I'm so sorry about your sister's diagnosis - what you're doing for her is truly compassionate. Based on the experiences shared here, it sounds like you have a solid case for "good cause" since you were already on PFL with medical documentation and your employer couldn't accommodate the extended leave. One additional resource that might help: some counties have caregiver support programs through their Department of Social Services that can provide temporary respite care or connect you with volunteer caregivers. This could potentially give you a few hours here and there to handle the EDD application process or prepare for interviews. Also, when you apply, make sure to mention in your initial application that you resigned specifically due to a family member's terminal illness requiring full-time care. This will help categorize your case correctly from the start rather than it just appearing as a standard voluntary quit. The timeline others mentioned (6+ weeks with potential appeal) is unfortunately realistic, so definitely apply soon even though you're not immediately available for work. The sooner you get the process started, the sooner benefits can begin once you are available again.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation with your sister. Having been through something similar with a family member, I want to emphasize a few important points that might help your case: First, the fact that you were already approved for PFL shows EDD recognized the legitimate medical need for your caregiving. This establishes a documented pattern that supports your "good cause" claim for quitting. Second, when you file your claim, be sure to include any written communication with your employer about the situation - emails, texts, or formal letters discussing your need for extended leave and their inability to accommodate. This shows you didn't just abandon your job but tried to work within the system first. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: consider asking your sister's medical team for a letter specifically addressing your role as primary caregiver and why professional care wasn't sufficient. Sometimes having that medical professional validation of your necessity as a caregiver can strengthen your case significantly. The system can be frustrating, but don't let initial denials discourage you - many legitimate claims get approved on appeal. You're doing something incredibly important and honorable, and you deserve the support you've paid into. Wishing you and your sister peace during this time.

I'm so glad I found this thread - I've been feeling completely alone dealing with my claim that's been under review for 4.5 months since May. The mental and financial toll of this situation is crushing, especially when you can't get any information about when it might be resolved. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that there are still avenues to try, even though we shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic benefits. I'm going to start with contacting my Assembly member and filing a State Auditor complaint based on the suggestions here. The fact that so many of us are stuck in identical situations proves this is a systemic failure, not individual problems. It's infuriating that we have to become our own case managers and pay third-party services just to reach the agency that's supposed to help us. Thank you all for sharing your stories and strategies - knowing we're not alone in this broken system makes it a little easier to keep pushing forward. I'll report back if any of these approaches work for my case.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - my claim has been under review for 5.5 months since late March with absolutely zero communication from EDD. It's devastating to read how many of us are stuck in this same impossible situation, but also validating to know I'm not going crazy or doing something wrong. The financial and emotional stress of waiting this long while bills pile up is beyond words. I've tried calling hundreds of times at different hours, sent countless messages through their portal, and even had friends try calling on my behalf - nothing works. Thank you everyone for sharing these strategies I didn't know about - I'm going to try contacting my Assembly member, filing a complaint with the State Auditor's office, and looking into the claimyr service even though it's infuriating we have to pay just to reach our own state agency. Has anyone tried reaching out to local news investigative reporters? Sometimes public pressure through media coverage can force agencies to respond when nothing else works. This systemic failure is affecting thousands of us and deserves more attention. I'll definitely update this thread if any of these approaches work for my case. Stay strong everyone - we shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits we earned, but at least we're not fighting alone.

I'm dealing with a similar employer date dispute right now! One thing that really helped me was gathering ALL possible documentation before submitting my appeal. Beyond just the final paystub, I also included my timesheet from that last week, any text messages or emails about my last day, and even printed out my work schedule showing I wasn't scheduled after April. The more evidence you can provide upfront, the stronger your case will be. Also, when you write your explanation on the DE 1000M form, be really specific about what your employer got wrong - don't just say "they're lying about my end date" but explain exactly what they claimed vs. what actually happened. I know the paper process is frustrating, but hang in there! The key is being thorough with your documentation.

I printed out screenshots of text messages and they were totally accepted as evidence! Just make sure they clearly show the date/time and phone numbers. I also wrote a brief explanation on a separate sheet describing what each screenshot showed (like "Text from my supervisor on 4/15 confirming my last day was 4/30"). My appeal is still pending but my EDD rep said my documentation package looked very thorough when I called to confirm they received it. The key is being organized - I numbered each piece of evidence and referenced those numbers in my written explanation on the DE 1000M form. It does feel overwhelming at first, but once you start gathering everything systematically it becomes more manageable. You've got this!

I'm going through this EXACT same verification loop nightmare right now! Just received my EDD Money Network card this morning and have been stuck trying to activate it for the past 4 hours. That spinning circle at the final verification step is absolutely infuriating - it just sits there forever while I'm stressing about bills that need to be paid. When I try calling the number on the back of the card, it immediately says my verification is "in process" and hangs up on me. Reading through all these detailed responses has been such a huge relief though - I was starting to think I was somehow messing up the process or that my phone was broken. It's clear this is a massive widespread system failure on Money Network's end that they just haven't bothered to fix despite affecting so many people who desperately need access to their benefits. Based on everyone's step-by-step advice here, especially the 8 AM calling strategy and the pressing 0 trick to bypass their broken automated system, I'm definitely going to call 1-866-320-8699 first thing tomorrow morning. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to develop workarounds for their faulty technology when we're already stressed about accessing our own money, but I'm so grateful this community has shared these proven solutions. Will definitely post an update after I try the phone method! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official systems completely fail us!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same verification loop issue right now! Just got my EDD card yesterday and have been stuck in that nightmare spinning circle for hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to think I was losing my mind or doing something fundamentally wrong with the app. It's absolutely insane that Money Network has such a widespread system failure affecting so many people who desperately need access to their benefits, yet they haven't bothered to fix it. Based on all the detailed step-by-step advice shared here, especially the 8 AM calling strategy and pressing 0 trick to bypass their broken automated system, I'm definitely going to try calling 1-866-320-8699 first thing tomorrow morning. Having to hack around their faulty technology just to access our own money is ridiculous, but I'm so grateful this community has figured out what actually works when the official systems fail us. Will update once I get through to them - fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions and making me feel less alone in this frustrating mess.

This is incredibly helpful information! I've been stuck in the interview queue for about 8 weeks now and my situation is getting desperate. A few questions if you don't mind - when you say "hardship documents," what specific types of paperwork did you include? I have medical bills, notice from my landlord about late rent, and some utility shut-off notices. Also, when you called back after faxing, did you specifically mention the fax number (714-736-3103) to help them locate your documents faster? I'm definitely going to try this approach - thank you so much for sharing what worked for you!

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been stuck waiting for an interview for 3 months now and my savings are completely depleted. Just to make sure I understand correctly - you fax everything to (714) 736-3103 with a cover letter that includes your account number, then call back in 1-2 days asking to speak to a tier 2 rep about the hardship documents you faxed? Did you have to explain your whole situation again over the phone or did they already have your fax when you called? Also, roughly how long did it take from when you faxed to when you actually got your backpay? Thank you so much for giving us hope!