I'm really sorry you're going through this tough situation. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like filing for both would likely cause more delays rather than speed things up. Since you already have medical certification that you can't work for 8 weeks, SDI seems like the right path. While waiting for SDI to process, here are a few things that might help with your immediate financial crisis: - Contact your county's emergency rental assistance program - many have expedited processing for people facing eviction - Look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs through 211 (dial 2-1-1) - Call your utility companies to set up payment plans or see if they have hardship programs - Check if your area has emergency cash assistance programs through social services Also, make absolutely sure you're checking your UI Online account daily for any requests for additional documentation. Missing those notifications seems to be a major cause of delays based on what others have experienced here. Good luck, and I hope your claim processes quickly!

Just wanted to add that if you're really in a bind while waiting for SDI, some credit unions and community banks offer emergency micro-loans (usually $200-500) that you can get within 24-48 hours, especially if you can show pending benefits documentation. Also, many churches and community organizations have emergency assistance funds that don't require you to be a member - they often can help with utilities or groceries to free up your remaining cash for rent. One more tip: if your doctor filled out the SDI forms, ask them for a copy of what they submitted. Sometimes there are small errors or missing information that can cause delays, and catching those early can save weeks. You can also ask your doctor's office to follow up proactively if EDD contacts them for additional information. Hang in there - this situation sucks but you'll get through it. Focus on the SDI claim and use these emergency resources to bridge the gap.

I just wanted to add my voice to everyone thanking you for this incredibly detailed thread! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, I've never seen such a comprehensive discussion about the subsequent new claim rules. I'm actually in a similar situation - exhausted my benefits in August with my benefit year running until February 2026. I did some contract IT work for a small business for about 8 weeks during my claim (completely different from my original employer in healthcare). Made around $18/hour for 32 hours/week, so roughly $4,608 total. Reading through @Isabella Silva's success story and all the amazing explanations from @Omar Farouk, @CosmicCadet, and others has been such an eye-opener. I had absolutely no idea about these subsequent claim options - I thought I was stuck waiting until February! Based on everything shared here, my contract IT work should qualify since it was a different employer, I'm well above the $1,300 threshold, and I reported all wages correctly. Going to call EDD this week using the "subsequent new claim based on new wages" terminology everyone mentioned. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with EDD benefits. The community knowledge here is incredible - thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and help others navigate this confusing system!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read! I just joined this community after being in a similar situation - exhausted my benefits back in November with my benefit year running until April 2026. I had completely given up hope until I found this discussion. During my benefit year, I did some delivery driving for a local courier service for about 9 weeks (totally different from my original job in customer service). I earned around $16/hour for about 26 hours per week, so that should be roughly $3,744 total. I made sure to report everything correctly when certifying. Reading @Isabella Silva's amazing success story and all the detailed explanations from @Omar Farouk and others about the subsequent new claim rules has been a complete game-changer. I had absolutely no idea this option even existed! The courier work was clearly a different employer, I'm well above that $1,300 threshold, and I handled all the reporting properly. This community has provided more valuable information than literally everything I could find on the EDD website combined. Going to call EDD tomorrow armed with the "subsequent new claim based on new wages" terminology I learned here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - you've given me hope when I thought I was completely stuck until April! This thread should definitely be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with exhausted benefits. Will update with my results to keep this amazing information thread going!

I've been working part-time (15-18 hours) for the past 3 months while on UI. The partial benefit calculation works exactly as others described. Just make sure you're very precise about reporting. I take screenshots of my hours worked each day and save them in a folder on my phone so I can refer to them when certifying. One thing that might help - when you certify, you'll get a summary screen showing what you reported. Take a screenshot of that too in case there are ever any questions about what you reported vs. what EDD recorded in their system.

Just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me - when you start your part-time job, ask your employer upfront about their pay schedule and how they calculate hours. Some places pay weekly, others bi-weekly, and some even pay monthly. This will help you plan ahead for your certifications. Also, if your employer uses a time tracking system or app, take screenshots of your logged hours at the end of each EDD week (Saturday night). I learned this the hard way when my employer's system had a glitch and my hours from two weeks prior disappeared. Having those screenshots saved me from a potential overpayment situation. Good luck with the new job! It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about this whole process, which is exactly the right approach.

I'm new to this community and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been dealing with a similar situation from 2020 where I was disqualified for 6 weeks and have been terrified about potential repayment for years. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially the clear breakdown of Section 1253 vs Section 1257(b) distinctions, has given me so much clarity. What really strikes me is how many of us have been carrying this same stress without understanding what our disqualifications actually meant. Like Sofia and others, I never received an overpayment notice, but I've been assuming the worst this whole time. The real-world experiences shared here - like StarSailor actually serving penalty weeks and Sofia getting confirmation from multiple EDD reps - are exactly the kind of concrete information I needed. It's honestly frustrating that EDD doesn't explain these critical differences clearly from the start. We shouldn't have to become unemployment law experts just to understand our own cases! But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share actual experiences and knowledge. I'm definitely going to call EDD to get clarification on my specific situation now that I know the right questions to ask. Thanks to everyone for making this such an educational discussion!

I'm new to this community and this discussion has been absolutely enlightening! I've been dealing with a 2021 disqualification for 5 weeks and, like so many others here, have been losing sleep over potentially having to repay around $3,000. I never received an overpayment notice but kept assuming I'd eventually get hit with a huge bill. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially Sofia's persistence in calling EDD multiple times and getting consistent confirmation, plus seeing StarSailor's real-world example of actually serving penalty weeks - has given me hope that my situation might not be as dire as I thought. The breakdown of Section 1253 vs Section 1257(b) that several members provided is incredibly valuable information that I wish EDD made clear from the beginning. It's so frustrating that their system is set up in a way that leaves people in limbo for years, not knowing whether they owe money or just need to serve penalty weeks. But I'm grateful for communities like this where people share actual experiences rather than speculation. I'm definitely going to call EDD now that I know the right questions to ask about which section my disqualification falls under. Thanks to everyone for making this such an informative thread!

I went through this exact same issue about 6 months ago and totally understand the panic! Here's what worked for me: I logged into my UI Online account and used the messaging feature under "Contact EDD" to explain the situation. I was super detailed about which specific weeks I had mistakenly certified for versus which weeks I should have certified for (include exact dates). I also mentioned whether I had received any payments for those incorrect weeks. They responded within about 5 business days and were able to reverse the wrong certification and let me re-certify for the correct weeks. The whole process took about a week and a half total. The key things: 1) Act fast - don't wait, 2) Be incredibly specific about dates in your message, 3) Be honest about any payments received. This is actually a pretty common mistake and EDD has a process to fix it. You're going to be fine, just get that message sent ASAP!

I actually had this exact same issue a few months back and the panic is so real! Here's what ended up working for me: I completely gave up on trying to call (spent hours on hold for nothing) and instead used the UI Online messaging system that everyone's mentioning. Under the "Contact EDD" section, there's an "Ask EDD" feature where you can send them a detailed message. I explained exactly which weeks I had certified for by mistake, which weeks I should have certified for instead, and included all the specific dates. I also mentioned that I hadn't received any payments yet for those weeks. They got back to me in about 7 business days and were able to reverse the incorrect certification completely. Then I was able to go back in and certify for the correct weeks like nothing ever happened. The whole thing was resolved in under 2 weeks. The key is definitely being super specific about the dates and getting that message sent as soon as possible. This is way more common than you'd think - EDD deals with this kind of mistake all the time and they have a clear process to fix it. Don't stress too much, you'll get this sorted out! 💪