EDD SDI Online account locked - password reset not working and can't reach anyone by phone

ugh same thing happened to me last month. the whole system is BROKEN. I had to call over 40 times before someone picked up, and they put me on hold for another 45 mins!!!

Try this before you waste more time calling: Go to Benefits Programs Online (not SDI directly), click 'Forgot Password', and request a reset through there instead. The SDI-specific reset sometimes glitches, but the main BPO reset usually works. Also, clear your browser cache and cookies completely before trying again. If that doesn't work, call right when they open at 8:00 AM. Monday and Tuesday are the worst days to call. Thursday afternoon around 3:30 PM has worked for me in the past.

After dealing with this exact problem for a week straight and getting nowhere, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real EDD agent in less than 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Just went to claimyr.com and they have this system that basically calls EDD for you and then connects you when they get through. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The agent I spoke with was able to unlock my account and override the password reset issue right away. Apparently it's a known glitch in their system that happens a lot.

Here's what's happening with your account: When the system locks you out, it actually creates a 24-hour security hold that won't allow ANY password resets to process properly. The reset emails might come through after that hold expires, but by then the reset links have already expired too. You have three options: 1. Wait 24 hours from your last login attempt without trying ANYTHING, then try the BPO (Benefits Programs Online) reset as someone else suggested 2. Call the technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 instead of the regular SDI number - they specifically handle account issues 3. If your certification deadline is approaching and you can't wait, you can file a paper certification form. Download DE 2500A from the EDD website and mail or fax it in. For future reference, always use the "Forgot Username" option first if you're not sure about your login credentials. Incorrect password attempts are what trigger the security locks.

have u tried using a different browser? sometimes that works. chrome never works for me with their website but firefox does for some reason

Just went through this nightmare last month. What worked for me was using the Contact EDD feature through the main EDD website (not the SDI portal). Go to edd.ca.gov > Contact EDD > SDI > Ask EDD > then select "Account Problems" as your reason. I got a response within 48 hours and they manually reset my account. Make sure to mention your certification deadline in your message so they prioritize it. Also, this is random, but if you do get through by phone, the technician might tell you that they can't help with SDI accounts and transfer you - DON'T let them transfer you! The tech support absolutely CAN help with SDI Online account locks, but some of them try to pass it off to regular SDI reps who can't actually fix technical issues.

I know this sounds stupid but my husband had this same issue and it turned out he was using his UI Online password instead of his SDI password (they're different systems even though they look almost identical). Maybe double check that you're using the right password for the right system?

UPDATE: I got in!! The BPO reset worked, but I had to wait about 3 hours for the email to come through. Then I cleared my cache like someone suggested and was able to set a new password. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone else with this problem, here's what worked: 1. Go to Benefits Programs Online (not SDI directly) 2. Use the "Forgot Password" there instead of through SDI 3. Clear browser cache and cookies before trying the new password 4. Be patient - the reset email took hours to arrive

Wow, so glad you got it working Maya! This thread is going to be so helpful for other people dealing with the same issue. I've been having random login problems with SDI too (not locked out yet thankfully) but good to know about the BPO reset trick. Bookmarking this post for future reference. The EDD system really needs a major overhaul - it's ridiculous that people have to jump through so many hoops just to access their own benefits.

This is exactly why I always tell people to keep a backup of their login info and maybe even take screenshots of important pages. I learned the hard way after getting locked out of my UI account last year. One tip I'd add to Maya's great solution - if you're still having trouble with the BPO reset, try doing it from an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes the regular browser has cached credentials that interfere with the reset process. Also, if anyone is reading this and hasn't had issues yet, consider setting up the EDD Debit Card online access as a backup way to check your payment status when the main portals are acting up.

As someone who works in IT, I can explain why this happens so frequently with EDD's system. They're running on legacy infrastructure that wasn't designed to handle the volume of users they have now. The account lockout triggers are way too sensitive - even legitimate login attempts can trip the security system if there's any network lag or session timeout issues. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're still having problems after trying all these great solutions, check if your internet provider is blocking any EDD domains. Some ISPs accidentally flag government sites as suspicious. You can test this by trying to access your account from a different network (like your phone's hotspot) or using a VPN. Also, for anyone dealing with this in the future - the system tends to have the most issues during peak hours (9 AM - 12 PM and 1 PM - 4 PM on weekdays). Try logging in during off-peak times like early morning (6-8 AM) or evenings (after 6 PM) for better success rates. Maya, I'm so glad the BPO reset worked for you! That's definitely the most reliable workaround right now.