Why is my EDD payment stuck on 'pending' after first certification? No money received

' Pending just means'they re reviewing your certification before approving payment. First-time certifications often take longer to process - sometimes 3-5 days instead of the usual 24-48 hours. Did you 'answer' yes to any questions about refusing work, being too sick to work, or traveling? Those can trigger manual reviews. Also, if you reported any earnings,'they ll verify those first. I'wouldn t worry unless it stays pending for more than aweek.

mine was pending for almost 2 weeks the first time i certified!!! dont worry its normal for first timers

Actually, there's potentially something wrong. EDD is extremely backed up right now after their system "upgrade" in December. My first certification went to pending too and stayed that way for THREE WEEKS until I finally got through to a rep. Turns out there was an identity verification flag on my account that needed to be cleared. I'd recommend trying to get through to them ASAP rather than just waiting - the system won't automatically fix whatever's holding it up!

If you marked 'yes' to being sick, that will almost always trigger a hold on your payment. The system flags it because technically you're supposed to be 'able and available' for work each day you claim benefits. Since this is your first certification, they'll likely want to talk to you about those sick days. I had to deal with this same issue last year. You need to call and speak with a tier 2 specialist who can remove the pending status. The problem is actually getting through to someone. I spent 3 weeks trying before I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an EDD rep quickly - saved me from waiting another month for my payment. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once you get through, just explain honestly about your sick days. If it was only 2 days and you were available the other days, they'll usually release the payment.

I work for an advocacy group that helps people with EDD issues. Here's what you need to know about "pending" status: 1. First certifications typically take 3-7 days to process, not 24 hours 2. Answering "yes" to being sick automatically flags for review (as others mentioned) 3. January tends to be EDD's busiest month with slowest processing times 4. You have two options: wait it out (could be 7-14 days) or contact EDD If you need the money urgently, calling is your best option. When you get through, ask specifically for a "conditional payment" while they review your certification. Since it's only 2 sick days, they can often approve this while the formal review happens. Pro tip: Call right when they open (8:00am) or during their least busy time (1:30-2:30pm). Have your claim ID and last 4 of SSN ready before calling.

dose anyone know if u can still certify if ur payment is pending? my next certification is this sunday but still pending from last time??

u said restaurant management? were u paid under the table at all? cuz thats gonna cause problems with wage verification. happened to my cousin and his first 3 payments were pending for like a month until they sorted it out

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get your pending status resolved? Usually by now (it's been a few days since your post) first-time pending issues get cleared automatically.

Great to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, here's what I learned from my own experience: EDD's system is actually set up to flag ANY "yes" answers during certification as a fraud prevention measure. Even legitimate situations like being sick for a couple days or having a doctor's appointment can trigger holds. The key is being honest when you certify and then being prepared to explain the situation to a rep if needed. Don't try to avoid marking "yes" when it's true - that can cause bigger problems down the line. The system is designed to catch these things during manual review rather than automatically denying benefits.

Really glad to see this thread - it's such a common issue for first-time filers! I went through the exact same thing last year when I got laid off from my retail job. The "pending" status is scary when you're already stressed about finances, but it's almost always just part of their normal review process. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: make sure you keep certifying on schedule even if previous weeks are still pending. I almost missed my second certification because I thought I had to wait for the first one to clear, but that would have caused even bigger problems. The system treats each certification period separately. Also, for future certifications, don't stress too much about marking "yes" for things like being sick or having appointments. As others mentioned, it's way better to be honest and deal with a short delay than risk issues later. Once you get past this first certification review, the process usually becomes much smoother!

Hey there! I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I first filed after losing my job in tech. The "pending" status for first-time certifications is incredibly common, especially if you answered yes to being sick (which you did the right thing by being honest about). From what I've seen in this community and experienced myself, here's what typically happens: EDD's system automatically flags any "yes" answers during your first certification for manual review. Since you were sick for 2 days, a human reviewer needs to verify that you were still "able and available" for work during the rest of the certification period. This usually takes 3-7 business days for first-timers. The good news is that 2 sick days during your first certification period is pretty routine and shouldn't cause any long-term issues with your claim. Most reviewers will approve it quickly once they see it was just a short illness. If you're really stressed about the timing due to bills, definitely try calling during the less busy times others mentioned (early morning or mid-afternoon). But honestly, unless it goes past 10 days pending, you're probably fine to just wait it out. Future certifications should process much faster once you get past this initial review!

Just wanted to chime in here as someone who's been through the EDD system multiple times over the years. What you're experiencing is completely normal for first-time filers, especially when you've marked "yes" to being sick. The system is actually working as designed - it's better to have these manual reviews than to have payments go out incorrectly. A few additional tips from my experience: 1) Keep screenshots of your certification and pending status in case you need them later, 2) Don't panic if it takes the full 7 days - that's still within normal processing time, and 3) Once this first review is complete, you'll likely never deal with this kind of delay again unless there's a significant change in your circumstances. The fact that you were honest about being sick shows you understand the system correctly. EDD would much rather deal with a brief review now than discover unreported information later during an audit. Hang in there - the payment will come through!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my first unemployment claim after being laid off from my job at a bank, certified for the first time on Tuesday, and it's been showing "pending" for 3 days now. I was starting to worry something was wrong with my application. I didn't mark yes to being sick, but I did report some small earnings from a freelance project I completed before my layoff ($150). Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel so much better about just waiting it out rather than panicking and calling immediately. It's reassuring to know that first-time certifications commonly take longer and that the system is just doing its job with the manual review process. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for people new to the unemployment system!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim two weeks ago after getting laid off from my marketing job, and my first certification has been pending for 5 days. I didn't answer yes to being sick, but I did report a small amount of vacation pay that my employer paid out when I was terminated. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - I was convinced I had messed something up in my application. It's really helpful to see that first-time certifications routinely take longer due to manual reviews, and that being honest about things like sick days or small earnings is actually the right approach even if it causes delays. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. For those of us new to unemployment, this kind of real-world insight is invaluable when the official EDD website doesn't really explain what "normal" processing times look like for different situations.

This entire thread has been incredibly reassuring for someone like me who's completely new to the unemployment system! I just filed my first claim last week after being laid off from my job in healthcare administration, and I'm expecting to do my first certification in a few days. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially about how "pending" status is totally normal for first-time filers and that being honest about things like sick days or small earnings is the right approach even if it causes delays - has really helped manage my anxiety about the whole process. I was already worried about potentially having to mark "yes" for a medical appointment I have during my first certification period, but now I understand that it's better to be truthful and deal with a brief review than try to hide it. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to figure things out from the official EDD website alone!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with their first unemployment certification! I'm about to file my own claim after being laid off from my job in graphic design, and reading through all these real experiences has been incredibly educational. It's really reassuring to see that "pending" status is so common for first-time filers, and that the manual review process - while stressful - is actually the system working as intended. I especially appreciate all the specific advice about being honest when marking "yes" to things like sick days or appointments, even if it causes delays. The official EDD resources don't really prepare you for what the actual experience is like, so having this community knowledge is invaluable. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's helping those of us who are new to this process feel much more prepared and less anxious about what to expect!

As someone who works at a nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, I wanted to add some additional context that might be helpful for future readers of this thread. The "pending" status on first-time certifications has actually become more common since EDD implemented their new fraud prevention measures in late 2024. The system now automatically flags certain combinations of answers for human review, which is why being sick during your first certification period almost always triggers a hold. What many people don't realize is that EDD reviewers are actually looking for consistency and honesty, not perfection. They'd much rather see someone who accurately reported being sick for 2 days than someone who tried to hide it and got caught later during their quarterly audit. The key is having documentation ready if they ask - even something simple like a text to your friend mentioning you were under the weather can help verify your claim. For anyone currently dealing with pending status: if it's been more than 10 business days, definitely call. But for the typical 3-7 day range, try to be patient. The system is designed to protect both claimants and taxpayers, and these initial reviews actually help prevent bigger problems down the road. Once you get through this first certification, the process becomes much more straightforward!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with my first certification being pending for 6 days now after being laid off from my job at a tech startup. I didn't mark yes to being sick, but I did report some severance pay that my employer gave me when they let me go. Reading everyone's experiences here has really helped calm my nerves - I was starting to think I had made some mistake in my application. It's so reassuring to know that first-time certifications commonly take longer due to manual review, and that being honest about things like severance or sick days is actually the correct approach even if it causes delays. The official EDD website really doesn't explain what "normal" processing looks like for different situations, so this community insight is invaluable. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's helping newcomers like me understand that this is just part of the process and not necessarily a sign that something went wrong!