I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Here's what worked for me: I had my doctor's office fax the form directly to EDD (the fax number should be on the form itself). Then I also hand-delivered a copy to my local EDD office - yes, it's a pain, but at least you have proof they received it. I also sent a certified mail copy as backup. Triple submission might seem overkill, but my benefits got processed within a week after that. Don't let them give you the runaround - you have rights and they need to process your claim!

I went through something similar last month! What saved me was getting a tracking number from my doctor's office for the mailed form, then using that to prove to EDD that it was sent and delivered. If your doctor didn't use tracking, ask them to resend it with signature confirmation. Also, I found that tweeting at @CA_EDD with your claim number sometimes gets faster responses than calling - sounds weird but it actually worked for me! They seem to be more responsive on social media than their phone lines. Keep fighting for your benefits - you deserve them! 💪

Just went through this exact same process last month after getting laid off from my retail job! One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through UI Online - you can enable notifications for when your certification period opens and when payments are issued. Go to your profile settings and look for "Notification Preferences." Also, I learned the hard way that if you're doing any volunteer work, you still need to report it during certification even though it's unpaid - they ask about "work or services" not just paid work. The first few certifications feel overwhelming but it becomes routine pretty quickly. Make sure you have all your job search info ready before you start certifying because the system times out if you take too long on a page. Good luck with everything!

Something I wish someone had told me when I first started - keep a simple notebook or use your phone's notes app to track your certification dates and what you reported each time. I write down the date I certified, which weeks it covered, any income I reported, and my job search activities. This has been a lifesaver because EDD sometimes asks about previous certifications during eligibility reviews, and having everything documented makes those conversations so much easier. Also, if you ever see your claim balance getting low (like under $1000), start thinking about filing a new claim or extension - don't wait until it hits zero because there can be gaps in payments during the transition. The whole process gets much less stressful once you establish a routine and know what to expect!

I'm also new to unemployment after being laid off from my tech job last week. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea the federal extensions from the pandemic were completely gone now. I was really hoping there might be something beyond the 26 weeks since the tech industry has been pretty brutal with layoffs lately. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: if you're in tech or any field that changes quickly, don't sleep on updating your skills during unemployment. I've been looking into free coding bootcamps and online certifications that might make me more competitive. Some of these programs are specifically designed for unemployed workers and don't interfere with your job search requirements. Also, for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the 26-week timeline - I've been setting weekly goals for applications and networking rather than just daily ones. It helps me feel more in control and ensures I'm making steady progress even when the rejections start piling up. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. It's tough out there but at least we're not going through it alone!

I'm also new to unemployment after getting laid off from my warehouse job earlier this month. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for confirming the 26-week limit and sharing your experiences! I wanted to add something that might help other newcomers: don't forget to check if your employer offers any kind of severance or job placement assistance. My company provided access to a career counseling service for 90 days after layoff, which I almost didn't use because I was focused on filing for unemployment. Turns out they help with resume writing, interview prep, and even have connections with local employers. Also, for anyone worried about the phone lines at EDD - I had success calling right when they opened at 8am. Still took about 45 minutes on hold, but I did get through to a real person who answered all my questions about my specific situation. The 26-week timeline is definitely scary, but reading everyone's strategies here is making me feel more prepared to tackle this systematically. Going to start documenting everything and treating the job search like a full-time job starting tomorrow!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm new to receiving unemployment benefits and got my RESEA letter last week. I was completely confused about what it even was - the letter just said "mandatory reemployment workshop" with a date but no other details. Reading everyone's experiences here has made me feel way more prepared. I'm definitely going to set up email alerts for anything from @edd.ca.gov and make sure to check spam folders. Quick question though - for those who've completed it, about how many other people were in your workshop? I'm a bit nervous about the group setting but it sounds like the breakout rooms and resume feedback are really valuable. Thanks for creating such a supportive space to share info!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who completed their RESEA workshop a few months ago! The 2-week email timing is spot on - mine arrived on a Tuesday exactly 14 days before my appointment. One thing I wish I had known beforehand is that they actually encourage you to bring questions about your specific job search challenges. I was so focused on having all the "right" documents that I didn't think to prepare questions about my industry or networking strategies. The career counselor was incredibly knowledgeable and could have given me more targeted advice if I had been proactive about asking. Also, don't worry if your work search records aren't perfect - they're more interested in helping you improve your approach going forward than penalizing past efforts. The whole experience was much more supportive than I expected!

I'm currently going through the CBT application process for a dental hygiene program and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, when you call your school, ask specifically if they have a "CBT coordinator" or someone who regularly handles EDD training benefit students. Some schools have dedicated staff who know the process inside and out, which can save you a lot of headaches. Second, I learned that you can actually submit your DE 3100 form BEFORE you're officially enrolled, as long as you have a conditional acceptance letter from the school. This can help speed up the approval timeline since you won't be waiting for enrollment AND approval. Also, keep in mind that if your LVN program has any prerequisite courses (like anatomy or medical terminology), those might need to be completed separately and may not qualify for CBT coverage. Make sure the 12-month timeline you mentioned includes everything you need for licensure. The healthcare training programs seem to have pretty good success rates with CBT approval since there's such high demand for healthcare workers in California right now. Best of luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully completed an LVN program through CBT in 2024! A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call your school, ask if they can email you a sample DE 3100 form that's already been filled out (with student info redacted obviously). Seeing a completed example made the process SO much clearer. 2. Make sure your program meets the "full-time" requirement - for my LVN program, that meant at least 20 hours per week of instruction. Some accelerated programs pack more hours into fewer days, which can sometimes cause confusion with EDD. 3. Keep a folder (digital or physical) with EVERYTHING - acceptance letters, DE 3100 submissions, EDD correspondence, attendance records, etc. I had to provide documentation multiple times throughout the program. 4. If your school has clinical rotations at different locations, make sure EDD knows about this upfront. I almost had issues when my attendance verification showed different addresses for clinicals vs classroom time. The CBT program was honestly a lifesaver for me. Being able to focus on school without worrying about job searching made such a difference in my grades and stress levels. LVN programs are intense enough without having to juggle unemployment requirements! You've got this!