lol welcome to EDD hell. where everything's made up and the rules don't matter 🤡

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The trick that finally worked for me was going to a local EDD office in person with two forms of ID. I know it's a hassle, but they were able to update my phone number on the spot and I could log in again that same day. Might be worth checking if there's an office near you that's doing walk-ins. Good luck! 🤞

lol welcome to the wonderful world of government bureaucracy. grab a seat, you'll be here a while 😂

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! Getting hung up on is the worst, especially when you're already stressed about benefits. I've had similar experiences - it feels like they just don't care. One thing that helped me was calling early in the morning (like right at 8 AM when they open) and being super polite but firm about needing to speak to someone. Also, if you have any documentation about your case, have it ready before you call so you can reference specific numbers or dates. Don't give up - you deserve the benefits you're entitled to! 💪

guys i think i figured it out. if you press 2, then 4, then 1, then 3 when you call, you can sometimes get through to a real person. it took me like 50 tries but i finally got someone yesterday

I feel for everyone going through this nightmare. I've been waiting 2 weeks myself and it's incredibly stressful. One thing that helped me was filing a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner's office online. It doesn't guarantee faster results, but it creates an official record of the delay. Also, if you're really desperate for food or utilities, look into local emergency assistance programs - many churches and nonprofits have funds specifically for people waiting on unemployment. Don't give up, and definitely try that phone menu trick that Angelina shared. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops, but until the system gets fixed, we have to work with what we've got. Hang in there! 💙

A quick follow-up on the "insufficient recovery period" issue. The EDD typically requires one of two things when you have multiple disability claims: 1. At least 60 days of regular work between disabilities, OR 2. Medical certification that clearly establishes the new disability is unrelated to the previous one Since you mentioned working continuously for 19 months between claims, you clearly meet the first requirement. The issue may be that this information isn't clearly documented in their system. Sometimes the claims examiners don't have complete wage data in front of them during initial review. I'd recommend gathering documents that prove your continuous employment during that 19-month period (pay stubs, employment verification letter, etc.) and having those ready if they request them. Also, try to get the exact start and end dates of your previous claim so you can specifically reference those dates in any communications with EDD.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed my SDI claim 3 weeks ago for anxiety/depression and they keep asking about a workers comp claim I had in 2022 for a back injury. Completely different issues, different doctors, different everything! The frustrating part is they scheduled my phone interview but spent 80% of the time on the old claim instead of my current mental health situation. My psychiatrist submitted all the forms correctly and on time, but they're still "investigating" something from 2+ years ago. What's really stressing me out is that I can see in my SDI Online account that they've requested additional medical records from my old orthopedic doctor (who I haven't seen since 2022!) instead of focusing on my current treatment. Meanwhile my rent is due next week and I'm running out of savings. Has anyone had success explaining to them over the phone that these are completely separate medical issues? I've tried calling but can never get through. This whole process is making my anxiety so much worse!

Hey OP, make sure you double-check all your paperwork. I thought my claim was all good, but turns out I made a tiny mistake on one form and that held up EVERYTHING for weeks.

This is such a common issue unfortunately! I went through the same thing last month. My payment showed "processed" for almost a week before I actually got it. Here's what helped me: 1. Check if your bank info is correct in your account - sometimes there's a mismatch 2. Look for any pending "verification" requests you might have missed 3. When you call, ask specifically about "payment release holds" - they don't always mention these automatically Also, don't panic if it's only been a few days since it showed processed. The system is slow but it usually comes through. Keep us updated on how it goes!