EDD SDI online system says I don't exist despite text confirmations - stuck in payment limbo for weeks

This happened to me in January! The EDD system is a total mess right now because they upgraded their software but clearly didn't test it properly. The "no record found" error usually means your claim is actually being processed but hasn't been fully entered into their online system yet. Those text confirmations are from their newer notification system, but the online portal runs on their legacy database that takes forever to update. What worked for me was going to my local EDD office in person with my claim confirmation number (from the texts). They were able to look up my status on their internal system and fix whatever was causing the disconnect.

OMG the EXACT same thing is happening to my husband!!! It's been 5 weeks for him and we're about to miss our mortgage payment. The texts saying "your claim has been received" but then the website says he doesn't exist. It's INFURIATING!!!!

Former EDD employee here. What you're experiencing is unfortunately common right now. There's a disconnect between their text notification system and their main claims database. Here's what you need to do: 1. Don't keep trying the main EDD number - it's overwhelmed and won't help 2. Instead, call your local EDD office directly (Google your city + "EDD office direct number") 3. Have your confirmation texts ready along with your SSN and claim date 4. Ask specifically for a "manual claim status verification" - this is important terminology 5. If they can't immediately help, request a "claims specialist callback" - must use those exact words The system is showing "no record found" because your claim is likely stuck in the verification queue. A claims specialist can manually move it to the next stage. Keep documentation of all your attempts to contact them - this will be important if you end up needing to file for retroactive payments.

have u tried useing a different browser? sometimes EDd website doesnt work on chrome for me but works fine in firefox. just a thought

After struggling to reach EDD representatives for weeks about my disability claim, I discovered a service called Claimyr that actually worked for me. It's at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Basically, they help you get through to an actual EDD representative instead of hitting those frustrating dead ends. I was skeptical at first but was desperate after weeks of getting nowhere. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed my claim was received but stuck in their verification queue due to a system flag. They manually cleared it while I was on the phone and my payments started processing the next day. Might be worth checking out if you're still hitting walls.

I went thru this EXACT nightmare last year!!! The system said I didnt exist but I had gotten letters in the mail saying they recieved my application. Drove me INSANE trying to figure out what was going on. Turns out my doctor had filled out one tiny section wrong on the medical certification form (section 8 I think?) and instead of contacting me about it, my claim just sat in limbo. The only way I figured it out was finally getting thru to someone after calling 46 TIMES IN ONE DAY starting exactly at 8:00am. Once they fixed that one tiny error, my payments started coming within 48 hours. The whole system is broken!!!!

Just to clarify what may be happening behind the scenes: when you receive those text confirmations, it means your initial claim form (DE 2501) was received, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's been fully processed. For a claim to be viewable in the online system, it needs to pass through several verification stages: 1. Initial receipt (generates the text) 2. Identity verification 3. Employer verification 4. Medical provider certification review 5. Final claim setup in the payment system The "I don't exist" error typically means you're stuck between stages 1 and 5. The most common holdup is actually stage 4 - medical provider certification issues. Have you confirmed with your doctor that they completed and submitted the medical certification correctly? This is the #1 cause of claims being held up without clear status updates.

The whole state disabilitty system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!! They hope youll just go away if they make it hard enough to get your benefits. my sister works for the state (not EDD) and says they're TOLD to make things difficult for claimants. its SICK.

I had a similar issue last month. Here's what worked for me: 1. I contacted my state assembly member's office (find yours here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/) 2. Explained my situation to their constituent services staff 3. Filled out a release form allowing them to inquire about my case 4. They contacted EDD directly through their government channels 5. Within 3 business days, my claim was suddenly "found" and processed State representatives have dedicated EDD liaisons that can cut through the red tape. It's literally their job to help constituents with state agency problems. This approach was much faster than continuing to battle the phone system.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now - 3 weeks since I applied for SDI after a car accident and the online system acts like I'm a ghost! The disconnect between getting text confirmations but having "no record found" online is absolutely maddening. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (some people have been waiting 5+ weeks!). I'm going to try multiple approaches based on what everyone shared: 1. Call my local EDD office directly tomorrow using the specific terminology Zainab mentioned 2. Contact my assembly member's office like Keisha suggested 3. Double-check with my doctor that all certification paperwork was submitted correctly 4. Try a different browser (simple but worth a shot) The stress of not knowing if/when payments will come while bills pile up is honestly affecting my recovery. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is more helpful than anything I've found on the actual EDD website!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - 2 weeks since my SDI application after knee surgery and it's like I exist in EDD's text system but not their website! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm planning to try the assembly member approach that Keisha mentioned since that seems to have the fastest turnaround time. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - if you're using a VPN or have strict privacy settings on your browser, that can sometimes cause the "no record found" error even when your claim exists. I found this buried in their technical FAQ. Try disabling any VPNs and allowing all cookies for the EDD site before logging in. It's a long shot but worth trying since it takes 30 seconds. Also, for anyone keeping track of their attempts to contact EDD - document EVERYTHING with dates and times. If you end up needing to request retroactive payments later, having a detailed log of your attempts to resolve the issue will help your case significantly.

This whole thread is like reading my own horror story! I've been stuck in this exact same EDD black hole for 3 weeks now after applying for SDI following back surgery. The "you don't exist" error while simultaneously receiving text confirmations is absolutely mind-boggling - it's like being gaslit by a government computer system. What's really struck me reading through everyone's experiences is how many different potential causes there are for this issue: browser problems, VPN interference, medical certification errors, system upgrades not syncing properly, claims stuck in verification queues... It's clear EDD's systems are held together with digital duct tape and prayers. I'm going to implement a combination approach based on all the great advice here: 1. Try the assembly member route first since Keisha had such quick success 2. Call my local EDD office using Zainab's specific terminology 3. Double-check browser settings and disable my VPN as Katherine suggested 4. Verify with my doctor that all paperwork was submitted correctly The most frustrating part is that we're all dealing with legitimate disabilities and surgeries, yet we have to become part-time detectives just to access the benefits we've paid into. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support means more than you know when you're feeling completely lost in the system!