Will refusing one day of work for doctor appointment trigger EDD eligibility interview?
So I'm in a weird situation with my part-time job and unemployment benefits. My employer offered me a shift next Tuesday, but I already have an appointment with a medical specialist that took months to schedule. It's not because I'm sick - it's for a second opinion after my initial assessment for a chronic condition. When certifying for benefits next time, do I need to report this as a "refused work" day? Will I lose a day's worth of benefits? I'm worried that checking "yes" on the certification question about refusing work will automatically flag my account and trigger one of those dreaded eligibility interviews, which could hold up my entire payment for weeks. Has anyone dealt with something similar? I really need my benefits to continue without interruption since I'm barely making rent as it is.
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Connor Murphy
Yes, technically you should report this as refusing work. EDD wants to know about ANY work you refuse, even if it's just one day. But the good news is that having a legitimate medical appointment is typically considered 'good cause' for refusing work, especially if it was scheduled in advance. When you certify, select 'yes' for refusing work, and there should be a text box where you can briefly explain about your specialist appointment. Be honest but concise.
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QuantumQuest
•Thanks for the info! Will they automatically schedule an eligibility interview when I do this? I'm really worried about my payments being held up while they investigate.
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Yara Haddad
i did somthing similar last yr and checked NO becuz it wasnt a full job offer just 1 shift. nothing hapened and got paid normal
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Keisha Robinson
•Bad advice! EDD cross-references with employers and this could trigger an overpayment notice later. Always be truthful on certifications.
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Paolo Conti
I was in almost the exact same situation in February. Had a neurologist appointment that took 4 months to get, and my temp agency called with a one-day assignment. I reported it honestly on my certification and explained the medical reason. Yes, they did schedule an eligibility interview, but my payment wasn't held up - it just went through as normal. The interview was about 3 weeks later, took 10 minutes, and the interviewer said medical appointments are considered good cause. Just make sure you have the appointment details (date, doctor name, etc.) ready when they call you.
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QuantumQuest
•That makes me feel so much better! I was worried they would freeze everything. Did you have to provide any documentation proving the appointment was legitimate?
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Amina Sow
why not just ask ur employer to give u a different day?? seems like the easiest solution imo
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QuantumQuest
•I already tried that - they're really inflexible with scheduling. Plus this specialist only sees patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the next available appointment is 3 months out.
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GalaxyGazer
Listen, the EDD system is DESIGNED to trap you into these kinds of situations!! They WANT you to make a mistake so they can disqualify you. I've been dealing with these people for 6 months now and let me tell you - ALWAYS REPORT EVERYTHING 100% accurately or they WILL come after you later with an overpayment notice and penalties!!! I had a friend who didn't report ONE DAY of refused work and they ended up having to pay back $3,800 plus a 30% penalty!!! Don't risk it!!
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QuantumQuest
•Oh wow, that's terrifying! I definitely don't want to risk an overpayment. I'll report it honestly.
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Oliver Wagner
If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask questions about your specific situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was stuck in a similar situation with questions about refusing work, and couldn't get through on the EDD lines for days. Claimyr got me connected to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes who explained everything clearly. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Really saved me from making a certification mistake that could have messed up my claim.
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GalaxyGazer
•Does this actually work?? I've been calling EDD for 2 weeks straight with no luck! How fast did you get through?
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Oliver Wagner
•It took about 20 minutes total - way better than the weeks I spent trying on my own. The rep was able to tell me exactly how to handle my situation.
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Connor Murphy
To give you a more complete answer: You should mark 'yes' that you refused work, but you should know that medical appointments generally qualify as 'good cause' for refusing work. Regarding whether they'll hold your payment - it depends. Sometimes EDD will process your payment normally and schedule an eligibility interview for later. Other times they might put a hold on your payment until after the interview. If they do schedule an interview, make sure you have: 1. The date and time of your medical appointment 2. The doctor's name and contact information 3. Documentation showing when you scheduled the appointment (to prove it was before the work offer) Be prepared to explain why this appointment couldn't be rescheduled. The fact that it's a specialist with a months-long waiting list will work in your favor.
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QuantumQuest
•This is super helpful, thank you! I actually have an email confirmation showing I scheduled this appointment 3 months ago, so I'll make sure to have that ready. I really appreciate the detailed advice!
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