EDD SDI denied my claim after address verification was delivered one day late - help!

The EDD is a frickin JOKE! They did the exact same thing to me last year - gave me like 5 days to respond and then denied me before they even got my stuff. Their mail system is BROKEN and they don't care at all. I ended up having to appeal and it took TWO MONTHS to get approved. Meanwhile I had to borrow money from family just to pay rent. The whole system is designed to deny as many people as possible.

Definitely go to the office in person with all your documentation - your original claim paperwork, the address verification letter, proof that you mailed your response (tracking info), and the denial letter. Ask to speak with a claim specialist, not just the front desk staff. When you're there, request that they make notes in your file about your visit and the documentation you provided. Make sure you still file the appeal before the deadline (usually 20 days from the date on the denial letter). Write a clear explanation of what happened with the dates, and include copies of your tracking information showing when you mailed it and when it was received. This is actually a common issue with the EDD SDI verification process - they often don't allow enough time between sending requests and their response deadlines.

omg same thing hapend to me! its like they want us 2 fail!! make sure u get the name of the person u talk to at the office. i didnt and regretted it later when i had to call back and nobody knew about my visit

I work with disability claims professionally, and here's what you need to know: This situation falls under what EDD calls "good cause" for late response. When you go to the office, specifically request that they apply the "good cause" provision to your case since you responded within a reasonable timeframe and have proof of mailing. Also, ask them about initiating an "informal reconsideration" before going through the formal appeal process. Sometimes they can review and reverse a decision without requiring a hearing if you have clear documentation. Bring your tracking number, a screenshot of the delivery confirmation, the original request letter showing the dates, and your denial letter. If you do need to file an appeal, be very specific about the timeline in your explanation, emphasizing that the denial was issued before your documents were even delivered. I've seen many cases like yours get resolved in the claimant's favor.

If u need to get a hold of an actual EDD representative on the phone (which is practically impossible these days), try using Claimyr.com - it got me through to an EDD SDI agent in about 10 minutes last week when I had a similar issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd I spent 3 days trying to get through on my own with no luck, then used this service and actually talked to someone who could help. The agent was able to see that my documents had been received but not processed yet, and they expedited my claim review.

@concerned_applicant Yeah it connects you directly to EDD. It saves hours of redial nightmare. The SDI phone system is completely broken right now with so many claims.

Make sure you take multiple copies of everything to the EDD office! My cousin works there and says their scanners are always breaking down and sometimes documents get lost between departments. Also wear comfortable shoes because you might be waiting for hours lol

To answer your follow-up question - yes, bring a written timeline! Always provide written documentation when dealing with EDD SDI. I recommend creating a simple one-page document with: 1. Date verification letter was sent by EDD (Dec 29, 2024) 2. Date you received it (Jan 5, 2025) 3. Date you mailed your response (Jan 6, 2025) 4. Date your response was delivered (Jan 8, 2025, with tracking number) 5. Date of the denial letter (Jan 7, 2025) This written timeline will become part of your file if they initiate the informal reconsideration. Also, arrive at the office 15-30 minutes before they open - there's almost always a line, especially early in the week.

Did you sign up for the EDD SDI Online account? I had a similar issue but I was able to upload my documents directly through the portal instead of mailing them. It gives you confirmation right away that they received your stuff. Might be helpful for future reference if you haven't already set that up.

Whatever you do, DON'T accept their first answer if they try to brush you off! Ask to speak to a supervisor if needed. They tried to tell me I had to just wait for the appeal process but I insisted on speaking to someone higher up and suddenly they "found" a way to expedite things. The frontline staff often don't have the authority or don't want to take the time to really help.

update us after u go!! i wanna kno if they fix it for u

One more piece of advice - when you file your appeal (even if you're also trying the informal reconsideration route), make sure to request continued benefits pending the appeal decision. There's a specific checkbox for this on the appeal form. This is called "aid paid pending" and means you might be able to receive benefits while waiting for the appeal decision. Not everyone qualifies, but it's worth requesting.