My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: California
Questions and cliff notes:
Do I have to be on Unemployment Insurance first to qualify for California Training Benefits?
Will I have to quit going to school, get on UI then apply for CTB and start going to school again?
I'm partially disabled and was let go of my job, I exhausted CA SDI benefits and am back in school. I applied for UI and was originally granted it, I read that I might not qualify so I was trying to get on CTB but was suddenly denied UI due to "not healthy enough to work" and the CTB process ended. I appealed the denial and the final decision was I can work, but I'm denied due to not being available due to school.
Background:
I was diagnosed with a disease last year on 9/2/12, but I have permanent physical restrictions which preclude me from my career of 10 years. I only have experience in that field and most related that I would qualify for are physical jobs, so I knew I would have to learn a new skillset. My doctor encouraged me to apply for SSDI and stated that I should qualify, but I was denied for "being healthy enough to work a little".
I knew that I would not be able to return to work decided to look for other fields. I worked with the Department of Rehabilitation and they found the need for biological scientists in my local labor market, and I already had course work toward it so I started attending a university in 1/13. I applied (not realizing that there was a 1 day overlap) for unemployment on 9/1/13 and was granted initially, but then I got a notice of needing a phone interview. I realized then that I wouldn't qualify for UI benefits due to school, but I should qualify for CTB under the self directed training criteria due to the following facts: I was displaced due to health and could not return to my previous occupation, per DoR the field is in demand, I will complete school in 1 year, the school is listed (but not the program) in the EDD's list. I had a phone interview with UI/CTB and was given a sheet to bring to my school and I had to have them rush to have it in within a 10 day deadline.
I then received a phone call from CA SDI stating that I applied for both at the same time and that I could not receive both UI and disability at the same time. I informed them that it was an accident and that there was only a 1 day overlap, the person asked if I was still disabled and I said yes that I cannot return to my previous line of work, but I can do a non physical job. They asked if I was going to school and I explained everything. I then got a denial of benefits a few days later in the mail stating that I am not available to work because of health reasons.
I filled out an appeal stating that I am willing to work around school and I can do office type work and that I'm available 5 days (Tue Thu Fri Sat Sun) a week for work. I had a hearing and the judge was very rude to me and would cut me off while speaking, I did not get a chance to state my case fully, and he said I did not qualify because I was too disabled. I gave the judge a document from my nurse practitioner with a list of limitations that I have, but none of them prevent me from working sedentary type job, but because it stated "if the patient's employer cannot provide the employee provisions to meet these criteria, the patient is considered to be temporarily and totally disabled from that position." the judge tried to spin it saying that I am totally disabled. One of the limitations is "no bending at the waist" to which he stated, "Well that means you can't do a job where you sit down." which I replied with, "It says nothing about sitting down, bending over is much different." Once I started pointing out the context of my document and that I would indeed qualify for that type of job, he moved on to using school as leverage to disqualify me. I told him that I felt I qualified for CTB and he said he didn't care and that was not what he was there to decide. Even though the first denial said "Denied due to health" the denial he listed on the documentation was "unavailable to work due to school."
Thank you in advanced.

