I moved from LA to Portland while on EDD last year and everything worked out fine! Here's what I learned from the process: 1. Update your address through UI Online ASAP - I did it the day after I arrived and had no payment interruptions 2. Keep detailed records of ALL job applications (company, position, date, method of application) - I used a simple Google Sheets document 3. Be prepared for a potential phone interview 2-4 weeks after updating your address - mine was just basic questions about my job search efforts 4. Apply to jobs in both states if you want, but be realistic about which ones you could actually accept (consider relocation costs, remote work options, etc.) 5. Make sure mail forwarding is set up properly because some EDD notices still come by regular mail The phone interview was actually pretty straightforward - they asked about my work search activities, confirmed I was available for work, and verified my contact info. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - most people who follow the rules have smooth experiences, they just don't post about it as much as people who have problems! Good luck with your move to Arizona and job search!

I've been collecting California EDD benefits while living in Nevada for about 4 months now, so I can share my experience! The process is definitely doable, but here are a few things I wish I'd known upfront: 1. Update your address immediately through UI Online - I did this within 24 hours of moving and it went smoothly 2. Save confirmation screenshots when you update your info online, just in case there are any questions later 3. If you're job searching in multiple states, consider setting up separate folders or tags in your email to organize applications by state - it made my record-keeping much easier 4. Don't panic if your claim gets a temporary hold after updating your address - mine was held for about a week while they "reviewed" but payments resumed automatically 5. When doing your work search activities, apply to jobs you'd genuinely consider accepting - EDD can ask follow-up questions about specific applications The phone interview I had was pretty routine - they mainly wanted to confirm I was actively looking for work and understood the requirements. Overall it's been much less stressful than I anticipated. Just stay organized, be honest, and follow all the normal certification requirements. You've got this!

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've been dealing with EDD hold times for months now. From my experience, it really varies - sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes 4+ hours. The key is to call right when they open at 8am. I've also found that calling on Tuesday or Wednesday gives you better chances than Monday or Friday. Hang in there, it's frustrating but eventually you'll get through!

This thread is gold! I'm starting my SDI claim next week after a back injury and was totally confused about the whole process. Reading through everyone's experiences really helped me understand what to expect. Quick question - does anyone know if there's a grace period if you're late submitting your certification? Like with UI you have a few days, but wasn't sure if SDI has the same flexibility. Don't want to mess up my first certification!

Just wanted to add something that might help others - if you're switching from UI to SDI (like if you were unemployed and then got injured), make sure to close your UI claim properly before starting SDI. I made the mistake of having both claims open at the same time and it created a huge mess with overpayments that took months to sort out. EDD doesn't automatically coordinate between the two programs even though they're the same agency. Also, keep all your medical documentation organized because SDI requires periodic medical reviews to continue benefits, unlike UI where you just need to show you're looking for work. The income replacement is definitely better with SDI but the medical requirements are much stricter.

Update: I FINALLY got through this morning! For anyone with the same problem, I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above, and they connected me with an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. The agent was able to see that my payment was pending because of an "eligibility review" flag that somehow got placed on my account. She removed it and said my payment should process within 48 hours. Fingers crossed, but at least I finally got an explanation! Worth every penny not to spend another week trying to get through.

I've been dealing with EDD phone hell for the past month trying to get my identity verification resolved. What worked for me was calling the 1-800-300-5616 number at exactly 8:00am on Tuesday mornings. I noticed they seem to have more staff available on Tuesdays compared to Mondays when everyone calls. Also, when you get to the menu, press 1-2-1 instead of the usual sequence - this sometimes gets you to a different queue that's less backed up. Had to call 47 times over two weeks but finally got through and resolved my issue. The key is being persistent and varying your call times slightly. Good luck!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My hours at a small marketing firm got reduced and they also handed me a DE 2063 form with no clear instructions. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening - it sounds like this confusion between Work Sharing and regular UI with reduced earnings is extremely common, especially at smaller companies. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced that most employers who hand out DE 2063 forms without clear submission procedures aren't actually enrolled in the Work Sharing program. The HR professional's advice about asking for the specific EDD Work Sharing approval number is brilliant - that's such a concrete way to cut through all the uncertainty. I'm going to ask my employer for their approval number tomorrow, but honestly, given their confusion about the process, I'm not expecting them to have one. If that's the case, I'll be filing a regular UI claim online immediately. It sounds like the regular route is much more straightforward and gets benefits flowing faster than trying to navigate a program the employer doesn't understand. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for those of us dealing with this exact situation!

I'm a newcomer here but this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my hours got cut at a small tech startup and my manager handed me a DE 2063 form with absolutely no guidance on what to do with it. After reading all these detailed responses, it's become really clear that there's a huge difference between Work Sharing (which requires extensive employer enrollment and ongoing procedures) and regular UI claims for reduced earnings. The key insight about asking for the specific EDD Work Sharing approval number is brilliant - that's such a concrete way to determine if your employer is actually enrolled or just confused about the programs. Based on everyone's experiences shared here, I'm going to ask my employer for their approval number tomorrow. But honestly, given that they handed me the form with zero instructions and seemed uncertain about the whole process, I'm pretty confident they don't have one. If that's the case, I'll be filing a regular UI claim online right away rather than waiting around for them to potentially figure out a complex program they've never used. It sounds like the regular route gets benefits flowing much faster and is way more straightforward for situations like ours where small employers are well-meaning but unprepared. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this thread should be bookmarked for anyone dealing with DE 2063 form confusion!