This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently on day 4 after my eligibility interview for a mass layoff (manufacturing plant closure), and reading through everyone's experiences has really helped manage my anxiety about the wait. It's amazing to see how consistent the timelines are for straightforward cases like ours - Paolo's 7 days, Dylan's 6 days, Kingston's 6 days. I've implemented several tips from this thread: checking UI Online twice daily instead of obsessively refreshing, keeping a simple log of dates and details, and I just set up those text alerts that Kingston mentioned (found them under Profile > Notification Preferences for anyone looking!). Also keeping an eye on both spam folder and physical mail. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you notice your "last payment issued" date change before your actual status updated to 'paid'? I've been watching that field too and wondering if it might be an early indicator. Thanks to this whole community for sharing your experiences - it's made this stressful waiting period so much more manageable!

This thread has been incredibly valuable for everyone going through the EDD determination process! As someone who works in employment law, I wanted to add a few additional insights that might be helpful: The reason mass layoffs tend to process faster (as we're seeing with Paolo and others here) is that employers are required to provide specific documentation to EDD when conducting large-scale layoffs. This includes WARN Act notices for larger employers and detailed separation reason codes that make the eligibility determination more straightforward. A few additional tips I'd recommend: 1. If you haven't already, make sure your employer filed the separation information correctly - you can ask HR for confirmation 2. Document any severance or final pay dates, as these can sometimes delay determinations if there are discrepancies 3. The 10 business day timeline resets if EDD needs additional information from you or your employer For those still waiting - based on what I'm seeing in this thread, the 6-7 day timeline for straightforward mass layoffs seems very consistent. The variability people experience often comes down to individual case complexity and current EDD staffing levels in different regions. Great job everyone on supporting each other through this stressful process!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some insights that might help with your situation! I've been researching California UI law extensively due to a similar circumstance, and spousal relocation for healthcare work is actually one of the strongest cases for good cause separation. The key factor EDD looks for is whether the relocation was "necessary" versus "voluntary," and healthcare transfers are typically considered necessary due to licensing requirements and the critical nature of the work. From what I've learned, your 500+ mile distance absolutely meets the threshold for "impractical commuting distance" - California courts have consistently ruled that anything over 2-3 hours each way is unreasonable. With your husband's healthcare transfer being mandatory and the extreme distance involved, you should have a very strong case. One thing I'd suggest is to document not just the transfer itself, but also any conversations you had with your school district about the timing. If you gave appropriate notice and tried to work with them on the transition, that shows good faith effort to minimize disruption to your employer. The fact that you were in your teaching position for 7 years also works in your favor - it shows this wasn't a frivolous decision but a necessary one due to changed family circumstances. Healthcare workers often can't negotiate their transfer timelines, so EDD typically understands the urgency involved. Best of luck with your claim - from everything I've read and researched, your situation should definitely qualify for benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since it's incredibly similar to yours! I just went through this exact process last month when my wife got transferred from San Francisco to Bakersfield for a critical care nursing position. The 280+ mile distance made keeping my job as a school counselor completely impossible. I was really nervous about applying because I had technically "quit," but EDD approved my claim without any major issues. What really helped was having a clear paper trail: my wife's official hospital transfer letter, documentation that I reached out to my school district about transfers (none available in Bakersfield), and emails showing I explored remote work options (obviously not possible for counseling work requiring face-to-face student interaction). During my phone interview, the EDD representative was very knowledgeable about healthcare relocations and said they see these cases frequently. They asked about the timeline, whether the transfer was mandatory, and what alternatives we considered. I was completely honest that we briefly looked into a temporary long-distance arrangement, but it wasn't feasible given the demands of critical care nursing and our family situation. The whole process took about 5 weeks from application to first payment. Your situation with a 500+ mile healthcare transfer is even more straightforward than mine - that distance makes it crystal clear that commuting isn't an option! Just gather all your documentation, be thorough but honest during the interview, and don't stress too much. Healthcare transfers are well-established as good cause. You've got this!

Dont forget that when you file taxes next year, the EDD can cross reference with IRS and see if you had income you didnt report while on unemployment. Better safe than sorry!

I went through something similar last year and ended up calling EDD to get clarity. The rep I spoke with explained it this way: if you're just moving money from one account to another (like withdrawing cash from savings or brokerage), that's not income. But if you made money on investments (capital gains), that IS income and should be reported. Since you mentioned you had $240 in gains, I'd definitely report that amount. It's better to be transparent than risk an audit later. The EDD system can be confusing, but they're really looking for any NEW money you earned, not money you're just moving around between your own accounts.

As a substitute teacher who successfully received EDD benefits last summer, I want to add one crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet: timing your application strategically can make a big difference. I filed my claim on the very last day I worked (rather than waiting until I was completely out of calls), which helped establish a clear "last day of work" for EDD's records. Also, when they ask about your availability for work during the eligibility interview, be very specific that you're seeking ALL types of suitable employment - retail, office work, tutoring, etc. - not just substitute teaching. This shows you're genuinely unemployed and available for work, not just waiting around for the school year to resume. One thing that really helped my case was creating a simple chart showing my weekly hours worked throughout the school year. It visually demonstrated the massive drop-off as summer approached, making it crystal clear that this wasn't a "planned vacation" but an actual reduction in available work. EDD loves concrete data like this. The substitute teaching situation is unique, but don't let that discourage you from applying. We deserve the same unemployment protections as other workers whose jobs become seasonally unavailable. Just be prepared, be honest, and emphasize the unpredictable, on-call nature of our work!

This entire thread has been absolutely amazing - thank you to everyone who shared their detailed experiences! As a substitute teacher who's been stressing about summer unemployment eligibility, reading through all these real-world examples has been incredibly reassuring and informative. What I find most valuable is how everyone emphasized the importance of framing our situation correctly - we're truly "on-call" employees with zero guaranteed hours, which is fundamentally different from regular teachers who have contracts. The distinction between getting generic district communications versus having actual "reasonable assurance" is so crucial to understand. I'm also impressed by how thorough everyone's been about documentation strategies - from tracking irregular work patterns to getting HR letters confirming on-call status to keeping availability logs. It's clear that being well-prepared with concrete evidence makes a huge difference in the EDD process. For anyone else still reading this thread who's hesitant about applying: the collective wisdom here shows that substitute teachers absolutely CAN and DO qualify for unemployment benefits during summer breaks. Yes, it may require some persistence and good documentation, but we deserve the same protections as other workers whose employment becomes seasonally unavailable. This community support is exactly what the substitute teaching profession needs - we understand each other's unique challenges in ways that EDD reps often don't. Thank you all for creating such a comprehensive resource!

Congratulations on your new job, Maya! 🎉 This is such exciting news after 4 months of searching! Everyone here has given you fantastic advice already, but I wanted to add one quick thing that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year. Since you're starting Thursday, you might want to double-check what time your certification window opens on Sunday. Mine opened at midnight, but I always waited until Sunday morning to make sure I had my thoughts together. Also, when you're reporting your Thursday-Saturday work for this first certification, remember that even orientation or training days count as work days that need to be reported with hours and estimated earnings. The transition can feel overwhelming, but you're clearly approaching it the right way by asking questions and wanting to do everything properly. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding the process shows you're going to handle this perfectly. Just stay honest with your reporting and you'll be all set! Welcome to the employed club - hoping this new position is everything you're looking for! This community is always here if any other questions come up during your transition. Best of luck! 😊

Congratulations Maya! 🎉 This is such great news! I just went through this exact same process about 2 months ago, so I totally get the confusion about what to do next. Everyone here has already given you amazing advice, but I wanted to share one thing that really helped me feel more confident - the night before my first certification after starting work, I wrote down all my key info on a piece of paper: start date, hourly rate, total hours worked each day, and calculated my gross daily earnings. Having it all written out made the certification process super smooth and stress-free. Also, something that surprised me was how quickly the whole thing resolved once I started reporting work consistently. I thought it would be this long, complicated process, but EDD actually handled everything pretty efficiently once I was reporting my earnings properly. You're clearly being really thoughtful about doing everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. The most important thing is just that honest reporting during your regular Sunday certifications - no special hoops to jump through beyond that! Wishing you all the best with your new position! It feels so good to be back to work after a long job search. You've got this! 😊