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NONE of this matters if your employer doesn't report it right!!! My boss messed up our disaster layoff paperwork last year and we ALL had to wait 6+ weeks and do appeals. Check that your employer knows what they're doing!!!! The system is BROKEN.
While it's true employer reporting affects claims, individuals can still apply independently. If there are discrepancies, EDD typically conducts a phone interview to resolve them. The system has improved since 2023, with better disaster claim processing protocols. I'd recommend applying regardless of what your employer does - worst case, you might need to provide additional documentation.
I almost forgot - make sure you're answering the certification questions correctly for a disaster situation. For the question "Were you too sick or injured to work?", answer NO unless you were actually sick/injured. For "Was there any other reason you could not accept full-time work?", also answer NO. The key is answering "Yes" to being ready and available for work, even though your specific workplace is closed. The disaster questions will be separate and that's where you explain the fire situation.
So glad to hear this worked out! The assembly member route is seriously underrated for EDD issues. Glad you got the payments released!
Great news! And thanks for confirming it was indeed a quarterly wage review flag. That's becoming more common with EDD's enhanced fraud detection system. Make sure to keep certifying on time every two weeks, and once you receive the Money Network card, activate it immediately even if the funds haven't loaded yet.
To clear up some confusion in this thread: DO report: - Wages from work (part-time, temporary, etc.) - Self-employment income - Pension payments - Vacation/PTO payouts - Severance pay - Workers' compensation benefits - State Disability Insurance (SDI) DON'T report: - FEMA disaster assistance grants - Charitable assistance - LIHEAP utility assistance - Food stamps/CalFresh - Regular tax refunds - Stimulus payments - Housing assistance The EDD certification form specifically asks about income that would impact your eligibility for unemployment. One-time assistance payments from disaster relief or social programs don't fall into this category. If you're ever unsure, the safest approach is to contact EDD directly for clarification about your specific situation.
In my experience, having clear documentation of the layoff is key. If you have a layoff notice that specifically mentions outsourcing or reduction in force, that's gold! Make several copies. Also, try to get written statements from those 15 other colleagues who were laid off with you - the more evidence, the better your chances. Administrative Law Judges appreciate organization and clear evidence.
After reading all this thread, I have to chime in with something important: while you're waiting, make sure you keep checking your UI Online account AND your physical mail. EDD will sometimes send important documents about your appeal ONLY through mail, not through the online portal. I missed my hearing date because the notice went to my old address even though I'd updated it online.
Victoria Jones
i got laid off in jan and the money network thing is new since covid. its ok but the app is kinda glitchy sometimes. the direct deposit works fine tho! takes like 1-2 days after ur certification gets processed. def faster than waiting for the card. my claim took exactly 22 days to get approved which was within their 3-5 week estimate. just make sure all ur info matches ur w2 exactly or it can cause delays!
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Jessica Nguyen
•Did you get paid for all the weeks while you were waiting for approval? I'm on week 2 and getting nervous about bills coming up...
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Cameron Black
One important thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you check your UI Online inbox daily. EDD sends important notices there that they don't always email you about. I almost missed a deadline to provide additional information because I didn't check my inbox for a week. Also, if your claim gets stuck in pending status for more than 2 weeks, that usually means there's an issue that requires manual review. That's when being able to reach someone by phone becomes critical. The regular customer service line (1-800-300-5616) is nearly impossible to get through on, but there are specific times when your chances are better - right when they open at 8:00 AM, around 11:30 AM when the morning shift changes, and about 30 minutes before closing. The process is definitely more streamlined than during COVID, but there are still plenty of frustrations. The biggest difference is volume - during COVID they were processing millions of claims simultaneously.
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Hannah White
•I'll definitely keep an eye on my inbox - great tip! And I'll try those specific calling times if I run into issues. Really hoping my claim is straightforward enough to avoid getting stuck in pending.
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