I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through almost exactly what you're describing! I was laid off from my full-time position in August, had some issues with unreported gig work that resulted in penalty weeks (ugh, that was stressful!), and started a part-time retail job in October while still on my claim. Here's what I can tell you from my experience: - EDD has never contacted my employer about my unemployment status. Like others have said, they don't automatically notify employers about active claims - I've been working 20-25 hours per week and still qualify for partial benefits since my earnings are below my weekly benefit amount - The key is being completely accurate with your reporting when you certify - report gross pay for the actual weeks you work After going through penalty weeks myself, I totally understand your anxiety about doing everything correctly this time! But honestly, once you get into the routine of proper reporting, it's pretty straightforward. I chose not to tell my employer about my unemployment situation initially, and there's been no issues or awkward conversations. That's really a personal choice though - there's no legal requirement either way. Keep detailed records (I use a simple notes app on my phone), report everything accurately, and focus on doing well at your new job. You've clearly learned from the penalty weeks experience, so you're going to be extra careful about following the rules. Congratulations on the new position - this is actually a really positive step forward!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been in the exact same boat! I was laid off from my full-time job last year, went through the whole EDD process, and then started working part-time at a coffee shop while still on benefits. Your anxiety is totally understandable - I was worried about the same thing! But I can confirm what everyone else is saying: EDD does NOT automatically notify your new employer about your unemployment claim. I've been working part-time for about 6 months now and my boss has never mentioned receiving any communication from EDD. The most important thing is just being completely honest when you certify every two weeks. Report your gross earnings for the actual week you worked (not when you get paid), and keep good records. Since you already learned the hard way about accurate reporting with those penalty weeks, you're probably going to be more careful than most people! Working part-time while on partial unemployment is totally normal and legal - you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. Don't stress about telling your new employer unless you want to. Focus on doing great at your new job and congratulations on landing it! This is actually a really positive step forward in getting back to full employment.

I'm in the exact same boat and this thread has been a godsend! Got the "question concerning eligibility" notification yesterday and have been spiraling ever since. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try calling at 8:03 AM tomorrow with the 1-2-1 sequence and the 3-second wait before redialing. I've also been documenting all my job search activities tonight just in case that's what they're questioning. One thing I wanted to add - I noticed in my UI Online account under "Inbox" there's a message that just says "Eligibility Interview" with today's date, but no details about what specifically they want to discuss. Has anyone else seen this type of message? I'm wondering if it means they're going to schedule a phone interview or if I need to call them to set it up. Either way, I'm going to keep trying to get through by phone while also watching for that letter in the mail. This whole system is so stressful but reading everyone's success stories gives me hope that it'll work out. Thanks for sharing all these strategies - I'll report back if I manage to get through!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just want to add one more strategy that worked for me last time I had to get through to EDD - try calling on a Wednesday around 8:05 AM. I know everyone's focusing on the exact 8:00-8:04 window, but I've noticed Wednesday mornings tend to have slightly lower call volumes than Monday/Tuesday. Also, if you're using an iPhone, there's a feature in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing where you can set calls to automatically go to speaker. This saves you from having to fumble with the speakerphone button when you're rapidly redialing, which helps you get through the prompts faster. The anxiety is absolutely brutal when you see that notification, but based on everyone's experiences here, it really does seem like most of these turn out to be routine verification issues. Keep certifying, keep calling, and don't give up! You've got this.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got laid off from my remote operations role and I'm planning to move from my current apartment in San Diego back to my family's house in the Central Valley to save on expenses while I job search. My employer has my San Diego address, but I'll be living at my family's place indefinitely. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea so many remote workers were dealing with this same address dilemma! Reading through everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. I was seriously stressing about potential delays or verification issues, but the consistent success stories here from people in nearly identical situations are so reassuring. Based on all the advice in this thread, I'm definitely going to use my actual living address when I file and be completely transparent about the employer address difference from day one. It sounds like EDD handles these situations all the time, especially with how common it's become for remote workers to relocate during unemployment to cut costs. Thanks so much for asking this question - you've created such a valuable resource for all of us dealing with this same situation! The community support here has been amazing.

I'm also dealing with this exact situation! Just got laid off from my remote marketing job and I'm moving from my apartment in Santa Monica back to my family's place in Bakersfield to save money while I job hunt. My employer has my Santa Monica address on file, but I'll be living in Bakersfield for the foreseeable future. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it's clear this is super common for remote workers right now! Based on everyone's experiences, I'm planning to use my Bakersfield address (where I'll actually be living) when I file my claim and just explain the employer address difference in the comments section. The consistent advice about being transparent from day one and keeping documentation ready makes total sense. I was definitely overthinking this and worried about creating complications, but it sounds like EDD handles these address changes routinely. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped so many of us who were stressing about the same thing!

mine just came through!! check ur account maybe urs did 2

I've been dealing with EDD for about 8 months now and holiday delays are definitely one of those things you learn to expect. For future reference, here's a quick list of federal holidays that will delay your payments: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I keep these dates in my calendar now so I can plan my budget accordingly. Also, if you ever need to contact EDD about payment issues, calling right when they open (8 AM) usually gives you the best chance of getting through without waiting hours.

I had this exact problem in 2024!! They ended up taking 25% of each payment but I called (took FOREVER to get through) and explained my situation with rent and kids and stuff and they reduced it to 15% for 6 months. So it's worth trying to negotiate but prepare for hell getting through to someone who can actually help. Make sure you have all your financial documents ready to prove hardship when you call.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your overpayment has any appeal rights still available. Sometimes people don't realize they can still challenge the original overpayment determination even if it's old. I had a friend who successfully appealed a 2022 overpayment in 2024 and got it reduced significantly. The appeal process is separate from the waiver process, so it's worth looking into both options. You can find appeal forms on the EDD website under the "Forms" section. Even if the deadline has passed, you might be able to file for "good cause" to extend the appeal period if you have a valid reason for the delay.