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Hassan Khoury

When can you file unemployment with California EDD after losing your job?

So I just got laid off last Friday out of nowhere - we had a company-wide meeting and they let like 15 of us go at once. I've never had to file for unemployment before and I'm completely lost on the timing. My last official day was Friday but I still have two weeks of severance coming. Does that mean I have to wait until the severance runs out before I can file? Or can I file right now? I also heard something about a waiting week - does California EDD still do that? I don't want to mess up my claim by filing too early OR too late. Any help would be really appreciated, I'm kind of panicking here.

First thing - don't wait! You should file your California EDD unemployment claim as soon as possible after losing your job. The general rule is you can file the same week your employment ends. California EDD actually wants you to file right away because your benefit year starts the week you submit your initial claim. If you delay filing by even a few weeks, you're essentially giving up potential benefit weeks you could have collected. Regarding your severance - this is a common source of confusion. Severance pay does NOT necessarily stop you from filing immediately. You report it when you certify for your weekly benefits, and California EDD determines how it affects your payments. In most cases, severance paid as a lump sum is handled differently than continuation of wages. I'd file your initial claim today if possible through UI Online at edd.ca.gov.

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Wait so I can literally file this week even though I just got laid off Friday? I thought there was like a processing period or something before you could even start.

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Yes, file this week! The benefit week runs Sunday through Saturday in California. The week your job ended counts as your first week. File the initial claim now and then you'll certify for benefits starting with that week. Don't lose any time.

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this is right, i made the mistake of waiting 3 weeks when i got laid off thinking i needed to wait til severance was done and lost like $1200 in benefits i couldve gotten. file immediately

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To answer the waiting week question - California EDD eliminated the one-week unpaid waiting period back in 2020 and it has not come back. So your first week of unemployment is now payable, which is different from how it used to work. That's actually a big deal because it used to be you'd file and automatically lose the first week with no payment. Here's the basic timeline for filing UI in California: 1. File initial claim the week your employment ends (or the following week at latest) 2. California EDD will mail you a notice with your claim details within 10-14 days 3. You'll certify for your first two weeks of benefits about 2-3 weeks after filing 4. Payment typically arrives 3-5 business days after certification if approved The sooner you file, the sooner that clock starts.

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Oh wow I had no idea they got rid of the waiting week. That's actually really helpful. So if I file today I could potentially get paid for this current week?

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Exactly right. This week would be your first certifiable week. File the initial claim ASAP through UI Online - it takes about 45 minutes to complete. You'll answer questions about your employment history, reason for separation, and contact info. Then you wait for California EDD to process it.

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does the waiting week elimination apply to all claim types or just regular UI? asking because I was on SDI recently and coming back to regular unemployment

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Something nobody's mentioned yet - if you're struggling to get through to California EDD by phone to ask questions about your filing timing or severance situation, I had great luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - basically it navigates the California EDD phone system for you and calls you back when an actual agent picks up. I used it when I had questions about my own severance situation and got through to someone in about an hour instead of spending all day redialing. When you have specific questions about how your severance will be treated, talking to an actual agent is sometimes the fastest way to get clarity.

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That's actually super helpful - I was dreading trying to call California EDD. How long did you have to wait for the callback?

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Took about 45 minutes to an hour for me. Way better than calling repeatedly and getting busy signals or getting disconnected. The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful once I got through.

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I've heard of this service, does it actually work? California EDD phones are notoriously impossible to get through to

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It worked for me and for a few people I know who've had to call California EDD. Definitely beats sitting on hold or redialing for hours.

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ok so i work in HR and deal with unemployment claims all the time from the employer side so let me clear up the severance question specifically Severance comes in two main flavors and California EDD treats them differently: 1. CONTINUATION PAY - where the company keeps you on payroll for X weeks after separation. California EDD can treat this as wages and delay when your benefits start. 2. LUMP SUM SEVERANCE - a one-time payment upon separation. Generally doesn't delay your benefit start date but you must report it. You need to disclose your severance when you file and during certification. Lying about it causes overpayment issues down the road which is a nightmare. Just report it honestly and let California EDD sort out how it's treated.

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Mine is paid over two weeks in separate checks on the normal payroll schedule, not a lump sum. Does that make it continuation pay then?

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That sounds more like continuation pay which could affect your benefit start. Definitely report it accurately and honestly - California EDD will calculate the impact. You should still file your initial claim NOW though, before the severance period ends.

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great info, I always thought all severance was treated the same. The continuation vs lump sum distinction is really important

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can someone also explain the difference between filing the initial claim and certifying?? I see people using both terms and I dont understand if its the same thing or two separate steps

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Two totally different steps. The INITIAL CLAIM is the one-time application you fill out when you first become unemployed. It establishes your claim, sets your benefit year, and determines your weekly benefit amount based on your past wages. You only do this once. CERTIFYING FOR BENEFITS is what you do every two weeks on an ongoing basis to actually receive payments. California EDD asks you questions like did you work, did you refuse any work, are you able and available, etc. You have to certify every two weeks or your payments stop. They're completely separate processes.

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ohhh ok that makes way more sense. so filing the initial claim doesnt automatically get you money, you still have to certify afterwards

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Exactly. Filing the initial claim just starts the process. Certifying is how you actually trigger the payments. A lot of people file and then wait thinking money will come automatically - it won't without certification.

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I went through this exact situation 8 months ago, got laid off with 3 weeks of severance and was terrified about filing. Here's what I wish someone told me: File immediately, don't wait. My HR department told me to wait until severance ended and that was WRONG advice that cost me weeks of benefits. The California EDD determines how your severance affects payment timing - you don't make that determination by waiting. Also make sure you have your employment dates, company name and address, reason for separation, and your income information from the base period handy when you file. Having that ready makes the online application go much faster.

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Wait your HR told you to wait and it cost you benefits? Ugh, that's so frustrating. I'm definitely filing today then.

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Yeah, HR people mean well but they're not always up to date on California EDD rules from the claimant side. Always verify what you hear with EDD directly or forums like this.

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this happened to me too - was told by my employer to wait and lost like 3 weeks of benefits. always file right away

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NOBODY TELLS YOU THIS but you also need to register on CalJOBS when you file!!! California EDD requires you to register on the CalJOBS system as part of your unemployment requirements. If you don't do it you can get disqualified from receiving benefits even if everything else is correct. It asks you to do it during the initial claim process but some people skip it thinking it's optional. IT IS NOT OPTIONAL.

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Oh wow I had no idea about CalJOBS. Is that separate from the California EDD website?

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Yes it's a completely separate website, caljobs.ca.gov. You create a profile there with your work history and it's supposed to connect you with job listings. California EDD requires it as part of the job search requirements for collecting unemployment.

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This is accurate - CalJOBS registration is required. You also need to be conducting job searches (generally 3 employer contacts per week) and keeping a record of them. These are conditions of receiving California EDD benefits, not optional activities.

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ngl the California EDD website is pretty confusing the first time. when you go to file make sure you're on the actual edd.ca.gov site not some third party thing. click UI Online and create an account if you don't have one. the application itself walks you through everything step by step but plan for it to take like 45 min to an hour especially if you need to look up old employer info

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Yeah I found the site already - just wanted to make sure I had all my ducks in a row before starting. Do they ask about income from the whole past year or just recent months?

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they ask about a 'base period' which is basically the 12 months before the last complete quarter before you filed. so it's not like your very last job necessarily, it's the 5 quarters before that. can be confusing. just have your W2s or pay stubs handy

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reading this thread as someone who just got their claim approved after a 6 week adjudication nightmare and I want to say - file early and file correctly the first time because fixing mistakes or dealing with adjudication delays is SO much harder than just doing it right from the start. double check every employer, every date, every income figure before you submit

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6 weeks in adjudication sounds awful. What triggered that for you?

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I put the wrong separation reason basically. My employer said 'lack of work' but I accidentally selected something that sounded like I quit voluntarily. It triggered a whole investigation. California EDD is really strict about voluntary quit vs layoff distinctions.

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This is such a good warning. The separation reason question is the most important one on the whole application. If it says layoff or lack of work, make sure you select exactly that. Don't guess or paraphrase.

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question - what if you're not sure exactly when your last day is? like my company said my 'separation date' is two weeks from now but I stopped working yesterday. Do I file now or on the actual separation date?

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This matters a lot. If you're still receiving wages (even if not working), California EDD generally considers you employed until your last paid day. File on the week your last paycheck covers through. If your company is paying you through the two weeks even though you're not working, that's your effective separation date.

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Ugh ok so I should wait two weeks then? Even though I'm literally sitting at home doing nothing?

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Unfortunately yes in most cases. California EDD defines your benefit start based on when wages stop, not when physical work stops. Double check with an EDD agent about your specific situation though because there are nuances depending on how the pay is structured.

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Has anyone successfully gotten through to California EDD on the phone lately? I've been trying for days about a question on my own claim and can't get through at all. Every time it's either a busy signal or I sit on hold for an hour and get disconnected.

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Seriously try Claimyr - claimyr.com. I mentioned it earlier in this thread. It's the only way I've been able to consistently get through to a California EDD agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 showing how it works. It holds your place in the phone queue and calls you back when an agent is available. Changed my life when I was dealing with my own claim issues.

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Ok I'll check it out. At this point I'm desperate - I've literally called 40+ times and can't get through.

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The phone situation at California EDD is genuinely terrible. Best times to call if you're doing it yourself are right when they open at 8am on Tues, Wed, or Thurs. Mondays are the absolute worst.

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random question but does it matter WHICH week you file within? Like if my last day was Monday and I wait until Sunday to file, does that count as filing the same week? Just want to make sure I'm not losing anything by waiting until the weekend

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California EDD benefit weeks run Sunday through Saturday. So if your last day was Monday, this whole week (Sunday through Saturday) is your first potential week of benefits. As long as you file before or during this week - any day Sunday through Saturday - you capture this week. Waiting until Sunday the following week would mean missing this week entirely.

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ok so I have until Saturday then. Good to know, I'll file tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

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Don't push it to Friday, file now! Processing times mean the sooner you get that initial claim in, the sooner you start getting paid. There's no downside to filing earlier.

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also want to add - make sure you have your Social Security number ready, valid ID (California EDD will likely require ID.me verification), your most recent employer's information including their EDD account number if you have it (usually on your W2), and your bank account info if you want direct deposit. Getting all that together before you start the application makes it so much less stressful

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Oh good call on the ID.me thing - I've heard that can be a whole separate headache. Do you have to do that before you can file the initial claim or after?

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You typically get prompted for ID.me verification after submitting the initial claim, not during it. California EDD will send you instructions. Just respond to it quickly because your claim can get held up if the ID verification isn't completed.

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the ID.me thing took me like 2 days to complete because I kept having issues with the facial recognition part. do it on a phone with a good camera in good lighting, way easier than trying on a laptop webcam

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Can I ask a dumb question - what does 'able and available' mean when they ask that during certification? I see it everywhere but nobody explains what it actually means

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Not a dumb question at all! 'Able and available' means you are physically and mentally able to work full time AND available to accept work if offered. California EDD requires this as a condition of receiving benefits every week. If you're sick, injured, or have made yourself unavailable for work (like going on a vacation or limiting yourself to very specific jobs only), you may not qualify as able and available for that week.

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Ok so it's basically asking if you're ready and willing to work right now? Not like hypothetically but actually today if someone called?

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Exactly. You need to be ready to accept suitable work if it was offered. That's why people on vacation technically shouldn't certify for those weeks. 'Suitable work' has some flexibility - you don't have to accept any job no matter what - but you have to be genuinely available.

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My situation is a bit different - I was laid off but my employer is saying it was a 'mutual agreement' on the paperwork. That's not what happened, they told me they were eliminating my position. Does that affect when or whether I can file?

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YES this is a huge deal. How the separation is classified matters enormously for your eligibility. 'Mutual agreement' could be interpreted by California EDD as a voluntary quit which can disqualify you entirely. If you were told your position was eliminated, you need to describe it exactly that way when you file - layoff due to elimination of position. If your employer contests that, you have the right to appeal.

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This is terrifying to hear. So my employer could potentially tank my claim by how they report it?

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They can make it complicated, yes. But California EDD investigates both sides. Document everything - any emails about your position being eliminated, any conversations. If you have written notice that the position was being cut, save that. The appeals process exists for exactly these disputes.

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This happened to a friend of mine. California EDD did investigate and ultimately sided with her when she had the documentation. File your claim and be very specific and factual about what happened. Paper trail is everything.

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I feel so validated reading this whole thread bc I was in the same boat 6 months ago, completely clueless about filing, and ended up figuring it out. OP you'll get through this. The first claim is the hardest because everything is unfamiliar. Once you've gone through the process once you'll know exactly what to do if you ever need it again (hopefully you won't!

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Thank you, that's actually really reassuring. I filed about an hour ago after reading all this and it wasn't as bad as I expected. Took about 40 minutes. Now just waiting to see what happens next.

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Nice!! The hardest part is done. Now just watch for mail from California EDD and for when your certification window opens. Usually you can certify starting about 2.5-3 weeks after your initial filing date.

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Great news that you filed! Keep an eye on your UI Online account for any messages or requests for additional information from California EDD. Sometimes they ask clarifying questions and if you miss those notices it can delay your claim.

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one more thing - if your claim ends up in adjudication for any reason don't panic but also don't just wait silently. adjudication means california edd is investigating some aspect of your claim before approving it. it can take anywhere from a couple weeks to 2+ months. if you hit adjudication and need to talk to someone, the phone line is brutal to navigate on your own

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I'm currently in adjudication and this is exactly my problem - can't get through on the phone to find out what's happening. Going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier in the thread.

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Claimyr - claimyr.com - is genuinely worth trying if you're stuck in adjudication and can't get answers. The video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 explains how it works. For something like adjudication where you really need to speak to an actual agent to understand what's needed, getting through to a live person makes a big difference vs waiting and hoping.

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yeah adjudication is the one situation where you really can't just wait it out passively. you need to know if they need something from you or if it's just in queue. big difference between 'we need documentation' and 'we're just slow

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To summarize everything in this thread for anyone who finds this later: - File your California EDD unemployment claim the same week your job ends, don't wait - There is NO waiting week in California anymore, first week is payable - Report all severance honestly but don't let severance stop you from filing immediately - Complete ID.me verification promptly when prompted - Register on CalJOBS as required - Certify every two weeks to actually receive payments - Keep records of your job search activities (3 contacts per week typically) - If you hit adjudication or need to reach California EDD by phone, be persistent - it can take significant effort to get through Hope this helps future searchers finding this thread!

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This is a perfect summary. Bookmarking this whole thread. Thank you everyone who replied, this community genuinely helped me through a stressful situation.

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Great summary. Would add one thing - if you switch banks or update your mailing address, update California EDD immediately through UI Online. Outdated contact info causes so many unnecessary claim delays.

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solid thread. good luck to everyone dealing with layoffs out there, it's stressful but california edd does work if you navigate it right

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