Random question but has anyone ever had to pay back CalFresh? I'm on SDI now but worried about overpayments since the systems don't talk to each other regularly.

Update: I tried using the Claimyr service mentioned above to reach EDD this morning and actually got through to someone! The agent told me my claim was stuck in review because they needed clarification on my last day worked (apparently there was a discrepancy between what I entered and what my employer reported). They're sending me a form to fill out, but the agent said once they receive it, they should be able to process my claim quickly. Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I'm definitely going to use my CalFresh benefits while I wait for this to be resolved, and I'll make sure to report my SDI income once it starts coming in.

Remember to take care of yourself during this process, OP. It can be really stressful. Don't forget to eat, sleep, and maybe do some meditation or something to stay calm.

Hey Darcy! I went through the EDD appeal process about 6 months ago and totally understand the stress you're feeling right now. One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline of events leading up to my termination - it made it easier to present my case clearly during the call. Also, don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to repeat questions if you need clarification. They're actually pretty patient and want to make sure they get all the facts right. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from appeal to decision, so try to be patient. You've got tons of great advice in this thread already - sounds like you're in good hands with this community! 🤞

ugh im so tired of EDD's broken website. why cant they just hire some decent programers and fix this mess???

I'm dealing with the exact same address issue! It's so frustrating. I found that sometimes if you log out completely, clear your browser data, and then log back in during off-peak hours (like 6-7 AM), the fields become editable again. Also, for the phone number issue, I had to mail in a form to get it corrected - it's form DE 4581. You can download it from the EDD website. Takes forever but it's the only way they'll accept phone number changes if the online system won't let you do it. Hang in there! 💪

Honestly, I've had better luck reaching out to my state representative's office. They can sometimes cut through the red tape.

Just went through this process last month! Here's what really helped me: **Before the call:** - Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and any EDD correspondence handy - Write down your claim number in BIG letters (you'll need it multiple times) - Prepare a one-sentence summary of why you're calling - Clear your schedule - these calls can take forever **During the call:** - Be super patient but persistent - If the first agent can't help, politely ask to speak with a specialist - Take detailed notes with timestamps - Ask for a reference number for your call **Key questions to ask:** - What's the current status of my certification? - Are there any outstanding issues or missing documents? - What are the next steps and realistic timelines? - Can you email me a summary of what we discussed? The biggest game-changer for me was asking them to walk through my account step-by-step while I was on the phone. Found issues I never knew existed! Good luck! 🍀

One additional piece of information based on the latest EDD press release: they recommend that if you don't see the rate change reflected in your first payment of 2025, wait until your second payment before contacting them. Their systems are expected to be backlogged as they implement the change. But the adjustment should be retroactive to January 1st, so you won't lose any money if there's a delay.

I'm in a very similar situation - started my disability claim in December 2024 for a knee replacement and it runs through March 2025. My income is around $52,000 so I should definitely qualify for the 90% rate. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like we should see the increase automatically starting with the first full week of January, but I'm definitely going to call EDD just to confirm my claim will be updated properly. The conflicting information about whether it's automatic or not is making me nervous! Has anyone actually received any official documentation from EDD about this change yet?