I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my manager created such a hostile environment that I developed anxiety and had to leave. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the "good cause" terminology and constructive discharge concept. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who have been through the appeal process, how long did it typically take from filing the appeal to actually having the hearing scheduled? I just filed mine last week and I'm trying to plan ahead for gathering all my documentation. Also, did anyone find it helpful to practice their testimony beforehand, maybe with family or friends? The advice about organizing everything chronologically really resonates with me. I have emails, text messages, and medical records scattered across different places, so I need to get that all sorted out. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's giving me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!

I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago - toxic supervisor, anxiety diagnosis, and initially denied UI claim. What really helped me win my appeal was focusing on the timeline of events and showing a clear pattern of deteriorating workplace conditions. A few practical tips that weren't mentioned yet: 1. If you have any performance reviews or emails showing you were a good employee before the hostile environment started, bring those to contrast with how things changed 2. Keep a detailed log of any physical symptoms your anxiety caused (sleep issues, headaches, etc.) - this helps establish the medical impact 3. If your doctor recommended the leave specifically because of work stress, make sure that's clearly documented in their notes The hearing itself was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked very specific questions about what I did to try to resolve the situation and why I felt I had no other choice but to quit. Having concrete examples with dates made all the difference. Stay strong - the appeal process exists for exactly these situations where the initial determination missed important context. Your case sounds like you have solid grounds for good cause, especially with the medical documentation and the fact that they essentially pushed you out by removing you from the schedule.

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share my experience since it sounds like we had very similar situations. I was laid off in December but didn't file until mid-January because I thought I'd find something quickly (spoiler: I didn't!). I ended up requesting the backdate and it was approved, but here's what actually happened: EDD put a temporary hold on my account for about 10 days while they reviewed my request. During this time, I couldn't certify for benefits and was freaking out. However, once they approved the backdate, they released all the held payments plus the backdated weeks in one lump sum. The whole process took about 5 weeks total, and I had to do a phone interview where they asked why I delayed filing and whether I was available for work during the backdated period. My advice: make sure you can clearly explain your reason and have documentation if possible (like job applications or emails showing you were actively looking for work during those weeks). Looking back, it was worth the temporary stress for the extra money, but definitely be prepared for some uncertainty during the review period. Your current benefit year won't be affected - you'll just get those earlier weeks added to your claim.

As someone who just went through a backdating situation last month, I wanted to add my perspective. I was in almost exactly the same boat - lost my job in late December 2022 but didn't file until February because I was confident I'd land something quickly (famous last words, right?). I was terrified about potentially messing up my existing payments, but after reading tons of posts like this one, I decided to go for it. Here's what happened: I submitted the DE1181BW form explaining that I delayed filing because I had several promising job leads and expected to be employed again within a few weeks. EDD put my account under review for about 2 weeks, but crucially - my regular bi-weekly certifications and payments continued normally during this time. They eventually approved the backdate and I received payment for those 6-7 missed weeks. The total process took about 3 weeks from submission to receiving the backdated payments. No phone interview was required in my case, which was a relief. The key things that seemed to help: 1) I had a legitimate, documented reason for the delay, 2) I could prove I was available and actively job searching during the backdated period, and 3) I hadn't received any other benefits during that time. My advice: if you truly were available for work and actively seeking employment during those 6 weeks, and you have a valid reason for the delayed filing, it's probably worth pursuing. The worst they can do is deny the backdate - they won't take away your current benefits for asking.

I just went through this exact same thing about a month ago! Woke up to see weekly certification instead of my usual bi-weekly and immediately thought "this is it, my benefits are done for." But after going through 4 weeks of weekly certifications, it automatically switched back to bi-weekly without any issues. What I learned from the experience: - The weekly amount was exactly half of my normal bi-weekly payment - I actually got my money faster since I was certifying more frequently - My claim balance decreased at the same rate as before, just in smaller weekly chunks - No impact whatsoever on my total benefit duration or remaining weeks The most frustrating part is that EDD gives zero explanation when this happens. I spent hours on forums like this one trying to figure out if I was about to lose my benefits! With $8,400 still on your claim, you're definitely not anywhere close to exhausting your 26 weeks. This is just their system doing its weird EDD thing. Just keep certifying weekly as prompted and don't stress about it - it'll go back to normal on its own. And honestly, the weekly payments weren't terrible for budgeting!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Just saw the weekly certification prompt this morning and my heart sank thinking my benefits were ending early. I still have about $9,200 left on my claim and have only been collecting since February, so I knew something seemed off. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - it's clear this is just a normal EDD system quirk that happens occasionally for various reasons (holidays, system maintenance, etc.). It's so frustrating that they don't provide any explanation when these changes happen! Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the weekly certifications are temporary and will switch back to bi-weekly on their own within a few weeks. And the payment amounts work out to be exactly the same - just half the normal bi-weekly amount paid weekly instead. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. It's really reassuring to know this is a common occurrence and not a sign that benefits are ending. The EDD system definitely keeps us all on our toes with these unexplained changes!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to add another option that worked for me when I was in this exact same situation last year. If you have a Costco membership (or know someone who does), their customer service desk will cash government checks for members with just a $2 fee - way cheaper than most other places! They're usually pretty fast too since not many people know about this service. Also, if you're worried about carrying cash around after cashing your check, many places like Walmart and grocery stores will let you immediately buy a prepaid Visa card or money order with the cash, which can be safer than walking around with hundreds in cash. Just another tip to add to this super helpful thread - this community really knows how to help each other navigate EDD's confusing system!

Hey Raúl! I just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago and was SO frustrated too. EDD definitely has a weird policy where they send the first payment as a paper check even when you select the debit card option - it's like their "security measure" or something, but they don't explain it anywhere which is super annoying! For cashing it, I'd definitely recommend Walmart over check cashing places. I made the mistake of going to a check cashing place first and they wanted $25 on a $400 check - absolutely ridiculous! Walmart only charged me $4 (since my check was under $1000) and the process was super quick. Just make sure you bring your ID and have exact cash for the fee. Your Money Network card should arrive within 7-10 days after this first payment, and then all future payments will go directly on that card. Hang in there - I know it's stressful when you really need that money!

I've been dealing with the same logout issue! What finally worked for me was using the "Sign Out" link at the very bottom of the page - it's in tiny text in the footer. The dropdown menu logout wasn't working for me either, but that footer link did the trick. Hope this helps!

I had the exact same problem last week! The regular logout button wasn't working at all. What ended up working for me was completely closing my browser and reopening it - seems like there was some kind of session bug. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering with the site's functionality. The EDD website is notoriously finicky with ad blockers and privacy extensions.