Can't file EDD SDI claim because of ID.me verification issues - need urgent help

the exact same thing happened to me last month!! those ID.me people are IMPOSSIBLE to deal with. i literally had to try 6 different times with different browsers before it finally worked. the whole system is designed to make ppl give up i swear

You have a few options here. The best number to call for SDI technical issues is (800) 480-3287. But be warned - they're only open weekdays 8am-5pm and the wait times are brutal. If your ID.me verification keeps failing, you might need to schedule a video call with an ID.me representative to verify your identity that way. There's an option for that in the ID.me process. Have you tried that route yet?

I was in this exact situation after my knee surgery in January! I spent HOURS trying to get through on that main number and never reached anyone. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They basically call for you and then connect you when they reach someone. Saved me days of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

I had to file disability last year and the ENTIRE system is designed to make you give up. I spent 2 weeks trying to get it resolved! The ID.me thing is just another hoop they make you jump through hoping you'll just go away. Keep fighting though, once you get through to someone they can usually fix it pretty quickly.

I'm an SDI advisor, and here's what you need to know: ID.me issues are actually pretty common, especially with document clarity. The best number specifically for SDI technical problems is (800) 480-3287. However, if you're experiencing ID.me verification issues specifically, you might also try their support at help.id.me - they have a separate customer service team that can sometimes resolve verification problems outside the EDD system. Also important: once you get your ID.me verified, your claim can be backdated to when your disability began (minus the 7-day waiting period), so you won't lose benefits because of this technical issue.

also try clearing your cache and cookies before trying ID.me again! that finally worked for me after DAYS of trying. and make sure your using a good camera for the documents, bad lighting can mess it up

My brother-in-law works for EDD (not in the disability department tho) and he says they're totally overwhelmed with ID.me issues right now. Apparently there was some kind of system update that's causing all sorts of problems. Have you tried using the Contact EDD option through your SDI Online account instead of calling? Sometimes they respond faster that way.

Update on my earlier comment: I just checked the EDD website and saw they've posted a notice about ID.me issues. They're asking people to try during non-peak hours (early morning or evening) and to make sure all documents are clearly visible and all four corners are showing in the photos. They also mentioned that sometimes the verification email can be delayed by up to an hour, so check your spam folder before trying again.

i had disability last year and never had to do the id.me thing at all? when did they start requiring that? seems like they keep making it harder to get benefits we paid for through our taxes!!

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what finally worked! I tried calling the (800) 480-3287 number right at 8am for two days with no luck. Eventually used the Claimyr service someone recommended above and got through to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. The agent was super helpful and guided me through an alternative verification process since ID.me was still giving me problems. My claim is now processing! The agent also confirmed they'd backdate it to my original disability date. Thanks everyone for your help during this stressful time!

Hassan, I'm so glad you got this resolved! Your experience mirrors what so many of us have gone through with these verification systems. The fact that you had to use a third-party service to reach EDD shows how broken the system is, but I'm thrilled it worked out. For anyone else struggling with similar issues, Hassan's thread here is basically a masterclass in persistence and trying multiple approaches. The combination of calling early, using alternative services, and having documentation ready really seems to be the key. Thanks for sharing your journey and especially for coming back to update us - that's the kind of community support that makes all the difference when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!

Wow, this thread is exactly what I needed to find! I'm currently stuck in the same ID.me verification nightmare for my SDI claim after a work injury. I've been reading through all the solutions everyone shared and I'm going to try the combination approach - clearing my cache first, then attempting verification during off-peak hours tonight, and if that doesn't work, I'll call the (800) 480-3287 number first thing tomorrow morning. If all else fails, I'll look into that Claimyr service. Hassan, thank you so much for updating us with your success story - it gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel! And to everyone who shared their experiences and specific tips, this is exactly the kind of real-world help that makes all the difference when you're dealing with these broken systems while already stressed about being unable to work.

As someone who just went through this exact same process two weeks ago, I want to add a few more tips that saved me after reading through this amazing thread! First, if you're using a smartphone for document photos, turn off any "auto-enhance" or HDR features - they can actually make the images too processed for ID.me's system. Second, I discovered that logging out of ALL Google/Apple accounts before starting the verification process helped eliminate some weird browser conflicts. Third, and this might sound crazy, but I had better luck using an incognito/private browsing window. The whole thing is absolutely maddening when you're already dealing with an injury and can't work, but seeing Hassan's success story and everyone's collaborative problem-solving here really shows the power of community support. Keep fighting - you WILL get through this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar ID.me verification nightmare right now for my unemployment claim (not SDI, but same verification system). I've been stuck for over a week and was getting desperate until I found this discussion. The combination of technical tips - clearing cache, using incognito mode, trying off-peak hours, having multiple ID documents ready, and turning off auto-enhance features - plus the contact strategies like the (800) 480-3287 number and the Claimyr service gives me a real action plan. Hassan, thank you for coming back to update us with your success! It's so frustrating that we have to become experts in workarounds just to access benefits we've paid into, but seeing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these broken systems is really inspiring. I'm going to try the technical fixes tonight and call first thing tomorrow if needed. Fingers crossed!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of how community support can make all the difference when dealing with these frustrating government systems! I'm currently helping my elderly father navigate his SDI claim and we ran into the exact same ID.me verification wall. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions here has given us a comprehensive game plan - from the technical troubleshooting (clearing cache, incognito mode, good lighting for document photos) to the strategic approaches (calling at 8am, using Claimyr service, contacting ID.me support directly). Hassan, thank you so much for not only asking the question that started this incredibly helpful discussion, but also for coming back to share your success story! And huge thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences, phone numbers, technical tips, and encouragement. It's honestly amazing how much practical knowledge this community has collectively shared. For anyone else dealing with these verification issues - bookmark this thread, because it's basically become the unofficial comprehensive guide to solving ID.me problems with EDD!

Just wanted to jump in and say thank you to everyone who's contributed to this thread! I'm new to this community but dealing with my own ID.me verification nightmare for my SDI claim after a car accident. The level of detail and genuine support here is incredible - from Hassan's original question to Ryan's professional insights to everyone sharing their technical workarounds. I've already tried the cache clearing and incognito mode suggestions, and I'm planning to call that (800) 480-3287 number first thing Monday morning. It's honestly both frustrating and comforting to know so many of us are dealing with the same broken system, but seeing all the success stories gives me hope. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD verification issues - you've all created something way more helpful than anything on the official EDD website!

As someone who just joined this community specifically because I'm dealing with the exact same ID.me verification hell, I have to say this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been stuck for 5 days trying to file my SDI claim after a work injury and was honestly starting to panic about missing deadlines. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me so much hope and a clear action plan. Hassan, thank you for starting this discussion and especially for coming back with your success update - that really shows the power of persistence! I'm going to try the technical fixes tonight (clearing cache, incognito mode, good lighting) and have that (800) 480-3287 number ready for tomorrow morning. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become tech support experts just to access benefits we've paid into, but seeing how this community has come together to help each other navigate these broken systems is incredible. This thread should definitely be pinned as a resource - you've all created the most comprehensive ID.me troubleshooting guide I've seen anywhere!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I just joined this community because I'm dealing with the exact same ID.me verification nightmare for my SDI claim after a workplace injury. Reading through everyone's experiences, solutions, and especially Hassan's success story has given me so much hope! The technical tips (clearing cache, incognito mode, good lighting for documents, turning off auto-enhance) combined with the strategic approaches (calling (800) 480-3287 at 8am, Claimyr service, contacting ID.me support directly) create such a comprehensive action plan. It's honestly outrageous that we need to become verification system experts just to access benefits we've paid into, but seeing this community come together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares is truly inspiring. Hassan, thank you for coming back to update us with your success - that kind of follow-through really shows what community support is all about! I'm going to try the technical fixes first, then call tomorrow morning if needed. This thread should definitely be pinned as a resource - you've all created something more valuable than any official EDD guide!

As a newcomer to this community who's currently battling my own ID.me verification issues for an SDI claim, I just want to say how incredibly helpful and comprehensive this entire thread has been! Reading through Hassan's original struggle, all the detailed solutions everyone shared, and especially his success update has given me both hope and a clear roadmap forward. The combination of technical fixes (cache clearing, incognito mode, document lighting tips) and strategic approaches (the specific phone numbers, timing recommendations, and alternative services like Claimyr) is exactly what I needed. It's frustrating that accessing benefits we've paid into requires becoming tech support experts, but seeing this community come together to help each other navigate these broken systems is truly inspiring. This thread has become more valuable than any official EDD resource - thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where people share real solutions that actually work!

As someone who just discovered this community while desperately searching for solutions to my own ID.me verification nightmare, I have to say this thread is absolutely phenomenal! I've been stuck for over a week trying to file my SDI claim after a surgery, and reading through Hassan's journey from frustration to success, along with everyone's incredibly detailed solutions, has been such a relief. The way this community has collectively created the most comprehensive troubleshooting guide I've seen anywhere - covering everything from basic browser fixes to strategic calling approaches - is truly amazing. I'm planning to try the technical solutions tonight (clearing cache, incognito mode, proper document lighting) and have that (800) 480-3287 number ready for first thing tomorrow morning. It's honestly infuriating that we need to become verification system experts just to access benefits we've earned, but seeing how everyone here supports each other through these bureaucratic nightmares gives me so much hope. Hassan, thank you for coming back with your success story - that follow-through is what real community support looks like! This thread should definitely be featured as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD issues.