Re: Unemployment compensation and self-employment (was Re: Laid Off)

[beelia <beelia -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Very helpful, especially the reminder about my rant. Anyone who has ever
had to deal with EDD would understand, but not everyone has. Duly noted.
I've sent several mail and emailed messages, and kept it nice and polite,
since I suspect those folks on the front lines really do want to help, but
are just stuck in a system that they didn't design.

There is so much anger expressed online that EDD's new system couldn't be
working right. Remember those billion-dollar DMV and court system computer
fiascos reported in the media in the last couple of years? State of
California has become notorious for bad IT decisions, and I wouldn't be
surprised if something similar happened at EDD. But I shall suspend
judgment and try to keep my temper.

I don't understand one of your comments - "You generally need contact
agencies..." If you don't mind, could you please explain what 'contact
agencies' means? Am I missing some resource I could be using? By waiting a
month I actually thought I was being polite and waiting my turn. In 2003
(last time I was unemployed), I had no problem getting my benefits.

I found that there are indeed tricks to increase the odds, like calling two
minutes before 8 on a Wednesday. then quickly redialing when it doesn't
work - but so many people know those tricks now that the odds have
diminished considerably. I'm going to keep trying, though.

But clearly, you do know what you are talking about. Thanks for sharing
your expertise.

Wish me luck!

Bee





On Mon, Jan 21, 2013 at 1:52 PM, Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net> wrote:

> On 1/19/2013 6:09 PM, beelia wrote:
>
>> If you're in California and file a claim with EDD, be prepared for a
>> bureaucratic nightmare. This agency is totally broken. If you actually do
>> get your benefits, you are probably one of the lucky few.
>>
>
> It used to be easy.  They also spent millions to build a new system.  It
> had glitches that they corrected but hit the local news anyway.
>
>
>  I was laid off two months ago and filed a day later online. I knew I was
>> supposed to get a claim form to fill out and submit it, so I watched my
>> mail - but got nothing.
>>
>
> You generally need contact agencies when you do not receive whatever forms
> you expect when it has been more than week.  If you wait more than thirty
> days, then they generally cancel the process.
>
>
>  After a month I tried calling their office (about 50 times) but was never
>> able to get through,
>>
>
> Many agencies with busy phone lines quit taking calls at lunch. Usually,
> you can get into the hold queue if you call when the phone lines open in
> the morning.  EDD used to provide call backs on request.
>
>
>  even from the local shabby CalJobs office.
>>
>
> CalJobs has never worked.  I don't even know why they bother keeping that
> open.
>
>  <...>
>>
>> So I figured I'd go back to the web site and "reactivate" my application
>> - but NO. You have to start all over again with a new claim, which required
>> so much research that it took 4-5 hours the first time. If I knew where
>> (and if) there is an office, I'd spend the time driving up to Sacramento
>> instead to get this resolved.
>>
>
> There are offices, but I think they are for CalJobs.  Nothing like adding
> insult to irony...
>
>  <...>
>>
>
> I understand your rant, Bee, and I can sympathize having been through
> various similar bureaucratic mazes, but you may want to temper your posts
> since this is a public forum and you are on Facebook with your email
> address.  You do not want future employers to read something into your
> character as a potential employee.
>
>
>
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