I explained my story in detail somewhere above. I applied around the 29th and was not able to get in later with my 8 digit number. I called and the live person took care of putting my application through. He said i would a 10 digit number later but I should call in 10 days if not. Well about a week later I tried to log in again and my 8 digit number worked! So this is very confusing. I never got a 10 digit number and do not seemingly have the need. I also did get a paper letter about a week ago telling me the amts I will be getting. It is all laid out on the site with my 8 digit number,. I have not actually received any money yet but expect it will arrive one of these days as it is written in stone on my personal page! I am not running out of funds but I really feel for those of you who are and are still waiting to hear something, anything. Try your 8 digit number every few days. Or call tech support in California. It worked wonders for me.

@carlsbadguy wrote:

To log into my account I need the 10 digit EDD number which is what I am waiting for in the mail?

SteveSoCal, thanks. I did see when I first looked into signing up (before they were ready for IC) but didn't compete the form that the system listed Martiz an an option for employer for me to choose. The way the system is set up now when I selected I was an IC, it skips that set of questions so I didn't think about it. I am only an IC and only receive 1099's from Martiz as well as other companies but I wonder if that is the problem. I haven't been able to get through over the phone again today but am thinking I'll wait till Monday to try when the specialists are in.

@wwin wrote:

SteveSoCal, thanks. I did see when I first looked into signing up (before they were ready for IC) but didn't compete the form that the system listed Martiz an an option for employer for me to choose. The way the system is set up now when I selected I was an IC, it skips that set of questions so I didn't think about it. I am only an IC and only receive 1099's from Martiz as well as other companies but I wonder if that is the problem. I haven't been able to get through over the phone again today but am thinking I'll wait till Monday to try when the specialists are in.

Hi wwin, I am sure Steve will chime in here but he advised me to list myself as the employer. I was then not asked any questions about who, what, where or when or even 1099's. That advice worked well at least here in California. They were evidently able to get to the info they needed using my ssn to look at past irs filings and I got an award. I think you can only do this if applying through the PUA if Independent Contractor is your only source of paid employment.

sandyf, when i applied last week I did apply as an IC only and was not asked about employers. I saw Martiz suggested as my employer option when I looked at the online application a few weeks earlier before EDD was ready for IC applications. It appears when EDD examined my info based on my SS # they saw some work from Maritz that they think was W-2 work. I'm assuming it's a mistake since I've only done MS work for them and have received 1099's for all work completed for the past few years. I think Steve is right some of my IC MS work with maritz has been misclassified.

I heard on the news a week or so ago that even tho the hours for phone call staffing have been increased they are using govt employees from other departments who do not really know the job well so they cannot address anything but routine types of issues. In order to get results if you have a "situation" you have to get someone during the morning hours which I think are 8-12 or 9-12. Those are the regular EDD people who can help with sticky situations. When I called I spoke with the tech team person who was well versed and also incredibly helpful. I called them as I thought my issue was tech. You need to search around for that number but I suppose you could consider your issue to be a tech issue??? Sorry I did not keep the number. 40 minute wait on the phone was not bad. It was m-f daytime. (California)

@wwin wrote:

sandyf, when i applied last week I did apply as an IC only and was not asked about employers. I saw Martiz suggested as my employer option when I looked at the online application a few weeks earlier before EDD was ready for IC applications. It appears when EDD examined my info based on my SS # they saw some work from Maritz that they think was W-2 work. I'm assuming it's a mistake since I've only done MS work for them and have received 1099's for all work completed for the past few years. I think Steve is right some of my IC MS work with maritz has been misclassified.

Rejection is a good thing. Was told everyone is always rejected with this issue but your on the list and when the system does get up and running and your state hasn't filed for bankruptcy. Your claim will be retroactive back till March 23rd when Cares went into effect

Yes it is commission based income. Doing home loans. I am paid w-2. In 2019 I didn’t earn any money on my w-2 job

I do home loans. In 2019 I didn’t do any home loans. If I don’t do any home loans than I don’t get paid a paycheck. I work on commission only.I only did mystery shopping in 2019. So I had 1099’s, and no w-2. This year I have closed a few loans. I have also done mystery shopping. I can’t do mystery shopping now as I supposed to stay home.

Got my California EDD claim insurance award in the mail and it says $0.00.

Idaho is starting to mail out on May 11 PUA applications. And they stated that after being approved we would get paid in 3 days to either DD or a debit card. Payment goes back to first day that applied under regular unemployment filing.
But they said it is going to take a few weeks before everyone that qualifies receives their money as they have over 48,000 people that applied under self employed/gig workers.

Rockers32 You can file PUA with the 1099. Did you do your taxes for 2019?
Having direct deposit into a checking or savings account is much quicker than any other way. I would even open a savings account just for this purpose.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/2020 04:13PM by shopper8.

@carlsbadguy wrote:

Got my California EDD claim insurance award in the mail and it says $0.00.

I just got off the phone with Ca EDD- sadly not a Specialist like sandyf talked to but after over 1,000 call attempts I was happy to just get my name and other strange issues on my account fixed. The EDD person said the $0.00 status is normal for independent contractor applications that are still processing. The system automatically shows we don't qualify for the regular UI but hasn't gone through the process of the Federal PUA and to give it another week or two before getting worried. We should expect a second letter about the PUA status once it processes.

I'm not comfortable it is really that simple but that is the line they have been instructed to tell us.

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/2020 04:45PM by wwin.

I got an email from state on 5/12 telling me to go to a web page and fill out a PUA business and earnings statement. I filled it out and emailed it back. And on 5/15 I got paid going back to the date I first filed up to 5/9. I got a lump sum for weekly and a lump sum for the $600.

Question about filling out the re certification form in California:
The EDD website keeps saying you have to be looking for work and then it also says you do not because of covid19 elsewhere. I am filling out my first set of recertification weeks, I was directed by EDD to say no on all except #3
Q2 Was there any reason (other than sickness, injury or the disaster) that you could not have accepted full-time work, each workday? I said NO
Q3. *Did you look for work or contact your last employer, or, if self employed, did you attempt to resume self- employment? Help I started to say yes because the original employee I spoke with told me to check no on everything except that question (#3 I said yes as that is what i was told.

This brought up a whole set of questions it is difficult to answer. I said I looked for work via email due to the fact that I looked at job offerings that were emailed to me. Could not really answer the rest of the page about who, what and why because I am not supposed to leave my house so I did not follow up on them.

Anyway, those of you in California are you clicking NO on every one of the 6 questions if you are truly not looking for work due to (fear of getting ) Covid 19. I am ordered to stay home. Let me know what you did that worked to qualify you for the next two weeks.

Thanks

I'm in FL too. Did you just initially file? As in regular UI? It is impossible to reach anyone by phone or other means, but you can still try. It is in your best interest to report all income, but if your sole job is an IC, or self employed then you will need to first be denied for Regular UI, then they will send you a link for PUA. It has taken them a long time to get their act together in FL but they are finally coming around, again very slowly. Don't worry so much on the income amount getting you denied, I did not meet that, but I seemed to have gotten PUA, since This is my sole job and earnings. I use the word seemed as I got my first Federal payment the day after filing my PUA application, but not the PUA amount yet. It took well over a month to get everything sorted though and I had to apply twice.

@Insight wrote:

I was able to apply in Florida and received an email that it was pending. I had two 1099 from lat year that were only about 3500. One of the questions asked if II earn over 4500 last year and since I did not, doubt if I will get anything,
I did not include earnings from 2020 and I probably did earn over 4500 then.But I don't think I can edit the application.

sandyf, I am of no real help since my application is still in limbo. I believe you have to be actively looking for work to collect unemployment which is why you were instructed to answer yes to that part of question 3. I worked with EDD in my past life many MANY moons ago and remember explaining the process to applicants. I've been interested to see how proof has changed over the years and how they were going to deal with independent contractors. The other option under PUA is to fall under one of these categories with documentation but I'm not sure how to answer the questions if you are part of this group;

A member of their household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
They are providing care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19;
They are providing care for a child or other household member who can’t attend school or work because it is closed due to COVID-19;
They are quarantined or have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine;
They were scheduled to start employment and do not have a job or cannot reach their place of employment as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak;
They have become the breadwinner for a household because the head of household has died as a direct result of COVID-19;
They had to quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19;
Their place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19; or
They meet other criteria established by the Secretary of Labor.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2020 08:26PM by wwin.

wwin, sorry you have not yet gotten your application approved. It has been too long already for you. I did hear back that I should check yes on Q 3 but it is not necessary to look for work..so I can skip those questions about where I applied. At least for now in California the PUA rules do not require you to look for work so if and when that changes I will have to see what to do about it. Since I am high risk California is probably going to tell me to stay at home until there is a vaccine so think I would qualify under the rules of the state for high risk people to stay at home.
The rules seem confusing since in one place they still have the old rules listed and then further on they list the current rules. They need to take out those old rules temporarily to make it clear to people what to do.
It is just like dealing with mystery shop guidelines where they request something new or delete something old in one place but do not update the rest of the guidelines so you are not sure what you should follow. !
Edited for silly spelling mistakes

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/2020 12:20AM by sandyf.

Hello... Help please... @sandy I think I am in a similar situation and an not sure what to do. First, I just received a notice today that apparently indicates what my unemployment award is. It indicates a weekly amount, maximum benefit amount, and claim effective date. Question: now what? When do I start receiving payments? I don't know if I need to do anything else to receive my PUA benefits. The notice mentions something about I need to provide EDD with eligibility information every two weeks. Do wait until I start actually receiving payments before I provide the every two week info, or must I provide the EDD eligibility income before I receive my first payment? I have called multiple numbers to speak with someone at EDD and the all end with the same message..... too busy to help... click....

Regarding my previous post, the process is called "certifying for benefits." I am not clear if this is something I need to do now, before I actually receive any payments, or if it is something that needs to be done two weeks after I receive a payment.

My experience was different than most because I had to call tech support to get into my account and the the tech support person certified me himself. But I believe (I assume you are in California) you will get a snail mail letter in a week or two and you will also get an email at some point telling you to certify. What the guy did for me over the phone was certify the first 5 weeks. I was not able to get into my account because I did not have a 10 digit ID number and they were supposedly sending me one. Well I never got that 10 digit number but after a week or so my 8 digit number worked. I just certified 2 wks today. They sent an email telling me there was something for me to do on the website. So if you can get into the website with your 8 or 10 digit ID when the time comes there will be a notice that you need to certify. You can wait for the email or check it every few days by going to the website. After you fill out the certification for each week....read the questions but for most of us answer them No except for Q 3. #3 the answer is yes. Then it will open up a whole page asking where and when you looked for work. Just scroll to the bottom of the page and check the box on the bottom and then hit next for the next page. Make sure you read the questions tho as if your case is not straightforward some of those questions may be yes for you. After you certify you will eventually (2 weeks?) get a plastic debit card and your first money will be on it. It comes with instructions.

Thanks @sandy! Yes, I'm in CA. I'm still a little confused because I am not sure if this letter I received today is informing me I need to "certify my benefits" right now, or am I waiting for further information to proceed. I will try to access my account online again, and continue to call until I can speak to someone. Meanwhile, I will be looking for an email or another letter with clear instructions. Great you were able to speak to someone and certify 5 weeks on the phone, and another 2 weeks today. Question..... the letter I received today indicates the claim effective date is 4-19-20, will I be certifying the weeks from 4-19-20 to the current week initially? Also, I am pretty sure I specified the start of my problems was the week of 3-16-20, but I am not going to make a fuss about it.

I am not in CA but in most states you have to start certifying a.s.a.p. I would go into your account and see if there is a link to do your certification. If not I’d check every few days.

I am soo glad to have found this forum. I am a mystery shopper and resell things on Ebay both of which have tanked for me. I didnt file taxes in 2019 as my income was below the threshold. Has anyone else applied for the CARES Act PUI without having filed 2019 taxes? I had no idea the Act was extended to self contractors until a few days ago.

@grille.... can't access my account online because I only have a confirmation 8-digit number which it does not accept right now. Apparently, there is a 10-digit number issued at some juncture. Meanwhile, I try multiple times a day anyway.
@complicatederasure... I don't think it is necessary to have filed taxes for 2019 (might be better if you didn't) to apply. I used documents I had, including 1099's and information I could gather that showed income for this year. In CA, at least so far to apply, we were not required to have filed taxes. I stated my income. Go to the website and apply.

@complicatederasure.... so, really can't certify if wanted to because no one answers the phone and I can't access my account online....... sheesh..... I'm helpless but hopeful...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/2020 04:56PM by 1forum1.

@complicatederasure wrote:

I am soo glad to have found this forum. I am a mystery shopper and resell things on Ebay both of which have tanked for me. I didnt file taxes in 2019 as my income was below the threshold. Has anyone else applied for the CARES Act PUI without having filed 2019 taxes? I had no idea the Act was extended to self contractors until a few days ago.

Independent contractors or freelancers who apply to be recipients of the aid generally are required to provide evidence of past income, usually a 1099 tax form from the previous year. Did you file taxes in 2018? Since the deadline for filing 2019 taxes has been delayed until July 15, 2020, it would be acceptable to use tax info from 2018.

At least in Cal when I applied for PUA I did not have to send proof of anything. I supplied my ssn so perhaps they were able to access my 2018 tax form. I have not filed 2019 tax yet. I did not supply any 1099's or names and addresses of places that hired me. I just told them my estimated earnings for 2019. as a lump sum which was under $4000 and it worked. Other states are different.

Well this doesn't bode well for others in California that received 0.00 on their claim insurance award mail waiting for PUA approval. I actually got through to someone on the 800# this morning after another 100 attempts and 1 1/2 hours on hold. The person said there had been a mistake with my account on their end and apologised. The original processor did not process PUA when they did my UI application. The person on the phone had to open a new claim for me then processed it himself . The good news is that my card is in the mail and the website finally shows my benefits.
Maybe my situation was unique, they did make other mistakes setting up my account such as wrong name, but I'm worried for others waiting that received $0.00 .

@carlsbadguy wrote:

Got my California EDD claim insurance award in the mail and it says $0.00.

Good news for those in California....once you are finally approved with your EDD debit card in hand they send you an email when it is time to certify 2 weeks at a time and then you just fill in the boxes on the form and the next day the money is already available to you on the debit card to be spent or transferred to your personal bank acct.

I thank you all for the crucial information provided on this thread. I have received my California UI approval and payment, due to following the advice posted above to keep calling until I reached someone who could approve my claim.
I had submitted my application, but nothing had been done regarding my claim submission. I waited and utilized the options on the unemployment website as per the instructions to claimants, to no avail.
After reading the advice on this thread, I relentlessly phoned countless times until I reached a live person. The representative asked some questions, and then submitted and approved my claim as we spoke. I received my card and funds very quickly. Thank you again for your generous help.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2020 09:19PM by Beastie.