FINAL UPDATE: Got my decision letter today - I WON!! The judge reversed the EDD's determination and found I was eligible for benefits! The letter says EDD has to process this within 10 days. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else waiting - definitely call that CUIAB number to check status, and definitely keep certifying every two weeks even while you wait!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This gives me so much hope as someone who's been waiting for my decision too. I had my hearing 6 weeks ago and have been checking the mail obsessively every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the wait times are all over the place but most people are getting decisions between 7-10 weeks. I'm definitely going to call that CUIAB number to check my status - thanks for sharing that resource! And good reminder about continuing to certify - I almost stopped doing it because it felt pointless when everything keeps showing "disqualified." Really glad it worked out for you after all that stress and financial hardship.

Hey @Aiden Chen, I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now! Been waiting for a callback for 5 days and getting more anxious by the hour. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing the callback system is basically a coin flip - some people get lucky, others wait forever. Here's my game plan based on everyone's advice: I'm setting my alarm for 7:55 AM tomorrow (Tuesday) to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy that @Jean Claude and others swear by. If that doesn't work, I'm immediately looking up my assembly member and submitting a help request on their website. The stress of not knowing when/if they'll call back is honestly worse than just being on hold for hours. At least when you're on hold you feel like you're actively doing something! But I'm trying to stay positive - seems like everyone eventually gets through one way or another. Thanks for starting this thread, it's been a lifesaver knowing we're all in this together. Will update if I have any luck tomorrow! 🤞

I've been in your exact situation @Aiden Chen! Waited 10 days for a callback that never came, then tried again and got one within 3 days. The system is totally unpredictable. Here's what I learned: definitely try the 8:01 AM Tuesday calling strategy everyone's mentioning - it actually worked for me on the second try. Also, I set up a Google Voice number just for EDD calls so I wouldn't miss anything, and made sure to answer every unknown number for about 2 weeks. When they finally did call me back, the rep was super helpful and resolved my payment issue in one call. The assembly member route is solid backup too - my friend got results that way when calling failed. Don't give up! The waiting sucks but most people here eventually got through one way or another. Keep your documents ready and stay persistent! 💪

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with a very similar situation right now! I was laid off two weeks ago from a company based in Austin (same as yours) but I've been working remotely from my home in Berkeley for 18 months. I just filed with CA EDD yesterday and now I'm worried I'm going to get the same denial you did. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a common issue! It's honestly pretty outrageous that so many employers are apparently ignoring their multi-state tax obligations and leaving us to clean up their mess when we need benefits. Reading everyone's success stories with the DE 1000M appeal is giving me hope though. I'm going to start gathering all my documentation now just in case - my remote work agreement, lease showing my Berkeley address, utility bills, etc. It's so frustrating that we have to become legal experts just to get unemployment benefits we've rightfully earned, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their experiences and help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. For those who've been through this successfully - any other tips for someone who's probably about to start this same journey?

I'm new to this community but dealing with almost the identical situation! My employer is based in Phoenix but I've been working remotely from my home in Fresno for the past year and a half. Just got laid off last week and filed with CA EDD, but after reading this entire thread I'm now expecting to get the same denial you all received. It's honestly infuriating to learn that this is such a widespread problem - how are so many companies just ignoring their basic tax obligations and leaving us scrambling when we lose our jobs? The fact that there are dozens of people in this one thread alone dealing with this exact same issue shows how broken the system is for remote workers. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice! I'm going to proactively gather all my documentation (remote work agreement, CA address on paystubs, lease, utility bills) and get ready to file that DE 1000M appeal form if needed. Reading everyone's success stories is giving me hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel. One question - for those who successfully appealed, did you include a cover letter explaining your situation with the DE 1000M form, or just let the form and documentation speak for itself? I want to make sure I present the strongest case possible right from the start.

Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful as someone who's about to start the unemployment process myself! I've been putting off filing because the whole system seemed so confusing, but seeing @Gianna Scott's experience and all the detailed responses from everyone really breaks it down in a way that makes sense. The timeline breakdown from @Danielle Campbell is especially useful - I'm definitely saving that for reference. It's frustrating that the Money Network card system is designed so backwards (seriously, why can't you add bank info right away?), but at least now I know what to expect instead of being blindsided by the process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that you can't find in the official EDD materials!

This thread is such a perfect resource for anyone dealing with their first EDD payment! I went through this exact same confusion about 8 months ago and remember feeling so stressed about when my money would show up. The Money Network card system really is poorly designed - making you wait for funds before you can even set up bank transfers feels like they're intentionally making the process harder. But I love how this community came together to walk @Gianna Scott through everything step by step. The timeline that @Danielle Campbell shared is spot-on accurate, and those tips about keeping notes on your certification patterns and screenshotting your card info are brilliant. For anyone else reading this who's new to the process: yes, it's frustrating at first, but once you get that automatic transfer set up, you'll barely have to think about it anymore. The whole thing becomes routine after a few cycles. Welcome to the community - don't hesitate to ask questions because everyone here has dealt with EDD's quirks and is happy to help!

This is absolutely outrageous and unfortunately way too common with EDD's broken system. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare, especially with eviction looming. Here's what I'd recommend based on what's worked for others: **MOST EFFECTIVE:** Contact your state assembly member's office ASAP - they have dedicated EDD liaisons who can bypass the phone system entirely. Multiple people here have gotten results in 2-3 days this way. **PHONE WORKAROUNDS:** If you call again, try the employer questions line (1-800-300-5616) - shorter waits and they can transfer you. Also try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open. **OFFICIAL COMPLAINT:** File through edd.ca.gov under Contact EDD > Submit Complaint with all your documentation (dates, times, wait durations). Make sure to emphasize your financial hardship situation. **DOCUMENT EVERYTHING:** Keep that call log going - it'll be crucial evidence for your complaint. The assembly member route is honestly your best shot at getting this resolved before rent is due. It's ridiculous that we need to go through elected officials just to get basic customer service, but the system is so broken that it's often the only thing that works. Don't let them grind you down - you deserve better than this treatment!

I'm so sorry you're going through this absolute nightmare! Being hung up on twice after waiting over 3 hours total is beyond unacceptable, especially when you're facing eviction. The EDD system is completely broken and it's infuriating that they treat people this way when we're already struggling. Here's what I'd recommend based on what's worked for me and others: **CONTACT YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER IMMEDIATELY** - This is hands down the most effective route. They have dedicated EDD liaisons who can bypass the phone system entirely. I've seen people get responses within 2-3 days after months of phone hell. **FILE THE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT** - Go to edd.ca.gov > Contact EDD > Submit Complaint. Include every detail: dates, times, wait durations, exactly what happened. Your documentation will be crucial. **PHONE HACKS IF NEEDED** - Try the employer questions line (1-800-300-5616) for shorter waits, or call right at 8:00 AM sharp when they open. **EMPHASIZE YOUR HARDSHIP** - Make sure to mention the potential eviction and utility shutoffs in all communications. EDD has expedited processes for financial emergencies. The legislative route through your assembly member is honestly your best shot at getting this resolved before your rent is due. It's ridiculous that we have to go through elected officials just to get basic customer service, but the system is so broken that it's often the only thing that actually works. Stay strong and don't let them wear you down - you deserve so much better than this treatment!