I'm new to this community and dealing with my first UI claim, so this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I had absolutely no idea that there were different reporting requirements based on what type of settlement you receive. The distinction between wage-related compensation (like unpaid overtime or meal break violations) versus other types of legal damages is something I never would have thought about. Sean, thank you so much for sharing your complete experience and actually following up with how EDD handled your situation - it's really encouraging to see that being honest and proactive worked out well for you. The advice about looking at the specific language in settlement documents is brilliant too. I'm bookmarking this thread because even though I don't have any settlements right now, this kind of detailed breakdown of UI rules is exactly what newcomers like me need to understand how the system actually works. This community is amazing for making complex regulations understandable through real experiences!

This thread is exactly what I needed! I'm currently on UI benefits and just found out I'll be receiving a settlement from a class action lawsuit against a previous employer. Reading through Sean's experience and everyone's detailed explanations has been so helpful in understanding the key distinction between wage-related settlements (which need to be reported) versus other types of legal compensation. What really stands out to me is how being proactive and transparent with EDD actually worked in Sean's favor - he got it resolved without major complications by addressing it head-on rather than hoping it wouldn't be discovered later. The advice about checking settlement documentation for specific language like "back wages," "unpaid overtime," or "premium pay violations" is incredibly practical. I'm still waiting to receive my settlement details, but based on what I know about the lawsuit (it was related to break time violations), I'm expecting it will fall into the wage-related category that needs to be reported. Thanks everyone for sharing such valuable real-world guidance - this community is amazing for helping newcomers navigate these complex UI situations!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 2 months ago and can absolutely confirm it's a conference call with all parties present simultaneously - you, your employer (usually HR or a manager), and the Administrative Law Judge. It really does feel like being in court, just over the phone. Here's something that really helped me that I don't see mentioned yet: about a week before your hearing, call the Appeals office and ask if you can do a "test call" to make sure your phone connection is clear. They actually let me do this and it helped calm my nerves knowing the audio quality was good. Also, if you have any witnesses who can support your case (former coworkers, etc.), you can request to have them join the call too - just make sure to arrange this with the Appeals office beforehand. The judge will typically start by asking your employer to present their case first, then you'll get your turn. Don't interrupt them even if they say something completely wrong - just take notes and address it when the judge asks for your response. The whole process was actually more fair and structured than I expected. I was terrified beforehand but the judge made sure both sides were heard equally. Hang in there, Diego - you're more prepared than you think!

I went through my EDD appeal hearing about 6 months ago and yes, it's definitely a conference call with everyone on at once - you, your employer, and the judge. I was terrified beforehand but it wasn't as bad as I imagined. The judge was very professional and fair, making sure both sides got equal time to speak. A few things that really helped me prepare: I practiced my opening statement out loud several times beforehand so I wouldn't stumble over my words when nervous. I also made sure to be in a completely quiet room with excellent phone reception - I actually went to my friend's house because their landline had better clarity than my cell. And definitely have water nearby, but be careful about background noise when you drink or move around. One thing I wasn't prepared for was how long the employer took to present their case - mine went on for like 15 minutes before I got to speak. Don't get discouraged if they seem to have a lot to say, you'll get your full chance to respond and present your side. The judge asked me several follow-up questions which actually helped me clarify important points I hadn't thought to mention initially. You've got this, Diego! Just stick to the facts of what happened and why you believe you qualify for benefits. The system really is designed to be fair, even though it feels intimidating going into it.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in payroll and has seen this scenario countless times - you're absolutely doing the right thing by continuing to certify even during your high-earning weeks. The EDD system is specifically designed to handle fluctuating income situations like yours. One thing that might ease your mind: when you report earnings above your WBA, the system automatically calculates $0 benefits for that week, but it also maintains your claim status and benefit year timeline. Think of those weeks as "paused" rather than "lost" - your remaining benefit balance stays exactly the same and will be there when your hours drop again. Also, since you mentioned being stressed about reapplying - as long as you're within your benefit year (which you are until June 2025) and you keep certifying regularly, you'll never need to file a new claim. The only time you'd need to reapply is if your benefit year expires or if you stop certifying for an extended period and your claim goes completely inactive. Your on-call situation is actually pretty standard in today's economy, so don't feel like you're gaming the system or doing anything wrong. You're using UI exactly as intended - as a safety net during periods of reduced work!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! I work as an on-call substitute teacher and some weeks I get zero calls, then suddenly I'll get called for 3-4 days straight that puts me way over my WBA. What really helped me was calling EDD directly (took forever to get through) and the rep explained that as long as I keep certifying every two weeks and report everything honestly, my claim stays active even during those $0 weeks. She said the key is NEVER skip certifying, even when you know you won't get paid that period. One tip that might help - I started keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking my hours and earnings each week so when it's time to certify I have everything organized and accurate. Makes the whole process less stressful when you're prepared with exact numbers rather than trying to remember what you worked two weeks ago. You're definitely not alone in this - seems like more and more people are dealing with these irregular schedules while on UI. The system can handle it, just stay consistent with your certifications!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Unfortunately, this seems to be happening more and more frequently with EDD interviews. I went through something similar a few months ago where they completely no-showed on my scheduled interview time. The good news is that you eventually got through and have a new date set for Friday - that's actually faster than many people are experiencing right now. When I had my rescheduled interview, I made sure to: 1. Have all my documents organized in a folder beforehand 2. Write down a simple timeline of events that led to my job separation 3. Keep my phone plugged in during the entire window (learned that the hard way!) 4. Call in about 5 minutes early just in case Since your situation involves a family emergency, make sure you can clearly explain why leaving your job was your only reasonable option. They're typically looking for "good cause" which medical emergencies definitely qualify for. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're already dealing with financial stress, but hang in there! Once they approve your claim, you should get all those back weeks of benefits. Wishing you the best of luck on Friday - hopefully this will finally get resolved for you!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Had my eligibility interview scheduled for yesterday morning and they never called. It's so stressful when you're already worried about finances and then EDD adds this extra layer of uncertainty. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really helpful though - especially knowing that this is a widespread issue and not something I did wrong. I'm going to follow the advice about documenting everything and trying to reach them in the next day or two. Thanks for posting about this because it's reassuring to know there's a community of people who understand what we're going through with EDD right now!

Another option to consider is getting a reloadable prepaid card like Green Dot or Netspend that allows cash deposits at participating retailers. You can load your cash tips onto those cards at places like CVS, Walgreens, or 7-Eleven (usually a small fee around $3-5). Then you can use that card for purchases or transfer the money to a regular bank account later. It's not as convenient as being able to deposit directly to your EDD card, but it gives you more flexibility than having to deal with money orders every time you get cash tips.

I'm in a similar situation with cash tips from my part-time job! What I ended up doing was opening a free checking account at a local credit union specifically for my side income. Credit unions usually have lower fees than big banks, and many offer completely free checking with no minimum balance. I deposit my cash there, then use their mobile app to transfer money to my main account when needed. It also makes it super easy to track my side income separately for when I file taxes next year. Plus having that separate account gives me a clear record of exactly how much I earned from tips each week when I do my EDD certifications.