I need the experts here that lived through CA EDD hell

I can't afford to keep calling the EDD and going through the prompts and not getting through. I only have 400 minutes a month on my cell plan.

I emailed them and waited 10 days only to have them NOT answer my question and cut and paste information regarding the tiers and deadlines.

Laid off (again) in Oct. 2011, Rec' 16 weeks
EDD then placed me on a Third Extension from a 2009 claim, and now I got a notice that I am going on the Fourth Extension for 6 weeks and do not qualify for FED-ED.

Here's my question short and sweet -
What happened to my original claim? I only worked 7 months last year March-Sept is that why I cannot rec any extensions on the 2011 claim?

Thanks in advance for reading!

I'm sorry that you are going through this. I live in CA and have found that I can never get through to the EDD by telephone though they almost always respond when I send them an email through their website.

I can't answer your question, but would suggest that you email them again...

Good luck!

In my opinion, based on experience here in Rl, you have to exhaust the old claim or your BYE changes. You then have to file a new claim based on your recent employment. I doubt you will make the cutoff dates for the federal tiers, hopefully CA will revisit the issue of continuing state EB when EUC08 expires.

Keep calling! There is too much confusion now regarding unemployment benefits, I doubt even Congress knows what is going on.

Good luck!

Continuing to call them is not an option and will head to the One Stop Career Center to use their land line, which IMO is not the greatest place to spend your day since they had to place it in the worst part of town.

@DesperateinRI - so what I understood from your post is that the most recent claim in Oct 2011 has to end in Oct. 2012., then have to reopen that again. So for the next 4-5 months I have nothing to live on AGAIN? Oh joy (sarcasm)

The confusing part was that the 2011 claim paid out 16 weeks (not 26)
and then the third extension from 2009 came out of no where, because I thought that I had completed that one.

Windeecity....You should try this number...Its not a 800 number but a local LA call center and was easier for me to get ahold of a live person and they could give you the number to the call center for your area... If you don't have any luck try this. 1-310-330-5904

Thank you superstevies, I'll certainly give it a try and send an update.

Windeecity....This number is also a good number to call

can find more information here.
I wanted to give you the phone number that helped me. They can be reached at (916) 654-7401. I recommend telling them your Senator advised the call, as I find them more responsive. Good luck on helping more

I just called the 916 number and got a live person right away.

windeecity wrote:Continuing to call them is not an option and will head to the One Stop Career Center to use their land line, which IMO is not the greatest place to spend your day since they had to place it in the worst part of town.

@DesperateinRI - so what I understood from your post is that the most recent claim in Oct 2011 has to end in Oct. 2012., then have to reopen that again. So for the next 4-5 months I have nothing to live on AGAIN? Oh joy (sarcasm)

The confusing part was that the 2011 claim paid out 16 weeks (not 26)
and then the third extension from 2009 came out of no where, because I thought that I had completed that one.

No, you misunderstood. I believe they will pay you the remaining tiers on your old claim, and then you will have to file a new claim for your 7 months of employment. They will recalculate your earnings from that job to determine the new rate. I don't think that new claim will be eligible for extensions, they have been phased out.

Do as Steve suggested and keep calling! As I said, it is all so confusing right now, I don't think the employees at the unemployment office know what is going on!

Just called the 916 area code no answer, called the 310 area code and was transferred to a switch board operator that could not understand why I was transferred, BUT she did take the time to look at my records but could not answer much of my questions.

@DesperateinRI - yes, she did say the old 3rd and 4th extensions from 2009 had to be depleted of any funds. My newer 2011 claim would then go into a review after that. I am now beginning my 4th Extension of 6 weeks. She could not answer anything further but was very nice and patient.

I did not know that the extensions were now phased out in CA so if that is the case I will not be eligible for anything further after the 6 weeks pays out.

windeecity...glad you could get some questions answered. Don't know why you can't get through the 916 #. I get through every time ...not that I need to anymore I have been with out benefits now for over a year.

You should give the 916 # a call again...you have to let it ring about 10 times and somebody usually picks it up.

Windeecity - The phasing out of the Federal extensions apply to ALL states. Please check the schedule, it is very confusing!

As far as state EB, I'm not sure if CA will continue it. I know how you feel, RI's unemployment rate went up again, still over 11% and we are "#2" in the country, right behind Nevada, and things are not getting any better. I really feel bad for those who are losing there jobs now.

CA is right there just behind RI and was even above RI for a while--and it doesn't seem to be getting better. For March we are at 10.9% and I've read that it's gotten HIGHER--not lower in April...

The extensions have not been phased at least yet in CA... Good luck!

Going to try that 916 # again today as suggested.

I'm reading over all your posts from yesterday and want to say thanks for the time in helping and the information you've passed on.

@ DesperateInRI "No, you misunderstood. I believe they will pay you the remaining tiers on your old claim, and then you will have to file a new claim for your 7 months of employment. They will recalculate your earnings from that job to determine the new rate"

That line puzzles me since I already did establish a claim in Oct 2011 for the 7 months worked last year.

California Fed-Ed jobless benefits to end mid-May
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/23/BU5L1O7TNI.DTL

I just ran across this and then went to the CA EDD site, but as of today I see nothing updated to announce this.

That makes no sense since our rate is only going up! That is horrible!