I'm new to this community but wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm currently in a very similar situation - I was working at a small law firm doing administrative work (32 hrs/week) and also had a weekend job at a local bookstore (10 hrs/week). The law firm just closed last week due to the partners retiring, and now I'm left with just my bookstore income which barely covers my car payment, let alone rent and groceries. Reading through all these success stories has been so encouraging! I had absolutely no idea that partial unemployment was even a possibility. Like so many others here, I assumed that having ANY job would automatically disqualify me from benefits. It's amazing how this program seems to be exactly designed for situations like ours where you lose a significant portion of your income through circumstances completely beyond your control. I'm going to apply first thing Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the EDD website on my own! For anyone else in a similar boat, it seems like the key takeaways are: apply quickly, be completely honest about your situation, keep detailed records of both jobs, and don't let fear stop you from accessing help you're legally entitled to. Fingers crossed it works out!

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread with great interest since I'm in a remarkably similar situation! I was working at a medical clinic (26 hrs/week) and also doing part-time work at a pet store (14 hrs/week) when the clinic suddenly had to close due to their main doctor relocating. Now I'm down to just my pet store hours, which definitely isn't enough to cover my monthly expenses. This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening - I had never heard of partial unemployment benefits before finding this thread! It's both frustrating and reassuring to learn that so many of us were unaware this program existed. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to move forward with an application rather than just struggling to make ends meet on 14 hours a week. What strikes me most about all these stories is how common this type of employment situation has become - so many people working multiple part-time jobs to make a living wage. It's actually comforting to know there's a safety net specifically designed for when one of those jobs disappears unexpectedly. I'm planning to apply this weekend and will make sure to have all my documentation from both jobs organized beforehand. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this community support has been invaluable during a really stressful time!

I just went through this same situation about 2 months ago and completely understand the anxiety! My Money Network card took exactly 7 business days to arrive after my payment status changed to "paid" - so based on your timeline (approved yesterday), you should have it by next Wednesday or Thursday. A couple things that really helped me: 1. Money Network will have you in their system within 24-48 hours of EDD processing, so try calling them again on Monday. They should be able to confirm your card was issued and might even give tracking info. 2. The envelope looks like complete junk mail - plain white with just your address. Look for tiny "IMPORTANT" text in the corner. I almost threw mine away! 3. Once activated, bank transfers took exactly 2 business days every time. Much more reliable than paper checks. 4. You can withdraw cash immediately at ATMs after activation if you need emergency funds while waiting for the transfer (fees apply, but it's instant access). Definitely set up USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already - you'll get daily email previews of your mail so you'll know exactly when it's coming. And as soon as you activate the card, set up direct deposit for future payments so you never have to go through this stressful wait again! You should have access to your money well before your bills are due next week. The system is annoyingly slow that first time, but it works!

I went through this exact same situation about 2 weeks ago! My Money Network card took 8 business days to arrive after my payment showed "paid" status. Here's what helped me get through the waiting period: **Timeline**: Payment approved on a Friday, card arrived the following Tuesday (8 business days). Your timeline should put you at Wednesday-Thursday next week. **Money Network System**: They had me in their system by Monday (3 days after payment approval), so definitely try calling them again early next week. They were able to confirm the card was issued and gave me a delivery estimate. **The Envelope**: Everyone's right about it looking like junk mail - completely plain white envelope with just your address. The only identifying mark is tiny "IMPORTANT" text in the bottom corner. I literally almost threw it away! **Bank Transfers**: Once I activated the card, transfers to my personal account took exactly 2 business days both times. Super reliable. **Immediate Access**: You can use the card at ATMs right after activation if you need cash before the bank transfer processes. There are fees but it's instant access to your funds. Definitely sign up for USPS Informed Delivery - getting those daily email previews of your mail saved my sanity during the wait. And the moment you activate that card, set up direct deposit for future payments so you never have to go through this stressful waiting game again! Based on your timeline, you should have access to your funds well before your bills are due. The anxiety is totally understandable but the system does work - just painfully slow that first time!

Adding to what everyone has shared - as someone who's been through this process recently, I can confirm that the system is indeed funded by employer taxes, not your personal income taxes or general government funds. One thing that might help ease your mind is that since you were laid off (not fired for cause), your former employer shouldn't have any reason to contest your claim. Layoffs are considered "no-fault" separations, which is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed to cover. The fact that you worked there for 3 years also works in your favor - you've definitely earned these benefits through your work history. Don't feel guilty about collecting what you're entitled to!

Just wanted to add something that might help you feel more confident about your claim - California has some of the strongest worker protections when it comes to unemployment benefits. Since you mentioned you worked in retail for 3 years before being laid off, you've definitely built up sufficient work history and earnings to qualify. The EDD typically processes legitimate layoff claims pretty smoothly since there's no misconduct involved. One tip: make sure to keep any documentation from your employer about the layoff (like a termination letter or WARN notice if they provided one) just in case, but honestly, straightforward layoff cases rarely get contested. You've earned these benefits through your years of work, so don't hesitate to use them while you're job searching!

Update: I called EDD this morning (finally got through!) and spoke with a representative who confirmed there was a misunderstanding. The disqualification is only for the two weeks I was trying to backdate, not for my entire claim. They're sending me a revised determination letter. So I won't need to appeal after all! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

Wow, what a relief that you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend calling EDD when there's any confusion about their notices - they can be so poorly worded that people panic thinking they've lost all benefits when it's actually something much more limited. Your experience is a perfect example of why it's worth the hassle of getting through their phone system. Glad you can move forward with your claim now!

Update: I finally got through to EDD this morning after using the Claimyr service that someone suggested (totally worth it btw). The rep said my family emergency is considered good cause and they're processing my backdate request! She said I should see the additional weeks appear in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I'll need to certify for all those weeks. Thank you everyone for your advice - this community has been so helpful!

Congrats on getting approved for the backdate! That's such a relief when you're dealing with financial stress. Just wanted to add a tip for anyone else in a similar situation - when you do get those backdated weeks to certify for, double-check that the benefit amounts look correct. I had an issue where my backdated weeks showed a lower weekly benefit amount than my regular weeks, and I had to call back to get it corrected. Also, if you had any other income during those backdated weeks (like severance pay or part-time work), make sure you report it accurately when certifying. The last thing you want is an overpayment notice later on!