I just went through this exact same thing last month and it was terrifying! Woke up to check my balance before paying bills and everything was completely gone - $0 balance, no history, nothing. Turns out it was a system-wide issue that lasted about 2 days. What really helped me was calling Money Network directly (the number on the back of your card) - they can see your actual account status even when the website is broken. The rep told me it's usually their website servers having issues, not the actual payment system. Your money is still there, just not displaying properly. Also learned that you can check your EDD payment status on UI Online under Payment Activity even when Money Network is down - that gave me peace of mind that the payment was actually issued. These system outages seem to happen every few months unfortunately, but at least now I know not to panic when it happens again!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now and it's so stressful! Just got my second EDD payment this week and went to check my balance this morning - completely blank, showing $0. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful though. I tried the mobile app suggestion and it's working fine there, so definitely seems like just a website glitch. For anyone else going through this, I also found that you can text "BAL" to the number they give you when you first get your card and it'll send your balance via text message. That worked for me too when the website was down. It's crazy that these outages happen so regularly but at least there are workarounds. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and making this less scary for newcomers like me!

Hey there! I just went through this same situation about 3 months ago - missed my EDD interview because I had COVID and was basically delirious with fever (completely spaced on the appointment). The whole process was way less terrifying than I built it up to be in my head. A few things that really helped me prepare: - I called the Appeals Office directly (not the main EDD number) about a week before my hearing to confirm the time and phone number they'd be calling from - I practiced explaining my situation out loud beforehand so I wouldn't stumble over my words - I made sure I had all my job search documentation organized just in case they asked The actual hearing was super straightforward - the judge asked why I missed the interview, confirmed I was looking for work and available to work, and asked a couple questions about my last job. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Got my approval letter about 2 weeks later and all my back payments hit my account within a few days after that. Since you're being upfront about an honest mistake with the dates, I think you'll be totally fine. The judges deal with people who try to game the system all the time, so genuine human error is refreshing for them to hear! You've got this - just stay calm and be honest during the hearing!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I missed my EDD phone interview because I wrote down the wrong day in my calendar (wrote Tuesday instead of Thursday - felt so stupid). The stress and anxiety you're feeling right now is totally normal, but I promise it's not as bad as it seems. Here's what worked for me: - Filed my appeal immediately (sounds like you're already on this!) - Kept certifying every two weeks religiously - When the hearing date came, I just explained honestly that I made a calendar error and apologized - The judge was actually pretty understanding - apparently simple scheduling mistakes are super common The hearing itself was maybe 25 minutes over the phone. The judge asked why I missed the interview, confirmed I was actively job searching, and asked about my availability for work. No trick questions or trying to trip me up - just straightforward stuff. I got my decision about 10 days after the hearing (approved!) and all my back pay showed up within a week. The whole process from appeal to resolution took about 7 weeks total. The key is being completely honest about the mistake and showing that you're taking it seriously by staying on top of your certifications and job search. Calendar mix-ups happen to everyone - you're going to be fine!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation and feeling really anxious about it. Reading everyone's responses here is so reassuring - I had no idea that being honest about not knowing the eligibility requirements was actually the best approach. I was self-employed doing freelance work and genuinely thought unemployment was only for people who got fired or laid off from regular jobs. It wasn't until my cousin mentioned PUA to me that I even realized I might qualify. I've been putting off calling EDD because I was worried they'd think I was trying to take advantage of the system, but now I see that a lot of people were in this same confusing situation during the pandemic. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this!

I was in this exact situation and was terrified about making the call! I waited almost 10 months to file because I had no idea that freelancers and independent contractors could qualify for unemployment benefits. When I finally spoke with an EDD representative, I just told them the truth - that I genuinely believed unemployment was only for traditional employees who got laid off or fired, and I didn't learn about PUA and the expanded eligibility until a friend mentioned it to me. The rep was actually really patient and understanding about it. She said they've processed thousands of claims from people who were in the same boat, especially during the early months of the pandemic when information about the new programs wasn't widely known. My advice is to be straightforward about not knowing you qualified rather than trying to come up with any other explanation. They really do understand that there was massive confusion about who could apply for what benefits during that time.

I'm in the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver for my anxiety! Submitted my DE 2593 on March 22nd and it's now been over 5 weeks with absolutely zero acknowledgment from EDD. My payments are still coming through normally, but the complete silence was making me think I'd somehow messed up the submission. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially the 4-6 week timeline from Ravi's stakeholder meeting info and Faith's successful resolution after 6 weeks - has given me so much peace of mind. It's clear this is a system-wide processing delay affecting everyone, not individual claim issues. I actually tried the secure message approach through UI Online that several people mentioned, and got a response within 2 days confirming they received my form and it's "pending review in the eligibility queue." No timeline given, but at least I know it didn't get lost! For anyone still waiting and getting anxious, I'd definitely recommend trying the secure message route for that peace of mind confirmation. Thanks Eduardo for starting this thread - it's been incredibly helpful to know we're all navigating this together!

I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience! Submitted my DE 2593 on April 15th and it's been about 2 weeks with complete silence from EDD. I was starting to think I did something wrong or my form got lost in their system, but reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It's clear that the 4-6 week processing delay is hitting everyone across the board right now - definitely not just isolated cases. What really helps ease my anxiety is seeing that people's payments are continuing throughout the waiting period. Dmitry's update about getting confirmation through secure messaging within 2 days is really encouraging too! I think I'm going to try sending a secure message through UI Online this week to get that peace of mind confirmation that they actually received my form. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't communicate these delays upfront, but I'm grateful for this community where we can all share our timelines and support each other. This thread has been a huge help for managing the stress of waiting in the dark! Will definitely update here if I hear anything back from the secure messaging system.

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation really hits home for me - the stress of unexpected benefit exhaustion combined with that high rent must be absolutely overwhelming. After reading through all the helpful responses here, it's clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. Like many others, I had no idea that not everyone automatically gets the full 26 weeks - EDD really should explain this more clearly upfront! Since you mentioned you're in accounting, here are a few additional suggestions that might help bridge the gap until October: 1. Consider reaching out to accounting staffing agencies like Accountemps and Robert Half - with tax season ramping up, they're often desperate for experienced professionals and may have immediate placements 2. Check with local small businesses about temporary bookkeeping help for year-end closes - many get overwhelmed this time of year and are willing to pay well for experienced help 3. Look into freelance tax preparation work - many CPAs hire contract preparers for the busy season, and your accounting background would be perfect 4. Contact your county's 211 helpline for local assistance programs specifically for professionals who've exhausted UI benefits Also, definitely have that conversation with your landlord sooner rather than later. Being proactive about potential payment challenges is usually much better received than waiting until you're behind. Your accounting skills are valuable and the timing could actually work in your favor with tax season approaching. This community seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable - you're definitely in the right place for ongoing advice and encouragement. Hang in there!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation sounds incredibly stressful - that shock of seeing the "all benefits payable" message when you're expecting your benefits to continue must have been devastating, especially with such high rent to cover. After reading through all the helpful responses, it's become clear that your benefits calculation is unfortunately correct based on your base period earnings. I had no idea that the 26 weeks wasn't guaranteed for everyone until reading this thread - it really seems like EDD should explain this more transparently upfront instead of letting people assume they'll get the full duration. Since you mentioned you're in accounting, I wanted to add a few suggestions that might help during this difficult gap period: 1. Reach out to seasonal tax preparation companies like Jackson Hewitt or Liberty Tax - they're gearing up for tax season and often hire experienced professionals for temporary positions 2. Check with local credit unions about emergency hardship loans - some have specific programs for unemployed professionals that offer better terms than traditional lenders 3. Consider posting your bookkeeping services on Thumbtack or TaskRabbit - many small business owners need help with year-end financial organization and are willing to pay well for expertise 4. Look into whether your former employer has any alumni networks or referral programs that might lead to opportunities Also, I'd definitely encourage having that conversation with your landlord soon. Many property managers have seen this situation before and may be willing to work out a temporary payment plan, especially if you can demonstrate you're actively pursuing income opportunities. Your accounting background is definitely valuable, and with tax season approaching, the timing might actually work in your favor for finding temporary work. This community seems incredibly supportive - you're in good hands here for ongoing advice and encouragement!