I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD system can be absolutely maddening! I went through almost the exact same thing when I got laid off in January. Had an old 2020 PUA claim stuck in my account that wouldn't go away, and it completely blocked me from filing a new claim. A couple of things that might help while you're trying to get through to them: First, try logging into UI Online from an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes the cached data gets stuck and prevents the system from refreshing properly. If that doesn't work, try accessing it from your phone's browser instead of a computer - I know it sounds weird but it actually worked for a friend of mine. Second, regarding your HR person's advice about waiting 2 weeks - that's completely wrong. You should file IMMEDIATELY. Every day you wait is potentially a day of benefits you're losing. The one-week waiting period they might be thinking of starts AFTER you file, not before. I ended up getting through using the callback feature on the EDD website (under Contact EDD), but it took about 6 hours for them to call me back. When they did, I immediately asked to speak with a tier 2 specialist about closing out an old claim that was blocking my new filing. The rep was able to reset my account in under 10 minutes. Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when you need those benefits ASAP!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who works in HR (though not at EDD) - your former HR person gave you completely incorrect information about the 2-week waiting period. There is NO requirement to wait 2 weeks after termination before filing for unemployment benefits. You can and absolutely SHOULD file immediately. What they might be confusing this with is either: 1. The standard 1-week unpaid waiting period (which starts AFTER you file, not before) 2. The 10-day window employers have to respond to unemployment claims 3. Some internal company policy that has nothing to do with actual unemployment law The longer you wait to file, the more you're potentially losing in benefits. File as soon as possible - don't let misinformation from your former employer delay your claim any further than this technical glitch already has. As for the old claim issue, definitely try that technical support number someone mentioned earlier. In my experience helping employees with unemployment issues, the tech support line often has shorter wait times and they're specifically equipped to handle UI Online problems like yours.

Has anyone else noticed that the EDD website is always "under maintenance" when you actually need to use it? It's like they're trolling us at this point. 🙄

I went through something similar last month! For the SDI payment delay, you can submit the employer payment info through your EDD portal - look for "Submit Documents" or "Additional Information" section. Upload a letter from your employer stating what they're paying during your leave (if anything) or a paystub showing the amounts. For the PFL/SDI overlap, I had to call and speak to someone directly to get the dates adjusted. Pro tip: try calling the PFL line specifically (1-877-238-4373) rather than the general SDI line - I had better luck getting through. When you do get connected, ask them to "amend the claim dates" to remove the overlap. The whole process is frustrating but you'll get there! Document everything and keep copies of what you submit. Good luck! 🤞

As someone who just went through this process a few weeks ago, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - definitely include ALL compensation that shows up on your W-2, including sick leave you actually used during employment. In your example, you'd report wages based on the full 40 hours (38 regular + 2 sick). I was also nervous about getting it wrong, but the EDD rep I eventually spoke to made it clear: if you were paid for it and it appears on your tax documents, include it. The only exception is unused leave that gets paid out as a lump sum when you leave - that's considered a termination payment, not wages. Since you used the sick leave during normal work weeks, it definitely counts as wages. Better to be comprehensive than to accidentally trigger any red flags down the line!

I'm also filing my first UI claim and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was stressed about this exact same question - whether to include sick leave in my wage calculations. After reading everyone's responses, it's clear that the rule is: include ALL compensation from your W-2, including sick leave that you actually USED during employment (like your 2-hour example). The key distinction everyone mentions about "used during employment" vs "paid out at termination" finally makes sense to me. I was overthinking it too, but it sounds like EDD wants the complete picture of your earnings. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process successfully!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add something that might be helpful for future situations like this. After dealing with several unusual income reporting scenarios myself, I've learned that EDD actually has a really useful resource that not many people know about - their "DE 4581 Handbook for Unemployment Insurance Claimants" which you can find on their website. It has specific examples of how to report different types of income, including retroactive pay situations. For your $70 retroactive adjustment, you're absolutely doing the right thing by reporting it transparently. One small addition to the great advice already given: when you write your explanation in the comments, consider including the specific pay period the retroactive adjustment covers (if you know it). For example: "Retroactive wage adjustment from [Company Name] for pay period [dates] in 2023 - $70 gross." This extra detail can help prevent any follow-up questions from EDD. Also, just a heads up - sometimes these retroactive adjustments can take a few weeks to show up properly in EDD's system calculations, so don't be surprised if your benefit calculation looks a bit off initially. It usually corrects itself, but it's worth keeping an eye on. You've got this!

I just wanted to chime in with my own experience since I went through something very similar last year. I received about $95 in retroactive pay from a previous employer for overtime hours that were miscalculated back in 2022. What I did was exactly what everyone here is recommending - I reported it as wages for the week I received the payment and included a clear explanation in the comments section. I wrote something like "Retroactive overtime adjustment from [Company Name] - $95 gross for miscalculated hours from 2022." The whole process went smoothly and my benefits were only affected for that one certification period. EDD never questioned it or asked for additional information, which I think shows that being upfront and transparent really is the best approach. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to make sure you report the GROSS amount (before any taxes or deductions), not the net amount you actually received. EDD wants to know the full wage amount for their calculations. You're definitely handling this the right way by asking questions and being proactive about reporting it correctly!

Just went through this exact situation last month! Here's what worked for me - before calling, I made a simple checklist with my specific issue at the top, then listed all my account details, dates, and any error messages I was seeing. When I finally got through (took 3 days of trying), having everything organized made the call so much smoother. The rep was actually really helpful once I could clearly explain that my certification from 2 weeks ago was showing as "not paid" even though I'd submitted it on time. She was able to see exactly what was happening and fixed it during the call. My biggest tip: if you're not sure what your specific issue is yet, spend some time in your online account first and write down exactly what you're seeing vs. what you expected to see. That way when you do get through, you can say "I certified for benefits on [date] for the week ending [date], but it's showing as [status] instead of paid, and I haven't received any correspondence explaining why." So much better than just saying "my payments aren't working" - trust me on this one!

This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat where I know I need to call EDD but wasn't sure how to prepare. Reading everyone's experiences really shows how important it is to be specific and organized before making that call. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone dealt with issues related to work search requirements? I'm getting conflicting information online about whether I need to be actively searching for work right now or if that requirement is still waived. When I do get through to EDD, I want to make sure I ask about this clearly since it affects whether I'm certifying correctly. Also, @Zainab Ahmed your tip about getting a reference number is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense. Definitely writing that down along with all the other great advice in this thread. It's reassuring to see that people are actually getting their issues resolved when they come prepared!