Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it really sounds like you have a strong case for getting UI benefits approved! The fact that you tried to work with your employer on the schedule issue and have documentation of your childcare search puts you in a good position. I wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you're preparing for your eligibility interview, consider creating a simple one-page summary that includes: - Timeline of events (schedule changes, your requests for accommodation, when you quit) - Financial impact (income loss, childcare cost estimates) - Evidence you'll reference (emails, texts, daycare waitlist confirmations) Having this organized summary can help you stay focused during the interview and make sure you don't forget to mention important details when you're nervous. The success stories in this thread show that EDD does recognize childcare as legitimate good cause when you can prove you exhausted other options. With your 3 years at the full-time job, your benefit amount should be calculated on those higher wages too, which will help. Don't let the initial stress discourage you from applying - even if there's a chance of initial denial, the appeals process is there for exactly these situations. You've got solid documentation and a legitimate case. Good luck with your application!

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - had to quit my full-time job because they changed my schedule with no notice and I couldn't arrange childcare. I've been terrified to apply for UI because I thought quitting meant automatic disqualification. Reading all these success stories is giving me hope that I might actually have a chance. I have emails where I asked my supervisor for a consistent schedule, documentation of my childcare search, and even cost estimates showing that emergency care would have eaten up most of my paycheck. @Zara Khan - have you decided to file your claim yet? I'm in the same boat with still working part-time but losing most of my income. Maybe we can support each other through this process! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the detailed tips about documentation and interview preparation. This community is amazing for helping people navigate such a stressful situation. I'm going to organize my evidence this weekend and file my claim next week. Fingers crossed!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you get your doctor's documentation, ask them to be VERY specific about your functional limitations, not just hours. For example, "can work 15-20 hours per week with no lifting over 10 lbs, frequent breaks every 2 hours, and ability to alternate sitting/standing" rather than just "can work part-time." EDD seems to really appreciate that level of detail and it helps avoid questions later. Also, if your condition changes (gets better or worse), make sure to get updated documentation right away. I learned this the hard way when my recovery progressed faster than expected and I didn't update my work capacity documentation for a few weeks - caused some confusion with my benefits calculation.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with a back injury. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: 1. **Get your doctor's clearance IN WRITING before you even apply** - don't just mention it verbally. The form should specify exactly what you can/can't do. 2. **The Supplemental Wage Information form is crucial** - it usually comes with your initial SDI packet if you indicate you might work. If you forget to mention it initially, you can still get the form later but it's easier to get it from the start. 3. **Keep a detailed log** - I tracked every hour worked, every dollar earned, and every form submitted. This saved me when EDD had questions about a specific week. 4. **The wage loss calculation isn't as scary as it sounds** - basically they look at what you were making before vs now, and you get benefits to partially make up the difference. You won't get rich but you also shouldn't lose money by working part-time. The biggest headache for me was actually getting through to EDD when I had questions. Took forever on the phone. But once I got the process down, it worked pretty smoothly. Just be patient with the bureaucracy and document everything!

Don't worry, this happens more than you'd think! When this happened to me, I called the EDD phone number (1-800-300-5616) and pressed 1-2-1 to get through to someone. Make sure to mention that you were available during your scheduled time window and never received the call. They should be able to reschedule without penalizing your benefits. Also, keep detailed notes of when you call, who you speak with, and any reference numbers they give you. The key is being persistent but polite - they deal with this situation regularly and know it's not always the claimant's fault. Good luck!

This exact thing happened to my friend last week! EDD never called during her scheduled window either. She ended up calling the main number and explaining the situation - turns out there was a system glitch on their end that day. They rescheduled her for the following week with no issues or penalties to her benefits. The rep even apologized and noted in her file that the missed call wasn't her fault. So definitely don't stress too much about this affecting your benefits - it's more common than you'd think and they're usually pretty understanding when it's on their end. Just make sure to call them ASAP to get it sorted out!

lol welcome to the club. EDD's been a nightmare since covid hit. good luck getting anyone on the phone 💀

Hey Giovanni! I went through this exact same issue a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: I couldn't remember my last check amount either, so I went to my local EDD office in person with my ID and Social Security card. They were able to verify my identity on the spot and help me reset my password without needing the check details. It took about 2 hours of waiting, but I walked out with access to my account. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone! Check if your local office has walk-in hours - some are by appointment only now.

I went through something very similar last year with a $185 overpayment. The local office transfer actually worked out better for me than I expected - they were much more responsive than the main EDD system. When they called (about 10 days after the transfer letter), the representative was actually helpful and walked me through exactly what happened with my claim. Since you've already acknowledged the overpayment and requested a payment plan, you're in a good position. In my case, they determined it was a non-fraud overpayment and I ended up with just 1 penalty week since the amount was under $200. The payment plan was easy to set up too - they let me do $20/month which was very manageable. One tip: when they call, have your claim details handy (claim number, the weeks in question, etc.) because they'll want to go through everything step by step. The whole process from transfer to resolution took about 4 weeks for me. Don't let some of the horror stories here scare you - most small overpayments like yours get resolved pretty smoothly!

I'm going through something very similar right now with a $150 overpayment that got transferred to the local office. Just wanted to share what I learned from calling around - apparently the local office transfer happens for overpayments when they need to do what's called an "administrative review" to determine if it was intentional or not. The good news is that for amounts under $300, they usually lean toward non-fraud classification if you can show it was an honest mistake. My case is still pending (got the transfer letter 2 weeks ago) but I spoke with someone at a different EDD office who said the penalty weeks are typically calculated as: 1 week for every $100 of overpayment for non-fraud cases, rounded up. So your $200 would likely be 2 penalty weeks if they determine it wasn't intentional. The main thing is to stay responsive - check your mail daily and answer any calls from 916 or 800 numbers. I've heard they sometimes send additional forms to fill out before making their final determination. Hang in there!