I'm also a first-time claimant experiencing this exact same situation! Certified on Sunday night and my payment shows "paid" but I'm still waiting for the "issued" status to update. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - I had no idea that the delay between "paid" and "issued" was completely normal! I was starting to worry something was seriously wrong with my claim. The tip about calling Bank of America directly instead of trying to get through to EDD is genius - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning based on all the positive experiences people have shared here. It's so comforting to know that so many of us are going through this identical timeline right now. The anxiety of waiting for that first payment when bills are due is real, but reading everyone's experiences and timelines gives me hope that this will all work out normally. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community for anxious newcomers like me! Will definitely update when my status changes and when I receive my card.

I'm also a first-time claimant going through this exact same situation right now! Certified on Sunday night, shows "paid" but still waiting for that "issued" status update. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I was genuinely starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim. It's incredible how many of us are all dealing with this identical timeline! The 24-48 hour delay between "paid" and "issued" makes so much more sense now that everyone has explained it. I had no idea we could call Bank of America directly to check on card status - that's such a smart workaround compared to EDD's notorious phone system. Definitely going to try calling them tomorrow morning after seeing all the positive feedback here. Also just set up those text notifications so I can stop obsessively refreshing my account every hour! Thank you everyone for sharing your timelines and creating such a supportive community for anxious newcomers like me. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when rent is due, but knowing we're all navigating this stressful process together makes it feel so much more manageable. Will definitely update when my status changes and when my card arrives!

I'm new to this community and this discussion has been exactly what I needed to read! I'm currently on UI benefits and have been considering plasma donation but was really confused about the reporting requirements. What's been most helpful is seeing all the real-world experiences from people like @Sean Murphy, @Ethan Campbell, and @Ravi Patel who actually reported plasma income and still came out ahead financially. The specific numbers you all shared really help illustrate how EDD's partial earnings formula works - I had no idea about the 25% disregard rule before reading this! I was initially terrified that reporting any supplemental income would wipe out my entire benefit amount, but seeing the actual calculations proves that's not the case. It's such a relief to understand that the system is actually designed to encourage some additional income rather than punish it completely. Based on all the consistent advice here, I'm planning to start plasma donation next week and will definitely report it as "other income" during certification. The peace of mind from being fully compliant is worth way more than trying to guess and potentially facing fraud issues later. Plus, keeping detailed records like everyone recommends seems like the smart approach. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share real experiences instead of just speculation - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding how to handle supplemental income safely while on UI benefits!

I'm a newcomer to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on UI benefits and was considering plasma donation to help with expenses, but I was really worried about the reporting requirements and potential impact on my benefits. Reading through all the real-world experiences from @Sean Murphy, @Ethan Campbell, and @Ravi Patel has been so reassuring. The specific numbers you all shared showing how the partial earnings formula actually works in practice - with the 25% disregard before deductions - really demonstrates that you still come out ahead financially even when reporting plasma income. I had no idea EDD's system was designed this way! What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice has been: report as "other income," keep detailed records, and don't stress about it. The fact that multiple people took the transparent approach and had positive experiences with EDD gives me confidence this is the safest route. I'm planning to start plasma donation next week and will definitely report it during certification based on all the positive experiences shared here. The peace of mind from full compliance is worth way more than trying to navigate gray areas and potentially facing fraud penalties later. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation - this thread really shows that EDD's partial earnings formula is actually designed to encourage some supplemental income while job searching, not punish it. Thanks to everyone for sharing real experiences instead of just speculation!

I'm also waiting on my first EDD payment to Bank of America and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Mine showed "paid" yesterday afternoon, so based on everyone's experiences here I'm expecting it sometime Monday or Tuesday. I just set up all the alerts and notifications that people recommended - the custom deposit alert for the specific amount, the BofA mobile app push notifications, and I bookmarked that Account Activity page to check for pending deposits. It's such a relief to read real experiences from people who've been through this exact process. The waiting is definitely anxiety-inducing when you're counting on that money, but hearing that the system really does work (just slowly) helps me stay patient. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - you're making this whole process so much less stressful for us newbies!

I'm in the exact same situation! My first EDD payment just showed "paid" this morning and I'm also using Bank of America direct deposit. This thread is a goldmine of information - I had no idea about all these tracking tricks and timeline expectations. Just spent the last 20 minutes setting up all the alerts everyone mentioned: the custom BofA deposit notification for my payment amount, mobile app push notifications, and I bookmarked that Account Activity page to check for pending deposits. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect 2-3 business days for this first payment, which actually makes me feel way less anxious than not knowing what to expect at all. The practical tips about calling the BofA automated line and checking online vs the app are so helpful too. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and timelines - it's making this whole process so much less stressful for those of us going through it for the first time! 🙏

Hey Rhett! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago after losing my job at a local diner. I was panicking about gathering all my paystubs too, but everyone here is absolutely right - you don't need to submit any paystubs upfront! EDD already has your wage information from your employers' quarterly wage reports to the state. The base period calculation is actually pretty straightforward once you understand it. They look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. So if you filed in late March 2025, they'd typically look at your wages from around January 2024 through December 2024. Since you mentioned restaurant work with inconsistent hours, I totally get that worry! I had the same concern because some weeks I barely worked 15 hours while others I pulled 50+ hour weeks with double shifts. But the quarterly averaging really does smooth out all those ups and downs, so don't stress about the week-to-week variations. Just keep all your documentation organized (paystubs, W2s, any 1099s if you did any gig work) in case there's ever a discrepancy that needs to be resolved later. But for most people, the automated calculation works perfectly and you'll never need to submit anything additional. Congrats on getting through that waiting week - that really is the worst part! Your first payment should process smoothly now. Just focus on being super accurate with your weekly certifications going forward.

Hey Rhett! I completely understand your stress about this - I went through the exact same anxiety when I filed my claim after being laid off from my bartending job last fall. The restaurant industry stress is real when you're trying to figure out all these government forms! Everyone here has given you spot-on advice. You really don't need to submit paystubs upfront - EDD already has your wage data from what your employers reported quarterly. The base period calculation happens automatically using those reports. Since you mentioned restaurant work with inconsistent hours, I'd just add that when you get your "Notice of Wages Used for UI Claim," pay special attention to make sure your tip income is accurately reflected. Sometimes there can be discrepancies there, especially if you worked at multiple places or if there were any payroll issues during your base period. The waiting week really is the hardest part psychologically - all that uncertainty and second-guessing every step! Once you start your weekly certifications, it becomes much more routine. Just be super careful to report everything accurately on those weekly forms, and you should be all set. You've got this! The most stressful part is definitely behind you now.

Good for you on documenting everything in your resignation letter! That was really smart. I just wanted to add that you should also document any conversations you had with your manager about the schedule change - dates, times, what was said, etc. Even if it was verbal, writing it down with specific details can help your case. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to start looking for other weekend-only positions now while you're waiting for your EDD decision. Having evidence that you're actively seeking similar work (weekend retail, restaurant, etc.) will strengthen your "available for work" status if EDD questions it. Plus, the job market for weekend positions isn't terrible right now with so many businesses needing weekend coverage. Best of luck with your claim - your situation really does sound like textbook constructive discharge to me!

I'm so glad you documented everything in your resignation letter - that was absolutely the right move! Your situation is exactly what constructive discharge laws are designed to protect against. The fact that you worked the same schedule for 3 years and they knew about your school commitments makes this even stronger. A few additional tips as you navigate this process: 1. When you file your initial claim, be very detailed in the "reason for separation" section. Don't just put "quit" - explain the full circumstances. 2. If you get initially denied (which unfortunately happens often with resignation cases), don't panic! The appeal process is where you can really present your case properly. 3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - your resignation letter, any emails about the schedule change, even text messages with coworkers discussing the new policies. 4. Document your job search efforts specifically for weekend/part-time positions that would work with your school schedule. You've got a solid case here, and the fact that multiple people in this thread with similar experiences got approved after appeals should give you hope. The EDD system isn't perfect, but it does ultimately recognize legitimate constructive discharge situations like yours. Good luck!