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I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 16 days and counting with no payment. The stress is real! 😰 I've tried calling multiple times but like everyone else, can't get through. Going to try @Ruby Garcia's tip about calling right when they open tomorrow. Also going to check my online account again for any messages I might have missed after reading @Lucy Taylor's comment about identity verification issues. This whole situation is just awful - we're already dealing with being unable to work and then they make us jump through hoops just to get the help we're entitled to. Hoping we all get our payments soon! 🤞
Have you tried faxing your documents? Sometimes that gets their attention faster than calling or emailing.
I'm dealing with something similar right now - my payment is 12 days late and I can't get through to anyone either. One thing that's helped me is keeping a detailed log of every time I try to contact them (date, time, method). Also, I found that calling right at 8 AM when they open gives you the best chance of getting through. The wait is still brutal, but at least you're in the queue. Hang in there, you're not alone in this struggle! 💪
pro tip: if u cant get thru on the main line, try calling some of the other edd numbers (like the employer line or tech support). sometimes they can help or at least transfer u to the right person
I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! Made the same mistake with the return-to-work date and my payments got stuck for weeks. Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8 AM sharp (like someone mentioned) and got through after about 2 hours on hold. The rep was actually pretty understanding and fixed it on the spot. They told me to keep certifying every two weeks - definitely don't stop doing that or you'll lose your benefits. Also, make sure you have all your medical documentation ready when you call, they might ask for it. It's frustrating but totally fixable! Hang in there! 💪
I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The key is being super organized with your documentation. Make sure you have multiple forms of ID verification - I ended up sending my driver's license, passport, AND birth certificate. For address verification, I included utility bills from the last 3 months, my lease agreement, and even a bank statement. The wage verification was trickier - I had to contact my previous employers to get official wage statements since my paystubs weren't detailed enough. Also, definitely keep calling them even though it's frustrating. I finally got through after trying the early morning approach others mentioned. Hang in there - it's a pain but you'll get through it! 💪
This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely going to gather multiple forms of ID like you suggested. Question - when you contacted your previous employers for wage statements, did they charge you anything for that? And how long did it take them to provide the documents?
@NebulaNova Most employers didn't charge me anything for wage statements since they're legally required to provide them, but one place did ask for a $10 administrative fee. The turnaround time varied - some got back to me within a few days, others took almost 2 weeks. I'd suggest reaching out to all your previous employers ASAP since that was the biggest time bottleneck in my case. Also, if you worked anywhere that's now closed or you can't reach them, the IRS can provide wage transcripts but that takes even longer (like 4-6 weeks). Hope this helps!
Another thing that really helped me was creating a checklist and timeline for myself. I made a spreadsheet tracking what documents I sent, when I sent them, confirmation numbers, etc. EDD processes are slow but having everything documented made follow-up calls way more productive. Also, if you have any employment gaps or worked gig jobs (Uber, DoorDash, etc.), make sure you have documentation for those too - they're stricter about verifying all income sources now. The whole process took me about 6 weeks total but staying organized and persistent was key. You got this! 📋✨
This spreadsheet idea is genius! 💡 I wish I had thought of that when I was dealing with my own EDD nightmare. Keeping track of everything really does make such a difference when you're dealing with bureaucracy. For anyone reading this - also screenshot everything in your online portal and save confirmation emails. I learned the hard way that things can just "disappear" from their system sometimes. The 6-week timeline you mentioned sounds about right too - it's frustrating but at least gives people realistic expectations. Thanks for sharing such practical advice!
Chloe Anderson
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - EDD's timing and communication issues are absolutely infuriating! The fact that they disqualified you literally ONE DAY after you mailed the documents they requested is just cruel. I went through something similar with my workers' comp claim that transitioned to SDI. Here's what worked for me: Call back and ask to speak with a "disability determination specialist" specifically - not just regular customer service. When you get one, explain the exact timeline: you called on the 14th and 15th, were told to mail docs, sent them priority mail on the 15th, then got disqualified on the 16th. Ask them to put detailed notes in your file about this timeline discrepancy. Also, since you have that priority mail tracking, that's PROOF you sent everything when they told you to. Make sure to give them that tracking number - it shows you acted in good faith and their system failed you, not the other way around. The assembly member route really does work in California. I contacted mine through their website and got a response within 2 days. They have dedicated staff who deal with EDD issues all the time because this stuff happens constantly. Definitely file the appeal as backup, but given that your documents are already in their system and you have proof of when you sent them, there's a good chance this gets resolved without needing the full appeal process. Keep us posted on what happens with the claim specialist review!
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Amun-Ra Azra
•This is incredibly helpful - thank you for being so specific about asking for a "disability determination specialist"! I've been getting bounced around between different reps and it sounds like I need to be more targeted about who I'm asking to speak with. The timeline you laid out is exactly what happened to me, so it's encouraging to hear someone else got through a similar situation. I'm definitely going to use that priority mail tracking number as evidence - you're absolutely right that it proves I did everything they asked when they asked me to do it. I just looked up my assembly member's website and they actually have a specific form for EDD issues! It looks like this is such a common problem that they've streamlined the process. I'm going to fill that out today while also continuing to try to reach a disability determination specialist. Thanks for the hope that this might get resolved without the full appeal process - the stress of potentially waiting months for income while dealing with my back injury has been keeping me up at night. It really helps to hear from people who've navigated this successfully!
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Kendrick Webb
I'm really sorry you're going through this - the EDD system seems to have some serious timing issues that hurt people when they're most vulnerable. The fact that they disqualified you just one day after you mailed the documents they specifically requested is absolutely ridiculous. From reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice. The key things that stand out to me are: 1) You have proof you sent everything when they asked (that priority mail tracking), 2) EDD confirmed your documents arrived and are just waiting to be processed, and 3) Multiple people have had success getting these types of administrative errors fixed by speaking with the right people. I'd definitely recommend doing both the phone approach (asking specifically for a disability determination specialist) AND contacting your assembly member's office at the same time. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - use every avenue available since you're dealing with a time-sensitive financial situation. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you end up getting this resolved and receiving back pay, make sure to ask about interest or penalty payments if there were any delays in processing that weren't your fault. California sometimes provides additional compensation when their administrative errors cause financial hardship. Hang in there, and please keep updating us on how this goes. Your situation is unfortunately common enough that other people will probably benefit from hearing how it gets resolved!
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