I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of potentially losing housing while dealing with EDD bureaucracy is absolutely awful. As someone who works in legal aid, I want to add a few urgent steps to the excellent advice already given: 1. File your appeal IMMEDIATELY - you typically only have 30 days from the denial date 2. When you call EDD, ask specifically about "continuing claim" status while your appeal is pending 3. Contact your local legal aid office - many have specialized unemployment attorneys who can help with appeals at no cost For immediate housing help, also try contacting your city/county's homeless prevention services directly (not just 211). Many have emergency funds specifically for people facing eviction. Some churches and community organizations also have emergency assistance funds. The "reasonable assurance" rule is absolutely designed to deny benefits to educators unfairly. Document everything - your varying work history, lack of guaranteed hours, and especially that email you mentioned that explicitly states no work guarantee. You have a strong case based on what you've described. Hang in there - this system is broken but you can fight it successfully!

I went through something very similar as a substitute teacher last year and it's absolutely infuriating how they treat us! The "reasonable assurance" denial is their go-to way to screw over subs even though we have ZERO guaranteed work. Here's what saved me: I immediately filed an appeal and kept detailed records of every interaction with EDD. Most importantly, I emphasized in my appeal that substitute work is inherently unpredictable - some days you get called, some you don't, and there's absolutely no promise of consistent income or hours. I also mentioned specific periods during the regular school year when I went days without being called, which proved my point about the unreliable nature of sub work. My appeal took about 6 weeks but I won and got full backpay. Don't let them bully you - you deserve those benefits! Also definitely look into emergency rental assistance through your county while you wait. The system is broken but you can beat it with persistence and good documentation.

I went through this exact same nightmare last month! What finally worked for me was calling the 1-800-300-5616 number repeatedly using redial until I got through (took about 200+ attempts over 3 days). When I finally got a human, they were able to look up my account number using my SSN and date of birth. Another trick - try calling right at 8am when they open, that's when you have the best shot. Also keep any old benefit payment stubs or mail from EDD as backup - your account number is usually printed on those documents. Don't give up, it's incredibly frustrating but you'll get there!

Another option that worked for me - try using the EDD's "Ask EDD" feature on their website. I know it sounds basic, but I submitted a request explaining I lost my account number and needed help recovering it. They actually responded within a week with instructions on how to verify my identity and get my account number back. It's not as fast as calling, but it's way less stressful than sitting on hold for hours. Also, if you have any old tax documents (like your 1099-G from previous years), your account number might be on there too. Worth checking!

One more important thing: if you do file an interstate claim through California, make sure to follow up if you don't hear anything after 2-3 weeks. Interstate claims often get stuck in processing because the two states have to communicate with each other. Sometimes you need to call and give them a nudge to check on the status. Just be persistent!

Just want to add that you should also gather all your documentation before filing - pay stubs from Iowa, your separation notice/termination letter, and any correspondence about the layoff. Interstate claims require more documentation than regular claims, and having everything ready upfront will help speed up the process. Also, if you had any vacation pay or severance from your Iowa employer, make sure to report that accurately as it could affect when your benefits start. Good luck with your claim!

my friend had this happen and she was NEVER PAID for her last 2 weeks!!! she called and called and eventually gave up because she started her new job and didnt have time to waste on hold anymore. EDD just STOLE her money and there was nothing she could do!!! hope you have better luck but dont hold your breath!!!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I started my new job. The pending status is definitely normal - it's EDD's way of making sure everything checks out before they issue your final payment. In my case, it took about 12 days from certification to when the payment finally showed as "paid" in my account. A few tips that might help: Keep checking your UI Online account daily because sometimes the status changes without any notification. Also, if you have any documentation from your new employer (like your start date confirmation or first pay stub), keep those handy in case EDD asks for additional verification. The good news is that once it processes, you should get the full amount you're entitled to. For me, the first week (no work) came through at full benefit amount, and the second week was a partial payment based on my earnings that week. Hang in there - it's frustrating but the money will come through!

For everyone having this issue, here's the process EDD follows for security reasons: 1. Phone number changes MUST be verified by a representative (this is to prevent fraud) 2. You will need to provide multiple forms of identity verification 3. The representative needs to manually override the system security block 4. Once updated, you should receive an email confirmation (if you have email on file) 5. System updates generally process overnight, so you should be able to log in the next day If you need to certify urgently and can't access your account, ask the representative to note this in your file. In some cases, they can process your certification over the phone or provide a one-time override code to access your account. Also, while you're talking to them, make sure to verify ALL your contact information is current - not just your phone number but also mailing address and email.

Glad to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues in the future, here are a few additional tips: 1) Always update your contact info with EDD BEFORE changing phone carriers if possible, 2) Keep your old phone active for at least a week after switching to handle any lingering 2FA issues with various accounts, and 3) Consider adding an email address as a backup recovery method in your EDD account settings once you regain access. Phone number changes are one of the most common reasons people get locked out of their accounts, so planning ahead can save a lot of stress!