I understand how difficult dealing with EDD can be. One thing that worked for me was using Claimyr to reach an EDD representative. While it's a paid service, it significantly reduced my wait times. However, it's always good to weigh the benefits against the costs and consider if it's worth the expenditure in your situation. Claimyr does offer a solution, but it is important to verify the legitimacy of third-party services and read user reviews. Also, relying solely on them might not be sustainable for everyone. Keep your official communications documented and consider additional routes like contacting local government representatives for assistance. Stay persistent and good luck!

I'm going through something similar right now and it's absolutely maddening! What I've learned is to always ask for confirmation numbers or reference numbers whenever you talk to someone on the phone. Also, try to get the rep's name and ID number if possible. When there are discrepancies, I've found it helps to specifically mention "according to my records from [date] with representative [name], you told me X, but now I'm hearing Y - can you help me understand why there's a difference?" Sometimes this approach gets them to actually look deeper into your file instead of just giving you a generic response. Hang in there - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with EDD!

word of advice: dont bother with the online chat support. I wasted 2 hours yesterday and got nowhere. Calling is your best bet

I had the exact same problem with the Money Network app last month! The app kept crashing every time I tried to check my balance or transfer money. I called the EDD customer service line and asked to switch to paper checks - it was honestly one of the best decisions I made. The representative was actually pretty helpful once I got through. Just make sure you have your account info ready when you call, and like others mentioned, be prepared for a long wait time. The switch took about 10 business days for me, and now I don't have to deal with that buggy app anymore. Hope this helps!

After you speak with a representative, ask them to verify that all your wages in the base period were properly reported. Sometimes there are errors in reporting that can be corrected with proper documentation. Bring copies of your W-2s or pay stubs from the base period they're using. While you can't change which quarters they use, you can ensure all wages within those quarters are accurately counted.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly stressful to deal with when you're already worried about preparing for your baby. One thing that might help is to contact your local Assembly or Senate representative's office. They often have caseworkers who specialize in helping constituents navigate EDD issues and can sometimes get faster responses than calling directly. They can't change the base period rules, but they can help ensure your claim is being processed correctly and all your wages are properly counted. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to keep detailed records of all your attempts to contact EDD - dates, times, what you were told. This documentation can be helpful if you need to escalate your case later.

Pro tip: Set a reminder for yourself a few weeks before your benefit year is set to end. That way you can start preparing to either find work or file a new claim if needed. Don't wait until the last minute!

Anyone else notice that the rules seem to change every other week? I swear I need a law degree just to understand whats going on with my claim sometimes lol

I was actually at the Van Nuys office last month for my own SDI issue (not entertainment related) and overheard someone getting the same runaround about freelance work. Seems like they're applying this policy to lots of different types of gig workers. The whole "must have a specific job to return to" thing doesn't match what the actual SDI regulations say at all.

As someone new to this community but dealing with similar issues, this gives me so much hope! I'm a freelance photographer who got injured during a personal shoot (not work-related) and EDD denied my SDI claim saying I don't have "steady employment." It's so frustrating because I've been paying into SDI for years through my 1099 work. I had no idea there was supposedly a memo targeting entertainment workers - that sounds like it could be grounds for a discrimination complaint? Either way, I'm definitely filing an appeal after reading this. Thank you for sharing your victory and giving the rest of us hope that the system can actually work when we fight back!