Update: I called EDD using that Claimyr service and got through to someone who explained everything. For anyone else who needs to know: You mark "No" for the days you're at jury duty when they ask if you were able and available for work. Then report the jury pay as income. They said as long as you're honest about it, there's no issue with your claim. Thanks everyone for the help!

Just wanted to add that if you're on a longer jury trial (like 2+ weeks), you might want to contact EDD directly to discuss your situation. I served on a 3-week trial last year and they were actually pretty accommodating - they adjusted my certification schedule so I didn't have to worry about missing deadlines while in trial. The key is being proactive and transparent with them about your jury service dates.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I went through a similar situation recently. When they remove the disqualification, you'll typically receive a determination letter explaining the decision and a notice about any back payments owed to you. The "time sensitive" letter is probably the official determination, and the other might be related to payment processing or additional documentation they need. Make sure to respond to any requests quickly - usually within 30 days. Also, check your EDD online account as it should update to reflect the changes. The process can take a few weeks for payments to actually start flowing, so be patient but stay on top of any correspondence they send.

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I had my EDD interview about 2 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most straightforward government calls I've ever been on. The interviewer introduced herself, explained that they just needed to verify some information, and then asked very specific, factual questions. In my case, the issue was that I had reported my separation reason as "laid off" but my employer had told EDD it was a "workforce reduction" - same thing, just different terminology. The whole call took maybe 12 minutes and she was actually quite nice about it. One thing I wish someone had told me: they might ask you to verify your identity at the beginning with your SSN and birthdate, so have that ready. Also, they may reference specific weeks or dates, so having your original claim paperwork in front of you is super helpful. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're incredibly well-prepared. The fact that you care this much about getting it right tells me you're going to be just fine. This community has your back, and we'd love to hear how it goes! Wishing you the best of luck with your interview.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and I completely understand the fear and anxiety you're feeling right now! Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're getting amazing advice and preparing really well. I wanted to share one more tip that helped me: if possible, try to do the interview from a landline or at least make sure your cell phone is fully charged and you're in an area with strong signal. My first scheduled interview got cut short because of connection issues and they had to reschedule, which just added more stress to the whole process. Also, something that really calmed my nerves was realizing that the EDD interviewer has probably done hundreds of these calls - they're not trying to catch you in a lie, they're just working through their checklist to verify information. Most of the time they already know what the discrepancy is before they even call you. From everything you've shared, it really sounds like you've been doing everything right and this is probably just a simple administrative issue. The fact that you've been so thorough in preparing and reaching out for advice shows you have nothing to hide. You're going to do great, and I'm looking forward to hearing your positive update after the interview!

I'm in a similar situation - UI benefits ending in about 6 weeks and struggling to find work in marketing/advertising. This thread has been incredibly helpful! A couple of follow-up questions for those who've successfully gotten extensions: 1) Do freelance/gig work attempts count toward the work search requirements? I've been applying for some contract positions on Upwork but wasn't sure if that qualifies. 2) If you get denied for the extension initially, is there an appeals process? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know there might be options beyond the regular 26 weeks!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I was in a similar situation 3 months ago when my UI benefits were about to exhaust. I'm in cybersecurity and the job market has been brutal. What really helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet tracking all my work search activities - not just job applications but also LinkedIn networking messages, informational interviews, and even online certification courses I completed. When I applied for the FED-ED extension, having that comprehensive documentation made the process much smoother. The EDD rep was impressed with how organized my records were and approved my extension within 2 weeks. Also, don't just limit yourself to traditional job boards - I found that reaching out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn had a much better response rate than applying through company portals. The extension gave me the breathing room I needed to eventually land a position. Keep your head up - the tech job market is slowly starting to recover!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you have an incredibly strong case! The combination of documented HR conversations, medical accommodation request, and the employer's denial creates exactly the "good cause" scenario EDD looks for. I went through this process about 4 months ago for a similar toxic workplace situation and was approved. One thing that really helped me was having a friend do a practice interview with me the night before. We went through potential questions and I practiced giving clear, concise answers without getting emotional or rambling. Your timeline is perfect: you tried to work within the system (HR conversations), sought medical help, requested reasonable accommodation, and only quit when that was denied. That shows you exhausted all reasonable alternatives before leaving. A few quick tips for Monday: - Keep a glass of water nearby during the call - Write down 3-4 key points you want to make sure you cover - Remember they hear these situations every day - you're not alone in this The waiting period after the interview is tough, but try to stay positive. You've prepared thoroughly and have legitimate reasons backed by solid documentation. That's exactly what they're looking for. Sending positive thoughts for Monday! This community will be rooting for you.

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a very similar EDD interview about a year ago, and I wanted to share what ultimately made the difference in my case getting approved. The most important thing I learned is that EDD isn't just looking at whether your workplace was "bad" - they're specifically evaluating whether you had "good cause" under California law, which means any reasonable person in your situation would have quit too. Your case actually checks all the major boxes they look for: 1. You documented the issues by speaking with HR (twice!) 2. You sought medical help and got professional recommendations 3. You requested a reasonable accommodation to try to stay employed 4. Your employer denied that accommodation despite medical backing 5. You only quit when all other reasonable alternatives were exhausted During my interview, the agent spent most of the time asking about what steps I took to try to resolve the situation before quitting. The fact that you have emails from those HR conversations is huge - it shows you followed proper channels and gives you specific dates and details to reference. One thing that really helped me was framing my responses around the legal concept of "constructive discharge" - basically that my employer created working conditions so intolerable that any reasonable person would have felt compelled to resign. The denied medical accommodation after your doctor's recommendation is actually perfect evidence of this. You're going to do great on Monday! Make sure to emphasize that you "had good cause to quit" and "no reasonable alternative but to resign." The preparation you've done shows you understand exactly what EDD needs to hear.