congrats!! now make sure he dosnt miss ANY certifications or they will close his claim so fast!!!!

That's awesome news! 16 days is pretty typical right now from what I've seen. Just a heads up - once he gets his account set up, he'll need to certify for benefits every two weeks (usually on Sunday). The system will tell him exactly when his next certification is due. Also, if he's been unemployed since he applied, he might be able to certify for those past weeks retroactively to get payments for the time he's been waiting. Make sure he doesn't skip that step!

I've been certifying for UI benefits for over a year now and this fractional hours issue comes up constantly in this community! Based on all the responses here and my own experience, the consensus is definitely clear: round DOWN to the nearest whole hour (32 in your case) and make absolutely sure your wage amount is precise to the penny. I always add a note in the comments section like "Actual hours worked: 32.5, rounded to 32 due to system limitations" - this shows good faith reporting and creates documentation if there's ever a question. The EDD's verification systems are built to handle these small hour discrepancies since they know their own system can't accept decimals. What matters most for matching employer records is that wage amount being exact. It's frustrating that we have to work around such a basic limitation, but this approach has worked consistently for everyone I've seen try it. Don't stress too much about the half-hour difference - focus on getting those wages reported accurately!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's so frustrating that the EDD system can't handle something as basic as decimal hours in 2025. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the consensus is definitely to round DOWN to the nearest whole hour (so 32 in cases like this) and make sure the wage amount is exactly correct to the penny. The advice about adding an explanatory note in the comments section seems really smart too - something like "Actual hours worked: 32.5, rounded to 32 due to system limitations." It's reassuring to see so many people confirm this approach works without triggering any flags or issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these ridiculous system limitations!

I feel for you - getting laid off is stressful enough without having to navigate the EDD maze! I went through this exact situation about a year ago. Here's my experience: The online filing is definitely your best bet. I spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone (literally redailing hundreds of times) before I just gave up and did it online. Took me maybe 45 minutes total once I sat down with all my paperwork. Pro tip: Have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. They'll ask for it during the application and it's way faster than waiting for the debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, don't panic if they ask you to verify your identity later - that's super common now. They'll send you instructions by mail if needed. The whole "we're processing your claim" phase feels like forever but they're usually pretty good about the timeline they give you. One more thing - start doing your weekly certifications immediately once your claim is approved, even if you're actively job hunting. You have to certify that you're looking for work to keep getting benefits. Set a phone reminder because it's easy to forget when you're stressed about everything else. Hang in there! The first few weeks are the worst part, but it does get easier once everything is set up.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - layoffs are incredibly stressful! I just want to echo what everyone else has said about filing online being your best option. I went through unemployment filing last year and honestly, the phone system is a nightmare that you want to avoid if at all possible. One thing that really helped me was setting aside a specific time to do the online application when I knew I wouldn't be interrupted. I did mine on a Sunday evening when I could focus completely. Make sure you have a good internet connection too - nothing worse than losing your progress! Also, don't beat yourself up if the website seems confusing at first. It's not the most user-friendly system, but once you start clicking through it, it becomes pretty straightforward. They've actually improved it quite a bit over the past couple years. You mentioned being stressed about rent - I totally get that anxiety. Just remember that if your claim gets approved, the benefits will be backdated to when you became unemployed, so you won't lose out on money by taking a day or two to gather your information properly. Better to file it correctly the first time than to rush and have issues later. You've got this! And this community is really helpful if you run into any snags along the way.

My sister works for EDD (not telling which office lol) and she says Tuesday and Wednesday are actually the best days to call, not Monday when everyone is trying after the weekend. Also try around 10:30 when the morning rush dies down a bit.

OP, just checking in - were you able to get through using any of these methods? Sometimes it can take several days of persistent calling, but it's important not to give up. The longer a missed interview goes unaddressed, the more complicated it can become to resolve.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this Miguel! This exact same thing happened to me last month - EDD scheduled an interview for 10am-12pm and never called. I was literally sitting next to my phone the entire time with all my documents ready, just like you. What worked for me was calling the main number (1-800-300-5616) right at 8:00am the next day and getting transferred to the determinations department. It took about 18 tries to get through, but once I did, the rep was actually very understanding. She told me this has been happening A LOT lately due to staffing shortages and that my case would be marked as "EDD no-show" rather than me missing the appointment. They rescheduled me for 3 days later and the actual interview only took about 12 minutes. My payments were released the same day! The key is to keep calling until you get through and make sure they document that you were available during your scheduled time. Also, since you mentioned being behind on rent, definitely tell them about your financial hardship when you call - they can expedite your case. Don't lose hope, you'll get this sorted out!

This is incredibly frustrating but unfortunately super common right now. I had the exact same experience in January - EDD scheduled my eligibility interview for a 2-hour window, I cleared my entire day, sat by the phone with all my documents ready, and... nothing. No call, no voicemail, no follow-up. Here's what I learned from my experience and talking to others who've been through this: **Immediate steps:** 1. Call 1-800-300-5616 tomorrow at 8:01am sharp (not 8:00 - that's when everyone calls) 2. Use the sequence 2-4-1 to get to claims department 3. Be prepared to call 20+ times - the system will hang up on you repeatedly **When you get through:** - Ask them to note in your file that you were available during the scheduled time but EDD failed to call - Request they mark it as "EDD no-show" not "claimant missed interview" - Mention your eviction situation immediately - they can expedite hardship cases - Get a reference number for the call and ask for email confirmation of your new interview time **Also do this:** - Send a message through UI Online Contact EDD explaining what happened (creates paper trail) - Take screenshots of your pending claim status - Keep calling if the first rep can't help - some are more knowledgeable than others I know it's stressful when you're behind on rent, but don't panic. Once you get the rescheduled interview (which should happen within 5-7 business days for hardship cases), it's usually very quick and your payments get released fast. You won't lose any benefits you're entitled to - this is 100% on EDD, not you. Hang in there! This system is broken but you will get through it.