said this is actually a very common situation and that "not understanding the urgency of filing immediately" is often accepted as good cause for backdating. She submitted my request during the call and said to expect a decision in 7-14 business days. One tip that seemed to help - I mentioned that I had been actively job searching during those weeks (even though my records weren't perfect) and she noted that in my file. For anyone still trying to get through: don't give up on the calling method! Those busy signals are incredibly frustrating, but persistence really does pay off. Keep calling back-to-back right when they open at 8 AM. Having your last day of work, final pay date, and a clear explanation ready definitely helps once you get connected. Will update when I hear back about my decision!

I just successfully got my claim backdated 7 weeks after being in your exact situation! Lost my job at a small family restaurant in mid-January but didn't file until two weeks ago because I was absolutely convinced I'd find something quickly in the food service industry. The process was frustrating but totally worth it - I ended up getting about $3,800 in back benefits that saved me from eviction. Here's what worked: I called 1-800-300-5616 every single morning at exactly 8:00 AM for 5 straight days. Finally connected on day 5 after roughly 75 attempts total. The key was being completely honest with the rep - I explained that I genuinely didn't understand how critical it was to file immediately and had been actively job searching thinking something would come through soon. She was surprisingly understanding and said this situation happens all the time, especially in the restaurant industry where people often expect to bounce back quickly. She submitted my backdate request during that same call and I got approved in exactly 10 days. When you call, have your last day of work written down, your final paycheck date, and any job search activities you can remember (even informal ones help). Don't let those busy signals discourage you - I almost gave up on day 4 but I'm so glad I kept going. Your situation is totally valid and commonly accepted. Start calling tomorrow at 8 AM sharp and keep at it!