This is such helpful information! I'm actually in a similar situation - my benefit year ended in January and I had to file a new claim in February. I was really confused when my first week showed as PAID instead of the usual waiting period. I've been worried for weeks that EDD made a mistake and would eventually ask for the money back, but reading all these responses makes me feel so much better. It sounds like this temporary policy change is helping a lot of people who are transitioning between claims. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so valuable for figuring out EDD's confusing processes!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed a new claim in early March after my previous one expired, and just like you, my first week went straight to PAID status instead of the usual waiting period. I've been checking my account obsessively wondering if this was some kind of system error. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - sounds like EDD is actually doing this intentionally for people in our situation. I guess the lesson here is that EDD changes policies all the time without making big announcements about it. Thanks for posting this question because I never would have known this was happening to other people too!

Another tip for anyone dealing with utility shutoffs - most utility companies are required to offer payment plans even if you don't qualify for assistance programs. I was behind on my gas bill by $600 and PG&E let me set up a 6-month payment plan with no down payment required. They can't shut you off while you're on an active payment plan as long as you keep up with the monthly amount. Just call their customer service and ask about payment arrangements. It bought me time to get my EDD verification sorted out and apply for the discount programs.

For anyone still struggling with this - I just went through the same process last month. The EDD Verification of Benefits letter from UI Online worked perfectly for my SDG&E CARE application. One thing I learned is that if you're also applying for other assistance programs (like food stamps or rental assistance), you can use the same letter for multiple applications. Just make sure to save/download multiple copies since some programs want you to upload it to their portal while others want you to email or mail it. Also, if your weekly benefit amount changed recently due to a new job or reduced hours, double-check that the letter shows your current benefit amount - mine was showing an old amount from before my hours got cut and I had to wait a few days for it to update in the system.

This is such a relief to read! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got denied for "job abandonment" even though I was actually terminated for attendance issues (which should still qualify for benefits). Like you, I suddenly got certification emails last week even though my denial letter is only 3 weeks old. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this happens pretty frequently when employers contest claims but then don't follow through with proper documentation. The fact that your status changed to "Active" in the History tab is huge - that's basically EDD's system telling you that your claim is valid now. I'm definitely going to check my own History tab after reading this thread! I've been scared to certify because of the overpayment warnings, but it seems like if the system is allowing it AND your status shows active, you're probably in the clear. Thanks for posting this - it's helping a lot of us who are dealing with EDD's confusing mixed signals! One question for the group: Has anyone here ever had their claim status flip back to denied after it showed active? I'm worried about certifying and then having EDD change their mind again.

I went through almost this exact situation last year! Got denied for "voluntary quit" after being laid off in a company restructuring, then about a month later started getting certification emails out of nowhere. Turns out my employer never submitted the required documentation to support their contest within EDD's deadline. The key thing that helped me was calling EDD and specifically asking to speak with a Tier 2 specialist who could access my claim notes. The regular customer service reps often can't see the detailed history of why decisions get reversed. The Tier 2 rep was able to tell me exactly what happened - my employer contested the claim initially but then failed to provide any evidence that I actually quit voluntarily. Since your claim status is showing "Active" in the History tab, that's a really strong indicator that your disqualification has been properly reversed in their system. I'd recommend going ahead and certifying, but also try to get through to EDD for official confirmation. In my case, I did eventually receive a reversal letter about 5 weeks after my status changed online, but the payments started coming through within days of certifying. Just make sure to keep detailed records of your work search activities and any part-time work/earnings to report accurately. The last thing you want is to give them a reason to question your eligibility again!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed 3 weeks ago after getting laid off from my marketing agency with a 10-week severance package ($3,200 biweekly). Week 1 showed "excessive earnings" as expected, but weeks 2-3 are stuck on "under review" with zero explanation or movement. I've been certifying on time and reporting everything accurately, but it's like my claim just disappeared. After reading through all these responses, it's clear EDD's system automatically flags severance accounts for manual review but then nobody actually performs the review unless we call and push them. The 8:01 AM calling strategy sounds promising - I'm definitely trying that tomorrow morning. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to become experts at gaming their phone system just to get basic service when we're already stressed about unemployment. Thanks for posting this question - it's so helpful to know this is a widespread system problem and not something we're doing wrong! The fact that multiple people are experiencing identical issues with the "under review" status really shows how broken EDD's severance handling process is.

I'm currently experiencing this EXACT same issue! Filed my claim 6 weeks ago after getting laid off from my software company with an 11-week severance package ($3,600 biweekly). My first week showed "excessive earnings" which I expected, but weeks 2-6 have ALL been stuck on "under review" with absolutely zero movement or explanation from EDD. I've been religiously certifying every two weeks and accurately reporting my severance amounts, but it's like my claim fell into a black hole. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both frustrating and relieving - frustrating because it's clear EDD's system is fundamentally broken for severance situations, but relieving because I now know this isn't my fault or something I'm doing wrong. The pattern is so consistent: EDD automatically flags any account with severance for "manual review" but then those reviews just sit in a queue forever unless we call and specifically demand action from a tier 2 specialist. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy that several people mentioned - the logic of calling exactly one minute after they open makes perfect sense to avoid the initial rush. It's absolutely insane that we have to become experts at gaming EDD's broken phone system just to get basic customer service during an already stressful time. But thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I have a clear action plan instead of just waiting helplessly!

Just to clarify some information here: When you report a bonus, the EDD needs to determine: 1) If the bonus was allocated to the week you reported it (correct) or if it should have been allocated to when it was earned (which could affect prior weeks) 2) Whether the bonus affects your eligibility for that week based on your weekly benefit amount and the partial benefit formula The holiday might add a small delay, but as others have mentioned, the main issue is the manual review triggered by reporting additional income. Speaking with a representative is definitely your best option to expedite this. When you do reach someone, ask them specifically to review the bonus income you reported and request that they release the pending payments if everything is in order. Be polite but persistent.

UPDATE: I managed to get through to EDD this morning! The representative confirmed that reporting the bonus triggered an automatic review. She verified the information and released both weeks of payments! They should be on my card within 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!