As someone who just joined this community after struggling with my own ID.me verification nightmare for my SDI claim, I have to say this thread is absolutely incredible! I've been battling this system for over a week after my knee replacement surgery, and finding this discussion has been such a relief. Hassan, thank you for sharing your journey and especially for coming back with your success update - it gives me so much hope! The combination of technical fixes (cache clearing, incognito mode, proper document lighting) and strategic approaches (the 8 AM calling strategy, Claimyr service, asking for SDI technical support specifically) that everyone has shared here is more comprehensive than anything I've found on official EDD resources. Reading through all the success stories and detailed troubleshooting tips has given me a clear action plan. It's frustrating that we need to become verification system experts just to access benefits we've earned, but seeing this community come together to help each other navigate these broken bureaucratic systems is truly inspiring. I'm going to try the technical solutions tonight and call that (800) 480-3287 number first thing tomorrow morning. This thread should definitely be pinned as a resource - you've all created something invaluable for anyone dealing with these verification issues!

This thread has been absolutely life-saving! I just joined this community after finding myself in the exact same ID.me verification nightmare while trying to file for SDI after a rotator cuff surgery. I've been stuck for 9 days and was honestly starting to lose hope until I discovered this incredible discussion. Hassan, thank you so much for not only asking the question that started this amazing resource, but for coming back to share your success story - that kind of follow-through is what real community support looks like! The comprehensive solutions everyone has shared here - from the technical fixes (clearing cache, incognito mode, proper lighting, using different networks) to the strategic approaches (calling (800) 480-3287 at 8 AM, Claimyr service, alternative verification through agents) - is more helpful than anything I've found on official EDD websites. Reading through all the success stories like Yara's experience with the alternative verification process has given me so much confidence. It's absolutely infuriating that we need to become tech support experts just to access benefits we've literally paid into through our paychecks, but seeing how this community rallies around each other to navigate these broken systems is truly inspiring. I'm going to start with the technical troubleshooting tonight and have that number ready for an 8 AM call tomorrow. This thread should honestly be featured as the official community resource for anyone dealing with EDD verification issues - you've all created something more valuable than any government guide!

Update: I finally got through to EDD today! After trying the Claimyr service that someone recommended, I was connected to a representative in about 15 minutes. The agent explained that my claim was denied because my doctor checked "patient can return to work with restrictions" instead of "patient cannot perform regular work" on the medical certification form. Since I was technically still working from home during my hospitalization (checking emails from my hospital bed), this created confusion in my claim. For anyone with a similar issue: make sure your doctor clearly indicates that you cannot perform your REGULAR work duties, even if you're able to do some modified work. The agent advised me to have my surgeon be very explicit about my complete inability to work during the post-surgery recovery period on the new certification. Thank you all for your help and advice! I feel much more prepared for my upcoming claim.

This is such valuable information for everyone dealing with EDD SDI! I'm a newcomer here but have been lurking because I'm facing a similar situation with a chronic autoimmune condition. Your update about the specific wording on the medical certification form is incredibly helpful - I never would have thought that distinction between "work with restrictions" vs "cannot perform regular work" would make or break a claim. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't make these requirements clearer upfront, but I'm so glad you were able to get through to someone who could explain exactly what went wrong. The Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for actually reaching a human being at EDD. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery and recovery! Your experience is going to help so many people in this community navigate their own claims more successfully.

UPDATE: I followed everyone's advice and uploaded my documents through the SDI Online message center using my laptop instead of my phone. I also mailed copies to the address on the notice just to be safe. The online system gave me a confirmation number, so that's promising! Now I just wait, I guess. Thank you all for the help - this community is amazing!

Great job getting everything submitted! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else reading this - if you're mailing documents as backup like Anastasia did, make sure to write "COPY - DO NOT RETURN" on each page. EDD sometimes tries to return original documents which can get lost in the mail and delay your claim even more. Also keep digital copies of everything you submit for your own records. The whole process is stressful enough without losing important paperwork!

UPDATE: I checked with a colleague who experienced the same issue last week. The current workaround is to select "YES" to other names used, then enter your CURRENT name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. The system has a bug where it sometimes requires you to enter your current name as both your current AND "other" name. Seems like the 2025 system update created this problem. Once you get past this screen, the rest of the claim process should work normally.

So glad to see you got it resolved @Max Reyes! This is exactly the kind of helpful community problem-solving that makes this forum valuable. I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling this "enter your current name as other name" workaround is going to help a lot of people dealing with the buggy 2025 SDI system update. Thanks to everyone who contributed solutions - especially the detailed explanations about the database integration issues. It's frustrating that we have to figure out these workarounds ourselves, but at least we're helping each other navigate EDD's broken system!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through as someone completely new to dealing with EDD! I had no idea that they could automatically deduct from disability payments for old unemployment overpayments - that seems like such a critical piece of information that should be clearly communicated upfront. What really stands out to me is how Keisha's experience shows the importance of this community. Without the specific advice about "conditional offset waivers" and the proper phone numbers to call, she might have continued paying double for months without knowing she had the right to stop it. That $800 deduction during pregnancy would have been devastating for most budgets! I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - calling the Collections Division directly instead of general EDD numbers, using specific terminology like "conditional offset waiver," getting confirmation numbers, and documenting everything. It's concerning that EDD's internal systems don't communicate properly, but at least knowing that helps you prepare. The recommendation about Claimyr also seems really valuable for actually getting through to someone who can help. The regular EDD phone system sounds like a nightmare from what I'm reading. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially Oliver for the detailed technical explanations. This thread is going to help so many people avoid the stress and confusion that Keisha initially went through!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! As someone completely new to navigating EDD, I had no idea that automatic benefit offsets were even possible, let alone that they could happen without clear advance notice. Reading about Keisha's initial shock at discovering the $800 deduction really highlights how unprepared most people are for these situations. What I find most concerning is how the burden falls on individuals to know specific legal terminology like "conditional offset waiver" just to receive fair treatment. It seems like the system is designed to automatically take money first and require people to fight back with insider knowledge to stop it - especially problematic when dealing with vulnerable populations like pregnant women or people with disabilities. The community response here has been incredible though! Oliver's detailed explanations about the legal requirements and proper procedures were game-changing. The fact that EDD legally cannot collect through both payment plans AND benefit offsets unless explicitly agreed to is crucial information that should be much more widely known. I'm definitely saving all the practical tips shared here - the specific phone numbers, the importance of requesting confirmation numbers, and the recommendation about using services like Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can help. It's unfortunate that navigating government benefits requires this level of strategy, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these hard-won insights. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge - this thread is going to help countless people avoid the financial stress and confusion that these automatic deductions can cause!