I'm going through something very similar right now and wanted to add a few things that have helped me navigate this mess. First, if you're still within your appeal window, definitely pursue it - but also consider reaching out to your local legal aid society or workforce development office. Many have advocates who specialize in EDD appeals and can help you frame your case properly at no cost. Also, while you're waiting for the appeal process, look into your local church or community organizations. I know it sounds random, but several in my area have emergency childcare funds or know of family daycare providers who offer sliding scale rates that aren't listed anywhere online. Sometimes these informal networks are lifesavers. One more practical tip - if you do get called for any job interviews during this process, ask potential employers upfront about their family-friendly policies. Some companies have on-site childcare, backup care partnerships, or flexible scheduling that could solve your work-childcare dilemma entirely. I've found that being honest about my situation during interviews actually helped me find employers who value work-life balance. Hang in there - this system is frustrating but you're clearly a thoughtful parent making the best decisions for your family with the resources available. That has to count for something!

I'm a single mom who successfully appealed an EDD denial for childcare reasons about 18 months ago, and I wanted to share some specific things that made the difference in my case. The appeal hearing judge told me afterwards what really convinced them: 1. I had created a spreadsheet showing my actual take-home pay after taxes/deductions versus childcare costs, broken down by week. This made it crystal clear that I would have been paying $200+ per week just to work. 2. I included a timeline showing when I first realized the childcare issue, what steps I took each week to try to solve it, and when I finally gave notice. This proved it wasn't an impulsive decision. 3. Most importantly - I had documentation showing I asked my employer for accommodations (flexible schedule, remote work options) and was denied. Even though you mentioned you might not have kept that email, check your sent folder or ask HR for a copy of any requests you made. The whole appeal process took about 6 weeks from filing to decision, and I was approved retroactively from my original application date. During that time, CalWORKs emergency assistance helped bridge the gap - definitely apply for that ASAP. You're not alone in this struggle, and your situation sounds very similar to mine. The system is definitely not parent-friendly, but appeals DO work when you have the right documentation. Don't give up!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My benefits just exhausted last week and I was totally panicking about having to wait until my benefit year ends in September. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - I had no idea there was potentially an exception for people who worked during their benefit year. I did some tutoring work and odd jobs during my claim period and earned about $3,400 total. Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like if I earned over that $1,300 threshold in any single quarter, I might be able to file a new claim right away instead of waiting 6+ months. That would be life-changing! The consistent advice about using Claimyr to actually get through to EDD and asking specifically about "lag quarter" wages seems like the key strategy that actually works. I've been avoiding calling EDD because their phone system is notoriously impossible, but seeing all these success stories gives me hope it's worth trying. This thread has honestly been such a lifesaver for understanding rules that should be straightforward but EDD makes so confusing! It's amazing how much insider knowledge you need just to access basic information about your own benefits. Going to organize all my earnings by quarter this weekend and call first thing Monday using Claimyr. Really hoping my tutoring payments were timed in a way that hits that threshold. Thanks to everyone who's shared their real experiences - you've given those of us just starting this stressful process so much hope and practical guidance! 🙏

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago - benefits exhausted in July but my benefit year didn't end until December. I was absolutely panicking about the 5-month gap with no income. I had worked part-time at a local coffee shop during my benefit year and earned about $4,100 total over roughly 3 months. Like many of you, I had no idea about the exception rules until I found discussions like this one online. The EDD website is completely useless for explaining when you might actually qualify! Here's what happened when I called: I used a service similar to Claimyr to get through (took about 20 minutes instead of hours of busy signals), had all my quarterly earnings organized, and specifically asked about "lag quarter" wages like others mentioned. The rep confirmed that since I had earned over $2,000 in one quarter, I qualified for a new claim immediately. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I reached someone who knew the rules. Filed the new claim that same day and started receiving benefits again within 2 weeks. My weekly amount was lower than my original claim (based on the coffee shop wages), but getting $180/week was way better than waiting until December with nothing! For everyone calling this week - you're on the right track! Having your quarterly breakdown ready and asking about "lag quarter" wages specifically seems to make all the difference. Don't let them brush you off if the first rep doesn't seem familiar with the exception rules. Good luck! 🙏

I went through almost the exact same situation in late 2024! Got hit with penalty weeks for "misreporting" my part-time hours (it was honestly just confusion about how to report tips vs wages) and EDD initially refused to backdate my claim. Here's what finally worked: I had to escalate beyond the regular phone reps. My local legal aid society helped me draft a formal complaint that referenced specific EDD policies about backdating. The key was citing EDD Directive PL 15-01 which outlines when backdating is required for "good cause." Within 2 weeks of submitting that formal complaint through their appeals process, they not only approved my backdate request but also reduced my penalty from 12 weeks to 6 weeks after reviewing all my documentation. The breakthrough moment was when I got connected to an actual claims specialist (not just a phone rep) who understood that backdating and penalty weeks are completely separate issues that can coexist. Most phone reps seem to think you can't have both, which is totally wrong. Don't give up! The system is confusing and the reps often give incorrect information, but there are people there who know the actual policies. Your assemblywoman's office should definitely push back - EDD does this kind of backdating all the time once you get to the right person.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in week 8 of penalty weeks for what was basically a paperwork error on my part (didn't report a small consulting payment correctly), and EDD initially told me backdating "wasn't possible" with active penalties. After reading everyone's experiences here, I submitted a formal backdate request through UI Online yesterday, making sure to keep it completely separate from my penalty appeal. I referenced EDD Directive PL 15-01 that Kelsey mentioned and cited "good cause" due to confusion about eligibility requirements as a first-time filer. One thing I want to add for anyone else in this situation: I also reached out to my local One-Stop Career Center, and they have an EDD liaison who can sometimes help escalate these cases. The counselor there told me she's seen this exact scenario resolved successfully multiple times in the past few months. CosmicCommander, definitely push your assemblywoman's office to reference the specific policies people have mentioned here - especially the Field Office Manual "BDC 5" guideline and California UI Code Section 1253(c). Having those concrete policy references seems to make a huge difference in getting EDD to take the request seriously. Fingers crossed for both of us! Will update if I hear back on my backdate request.

Just a tip for anyone using Claimyr or finally getting through to EDD some other way - make sure you have all your claim info ready! Nothing worse than finally getting an agent and then scrambling for your paperwork or not being able to answer their security questions. Have your claim number, last employer info, and dates of employment handy.

As someone who's been through the EDD nightmare multiple times, I can confirm Claimyr is legit and works exactly as advertised. Used it twice last year when my claim got stuck in "pending" limbo. The first time I was hesitant about paying, but after wasting literally 40+ hours over two weeks trying to get through on my own, I realized my time was worth way more than their fee. Both times I got connected to actual EDD reps within a few hours, and they were able to resolve issues that had been dragging on for weeks. Pro tip: have your SSN, claim confirmation number, and employer info ready when they call you back. The reps can usually handle multiple issues in one call if you come prepared!

I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to share my timeline! Had my phone interview on a Monday and got approved that Thursday - so 3 business days total. I was laid off from my administrative role due to company downsizing, very similar to your budget cuts situation. The interviewer seemed pretty neutral during our call but I had my termination letter ready when they asked for details. Once approved, all 4 of my pending certifications switched to "paid" status within about 12 hours, which was such a relief! The money hit my EDD debit card 2 days later. Since your interviewer seemed positive and you have documentation showing legitimate budget cuts, that's definitely working in your favor. The 3-7 business day range seems pretty consistent based on everyone's experiences here. Keep certifying every two weeks like you've been doing - when your approval comes through, getting all that back pay at once will really help with your rent situation. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking but it sounds like you're in a great position!

I just went through this exact same process about 3 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your anxiety! I had my phone interview on a Wednesday afternoon and got my determination the following Monday - so 4 business days total. Like you, I was laid off due to budget cuts from my retail management position and had been certifying while waiting for the interview decision. The interviewer seemed fairly positive during our call, similar to what you described, and I had my termination letter ready when they asked for verification. Once I got approved, all my pending certifications (I had 5 weeks worth at that point) switched to "paid" status within about 10 hours, which was much faster than I expected! The money hit my EDD debit card 2 days later. Since your interviewer seemed positive and you have clear documentation of a legitimate layoff due to budget cuts, I'd say you're in an excellent position. The fact that you've been diligent about certifying every two weeks is really going to work in your favor - when your approval comes through, you should get a nice lump sum that will definitely help with your rent situation. Based on all the experiences shared here, most people with straightforward layoff cases like yours hear back within 3-7 business days. I know the waiting is absolutely brutal especially when bills are due, but it really sounds like everything is working in your favor. Keep checking your UI Online account daily and try to stay positive - you should hopefully have good news soon!