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This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to unemployment benefits and seeing all these different acronyms and payment types was really confusing me. It's great to know that FAC was the federal boost during COVID - I was worried I was missing out on something I should be getting. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this clearly for those of us who are still figuring out how all this works!
I totally understand that feeling, Victoria! When I first started dealing with unemployment, all the different codes and payment types were so overwhelming. FAC, PEUC, PUA - it felt like alphabet soup! But this community has been amazing at breaking things down. Don't hesitate to ask questions when you see something confusing - everyone here has been really helpful and patient with newcomers like us who are still learning the system.
This thread has been so informative! I'm currently dealing with EDD for the first time and was completely puzzled when I saw "FAC" listed in some old payment records I was reviewing. I thought it might be some kind of error or fee that was deducted. It's such a relief to learn it was actually additional money from the federal government during COVID. The way everyone has explained the difference between state benefits and federal programs really helps me understand my payment breakdown better. Thanks to everyone who took the time to clarify this!
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was panicking that I'd lose all my benefits. One thing I want to add for anyone else reading - if you're doing gig work or freelance like Uber, DoorDash, or freelance writing, make sure you keep detailed records of your hours and earnings. EDD sometimes audits these and you'll need proof of when you worked and how much you made. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything by week. Also, don't forget that if you have a week where you don't work at all, you still need to certify and report $0 earnings to get your full WBA. The system is actually pretty reasonable once you understand how it works!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I just started doing some DoorDash while on unemployment and was so worried about messing up the reporting. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to start tracking everything that way. It's such a relief to know that the system actually works in our favor when we pick up part-time work. Thanks for sharing your experience with the auditing too - I had no idea that could happen but now I'll make sure to keep all my records organized just in case.
I've been dealing with this same confusion for months! What really helped me was calling EDD and having them walk through an example with my actual numbers. The rep explained that the 75% deduction formula actually protects workers - if they did a straight dollar-for-dollar deduction like some other states, you'd lose way more. With your $450 WBA and $480 earnings, you're actually getting $570 total income that week ($480 earnings + $90 partial benefit) versus just $450 if you didn't work at all. The system rewards working! Just make sure when you report freelance work that you report it for the week you actually did the work, not when you got paid. I learned that the hard way when payments came in late and it messed up my certification timing.
I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now! Been trying to access my account for the past 2 days and getting that same "invalid or expired" error on every password reset link. It's such a relief to find this thread and realize it's not just me - I was starting to think I was losing my mind! Based on all the helpful comments here, it sounds like calling the technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 first thing in the morning is really the only solution. I'm going to try calling right at 8am tomorrow and ask them specifically about security locks and ID.me synchronization issues like @Jamal Wilson mentioned. For anyone else dealing with this - definitely try the telecert option that @Mei Lin suggested if your certification is coming up soon. At least that way you won't miss your deadline while waiting to get the login issue resolved. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! This community is way more helpful than the actual EDD website.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now too! It's been 3 days for me and I've probably requested a dozen password reset emails at this point. Every single link fails with that "invalid or expired" message no matter how fast I click it. I even tried on my work computer thinking it might be a browser issue on my personal laptop, but same result. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea this was such a common problem or that there were security locks that could only be removed by calling. I'm definitely going to try that technical support line tomorrow morning at 8am sharp. Really hoping they can fix it as quickly as they did for others here. Thanks for mentioning the telecert backup option too - my certification is due this weekend so that might be my fallback plan if I can't get through tomorrow!
This is happening to me too! I've been locked out for 4 days now and it's incredibly frustrating. Every password reset link I receive immediately shows "invalid or expired" even when I click within seconds of getting the email. I've tried everything - different devices, browsers, clearing cache, waiting between attempts - absolutely nothing works. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful though. I had no idea this was a widespread EDD system issue or that accounts could get security locks that only phone support can unlock. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to call that technical support line (1-855-327-7057) first thing tomorrow morning at 8am and specifically ask them to check for security locks and ID.me synchronization issues. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions and experiences. It's reassuring to know I'm not going crazy and that there's actually a path forward to fix this mess!
Your employer is completely out of line and has zero legal authority to prevent you from filing for unemployment benefits! When your hours are cut by 50% due to lack of work, you're exactly the type of situation partial UI benefits were designed for. Here's what you need to know: - Your employer cannot "approve" or "disapprove" unemployment claims - only EDD makes that determination - File your claim immediately at edd.ca.gov - don't let their intimidation stop you - You'll report your reduced hours and wages when you certify every two weeks - Keep records of your old vs new schedule as documentation What your boss is really worried about is their unemployment insurance tax rate going up, but that's their normal business expense to handle - NOT your financial problem. You've been paying into this system with every paycheck, so these are benefits you've already earned. Document everything she said about "not approving" your claim - employer interference with unemployment filing can actually be illegal retaliation. Don't let her guilt you into struggling financially when you have bills to pay and are legally entitled to this temporary support!
This is such great advice! It really helps to have it spelled out that my employer has zero legal authority over unemployment claims - I was starting to doubt myself after her intimidation tactics. You're absolutely right that I've been paying into this system all along, so these really are benefits I've earned. I've been documenting everything she said about the company "not approving" claims, and it's reassuring to know that could actually be illegal on her part. I'm definitely filing my claim tonight and won't let her guilt trips keep me from getting the financial support I need to pay my bills. Thanks for making it so clear that this is exactly what partial UI was designed for!
Your employer is absolutely wrong and has no legal authority to block you from filing for unemployment! When your hours are reduced by 50% due to lack of work, you're exactly the type of situation partial UI benefits were designed for in California. Here's what you need to know: - Your employer cannot "approve" or "disapprove" unemployment claims - only EDD makes that determination - File immediately at edd.ca.gov - don't let their intimidation tactics stop you - You'll report your reduced hours and wages when certifying bi-weekly - Keep documentation of your old vs new work schedule as proof What your boss is really concerned about is their unemployment insurance tax rate potentially going up, but that's a normal business expense they need to handle - not your financial burden to bear. You've been paying into this system with every single paycheck, so these are benefits you've already earned and are entitled to. Make sure to document everything your boss said about "not approving" your claim - employer interference with unemployment filing can actually constitute illegal retaliation under California law. Don't let them guilt you into struggling financially when you have legitimate bills to pay and a legal right to this temporary income support!
Landon Morgan
Update: I filed my claim today using the regular UI Online application like you all suggested. It did ask for my Nevada employer information and had a checkbox to indicate it was out-of-state employment. The system accepted my application and gave me a confirmation number. Now I just have to wait for them to process it and hopefully contact Nevada without any issues. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Bruno Simmons
•Great! Expect it to sit in pending status for a bit longer than usual while they verify with Nevada. If it goes beyond 3 weeks without any update, that's when you might want to try contacting them. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!
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Teresa Boyd
•see told u it would work! good luck man
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Eva St. Cyr
Glad to see you got your claim filed! Just wanted to add that if you run into any delays during processing, don't panic - interstate claims can sometimes get stuck in the system for various technical reasons. If you need to follow up after a few weeks, try calling early in the morning (around 8:00-8:30 AM) when call volumes are lower. Also keep all your documentation from your Nevada job handy - sometimes they'll ask for additional verification even after the initial application. The good news is once it's approved, your benefit amount will be based on your Nevada wages, so if you were making good money there it should work in your favor. Best of luck with the process!
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