I'm sorry to hear about your situation! Getting fired from a job is stressful enough without worrying about unemployment benefits. I went through something similar a few years ago when I worked for a small nonprofit that also didn't pay UI taxes. It's definitely worth applying even if you're not sure you'll qualify - the EDD will review all your work history during the base period. From what others have shared, that holiday retail work you mentioned could be key! Also, don't forget to look into other resources while you're job hunting - food banks, utility assistance programs, and local churches (ironically) often have emergency assistance funds for people in tough spots. Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

Hey Kolton! I went through almost the exact same thing when I got laid off from a religious school in 2021. The church exemption is so frustrating when you're on the receiving end! One thing I learned that might help - even if your regular UI claim gets denied due to the church employment, you can sometimes qualify for federal programs like Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (though that's expired now) or other special assistance programs during economic hardships. Also, while you're waiting to hear back from EDD, definitely check with your local workforce development office. They often have emergency funds or can connect you with temporary work opportunities that pay immediately. Many of them also offer free resume help and job placement services. The waiting period for EDD can be brutal, so having multiple irons in the fire really helps. Keep us posted on how your application goes!

I work at a local housing nonprofit and see this situation constantly! Here's what I tell clients: most housing programs have a 30-day grace period for unemployment documentation specifically because EDD is so slow. Ask your housing coordinator directly about their policy for newly filed claims - they should have a standard procedure. In the meantime, print EVERYTHING from your UI Online account: the confirmation page, any emails EDD sent you, and even screenshots of your login showing your claim number. Create a simple timeline document showing when you lost your job, when you filed, and when you expect the award letter. Most reasonable housing staff will work with you if you show you're being proactive. Also, some local One-Stop Career Centers have direct contacts at EDD and can sometimes expedite verification letters for housing emergencies - worth calling yours to ask!

Just wanted to add another potential workaround that worked for me recently - if you have a case worker or social worker assigned to you through any other program (like SNAP, Medicaid, etc.), they often have direct lines to EDD or can send official requests on your behalf. I was struggling with the same award letter issue for my housing voucher, and my SNAP caseworker was able to call EDD and get a verification letter emailed within 48 hours. She said it's because agency-to-agency requests get prioritized differently than individual calls. Also, if you're part of any disability services or workforce development programs, those staff members usually have similar connections. Worth checking if you have any other case workers who might be able to advocate for you - they understand the urgency of housing documentation and are used to navigating these bureaucratic delays!

Hey Beatrice! I'm actually dealing with this exact situation right now - won my appeal 6 days ago and everything is still showing as pending. Reading through all these responses is really helpful and reassuring! Based on what everyone's sharing, it sounds like we're both still well within the normal timeframe. I love that someone mentioned the text alerts in UI Online - just set those up myself so I can stop refreshing the page every hour lol. One thing I noticed from reading everyone's experiences is that the timing seems pretty consistent across different months/seasons, so hopefully we'll both see movement in the next week or so. The fact that multiple people mentioned the 10-15 day range and that it's a legally binding decision definitely helps with the anxiety. Thanks for starting this thread - it's exactly what I needed to read today! Keep us posted on when yours updates, I'm rooting for you! 🤞

I just went through this same situation a few months ago! Won my appeal in January and it took exactly 13 business days for everything to flip from pending to paid. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're behind on bills, but everyone here is giving you solid advice about the typical timeframes. One thing that helped me during the wait was documenting everything - I took screenshots of my pending weeks and saved a copy of the appeal decision letter. When I did eventually call (on day 14), having all that info ready made the conversation much smoother. The rep I spoke with confirmed that appeals go through a separate processing queue from regular claims, which explains the delay. She also mentioned that they have to manually review each week individually to make sure they're implementing the judge's ruling correctly, especially for cases involving job separation issues like yours. Your $8,740 backpay will come as one lump sum once it processes - just like others mentioned. The relief when it finally hits your account after months of stress is incredible! Stay strong, you've already done the hard part by winning the appeal. The rest is just bureaucratic delays.

Based on the comments here, I think you have a good approach moving forward: 1. Try calling EDD directly first to see if this can be resolved without a formal appeal 2. If you can't get through to EDD after multiple attempts, consider a service to help you connect 3. Continue with your appeal and start gathering all documentation 4. Prepare a clear, chronological explanation of your reporting with evidence The time investment is worth it since you believe you reported correctly. Resolving this could save you 15 weeks of benefits, which is potentially thousands of dollars.

I went through something similar last year and definitely recommend pursuing the appeal if you truly believe you reported correctly. One thing that really helped my case was creating a detailed timeline with dates showing exactly when I reported each payment and cross-referencing it with my pay stubs. The administrative law judge appreciated the organized presentation. Also, if you have any email confirmations from when you submitted your certifications, those are golden evidence. The whole process took about 10 weeks for me, but I won and got all my benefits restored. Don't let the intimidation factor discourage you - just be well-prepared and stick to the facts!

Great to see this getting resolved properly! For anyone else who might be dealing with EDD overpayments, here's a quick summary of the best practices from this thread: 1) DON'T cash the check if you suspect it's an error, 2) Try UI Online messaging first (Contact EDD > Payments > Overpayment), 3) Keep detailed records of all your attempts to resolve it, 4) If you need to mail anything back, use certified mail with tracking, and 5) Be patient - the system is slow but following the proper channels protects you from penalties later. The DE 2025 form mentioned is definitely the official way to handle returns. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable when dealing with EDD's confusing processes!

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely don't cash it! I made that mistake a couple years ago with a $200 overpayment and it was such a headache. Not only did I have to pay it back with interest, but it also caused issues when I had to file again later. The UI Online messaging system has actually gotten better lately - I used it last month for a different issue and got a response in about 5 days. Make sure when you write your message to be very specific about the amount, date you received it, and that you believe it's an error. Also include that you're willing to return it immediately. They seem to respond faster when you're being proactive about fixing their mistakes rather than asking them to fix something that went wrong on your end.