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Reading through this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a very similar boat - got laid off from a tech startup after just 4 months, and I had about $3,200 left on my previous claim from when I was unemployed last summer. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the decision really comes down to doing the math on your potential weekly benefit amounts. My previous job paid $65k and my recent one was $78k, so filing new would probably give me a higher weekly amount, but I'm worried about the 2-3 week processing delay since I've got bills coming up. @Heather Tyson - thanks for starting this discussion and keeping us updated! Your situation helped me realize I'm not alone in this confusing process. @Andre Dupont - your tip about having all the documentation ready before calling is clutch. I'm going to gather everything tonight and try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow. One thing I'm curious about - for those who filed new claims, did you have to do the whole identity verification process again, or was that streamlined since you already had an EDD account? Trying to factor in any additional delays beyond the standard 2-3 week processing time.
@Miles Hammonds Great question about the identity verification! When I filed my new claim, I didn t'have to go through the full ID.me verification process again since I already had an established EDD account. The system seemed to recognize my existing verified identity. However, I did have to re-confirm some basic personal information and answer a few security questions during the application process. It added maybe 5 extra minutes to the filing process but wasn t'a major delay. I think the 2-3 week processing time most people mention already accounts for any standard verification steps they need to do on their end. Your salary jump from $65k to $78k sounds like it would definitely result in a higher weekly benefit - probably worth running the numbers with an EDD rep before deciding!
This thread is exactly what I needed! I'm in week 2 of waiting for my new claim to process after being in almost the identical situation - laid off after 6 months at a higher-paying job, had about $4,100 left on my previous claim. The advice about talking to an EDD rep first was spot on. I got through using the early morning strategy (called at 8:02am, got through on attempt #7) and the rep was incredibly helpful. She calculated that my new weekly benefit would be $445 vs $365 on my old claim, which made the decision easy despite the processing wait. One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're considering filing a new claim, make sure you understand how it affects your base period. The rep explained that filing new means they'll look at your earnings from a different time period (the most recent 4 quarters with sufficient wages), which in my case included the higher-paying job. But if your recent job was very short-term, you might not have enough wages in the new base period to qualify. Also want to echo the documentation tip from @Andre Dupont - having everything ready made the call so much smoother. The rep was able to walk me through filing the new claim in about 20 minutes because I had all my employment dates, wages, and separation reason ready to go. Hoping to see my first payment next week! Will update on the timeline once it comes through.
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This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - been receiving benefits for about 6 weeks after being approved in early February, and just got an interview notice yesterday. Reading everyone's experiences here has really calmed my nerves. It sounds like the key things are: be honest, have your documentation ready, and don't overthink it. I haven't reported any additional earnings, so mine might be one of those random audits. I'll make sure to have my layoff letter, last paystub, and job search records available. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's so reassuring to know these interviews are usually just routine verification rather than something to panic about!
@CaptainAwesome You're absolutely right about not overthinking it! I was in your exact same shoes a few weeks ago and this thread was a lifesaver for my anxiety. Since you haven't reported additional earnings, your interview will probably be even more straightforward than some of the others described here. The random audits tend to be pretty basic - just confirming your separation details and that you're still available for work. Having your layoff letter and job search records ready is perfect preparation. One small thing I'd add: make sure your phone has good reception and maybe have a backup phone number ready just in case there are any connection issues. The actual interview will probably feel like a non-event compared to all the worry beforehand! Keep us posted on how it goes - positive updates like @Aisha's really help other people going through the same thing.
This is such a comprehensive and helpful thread! I've been dealing with unemployment benefits for the first time ever, and reading through everyone's experiences here has been invaluable. I'm actually expecting a similar interview notice any day now since I just reported some temp work earnings on my last certification. It's incredible how much stress these notices can cause when you don't know what to expect, but seeing all these positive outcomes really shows that EDD interviews are usually just routine administrative checks rather than something sinister. Special thanks to @Freya Johansen for the professional perspective - it's so helpful to hear from someone who works with these cases regularly. And @Aisha, thank you for following up with your positive outcome! For anyone else who finds this thread while stressing about their upcoming interview: it seems like the key is just being prepared, honest, and having your documentation ready. These stories show that when you've been truthful from the start, these interviews are typically quick and painless.
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress right now! I went through this exact same situation about a year ago when my unemployment benefits put me over the Medi-Cal income threshold. It's such a catch-22 - you finally start getting some income assistance and then lose your healthcare coverage! From my experience, here are a few key things that helped me navigate the transition: 1. **Act quickly but don't panic** - You likely have coverage through the end of this month while you select a new plan, so you're not immediately without insurance. 2. **Ask about Silver 87 and Silver 94 plans** - These Enhanced Silver plans are specifically for people right above the Medi-Cal threshold. I ended up with Silver 87 for $45/month with $5 prescription copays. 3. **Get a 90-day supply of your medications now** - If possible, fill your prescriptions for the maximum allowed days while your Medi-Cal is still active. This gives you breathing room during the transition. 4. **Use the online portal first** - Start your application at CoveredCA.com to save time when you call. You can even chat with representatives online sometimes which has shorter wait times than phone calls. The whole process took me about 10 days from initial call to having my new insurance cards. The subsidized plans really are much more affordable than I expected - don't let the sticker shock of losing "free" Medi-Cal discourage you from exploring your options. You've got this!
This thread has been such a goldmine of practical advice! I'm currently navigating this same transition after getting my letter about losing Medi-Cal due to unemployment income. Your breakdown of the Enhanced Silver plans is exactly what I needed - I had no idea there were specific tiers designed for people in our income bracket. The 90-day prescription refill strategy is so smart. I'm going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to request extended supplies of my medications while my Medi-Cal is still active. That buffer will definitely reduce my anxiety about the transition period. One quick question - when you mention using the online chat feature, did you find the representatives there just as knowledgeable as the phone agents? I'm tempted to try that route first since I hate being on hold, but I want to make sure I get accurate information about my options. Your timeline of 10 days total is really reassuring. I was imagining this would drag on for weeks or months. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed guidance - it's making this whole process feel much more manageable!
@Luis Johnson I found the online chat representatives to be just as knowledgeable as the phone agents! Actually, sometimes even better because they can send you direct links to plan documents and have more time to type out detailed explanations. The wait times are usually much shorter too - I typically got connected within 10-15 minutes versus hours on the phone. One thing I really liked about chat is that you get a transcript of the entire conversation emailed to you afterward, which is super helpful for keeping track of what plans they recommended and any important deadlines. Plus you can easily copy/paste your member information instead of having to spell everything out over the phone. The only downside is that chat isn t'available 24/7 like the phone line, but during business hours it s'been my go-to method. Definitely worth trying first - you can always call if you need more complex help, but for basic plan selection and enrollment the chat worked perfectly for me. Good luck with getting those extended prescription refills! That really was a game-changer for reducing stress during my transition.
I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly valuable! Just got my letter yesterday about losing Medi-Cal due to unemployment putting me over the income threshold. Reading everyone's experiences has transformed my panic into actual hope. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed advice about Enhanced Silver plans and the tip about getting 90-day prescription refills while Medi-Cal is still active. I had no idea there were subsidized options specifically designed for people in our income bracket - the $28-67/month premiums people mentioned are so much more manageable than I expected. Planning to start my application online tonight and call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM. It's amazing how much less overwhelming this feels when you understand the actual process and timeline. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you're literally helping people navigate one of the most stressful situations unemployment can throw at you!
@Khalid Howes I m'dealing with this same situation right now too! Got my letter on Monday and have been stressed all week about it. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about the Enhanced Silver plans or that there were subsidies available for people in our income range. The tip about having your EDD payment stub ready is really helpful - I wouldn t'have thought to gather that documentation beforehand. I m'planning to call tomorrow too, so maybe we ll'both have good news to share! It s'crazy how much better this feels when you realize there are actually affordable options available instead of just losing coverage entirely. Thanks for sharing your timeline - knowing you re'going through the exact same process right now makes it feel less isolating. We ve'got this!
@Khalid Howes @Marcus Marsh Best of luck to both of you calling tomorrow! I went through this transition about 6 months ago and it s such'a relief once you get through to them and see your actual options. One thing that really helped me prepare was writing down all my questions beforehand - things like What s "the'effective date of coverage? , Are"my "current doctors in-network? , and"What are "the prescription copays? Having a" list kept me focused during the call instead of forgetting important details. Also, don t be'surprised if they offer you multiple Silver plan options with different trade-offs between monthly premiums and copays. Take notes on each one so you can compare them properly. The Enhanced Silver plans 87, 94 (really are) designed perfectly for people transitioning off Medi-Cal due to unemployment income. You re both'going to do great! This community has been so helpful for navigating these transitions - please update us on how your calls go tomorrow. The hardest part is behind you now that you know what to expect!
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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just got laid off from my software engineering job and started doing UX research studies while job hunting. Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like the reporting requirements are pretty clear, but I'm wondering about one specific scenario - what if you sign up for a longitudinal study that pays you monthly over several months, but you only do the actual "work" (surveys, interviews, etc.) sporadically throughout that period? Do you report the income when you receive the monthly payment, or try to allocate it across the specific weeks when you actually participated in study activities? Some of these studies have weird payment structures where they pay you a "participation fee" upfront and then "completion bonuses" later.
That's a tricky situation with the longitudinal studies! Based on what I've learned from this thread, the general rule is to report income for the week you actually perform the work, not when you get paid. For your scenario, I'd suggest allocating the payments across the weeks when you actually do the study activities (surveys, interviews, etc.) rather than reporting it all in the weeks you receive payments. So if you get $200 monthly but did activities in weeks 1, 3, and 4 of that month, try to estimate how much "work" you did each week and report accordingly. Keep detailed records of when you participate and what the payments are for - this documentation will be crucial if EDD ever questions it. The participation fees and completion bonuses make it more complex, but the core principle remains the same: income gets reported when the work is performed, not when payment is received.
I've been on UI for about 6 weeks now and doing some paid user research studies too. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you screenshot or save the study details when you sign up, especially the dates and payment amounts. I had one study where the company took forever to send payment details and I couldn't remember exactly when I did the work vs when they sent follow-up surveys. EDD wants precision on the dates, so having that backup documentation saved me during my eligibility interview last month. Also, if you're doing studies through platforms like UserTesting or Respondent, they usually have good record-keeping in your account dashboard that you can reference later.
This is such valuable advice about documentation! I just started my UI claim this week and hadn't thought about screenshotting study details. That's going straight into my tracking system. Quick question - when you had your eligibility interview, did they ask for specific documentation about the research study payments, or was it more general questions about your work search activities? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right paperwork if I get called for an interview.
Ryder Ross
I actually just finished serving on a jury last month while on UI! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you end up on a lengthy trial (mine was 2.5 weeks), you can still do some job searching during lunch breaks and evenings. I kept a running list on my phone of companies I wanted to apply to and would submit applications when I got home each day. Also, some employers are actually impressed when you mention jury duty in interviews - shows civic responsibility. The income reporting was straightforward like others said, just make sure you report it for the correct week when you actually received the payment, not necessarily the week you served. Good luck with your service!
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Kayla Jacobson
•That's a great point about the timing of when to report the payment! I was wondering about that - so if I serve jury duty one week but don't get paid until the following week, I should report it when I actually receive the check, not when I served? Also, good tip about mentioning it in interviews. I never thought about it showing civic responsibility - that's actually a positive way to frame it!
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Liam Mendez
One thing to keep in mind is that jury duty schedules can be unpredictable - you might get called in for selection and then dismissed, or you could end up on a trial that lasts several days. I'd recommend having backup plans for your job search activities. Download job search apps on your phone, bookmark company career pages, and maybe even draft some cover letters in advance so you can quickly customize and send them during breaks or after court hours. Also, if you're worried about your budget, remember that while jury duty pay is minimal, it's still better than nothing, and your UI benefits will only be reduced by the amount you actually receive. The system isn't perfect, but it's manageable if you stay organized and keep up with all the requirements.
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Yuki Sato
•This is really solid advice! I'm actually dealing with this exact situation right now - got my jury summons yesterday and have been stressing about how to handle it with my UI benefits. The unpredictable schedule is what worries me most. I have a phone interview scheduled for next week and I'm terrified I'll get selected for a trial and have to reschedule. Has anyone had to deal with conflicts between jury duty and job interviews? I'm wondering if I should mention the potential jury duty when I confirm the interview, or if that might hurt my chances since employers might see it as unreliable timing.
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