RESEA program confusion - Do I still need to list work search activities when certifying?

I completed the RESEA program back in January, and my experience was different. My counselor specifically told me I still needed to document all work search activities when certifying. This was actually emphasized during our meetings. The RESEA program is supposed to provide extra job search assistance, not exempt you from the regular requirements. I'd recommend calling EDD directly to clarify - you definitely don't want to risk your benefits over this.

omg the EDD is so confusing!! my neighbor got disqualified cuz she didn't record her work searches even tho someone at EDD told her she didn't have to. don't trust what they say!!

I've been through the RESEA program twice (2022 and now again in 2025) and here's what I understand: RESEA participants still need to answer YES to looking for work, but the documentation requirements can vary depending on your specific RESEA plan. What your counselor might have meant is that you don't need to list activities through the UI Online system specifically, because you're already documenting them through the RESEA program itself. But that doesn't mean you're exempt from work search - you just might be tracking it differently. I strongly recommend getting clarification in writing from your RESEA counselor. Send them an email asking specifically: "Am I exempt from entering work search activities in UI Online when certifying, or do I still need to enter them in both places?

In MY OPINION this whole system is DESIGNED to trip people up!!! They tell you one thing then penalize you for following instructions. My brother-in-law got hit with an overpayment notice because some EDD worker gave him incorrect information about work search requirements. Now he owes $4,300 back!!! Always document EVERYTHING and get names of who you talk to. The EDD doesn't care if their own staff gives wrong information - YOU will be the one paying for it.

If you're having trouble reaching an EDD representative to clarify this (which is super important!), I'd recommend using Claimyr. I was going crazy trying to get through to EDD about my RESEA requirements and kept getting the "maximum callers" message for days. Claimyr connected me to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. Their system basically navigates the phone tree for you and calls you back when they've got an agent on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or check out their website at claimyr.com. It was seriously worth it to get a definitive answer about my work search requirements.

To provide accurate information: The RESEA (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment) program has specific requirements that supplement but don't replace standard UI requirements. Here's the official guidance: 1. You must still certify for benefits normally through UI Online 2. You must answer "Yes" to looking for work 3. Whether you need to document each work search activity depends on your specific RESEA plan Some RESEA participants are required to document their work search activities through the RESEA program's own tracking system rather than duplicating efforts in UI Online. This is likely what your counselor meant. I recommend getting explicit clarification from your RESEA counselor about whether you need to document in both systems or just in the RESEA system. Get this in writing and keep it for your records in case of any future issues.

so uh i was in RESEA last year and my counselor said i had to do the work search but then later somone else said i didnt need to report the activities on the certification but like i still had to do the activities and mark 'yes' to looking for work??? i still filled everything out anyway just to be safe lol. the whole thing is super confusing and even the EDD people dont seem to know the rules sometimes

Update for 2025: There was actually a recent change to the RESEA program guidelines that might explain the confusion. As of March 2025, RESEA participants who complete their bi-weekly RESEA activity logs no longer need to duplicate this information in the UI Online work search section when certifying. However, they MUST: 1. Answer "YES" to looking for work 2. Submit their detailed RESEA activity logs through the RESEA portal on time 3. Attend all scheduled RESEA appointments If you fail to submit the RESEA logs or miss appointments, you'll lose this exemption and need to document everything in UI Online again. This is likely what your counselor was referring to, but they should have explained it more clearly.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been navigating this system for a while - the key thing that helped me was creating a simple tracking spreadsheet. I document ALL my work search activities regardless of what system I'm supposed to enter them in. This way if there's ever a discrepancy or audit, I have my own records. For RESEA specifically, I keep track of: what I submitted through the RESEA portal, what I entered in UI Online (if anything), and screenshots of both systems showing my submissions. It takes an extra 10 minutes per week but has saved me so much stress. The EDD systems don't always talk to each other properly, so having your own backup documentation is crucial. Also, if you do get that written clarification from your counselor (which you absolutely should), save it in multiple places - email, cloud storage, AND print a hard copy. You never know when you might need to reference it months later.

I'm currently enrolled in RESEA and dealing with similar confusion! My counselor told me something similar - that I don't need to enter detailed work search activities in UI Online because I'm already tracking them through the RESEA system. But like you, I've been stressed about whether this is correct. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like there was a policy change in March 2025 that allows RESEA participants to skip the detailed UI Online work search entries as long as we're submitting our RESEA activity logs properly. This would explain why some people got different information depending on when they went through the program. I think the key takeaways from this thread are: 1. Always answer YES to looking for work when certifying 2. Make sure you're completing and submitting your RESEA activity logs on time 3. Get written confirmation from your counselor about the specific requirements 4. Keep your own records as backup I'm going to follow the advice here and email my RESEA counselor for written clarification. As a parent, I totally understand the stress of not wanting to mess up your benefits over a misunderstanding. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been really helpful!

I went through RESEA in late 2024 and had a very similar experience to what you're describing. My counselor also told me I didn't need to enter the detailed work search activities in UI Online, but I was so paranoid about it that I kept doing it anyway for the first few certifications. What really helped me was when I finally got connected to an EDD representative who explained that RESEA participants often have different documentation requirements because the program itself tracks your job search activities more comprehensively. The key is that you're still required to be actively looking for work and answer "Yes" to that question - you're just potentially tracking it through a different system. Based on what CosmicCadet shared about the March 2025 policy change, it sounds like your counselor was giving you correct information under the new guidelines. But definitely get that written confirmation for your peace of mind! As a parent myself, I totally understand not being able to afford any mistakes with your claim. One thing that gave me confidence was keeping detailed records of all my RESEA activities and appointments - that way even if there was confusion about which system to use, I had proof I was complying with the work search requirements. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to reach out to this community if you need more support navigating this process!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I'm dealing with the exact same RESEA confusion right now! I just started the program last month and my counselor told me something very similar - that I don't need to document work search activities in UI Online because they're being tracked through the RESEA system instead. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about that March 2025 policy change. That explains so much! I was getting really anxious because I've been following my counselor's guidance but then seeing conflicting information online. I love the practical advice here about keeping your own documentation and getting written clarification. As someone who's also supporting family members on unemployment, I completely understand the stress of not wanting to mess anything up. I'm definitely going to email my RESEA counselor tomorrow to get the requirements in writing, and I'm going to start keeping my own detailed records of all activities just in case. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusion, and the advice here gives me a clear path forward!

I'm going through the RESEA program right now too and had the exact same confusion! My counselor told me during our first meeting that I didn't need to enter work search details in UI Online since I'm already tracking everything through the RESEA portal. But then I started second-guessing myself after seeing all the warnings online about work search requirements. After reading through all these responses, especially the info about the March 2025 policy change, I feel so much more confident. It sounds like your counselor was actually giving you the correct updated guidance! I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice and get written clarification from my counselor though - better safe than sorry. The stress is so real when you have kids depending on these benefits. I've been losing sleep over whether I'm doing this right! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us navigating the current RESEA requirements.