I'm really glad to see you're getting such great advice here! As someone who went through a similar situation a few years ago, I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me during the EDD process. When you have your eligibility interview, they might ask you something like "Did you consider any other options before quitting?" Be prepared to explain what you tried - like reporting to HR, talking to your manager directly (if you did), or even looking into transfers within the company. The key is showing that quitting was truly your last resort. Also, if you haven't already, try to get a copy of your company's harassment policy from the employee handbook. If they failed to follow their own procedures after you reported the harassment, that can actually strengthen your case for good cause. The emotional toll of dealing with workplace harassment is real, and it sounds like you made the right choice for your health and wellbeing. The unemployment process can feel overwhelming, but you're clearly being thorough and proactive about documenting everything. That preparation will really pay off during your interview. Best of luck - you've got this!

I'm so sorry you had to endure that kind of workplace harassment - it's incredibly brave of you to prioritize your mental health and leave that toxic environment. From what you've described, you absolutely have a valid case for "good cause" unemployment benefits. A few additional tips that might help strengthen your claim: 1. **Medical documentation is key** - When you get that updated doctor's note, ask them to specifically link your health issues (anxiety, insomnia) to the workplace harassment. The more medically detailed, the better. 2. **Prepare for the employer pushback** - Your former employer will likely contest your claim and may try to frame this as a performance issue. Having your detailed documentation will be crucial to counter their narrative. 3. **Be ready for specific questions** - During your eligibility interview, they'll want to know exactly what steps you took before quitting. Walk them through your reports to HR, any conversations with management, and why those efforts failed to resolve the situation. 4. **Save everything** - Keep all your documentation organized and easily accessible. Include emails, text messages, your journal entries with dates, medical records, and any witness information. The process can be lengthy and EDD often denies legitimate claims initially, but don't let that discourage you. Many people win on appeal with proper documentation. You're already doing everything right by being so thorough with your record-keeping. Stay strong - you made the right choice for your health, and you deserve those benefits while you look for a better work environment!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar scare last year! It's crazy how common these identity theft attempts are becoming with unemployment benefits. For anyone else reading this thread - definitely sign up for credit monitoring services if you haven't already, and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports even if you haven't been victimized yet. Prevention is so much easier than cleanup! Also, the fact that you got through to EDD using Claimyr gives me hope - I've been struggling to reach them about my own claim issue for weeks. Glad everything worked out for you!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might encounter this situation - I work in banking and see these NetSpend scam attempts frequently. What likely happened is someone used your husband's personal information (SSN, name, address) to apply for a NetSpend account, probably hoping to redirect unemployment payments or use it for other fraudulent purposes. The good news is that you caught it early and took all the right steps! For future protection, I'd also recommend setting up account alerts with your bank and consider using a service like LifeLock or Identity Guard for ongoing monitoring. These scammers often try multiple times with the same stolen info. Also, keep that police report number handy - you might need it if other fraudulent accounts pop up in his name down the road.

After you get this resolved, make sure to set up your account to receive text notifications about interviews and important claim updates. They don't always send physical mail in time, and sometimes emails go to spam. The text system is the most reliable way to get notified about interviews. Go to UI Online > Profile > Contact Information > Communication Preferences and check the SMS option for all notification types.

I went through something very similar last year and here's what finally worked for me: I called the EDD disability line (1-800-480-3287) and explained that my UI claim was affecting my ability to work due to the stress and uncertainty. They transferred me directly to a UI specialist who was able to reschedule my interview that same day. It's a bit of a workaround, but sometimes different departments have better access to resolve UI issues. Also, document everything - keep a log of every call attempt with date/time, save screenshots of your pending claim status, and if you have the police report about your stolen phone, keep that handy as proof of why you missed the original interview. The representatives are more helpful when you can show you've been making good faith efforts to resolve the issue. Hang in there - I know how stressful this is, but most people do get their backpay once it's resolved!

What a stressful situation, but I'm so relieved to see your update that you got rescheduled! Your persistence really paid off. For your Thursday interview, I'd recommend having all your employment documentation organized beforehand - pay stubs, termination letter, any correspondence with your former employer, etc. The interviewer will likely ask about your work history and the circumstances that led to your unemployment claim. Also, find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted and maybe put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door just to be extra safe. You've been through enough stress already - having everything prepared will help you feel more confident going into the call. Wishing you the best of luck!

This thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! Reading through everyone's advice and seeing your successful outcome gives me so much hope. I'm actually dealing with a similar EDD nightmare right now (different issue, but the same feeling of being trapped in their system), and seeing how persistence and multiple approaches worked for you is really encouraging. The step-by-step advice from folks like Amina and Javier is gold - I'm definitely saving this thread for reference. Thanks for taking the time to update us with the good news, and best of luck with your Thursday interview! Stories like yours remind us that even when the system feels impossible, there are ways through it if you don't give up.

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I made the same mistake - told EDD I was "laid off" when I was actually terminated for attendance issues. Got the same disqualification notice last week. One thing I wanted to add that might help: when I called my former HR department to get copies of my termination paperwork, they were actually really understanding about the situation. The HR rep even mentioned that they get calls like this fairly often because people don't realize how specific EDD's language requirements are. Also, I found a sample appeal letter template on the EDD website under the "Appeals" section that gives you a basic structure to follow. It's not super detailed but at least gives you the proper format and headers they expect to see. Keisha, based on what you've shared about the unrealistic sales targets during the pandemic, I think you have a really strong case. That context about the 30% increase in targets when foot traffic was down could be key to showing this wasn't misconduct on your part. Definitely include that detail in your appeal! Hang in there - from everything I'm reading in this thread, these terminology mix-ups are way more common than we realized and many people successfully get them overturned.

I'm so glad you found this community! Reading through all these responses, it's clear you're getting excellent advice from people who've been through similar situations. One additional tip I'd suggest: when you write your appeal letter, consider including a brief statement about your job search efforts since the termination. This shows EDD that you're genuinely unemployed through no fault of your own and actively seeking work, which reinforces that you're not trying to game the system. Also, if you have any performance reviews from before your sales numbers declined, those could be helpful evidence that you were a good employee who struggled with unrealistic pandemic-era targets rather than someone who was habitually underperforming. The 30-day deadline might seem scary, but you actually have plenty of time to put together a strong appeal. Take a few days to gather your documentation, write a solid first draft, then review it with fresh eyes before submitting. You've clearly got great instincts about being proactive and asking for help - that's going to serve you well in this process. Best of luck with your appeal! This community is rooting for you.