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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I went through something very similar in 2022 - EDD hit me with a $3,400 overpayment notice completely out of the blue, no explanation whatsoever. What I learned is that you absolutely MUST respond to both the appeal AND the collection notice separately - they're handled by different departments that don't communicate. For the collection notice, send a certified letter immediately stating that you have an active appeal pending (include the date you filed it) and request a temporary hold on collection activities. I also discovered that many of these mysterious overpayments are actually data entry errors or employer wage reporting mistakes that EDD's automated systems flag incorrectly. In my case, it turned out they had duplicated some wage information, making it look like I earned more than I actually did during certain weeks. The appeal process took 6 months, but I eventually got the overpayment completely reversed. Don't let them intimidate you - keep fighting and demand specific documentation about why they think you were overpaid. The burden of proof should be on them, not you!
This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your experience - it sounds almost identical to what we're going through. The fact that yours was completely reversed after 6 months is encouraging, even though that's a long time to wait. I'm definitely going to send that certified letter about the collection notice right away. Can I ask what specific documentation you requested from EDD to prove their overpayment claim? And did you have to provide a lot of evidence on your end, or was it mostly about getting them to show their work? The data entry error angle makes total sense - with all the chaos at EDD over the past few years, I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened to us too.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - got hit with a $2,800 overpayment demand last month with zero explanation, and like you, we moved out of state (to Arizona) after my claim period ended. What's helped me so far: 1) I sent a certified letter to both the appeals department AND the collections department on the same day, clearly stating I'm appealing and requesting all collection activity be suspended pending resolution. 2) I also sent a separate certified letter specifically requesting an "Administrative Review" of the overpayment determination - this is different from a regular appeal and sometimes gets faster results. 3) Through persistence (and about 40 phone call attempts), I finally got through and learned that out-of-state moves can trigger automatic system reviews that sometimes generate false overpayments. The rep told me to specifically ask for the "Interstate Claims Unit" when I call back for updates. 4) I'm keeping a detailed log of every interaction, and I've also filed complaints with both the California State Auditor and my new state's unemployment office (they can sometimes apply pressure on California's behalf). The whole system is broken, but don't give up - I've read too many success stories here to lose hope. Hang in there and keep fighting!
Wow, thank you for such detailed and actionable advice! I had no idea about the "Administrative Review" option - that sounds like it could be really helpful since it's separate from the regular appeal process. The fact that out-of-state moves can trigger these false overpayments makes so much sense and explains why we're suddenly dealing with this mess. I'm definitely going to request the Interstate Claims Unit specifically when we call - it sounds like they actually understand these cross-state situations better than the regular reps. Your persistence with 40+ phone calls gives me motivation to keep trying! Can I ask how long you've been waiting since you sent your certified letters? And have you heard anything back from the State Auditor's office yet? It's so reassuring to know others are fighting this same battle and not giving up. Thank you for sharing your strategy - I'm going to follow your approach exactly!
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I'm on day 9 after my interview and this thread has been such a lifeline during this stressful waiting period! My status is still showing "under review" but reading everyone's experiences here has helped me realize that 8-12 days is completely normal. My interviewer asked standard questions about my job separation and seemed satisfied with my answers, but like everyone else mentioned, gave absolutely no timeline for when I'd hear back. The financial anxiety is definitely real - I've been living off whatever's in my pantry and constantly doing mental math on how long I can stretch my remaining savings. Based on all the timelines shared here, I'm right in that window where it should resolve soon. Really appreciate everyone being so open about their experiences and actual day counts - it makes this whole process feel so much less scary when you know what's normal. Just set up those text alerts that multiple people recommended so I can stop obsessively checking my account every hour!
You're right in that sweet spot at day 9 where things typically start happening! I can totally relate to the pantry survival mode and constant financial calculations - I went through the exact same stress during my wait. The fact that your interviewer seemed satisfied with your job separation answers is really encouraging. Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, you're definitely within that normal 8-12 day window where most people see their status change. I know every day feels like forever when you're worried about money, but it sounds like you should see some movement very soon. Those text alerts are a game changer for your sanity - they'll save you from that compulsive checking. Hang in there, you're so close to the finish line!
I'm on day 2 after my interview and already feeling anxious about the wait! My interviewer was really thorough - asked detailed questions about why I left my job and my availability to work. She seemed professional but didn't give any hints about timeline or how I did. Seeing everyone's experiences here is so reassuring though! The 8-12 day pattern gives me realistic expectations instead of just wondering endlessly. I know I'm still super early in the process, but the financial stress is already starting to kick in with rent due in two weeks. Going to set up those text alerts right now so I don't drive myself crazy checking constantly. Thanks to everyone for sharing your actual timelines - it really helps to know what's normal during this nerve-wracking waiting period!
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This is such a stressful situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar in 2023 with 3 overpayment notices that made no sense. Here's what I learned: First, document EVERYTHING - take photos of when you received each notice (including the postmark dates). The appeal deadline is based on when you received them, not the date printed on the notice. Definitely try to get through to EDD by phone before filing appeals if possible. Sometimes these batch notices are system glitches. I've heard good things about using services like Claimyr to actually reach a human - might be worth it given the amount you're dealing with. If you do need to appeal, make sure to request your complete Payment Activity Detail report from EDD. This shows exactly what they have on record for your wage reporting vs what you actually reported. Any discrepancies there will be your smoking gun evidence. Also consider requesting a hardship waiver along with your appeals - even if some overpayment is legitimate, you might qualify for forgiveness based on financial hardship. The key is showing you reported everything in good faith. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying. $7,800 is a lot of money and if you reported correctly, you shouldn't owe it!
This is really solid advice! I'm definitely going to request that Payment Activity Detail report - I had no idea that existed and it sounds like exactly what I need to prove I reported everything correctly. The hardship waiver is also something I hadn't considered but makes total sense given my current financial situation. @9c0372ccdf4b Do you remember how long it took to get the Payment Activity report after you requested it? I'm trying to figure out my timeline since I need to file these appeals within 30 days but want to have as much documentation as possible. Also curious - when you said some of your notices were "system glitches," were you able to get those cancelled just by talking to someone on the phone, or did you still have to go through the formal appeal process?
Wow, this is exactly the kind of nightmare I've been dreading! I got one overpayment notice last month and I'm still trying to figure out how to handle it, but FIVE notices at once sounds absolutely overwhelming. From reading everyone's advice here, it sounds like the key things are: 1. Don't panic and pay without fighting it 2. Document everything (especially when you received the notices) 3. Try to get through to EDD by phone first if possible 4. File separate appeals for each notice but request they be combined 5. Request that Payment Activity Detail report to prove your wage reporting I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice from @7007be7e7758 and @5ee7467e9ed0 about the specific forms and waiver requests is incredibly detailed and helpful. @2398240ae2f0 - Please keep us updated on how this goes! I think a lot of us are dealing with similar EDD issues and your experience could help others. Really hoping you can get most or all of these notices dismissed. The fact that some reference weeks where you didn't even receive benefits definitely sounds like system errors. Good luck with everything - you've got this! Don't let them bully you into paying money you don't actually owe.
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I'm about 8 weeks out from my balance hitting zero and this entire thread has been absolutely life-changing in terms of information I never knew existed! I've been job hunting in graphic design for 5 months and the creative industry has been especially brutal lately. Reading everyone's experiences has completely shifted my perspective on what options are actually available. The California Training Benefits program could be perfect since I've been wanting to learn UX/UI design and motion graphics to expand my skill set. If CTB covers those certifications, this could actually turn into an opportunity to level up professionally while keeping some income flowing. I'm 28 and have been really stubborn about avoiding retail or service work because I thought it would somehow hurt my creative portfolio or professional reputation. But hearing from so many experienced professionals across different industries who've successfully navigated this has opened my eyes. The networking stories are especially encouraging - you really never know where connections might come from. Planning to start backup applications at Target, local coffee shops, and maybe explore freelance design work on Fiverr this week while continuing my full-time design job search. Also definitely calling my workforce center and researching CTB options for creative skills training. Thanks to everyone for being so brutally honest about your situations. It's scary as hell but knowing there's an entire community of professionals going through this together and that there are actual resources available makes it feel so much more manageable. This thread has given me hope and a real action plan instead of just panic!
I'm about 5 weeks out from my balance hitting zero and honestly, finding this thread feels like discovering a goldmine of information that EDD should have provided from day one! I've been job hunting in content marketing for 4 months and the market feels impossibly competitive right now. Reading everyone's experiences has completely changed my approach. I had no clue about the California Training Benefits program - that could be huge since I've been wanting to get certified in SEO and content strategy tools like SEMrush. If CTB covers those kinds of certifications, this could actually be an opportunity to make myself more competitive while keeping some income coming in. I'm 31 and have been way too proud to consider retail work, thinking it would somehow look bad to future marketing employers. But you're all absolutely right - paying rent trumps ego every single time. The stories about unexpected networking through temporary jobs are genuinely inspiring and something I never would have considered. Starting my backup applications at Target and Starbucks this week, and maybe exploring some freelance content writing on Upwork while I continue my full-time job search. Also definitely calling my local workforce center tomorrow - can't believe I didn't know that resource existed! Thanks to everyone for sharing so openly about your situations. It's terrifying but also oddly comforting to know so many experienced professionals are navigating this same struggle. This community has given me actual hope and a real plan instead of just watching my balance countdown in complete panic mode. We've got this!
Andre Dupont
As someone who just went through this process last year, I want to emphasize how important it is to keep extremely detailed records of everything! I was doing IHSS for my grandmother while working part-time at a pharmacy, and when I lost the pharmacy job, having organized documentation saved me so much hassle. Beyond what others have mentioned, I'd recommend taking screenshots of your weekly timesheets before submitting them to the county, keeping copies of all your direct deposit receipts, and even documenting any schedule changes or care plan updates. EDD can be very thorough in their reviews, especially if there are any discrepancies in your wage reporting. Also, don't be surprised if your initial benefit calculation seems off - it took about 6 weeks for all my IHSS wages to fully appear in their system, and I had to call (multiple times!) to get it corrected. The wait was frustrating, but having all my documentation organized made the correction process much smoother. One last tip: if you use any payroll apps or county portals to track your IHSS work, make sure to download or print monthly summaries as backup records. Technology glitches happen, and you don't want to lose important wage history! This thread really covers everything perfectly - wish I had found something like this when I was going through the process!
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Sara Unger
•This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I wish I had when I started my IHSS work! Your point about taking screenshots of timesheets before submitting is brilliant - I've already had a couple instances where the county portal was down and I couldn't access my records when I needed them. The tip about downloading monthly summaries is especially valuable since I've been relying on the online portal without thinking about what happens if there are technical issues. I'm just starting this process (filing next week) and I'm definitely going to implement your documentation system. Six weeks for wages to fully appear in EDD's system is longer than I expected, but knowing that upfront helps me set realistic expectations. Did you find that calling EDD multiple times was necessary because of the system delays, or were there other issues that came up? I want to be prepared for potential complications. Thanks for sharing such practical, real-world advice!
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Nora Brooks
This thread has been absolutely amazing - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences! I'm in a very similar situation to many of you: I've been doing IHSS for my elderly mother while working part-time as a medical receptionist. My hours at the clinic just got cut from 25 hours/week down to 8 hours/week due to staffing changes, so I'm planning to file for partial unemployment benefits this week. Based on everything I've read here, I now understand that my IHSS wages will definitely count toward my UI calculation since I'm caring for my parent (not spouse or minor child). The breakdown of how the $99 threshold and 75% reduction works is incredibly helpful - I had no clue about that formula! One thing that really stood out to me is how important accurate record-keeping seems to be. I'm going to start tracking my hours by EDD's Sunday-Saturday certification weeks starting this week, and I love the suggestion about taking screenshots of timesheets before submitting them to the county. Has anyone had experience with how quickly EDD processes claims when you have both traditional employment and IHSS work? I'm hoping the combination doesn't slow things down. Also, should I expect any additional verification steps since I'll be reporting two very different types of employment? Thanks again to everyone - this thread has been more helpful than any official government website I've found!
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Mei Chen
•Your situation sounds very similar to what I went through! Processing times with both traditional employment and IHSS work shouldn't be significantly different from regular claims - EDD is pretty familiar with IHSS providers by now. In my experience, the combination actually worked in my favor because it showed a consistent work history across multiple income sources. You might get a phone interview to clarify the employment relationships, but that's pretty standard for any claim with multiple employers. The verification steps are usually just confirming your work dates, hours, and wages for both jobs - nothing too complicated as long as you have your documentation organized. Starting your Sunday-Saturday tracking now is smart! I'd also suggest keeping a simple log of your job search activities from day one, since you'll need to report those during certification anyway. With your clinic hours being so reduced, you should qualify for partial benefits while continuing both jobs. Just make sure to report all earnings accurately each week - the system will calculate everything automatically once you input the numbers. Good luck with your filing!
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