Zero claim balance but still getting weeks to certify - should I keep certifying or wait until Dec?

keep certifying!! Even tho ur balance is 0 you should always certify when u can. the system might be getting ready to file a new extention for u or something

You should absolutely continue certifying for any weeks the system allows you to. Even with a zero balance, certifying maintains your claim history and shows continuous eligibility. If you're approaching the end of your benefit year (typically 12 months from when you first filed), you'll need to file a new claim after that year ends. December 1st might be your benefit year end date. If you stop certifying, you'll break the continuity of your claim and potentially create problems with any future benefits. The system allowing certification despite zero balance is normal - it's essentially documenting that you're still unemployed and eligible, even if there are no funds to distribute currently.

The others are correct - continue certifying. Here's what's likely happening: Either (1) you're nearing your benefit year end date (sounds like Dec 1 based on your post) and will need to file a new claim then, or (2) the system is preparing to transition you to a Fed-Ed extension if you qualify based on your work history and current unemployment rate. If December 1 is your benefit year end date, you'll get a notice from EDD about filing a new claim. Until then, certify for every available week to maintain your claim history. When your benefit year ends, you'll need to file a completely new claim - it doesn't automatically renew.

I had same problem last month!!! Sooo confusing! My balance hit 0 but system kept letting me certify for like 3 more weeks. I called EDD and after 2 DAYS of trying i finally got through to someone who said its just how the system works and i should keep certifying to maintain my claim status even though i wont get paid for those weeks. Something about keeping my record active?

December 1st is probably your benefit year end date. I went through this last year. You HAVE to keep certifying even with 0 balance to maintain your claim. When Dec 1 comes, you'll need to file a completely new claim - it's not automatic. There will be a link in your UI Online account to file a new claim. Just be prepared for a 2-3 week gap in payments while they process your new claim.

EDD IS JUST TRYING TO TRICK PEOPLE!!! They make you certify even though they know your balance is ZERO and you won't get paid! Then when you don't certify because what's the point, they use it against you later when you try to reapply! It's all a TRAP to reduce their payment obligations. The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose!!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My balance hit zero last week but I can still certify. Reading through all these responses really helped clarify things. It sounds like the consensus is definitely to keep certifying even with zero balance to maintain your claim history. I was worried I was wasting my time, but now I understand it's actually protecting my eligibility record. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating EDD's confusing system!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can confirm what others are saying - definitely keep certifying! Even though it feels pointless with a zero balance, it's actually really important. When my benefit year ended and I filed a new claim, the EDD rep specifically mentioned that my continuous certification history helped expedite the approval process. She said it showed I maintained active job search requirements throughout the entire period. If you have questions about your specific benefit year end date, you can usually find it on your claim summary page in UI Online. It should show both when your claim started and when it expires.

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing earlier this year. The key thing to understand is that your claim balance and your benefit year are two different things. Your balance can hit zero while you still have weeks left in your benefit year - and you should absolutely keep certifying for those weeks even though you won't receive payments. Think of it as maintaining your "unemployment status" on record with EDD. When December 1st comes (which sounds like your benefit year end date), you'll file a completely new claim. That new claim will be based on your recent work history and could have a different weekly benefit amount. The continuous certification history you're building now by certifying those zero-balance weeks will actually help when they process your new claim. Don't skip any weeks!

I was in this exact situation about 8 months ago and it was SO stressful! Like everyone else is saying, definitely keep certifying even with zero balance. What helped me understand it better was thinking of it this way - EDD needs to know you're still unemployed and available for work, even if they can't pay you right now. When I stopped certifying for 2 weeks because I thought "what's the point?", it actually created a gap in my record that I had to explain later when filing my new claim. The EDD rep told me that continuous certification shows you maintained eligibility requirements throughout your entire benefit year. Your December 1st date is almost certainly your benefit year end, so mark your calendar to file a new claim then. The good news is that if you've been working at all in the past 18 months, your new claim might even have a higher weekly benefit amount than your current one!

Just wanted to add my experience to this thread since I went through the exact same thing about a year ago. The zero balance but still showing weeks to certify situation is actually pretty normal at the end of your benefit year. I made the mistake of calling EDD to ask about it (spent literally 4 hours on hold) and the rep basically told me what everyone here is saying - keep certifying no matter what, even with zero balance. What really helped me was setting a phone reminder for my benefit year end date so I wouldn't forget to file the new claim. When December 1st comes around, log into your UI Online account first thing in the morning - sometimes there's a delay before the "file new claim" option appears, but it usually shows up by mid-morning on your benefit year end date. Also, gather your employment documents now while you have time. For your new claim, you'll need details about any work you did in the past 18 months, even part-time or temporary work. Having everything organized ahead of time makes the new claim process much smoother. The community advice here is spot on - definitely keep certifying and protect that claim history!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My balance hit zero two weeks ago but I can still certify, and I was so confused about whether I should continue or not. Reading everyone's experiences really drives home the importance of maintaining that certification history even with zero payments. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned that stopping certification created problems later - gaps in records, delayed approvals, having to explain breaks in eligibility. That's definitely not something I want to deal with when I file my new claim in December. I'm also relieved to learn that this is actually a normal part of the process and not some kind of system error. The distinction between claim balance and benefit year that several people explained makes perfect sense now. Going to keep certifying every two weeks until December 1st and start gathering my employment documents like others suggested. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community really helps navigate EDD's confusing system!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was really stressful at first! Like everyone else is saying, absolutely keep certifying even with the zero balance. I made the mistake of skipping one week thinking "why bother if I'm not getting paid?" and it actually flagged my account for review later. Here's what I learned: the certification isn't just about getting paid - it's about maintaining your official unemployment status with EDD. Even though your monetary balance is exhausted, you're still technically within your benefit year until December 1st, so the system expects you to continue reporting your job search activities and availability. When I filed my new claim after my benefit year ended, the EDD representative specifically mentioned that my consistent certification history (even during the zero balance weeks) helped verify my continuous eligibility and job search efforts. It actually made my new claim processing faster. One tip: screenshot your certification confirmations during these zero balance weeks as proof you maintained your claim - just in case you need documentation later. And definitely set a calendar reminder for December 1st to file your new claim first thing that morning. The new claim won't automatically generate, you have to actively file it through UI Online.

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - you've all provided such valuable insights! I was getting really anxious about this situation, but reading through all your experiences has made everything so much clearer. The consensus is definitely unanimous: keep certifying even with zero balance to maintain your claim history and eligibility record. What really helped me understand was the distinction several people made between your claim balance (which can hit zero) and your benefit year (which continues until December 1st in your case). I had no idea these were separate things! The stories from people who stopped certifying and then faced delays or had to explain gaps in their records really drove home why this matters. I'm definitely going to follow the practical advice shared here: continue certifying every two weeks, screenshot my confirmation pages as documentation, gather my employment documents now, set a calendar reminder for December 1st, and log in first thing that morning to file my new claim. It's so helpful to have a clear roadmap from people who've actually navigated this process successfully. This community is honestly a lifesaver for understanding EDD's confusing system - you've all saved me from potentially making costly mistakes. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and help fellow community members!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My claim balance dropped to zero about a week ago but I can still certify for weeks, and I was completely confused about what to do. Reading through everyone's experiences here has made it crystal clear that I need to keep certifying even though I won't get paid. The explanation about maintaining your eligibility record and claim history really clicked for me - I had no idea that's what the system was tracking during these zero balance weeks. The stories from people who stopped certifying and then faced delays or complications when filing their new claims definitely convinced me to stay consistent with my certifications. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips shared here - screenshotting confirmations, gathering employment documents early, setting calendar reminders for the benefit year end date. It's such a relief to have a clear action plan from people who've actually navigated this successfully rather than trying to guess what to do based on EDD's confusing website information. This community is incredibly helpful for understanding these complex situations!