That's amazing news, Todd! Your success story gives me so much hope. I've been stuck in the system for months too, and reading about your experience with asking for a tier 2 rep is exactly what I needed to hear. It's encouraging to know that persistence pays off and that the community resources here actually work. Congratulations on getting your back pay - you must be so relieved! Thanks for sharing the details about your process, it's incredibly helpful for those of us still fighting through this.

This is exactly what I needed to see today! I've been in limbo for 3 months waiting for my phone interview and was starting to lose hope. Your step-by-step breakdown is so helpful - especially the part about asking specifically for a tier 2 representative and not giving up if you get disconnected the first time. I had no idea that was even an option! I'm going to try Claimyr based on your recommendation. It's stories like yours that remind me there's light at the end of this tunnel. Congratulations on getting your back pay sorted out - that must be such a huge relief! 🙌

I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my nonprofit homeless services organization had to cut staff due to losing city funding. Like you, I was really confused about whether nonprofit employees could get unemployment benefits. The good news is that I got approved without any issues! The application process was exactly the same as it would be for any other employer. Since your organization was established and had multiple employees, they were almost certainly paying into the UI system - especially if they were receiving government grants, which usually require compliance with employment laws. One thing that really helped me during the waiting period was connecting with other nonprofit professionals who had gone through layoffs. There's actually a pretty supportive community of us dealing with these funding challenges. I ended up finding my current position through someone I met in a nonprofit professionals Facebook group. Also, don't forget to look into any severance or continuation benefits your old employer might offer. Some nonprofits have policies about helping laid-off employees even if they're not legally required to. It's worth asking! Best of luck with your claim and job search - the nonprofit sector needs experienced program coordinators like you!

Hey there! I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of support here. I worked at a nonprofit mental health services organization for about 3 years before getting laid off due to state budget cuts last year. I had the exact same concerns about UI eligibility that you did! The application process was straightforward and I got approved without any special hurdles. What really put my mind at ease was when I realized that every pay stub I'd ever received showed the standard state deductions including SDI and UI contributions - if they were taking those out of my paycheck, they were definitely paying into the system on the employer side too. One thing I learned that might help you: when you do your work search activities, don't forget to include nonprofit-specific job boards like JustJobs, VolunteerHub's job section, and your local United Way's career center. A lot of smaller nonprofits post there instead of the big commercial job sites. Also, GrantSpace has a jobs section that's really good for program-focused positions like yours. The funding landscape is really tough right now for youth development programs, but your 2.5 years of experience as a program coordinator is solid experience that will definitely be valued by other organizations. Hang in there and keep us posted on how your claim progresses!

UPDATE: I called EDD this morning (took 27 attempts to get through) and finally spoke to someone who confirmed they have me down as "no contact made" for yesterday's interview. She said the interviewer's notes claim they "couldn't complete the call due to connection issues" but admitted it was done outside the scheduled window. She's escalated it to a supervisor to see if they can reschedule rather than making a determination without talking to me. I'm still going to file an appeal for this second interview just to be safe, but at least I have some documentation that I did answer and they acknowledged calling outside the window. Will update again if anything changes!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly frustrating! I had a similar experience last year where EDD called me 4 hours after my scheduled window while I was at a doctor's appointment. They left a 30-second voicemail saying I "missed" my interview and would be disqualified. What helped me was immediately calling back the number they called from (if it's not blocked) and explaining the situation. Sometimes you can reach the actual interviewer who called you, and they might be willing to note that you were available during the proper window. I also took screenshots of my call log showing exactly when they called versus when I was supposed to be available. The key thing is to appeal IMMEDIATELY - don't wait to see what they decide. You have 30 days from when they mail the disqualification notice, but the sooner you file, the better. In your appeal letter, be very specific about the scheduled times versus when they actually called, and emphasize that you were available during the proper window as instructed. Good luck with getting that supervisor to reschedule! Keep us posted on how it goes.

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you have a smartphone, try using the EDD mobile app to send a message through the "Contact Us" feature. I know the original poster mentioned they already tried UI Online, but the mobile app seems to route messages differently. I got a response within 2 days when I explained my situation was urgent due to rent being due. Also, when you do get through to someone (whether by phone or through one of these services), ask them to put notes in your account about the issue being resolved so if something similar happens again, the next rep can see the history. Really glad to hear the Claimyr service worked for you @Ava Johnson - that's awesome that you got it sorted out!

Another strategy that helped me when I was in a similar situation - try calling the disability insurance (DI) line at 1-800-480-3287 and explain that you're having trouble reaching someone about your UI claim. Sometimes they can transfer you internally to the right department, and since fewer people know about this number, you're more likely to get through to a human. Also, if you're really desperate, consider reaching out to your local One-Stop Career Center (American Job Centers). They often have direct contacts at EDD and can sometimes make calls on your behalf or escalate urgent cases. I know it's frustrating but don't give up - there are people there who want to help, the system just makes it incredibly hard to reach them!

MAKE SURE u save all ur paystubs and take screenshots of ur work schedule too!! my friend got hit with an overpayment notice because her employer reported different hours than what she claimed. EDD always sides with the employer unless u have proof!!

I'd also recommend downloading the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it makes certifying every two weeks much easier than using the website. You can certify right from your phone and track your claim status. Just remember that when you certify, you'll need to report your gross earnings (before taxes) for those 15 hours, not your take-home pay. The app will walk you through all the questions step by step. Good luck with your application!