I'm so sorry you're going through this - unfortunately it's become way too common lately! I went through something very similar last year where EDD was randomly deducting money with zero documentation. Here's what I learned that might help: First, definitely check your UI Online payment history for vague terms like "benefit adjustment" or "offset" - sometimes they bury the deductions there without clear explanations. Second, when you do get through to someone, specifically ask them to check for "benefit offsets" and "overpayment collections" - those are the technical terms they use. The key thing that helped me was being extremely persistent and asking every rep to send me written documentation of whatever they're claiming. Most of the time they'll say "it's in the system" but can't actually produce paperwork, which is a red flag that something's wrong on their end. Also, don't let them brush you off with vague explanations like "system adjustment" - demand specific details about which weeks, what income, and exact dollar amounts. If they can't provide that level of detail, there's probably an error in their system. Keep fighting this - you have the right to proper documentation and due process before they can take your money. The fact that multiple reps are giving you different stories strongly suggests this is their mistake, not yours. Document everything and don't give up!

I'm going through this EXACT same nightmare right now and reading all these stories makes me feel less crazy but also more frustrated that this is happening to so many people! EDD has been taking about $165 from my weekly benefits for the past 5 weeks with absolutely zero explanation. No letter, nothing in UI Online, just mysteriously smaller payments that are making it impossible to budget for basic needs. The contradictory information from reps is the worst part - I've been told it's everything from a "computer glitch" to "unreported earnings" from last year (which is false, I have all my documentation) to one rep who claimed there was no deduction at all showing in my account. How can they all be looking at the same system and seeing completely different things?? Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here. I'm going to try the overpayment unit number (1-866-401-2849), send that certified letter demanding documentation, and contact my assemblyperson's office. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become full-time EDD detectives just to understand our own benefits, but clearly that's what it takes. For anyone else dealing with this - don't let them wear you down with vague explanations and runarounds. We deserve proper documentation and due process before they can just start taking our money. Keep fighting and document everything!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Filed my claim on Monday and got the eligibility questionnaire yesterday morning. Like you, my manager assured me during my exit interview that they wouldn't contest since it was part of a larger restructuring, but seeing that questionnaire pop up so fast definitely made me second-guess everything. Reading through all these responses is such a relief - it sounds like this is just how EDD operates regardless of whether there's actually a contest. I'm planning to fill mine out this weekend with all the details about our department closure and the company's financial situation that led to the layoffs. It's stressful enough dealing with sudden unemployment without having to worry about navigating the EDD system on top of it! Thanks for posting this question - clearly a lot of us needed to hear these reassurances.

I'm a former EDD claims examiner and can shed some light on this process. The eligibility questionnaire is automatically generated by the system based on your separation code - it's not an indication that your employer is contesting. What happens is: 1) You file your claim, 2) EDD sends you the questionnaire within 24-48 hours, 3) Your employer receives a separate notice (Form DE 1101) asking them to respond about the separation, and 4) EDD reviews both your questionnaire and the employer's response (or lack thereof) to make a determination. If your employer truly isn't contesting, they'll either not respond or will confirm it was a layoff. The questionnaire is actually your opportunity to get your side of the story on record first. Be detailed about the downsizing, mention it affected multiple employees/departments, and include dates if possible. Most legitimate layoff cases are approved without further review once both sides align on the facts.

I'm currently in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I accepted a freelance writing contract last week but won't start until May 6th. After reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more confident about continuing to certify until I actually begin working. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I called EDD yesterday specifically about contract work reporting and the rep mentioned that for freelance/contract work, it's especially important to keep detailed records since the earnings can vary week to week. She recommended keeping a simple log with dates worked, hours (if hourly), and total earnings for each day. Also, for anyone doing project-based contract work, the rep told me that if you complete a project mid-week, you should report the full payment for that project in the week you completed it, not spread it across multiple weeks. This was something I hadn't considered! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much more helpful hearing from people who've actually been through this process than trying to interpret the official EDD guidelines alone. You've all made this transition feel much less stressful! 🙏

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Just accepted a contract position yesterday but won't start until early May. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I was worried I might be doing something wrong by continuing to certify. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key principle is really straightforward: you certify based on your actual work status during those specific weeks, not future commitments. Since you weren't working during 4/10-4/23, you should definitely certify for those weeks. One thing that helped ease my anxiety about this was realizing how common this transition must be - people accept jobs while on unemployment all the time, and EDD's system is designed to handle it. The fact that multiple people here have gotten consistent guidance from EDD reps confirms that continuing to certify until you actually start working is the correct approach. For the earnings reporting when you do start, I'm planning to keep a simple spreadsheet tracking dates worked and earnings (even before getting paid) so certification is easier. The advice about clarifying with your employer how they calculate partial week pay is brilliant - I'm definitely going to ask about that upfront. Congrats on landing the contract role after 3 months! It sounds like you're being super thoughtful about doing everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. 🎉

Have you tried filing by phone instead of online? Sometimes that works when the website is being glitchy.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The key thing that worked for me was calling EDD early in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp when they open) and explaining that their system wasn't recognizing my new work history. The rep was able to manually override the system and let me file a new claim based on my recent wages. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs ready when you call - they'll likely ask for the exact dates and amounts. It took about 2 weeks after that call for everything to process, but I was able to get my benefits. Don't give up, the system is just slow to update sometimes! 💪

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I just received a $671 check from EDD two days ago for a claim that ended in October 2021, and I was having a complete meltdown thinking it was either fraud or some terrible system error that would get me in trouble later. Seeing all these nearly identical experiences with pandemic-era audit payments has been such a massive relief. The pattern is so consistent - people who ended claims in 2021/early 2022 by just stopping certification when they found work, then receiving legitimate retroactive payments years later from EDD's systematic review process. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service everyone keeps mentioning to get through to EDD and verify everything before depositing. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and especially to those who provided updates after speaking with EDD representatives. This is exactly the kind of real community support that makes dealing with EDD's confusing bureaucracy so much more manageable!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to discover! I literally just received a $534 check from EDD yesterday for a claim that ended in December 2021, and I was having a complete panic attack thinking it might be some kind of error or fraud attempt. Reading through everyone's nearly identical experiences with these pandemic-era audit payments has been such an enormous relief. The consistency is remarkable - claims ending in 2021/early 2022, people who stopped certifying when they found new jobs without formally closing their claims, and now receiving legitimate retroactive payments from EDD's systematic review process. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service that everyone's been recommending to get through to an actual EDD representative and verify all the details before I deposit my check. This community discussion has been invaluable for understanding what's actually happening with these unexpected payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who provided detailed updates after speaking with EDD - it's exactly the kind of real-world information that helps navigate EDD's confusing bureaucracy!