What to do when California EDD unemployment runs out and still no job

Thank you for laying all this out. I didn't realize there was actually a trigger threshold for extended benefits - I assumed it was automatic. So there's genuinely no California EDD extension right now at all? That's really disheartening to hear. I'll look into the AJCC locations near me, I had no idea those existed.

The AJCC centers are actually really helpful, don't sleep on those. I went to one when I was job hunting and they helped me completely redo my resume and connected me with a hiring event. Free services.

wait so extended benefits are just off right now entirely?? I've been telling people they might get an extension I had no idea. Thanks for the correction

Did you need to bring a bunch of documentation? I'm worried about showing up without the right paperwork and wasting a trip.

bring your ID, proof of address, and your bank statements. they'll tell you what else they need. worst case you make a second trip but at least you're in the system

This. In person always moves faster with county services. I learned that the hard way after waiting 3 weeks on an online CalFresh application when I could've had it in 2 days going in person.

I have been trying to call California EDD for literally days and can't get through. Going to check out that Claimyr thing because I do want to ask them about whether any of my part-time work during the claim period might open anything up.

Claimyr worked for me when I needed to talk to EDD about my adjudication. Took way less time than trying to call myself and getting the busy signal over and over

does claimyr actually work or is it just another thing that sounds good? genuinely asking

I did do about three weeks of temp work through a staffing agency in the middle of my claim period. I reported those earnings on my weekly certifications. Could that be enough to establish new wages for a new claim?

Possibly! Staffing agency work counts as regular employment and those wages would be reported to EDD through the agency's payroll. Whether it's enough to establish a new claim depends on the total amount - California requires you to have earned at least $1,300 in your highest quarter, or $900 in your highest quarter AND total base period wages of 1.25x that high quarter. Call EDD and specifically ask about your eligibility for a new benefit year based on wages earned during your previous benefit year.

This is a solid point. I know someone who basically chained two UI claims together because they had just enough temp work between them. It's not guaranteed but definitely worth investigating before assuming you're completely out of options with California EDD.

Wait you have to earn a certain amount to even qualify for a new claim?? I thought it was just based on being laid off

I hadn't even thought about retraining. My warehouse supervisor role was at a company that lost a big contract to overseas manufacturing so TAA might actually apply to my situation. How do I find out if my layoff qualifies?

You'd need to check if your former employer filed a TAA petition or if your layoff is covered under an existing petition. The Department of Labor has a searchable database of certified TAA petitions. Your former coworkers being affected at the same time is a good sign. Definitely worth checking before writing it off.

TAA is one of those things that almost nobody knows about and it can be really significant for the right situations. Good catch bringing it up here.

Honestly I have been in kind of a spiral mode. Thank you for saying that, it helps to know others have gone through it. I will update my CalJOBS profile today.

Same thing happened to me with the spiral. It's a real psychological hit when benefits end. Be kind to yourself but also keep the momentum going if you can. The CalJOBS tip is solid too.

Yes it's actually realistic if you had qualifying wages. I filed a second claim after doing contract work during my first benefit year. California EDD processed it like any other new claim. The key is having enough wages in the new base period - it's not automatic but it's absolutely possible.

The base period for a new claim would be the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now, they'd look at wages from roughly Q4 2023 through Q3 2024. Any wages in that window count.

ok that actually gives me some hope. gonna call EDD and ask about my wage record. though getting through to them is another problem entirely lol

For actually reaching California EDD by phone - that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier (claimyr.com) is what I'd use again if I needed to get through. The regular phone lines are brutal and I wasted so much time on hold before I found it. The video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 explains the whole thing.

Oh wow I never would have thought of contacting my assembly member. That's actually really clever. Did you just call their office and explain the situation?

Yes exactly. Just call the district office (not the Sacramento office), explain you're a constituent with an urgent California EDD matter, and ask if they can help. They do this all the time. It's literally part of their job.

This is underrated advice. Elected officials' constituent services offices deal with EDD issues constantly and they have back channel contacts. 100% worth trying.

wait your assembly member can actually help with EDD stuff?? i thought they just like voted on laws

I didn't know about General Relief, I thought assistance programs required you to have kids. That changes things. Calling 211 today.

Yeah it varies by county in terms of the amount but most California counties do have GA/GR for single adults with no dependents. The amounts are small but can help bridge gaps especially combined with CalFresh.

211 is underused. They helped me find emergency rental assistance I didn't even know existed in my area. Genuinely useful service.

There's no requirement to log job searches in CalJOBS once you're not collecting benefits - the weekly job search requirement only applies when you're certifying for UI. That said, keeping your CalJOBS profile active and updated is still useful for being found by employers and workforce programs.

oh ok good I wasn't doing anything wrong then. thanks

This is really honest feedback and I think you might be onto something. I probably have been writing some cover letters that come across as 'I'll take anything' which isn't a great look. Good perspective.

The AJCC career counselors are seriously good for this kind of thing. Free resume reviews and mock interviews too. People sleep on them.

There was actually some flooding issues in my area earlier this year. Is DUA something I'd apply for through California EDD or separately?

DUA is administered through California EDD but it's federally funded and disaster-specific. Check the FEMA website for active disaster declarations in your county - if there's a declaration that covers your situation, you'd apply through EDD but under the DUA program rather than regular UI. The eligibility requirements are different.

Good point about DUA, it's genuinely overlooked. Key thing is the disaster has to be the reason you're unemployed or unable to work, not just that a disaster happened in your area. But worth checking.

I did exactly this. DoorDash kept me from completely drowning for about 6 weeks while I kept applying. Not glamorous but it works. Just be aware it affects your ability to claim UI if a new claim opens up - you'd have to report the income.

That's actually worth considering as a short-term bridge. Did you find it worth the time investment income-wise?

depends heavily on your area and the hours you put in. In my city during dinner hours it was ok. Not enough to live on but enough to cover groceries and gas while the real job hunt continued.

just remember gig income is self employment income and you need to track it for taxes bc nobody withholds for you. learned that the hard way

The key is to address it proactively rather than hope they don't notice. 'I was laid off in [month], I've been actively searching and also took advantage of the time to [anything you did - volunteer, online courses, freelance work, anything]. I'm really excited about this role because...' Briefly acknowledge it, frame it positively, move forward.

8 months is really not unusual especially in fields that have been hit hard. Interviewers know the market has been rough. A confident, honest answer about the gap is way better than awkwardness about it.

ok that framing helps. I did actually complete a few LinkedIn Learning certifications during the gap so I can use those.

I keep seeing WIOA mentioned in various places and didn't really understand what it was. So it's basically federal funding that comes through local offices? And it can include cash while you're in training?

Correct. WIOA is federal funding for workforce development programs, and the dislocated worker component can include training subsidies, supportive services (sometimes including small stipends), and job placement assistance. The availability varies by county because it depends on how the local workforce development board has allocated the funds. It's worth specifically asking about.

WIOA dislocated worker services are seriously underutilized. I went through a program and got my forklift and OSHA certifications covered plus a small weekly stipend during training. Changed my trajectory completely.

Ok this is the second mention of Claimyr in this thread and I'm starting to think I should just try it. Getting through to EDD has been my whole problem. Can't get answers if I can't talk to anyone.

Honestly just try it. The demo video (https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10) shows exactly how it works. For me the value was just not having to spend a whole day redialing and eventually getting the information I needed to move forward.

The temp work wages thing is exactly what I need to ask about. Maybe I'll try this to actually get through to someone rather than burning more days on hold.

We were actually notified under the WARN Act when the layoffs happened. I did get some severance but it was a one-time lump sum. Is there anything additional that comes from a WARN Act layoff beyond what my employer already provided?

If they provided proper WARN Act notice (60 days) and severance, you probably received what you were owed. But if they provided less than 60 days notice and the WARN Act applied, you might have a claim for back pay for the notice period they shorted you. Worth a quick conversation with an employment attorney - many do free initial consultations.

Employment attorneys for wage claims in California often work on contingency so there may be no upfront cost to at least get a consultation. Good advice.

Start taking action before they end if you can. Get CalFresh and any other assistance set up while you still have some income - it's easier to think clearly and navigate systems when you're not already in crisis mode.

good point. I keep telling myself I'll figure it out when it happens but I should probably get ahead of it

100% start now. The CalFresh application alone can take a couple weeks. Give yourself runway.

I've heard this advice before but never fully committed to it. I think when the benefits were still coming I was less urgent about structure. Now that they're gone I should probably treat the search with more discipline.

The other thing is it gives you something concrete to tell people when they ask how the search is going. 'I submitted 8 applications this week and have two interviews scheduled' feels way different than 'still looking.' Small psychological win.

The spreadsheet idea is underrated for morale too - you can look back and see how much effort you've actually put in. Helps counter the feeling that you're not doing enough.