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Just wanted to add my recent experience - filed my UI claim on March 15th after being laid off from my retail job. Got approved yesterday (March 28th) so exactly 13 days, which was actually faster than their 2-week estimate! I think what helped was that I had all my documents ready and my employer didn't contest it. The key things I did: checked UI Online daily, responded to one request for additional wage verification within 24 hours, and started my certifications immediately even while pending. Already set up my Money Network card too. Seems like if you have a straightforward case with no complications, they're actually meeting or beating their timeline estimates in 2025. Hope this helps ease some anxiety!
This is so encouraging to hear! I filed on Friday (just like you mentioned in your timeline) and I'm hoping for a similar experience. Did you have to do the ID.me verification or was that already set up from before? Also, when you say you responded to the wage verification request within 24 hours - was that through the UI Online message center or did they email you separately?
Just wanted to share my recent experience as another data point! Filed my claim on March 22nd after being laid off from my tech support job. Got my approval notification this morning (March 29th) - so exactly 7 days! I was honestly shocked because I was expecting the full 2 weeks. My situation was pretty straightforward though - single employer for 2+ years, clear layoff documentation, and I had already done the ID.me verification last year when I helped my sister with her claim. I think having that ID verification already done might have sped things up? Also made sure to upload my final paystub and layoff letter right when I filed, even though they didn't specifically request them yet. Currently waiting for my Money Network card info to set that up. Seems like 2025 processing times are much better than the horror stories from 2020-2021!
Wow, 7 days is amazing! That gives me so much hope since I just filed last Friday too. I'm kicking myself now because I didn't think to upload my layoff letter and final paystub right away like you did. Do you think it's too late to upload them now through the document section? Also, I haven't done ID.me verification yet - did you have to do anything special for that or does it just prompt you automatically when needed? Your timeline is exactly what I'm hoping for!
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I'm in a similar boat - my company just announced they're closing in 6 weeks and I'm trying to wrap my head around all this too. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the main takeaway is to file immediately after your last day regardless of severance, but be prepared to report every severance payment which will likely zero out your benefits temporarily. One thing I'm still confused about - if we're getting severance paid out over multiple weeks, do we need to keep certifying every two weeks even though we know we won't get any UI benefits during that time? It seems like the answer is yes based on what everyone's saying, but I want to make sure I don't accidentally mess up my claim by not certifying during the severance period. Also, has anyone dealt with a situation where the company hasn't finalized the severance details yet? They keep saying "we'll let you know" but time is running out and I need to plan my finances. Should I be pushing HR harder for specifics?
Yes, you absolutely need to keep certifying every two weeks even during your severance period! This is super important - if you skip certifications, it can mess up your entire claim and you might lose weeks of benefits permanently. Even though you'll be reporting your severance payments and getting $0 in UI benefits, you're still maintaining your active claim status. As for pushing HR - definitely be more assertive about getting the severance details! You need to know: exact amount, payment schedule, whether it's calculated as "severance" or "pay in lieu of notice," and when payments will start/end. This isn't just for your peace of mind - EDD will ask for these specifics when you file. I'd send an email requesting these details in writing so you have documentation. Companies going through closures can be disorganized, but these are legitimate questions that affect your unemployment benefits. One tip: start gathering all your employment info now (start date, wage history, etc.) so you can file your claim immediately after your last day without delays!
I just went through this exact scenario when my retail job ended due to store closure in December. Here's what worked for me: File your UI claim the day after your last work day - don't wait! Your benefit year starts when you file, not when you receive payments. During the weeks you receive severance, you'll report it as "other income" and select "severance pay" from the dropdown during certification. This will likely result in $0 UI benefits for those weeks, but your claim stays active. The tricky part is the certification questions - they don't explicitly say "severance" so look for "Did you receive any other type of income?" and be sure to report only the amount you received during that specific 2-week certification period, not your total severance. Keep certifying every two weeks even when getting $0 benefits! I cannot stress this enough - skipping certifications can permanently mess up your claim. Once your severance payments end, your full UI benefits should automatically resume. Start documenting everything NOW: get your severance agreement in writing, keep records of payment amounts/dates, and clarify with HR whether it's true severance or "pay in lieu of notice" as this affects EDD processing. One last tip: continue your job search activities even during severance weeks. EDD still requires this and I've seen people get disqualified for not maintaining job search records during their severance period. The whole process was smoother than I expected once I understood the system. Good luck!
This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm feeling much more confident about navigating this process now. One quick follow-up question - when you say to continue job search activities during severance weeks, do those activities need to be different from what I'd normally do, or is it the same requirements as regular UI certification? I want to make sure I'm documenting everything correctly from the start so I don't run into issues later. Also, did you find that employers were understanding about the timeline when you mentioned you were dealing with a store closure situation during interviews?
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Awesome that it worked out for you! This is super helpful info for other first-time claimants. The 3 business day timeline from 'paid' status to actual deposit seems to be pretty standard for most banks with direct deposit. Definitely bookmark this process for your future certifications - it gets way less stressful once you know what to expect!
So glad to see this worked out! As someone who went through the same anxiety with my first EDD payment, this thread is going to be so valuable for future newcomers. The waiting is definitely the worst part, especially when you have bills due. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it really helps confirm that the system does work as intended most of the time!
This thread is so reassuring! I'm in almost the exact same situation - just finished my waiting period and seeing 'paid' status for the first time. Really glad to see the update that your money came through in 3 business days. I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong with my claim. Going to bookmark this post for reference during my next certification cycle. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through as someone in the exact same situation! I just graduated last Friday and my campus job at the student success center ended because it was restricted to enrolled students only. Reading through all these detailed experiences and success stories has completely changed my perspective from "I probably won't qualify" to "I need to apply ASAP." My situation mirrors so many others here: worked there for 1.5 years, about 15-20 hours during school and 25-30 during breaks, roughly 65% university-funded and 35% work-study. I have CA SDI deductions on all my pay stubs and my termination letter says "position ended due to completion of academic program" - which based on everyone's advice seems like perfect language. The consistency of advice throughout this thread is so helpful: - Frame it as "position ended" not "had to leave because graduated" - Emphasize you're actively seeking immediate employment - Apply even if unsure about eligibility - worst case is denial - Keep detailed job search records - Continue certifying even during appeals if needed Special thanks to @Emma Wilson, @Noah Lee, @Alejandro Castro and others who shared their successful outcomes - hearing that people with similar situations actually got approved (even if just for the university-funded portion) makes this feel achievable rather than hopeless. Planning to apply online tomorrow morning and will definitely update this thread with my experience. This community support has been amazing and I hope my results can help other graduating students too!
Marcus, your situation sounds really solid based on everything I've read in this thread! The 1.5 years of consistent work history, CA SDI deductions, and that perfect separation letter language ("position ended due to completion of academic program") really seem to align with the successful cases people have shared here. I'm actually in almost the exact same boat - just finished my degree and my campus job ended for the same reason. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been such a game-changer. The success stories from Emma, Noah, Alejandro and others have shown that this isn't just wishful thinking - students in our situation really can qualify for benefits, especially for the university-funded portions of our employment. Your plan to apply tomorrow sounds perfect. From what I've gathered, the sooner the better due to that one-week waiting period. I'm planning to apply this week too after getting so much encouragement from this thread. Please definitely update us on how it goes! This thread has become such an incredible resource for graduating students, and more success stories will only help future students feel confident about applying instead of just assuming they won't qualify. Best of luck with your application - you've got this!
I'm currently in this exact situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just graduated this past weekend and my campus job at the tutoring center ended because it was only available to enrolled students. I've been so anxious about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits, but reading through everyone's experiences - especially the success stories from Emma, Noah, Alejandro, and others - has given me the confidence to actually apply. My situation: worked there for 2 years, about 18-20 hours during school terms and 35+ hours during breaks. About 70% university-funded and 30% work-study. I have CA SDI deductions on all my pay stubs and my separation notice says "employment terminated upon degree completion" - which sounds like the kind of language that has worked well for others here. The consistent advice throughout this thread about framing it as an involuntary separation ("position ended") rather than a voluntary quit ("had to leave because I graduated") seems crucial. I'm also documenting all my job search activities and am genuinely available for immediate full-time work while I look for positions in my field. Planning to apply online this week. Even if I get initially denied, the appeal success stories here show it's definitely worth pursuing. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should honestly be a pinned resource for graduating students navigating this process! I'll update with my results to hopefully help others in similar situations.
Connor O'Brien
For anyone else who encounters this issue in the future: This appears to be related to the 2025 system update EDD implemented for their identity verification process. They're now using an automated flagging system that sometimes generates verification requests with extremely short timelines that aren't even in compliance with their own policies (which require minimum 10 days notice). If you receive a verification request, take screenshots immediately and upload your documents as soon as possible. Don't wait until the deadline, even if it seems reasonable. The system has been known to accelerate disqualifications unpredictably.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
This is exactly the kind of thing that makes me so frustrated with EDD! I'm glad you were able to get it resolved by actually talking to someone. I've been dealing with a pending verification for 3 weeks now and this thread is making me nervous that something similar might happen to me. Going to try calling first thing Monday morning. Quick question - when you uploaded your documents after the rep fixed everything, did you get any kind of confirmation that they received them? I submitted mine through the portal but never got any acknowledgment and I'm paranoid they didn't go through properly.
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