I had my EDD phone hearing about 7 months ago for wage discrepancy issues and wanted to share what worked best for me! The most important thing is to stay organized and confident - you clearly have the right documentation with your paystubs. A few tips: 1) Number all your paystubs and reference them by number during the hearing (like "paystub #3 from March shows..."), 2) Have a notepad ready to jot down any questions or statements from the EDD rep that you want to address, and 3) Don't be afraid to ask the judge to repeat something if the connection cuts out - they're used to technical hiccups. My hearing was about 50 minutes and the judge was very fair, asking detailed questions to both sides. I won my case and got the correct benefit calculation based on my actual wages rather than what my employer incorrectly reported. The decision came 13 days later and retroactive payments processed within 3 weeks. You're going to do great - having solid paystub evidence puts you in an excellent position to win this appeal!

I went through an EDD phone hearing for wage discrepancy about 3 months ago and wanted to share what really helped me succeed! The most important thing is being super organized with your evidence. I created a simple spreadsheet showing each pay period, what my employer reported vs what my paystubs showed, and the difference - having those exact numbers ready made a huge impact. During the hearing, speak slowly and clearly (I was nervous and talking fast at first), and don't hesitate to pause to check your documents before answering. The judge was very patient and professional. When they ask if you have questions for the EDD rep, definitely ask them to explain their calculation method and why they accepted the employer's figures over your documented paystubs. My hearing lasted about 40 minutes and I got my favorable decision 2 weeks later. The retroactive payments came through pretty quickly after that. You're in a strong position with your paystub evidence - that's exactly what the judge needs to see. Just stay calm and stick to the facts!

I'm going through a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got terminated last month from a customer service job for "excessive absences" - had 4 call-outs in 3 months, all for legitimate reasons (two for documented migraines, one for a family funeral, and one for a stomach bug). Just like your situation, I never received any verbal or written warnings before they called me in and terminated me. I was honestly too scared to apply for unemployment because I thought attendance issues meant automatic disqualification, but reading everyone's experiences here has given me the confidence to file. It sounds like the key factors are having documentation for medical absences and the employer not following progressive discipline procedures - both of which apply to my case too. Jacob, your situation with the bronchitis documentation and lack of warnings sounds really strong based on all the advice here. I'm definitely filing my claim this week and will make sure to have all my documentation organized for the eligibility interview. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's amazing how many of us have gone through similar situations!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! I had no idea so many people have gone through similar situations with attendance-related terminations. It's really encouraging to see actual success stories from people who got approved despite being fired for absences. I'm definitely going to file my claim today. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to make sure to emphasize: - Medical documentation for 3 out of 5 absences (bronchitis) - Legitimate reasons for the other 2 (car breakdown with tow receipt, family emergency) - Zero progressive discipline from my employer - That I followed proper call-out procedures I'll organize all my documentation before the eligibility interview and create a timeline of each absence with supporting evidence. Even if my employer contests it, I feel much more confident about my case now. Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences and advice. This community is amazing and I'll definitely update everyone on how my claim goes. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE: Firefox worked!!! I was able to complete my application just now. The page looked slightly different than on Chrome/Safari and didn't freeze up at the employment history section. Thank you all for the suggestions! For anyone else having similar issues, definitely try a different browser before giving up.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with similar issues right now - been trying to file for unemployment after my retail job ended last week and kept getting stuck at the same spot in the application. Definitely going to try Firefox tonight. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - should I wait for my final paycheck to arrive before submitting the application, or can I file now and update the wage info later? My manager said it might take another week for the final check to be processed and I don't want to delay filing if I don't have to.

UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD this morning after using the Claimyr service someone recommended. The EDD rep was actually super helpful once I reached them! They've put a special flag on my account to revert to paper checks immediately AND they're sending an emergency payment for the disputed amount that should arrive in 5 days. I still have to deal with Money Network for the fraud investigation, but at least I won't be waiting weeks for rent money. Also filed all the complaints recommended and my assemblyperson's office called me back - they're sending an official inquiry to EDD's executive office about my case. Thanks everyone for all the advice - this community has been way more helpful than any official channels!

So glad to hear you got some resolution! This is exactly why I always tell people not to give up - EDD can actually be helpful when you finally reach the right person. The emergency payment option is something a lot of people don't know about. For anyone else reading this dealing with similar issues, Zainab's experience shows that persistence pays off. The combination of using multiple channels (Claimyr for EDD contact, assemblyperson involvement, CFPB complaints, and specific terminology with Money Network) is really the way to go. Keep us updated on how the final resolution goes with Money Network. Your case could help others who are going through this nightmare. Really hoping EDD finally switches to a more secure payment vendor - this has gone on way too long.

I work as a benefits specialist and can confirm what others have said - you're handling this correctly by asking these questions! The key points are: 1) Report ALL earnings regardless of state when you certify, 2) Your temporary stay in Florida (under 30 days) doesn't require an address change, 3) You remain "available for work" since you can return to CA if needed and have a definite return date. The fact that you're earning less than your regular construction wages means you'll likely still receive partial benefits. EDD's partial benefit formula is designed exactly for situations like yours where people take lower-paying temporary work while between jobs. Just be completely honest on your certifications and you'll be fine!

I've been through this exact scenario! Last year I was temporarily in Nevada while on CA unemployment and picked up some part-time work there. Here's what I learned from calling EDD multiple times: **YES, report all earnings** - Doesn't matter what state the work is in, you must report all hours and gross wages on your certification. **Address change** - For temporary stays under 30 days, you don't need to change your address with EDD. Since you're only there 5 more weeks, you're fine keeping your CA address. **The "available for work" requirement** - This was my biggest concern too. EDD told me as long as you can return to California within a reasonable time if offered suitable work (which you clearly can since you have a return date), you meet this requirement. **Partial benefits** - With only 15 hours at $14/hr, you'll likely still get partial unemployment benefits. At $210 gross per week, after EDD's partial benefit calculation, you should still receive a decent portion of your weekly benefit amount. The key is just being completely honest on your certifications. EDD actually expects this kind of situation with seasonal workers - they know people sometimes travel or take temporary work between seasons. Don't overthink it, just report accurately and you'll be fine until your construction job starts back up!