This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation right now - lost my job at a tech startup three weeks ago and keep hitting the same wall when trying to file online. The EDD system keeps referencing my old claim from early 2022 and won't let me proceed with a new application, even though I've been employed continuously since August 2022. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I'm probably dealing with the same "benefit year conflict" issue that seems to be plaguing so many people. My old claim did have some complications at the end - I think there was a question about my final certification that I never fully resolved because I got hired before it mattered. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow and use the specific language people have shared here about asking the rep to "clear any benefit year conflicts and file a new initial claim while I'm on the call." It's such a relief to know this is a known issue with a relatively straightforward fix once you reach the right person. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference when dealing with government bureaucracy!

This entire thread has been so eye-opening! I'm currently going through the exact same nightmare - got laid off from my marketing job two weeks ago and EDD's system keeps blocking me from filing because of some lingering issue from my 2021 pandemic claim. I've been employed steadily since early 2022 and have way more than enough wages to qualify, but their online portal just keeps giving me cryptic error messages about my "previous benefit year." What's really reassuring is seeing how many people have dealt with this same issue and that there's actually a clear path to resolution. I had no idea this was such a widespread problem with their system! I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy tomorrow morning and come prepared with all the specific language everyone has shared - especially asking them to "clear any benefit year conflicts and file a new initial claim while I'm on the call." It's incredibly frustrating that EDD's system is this broken, but at least now I know I'm not alone and that there's hope for getting this resolved quickly once I reach an actual human being. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific tips - this community support is invaluable when dealing with government bureaucracy!

ok ya thats fair... i just meant dont put unnecessary restrictions that could hurt ur claim. like dont say u can only work 9-5 monday-friday if ur actually more flexible

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - when you're working reduced hours and applying for partial unemployment, make sure you understand the "earnings allowance" concept. EDD allows you to earn up to a certain amount each week before it affects your benefits (it's usually around $25-30). Anything you earn above that gets deducted from your weekly benefit payment dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit amount is $300 and you earn $150 that week, you'd get $150 from EDD ($300 minus the $150 you earned, but you keep the earnings allowance). It's actually explained pretty clearly once you get approved, but I wish I had understood this math before applying. Also, keep ALL your pay stubs - EDD sometimes asks for verification of earnings during audits, even months later.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! We're going to have him apply this weekend and make sure he: - Reports that he's still attached to his employer - Keeps detailed records of all hours worked and pay - Asks his employer about the DE 2063 form - Sets up his UI Online account right away - Stays on top of certification dates I'll definitely let him know about Claimyr too in case we run into trouble reaching EDD. Really appreciate all your experiences and tips!

One thing I didn't see mentioned - make sure your partner understands that with partial unemployment, he'll still need to report being "able and available" for full-time work each week when certifying. This means if his current employer offers him more hours during any given week, he needs to accept them or it could affect his benefits. Also, the weather-related slowdown in construction is pretty common and EDD understands this pattern, so that should work in his favor. Just be patient with the initial processing time - it can take 2-4 weeks for the first payment even when everything goes smoothly.

Just to follow up on what everyone's saying - one important detail: make sure you continue to certify EVERY two weeks, even when you know you'll get $0 because of your earnings. If you stop certifying, your claim could go inactive and that creates a different set of problems. The system is designed to handle temporary work - that's why they ask about your earnings each week when you certify. And remember, if your benefit year is still active when your temp job ends (benefit years last for 12 months from the claim filing date), you can just resume certifying normally.

I've been through this exact situation twice in the past year, and here's what I learned: The key is being proactive with EDD communication. When you start your temp job, definitely continue certifying every two weeks and report all your earnings accurately. You'll get $0 payments during those weeks, but your claim stays active. What really helped me was calling EDD (I used the callback service someone mentioned - it's a lifesaver) and specifically telling them it's temporary work with a known end date. They made a note in my file, and when the job ended, I just resumed normal certification without any issues. The "new claim filing notice" you mentioned is normal - it's just their system checking if you might qualify for a higher benefit amount based on recent earnings. For most temp jobs, you won't have earned enough to actually establish a new claim, so you'll just continue with your existing one. One tip: Save any documentation about the temporary nature of your job (offer letter, contract, etc.) just in case you need it later. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Good luck with your new position!

To summarize what others have said: 1. Since you worked in California for the past 12 months, you'll file your claim with California EDD 2. Answer "yes" to the question about working in another state during the past 18 months 3. California will determine if they need to include your Texas wages in what's called a "combined wage claim" 4. If your CA wages alone qualify you for a claim, they might just process it as a CA-only claim 5. If they need your Texas wages, they'll request that information from Texas (this can delay processing by 2-3 weeks) You only need to file one claim, and that's with California. The system is designed to handle multi-state work histories. Just make sure you report all employment accurately.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - worked in California for 15 months after moving from Oregon. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what to expect. I answered "yes" to the multi-state question, and EDD automatically processed it as a combined wage claim. It took about 3 weeks longer than a regular claim, but I didn't have to do anything extra on my end. They pulled my Oregon wages and included them in my benefit calculation, which actually bumped up my weekly amount by about $40. The key thing is being honest about your work history - the interstate system works pretty well when you provide accurate information upfront.