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Lauren Zeb

SDI online registration error: system can't validate driver's license/DOB info. Help!

I'm having trouble registering for SDI online. I'm on maternity leave and need to apply, but the system keeps giving me an error message saying it can't validate my information. It says my driver's license or date of birth is incorrect, but I've double-checked everything and it matches my DMV records. Has anyone else run into this issue? Any advice on how to get past this and successfully register?

I found a way to solve SDI online registration errors, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8UcIVTd_fw

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Ugh, I had the same problem last year when I was trying to register for SDI. It's so frustrating! Have you tried calling them directly? Sometimes the online system just doesn't work right.

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I haven't tried calling yet. The thought of being on hold for hours is making me anxious. Did you have any luck when you called?

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Yeah, I feel you. The hold times are brutal. I did eventually get through after about 2 hours on hold. The agent was able to help me register over the phone. It's not ideal, but it worked.

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Pro tip: call right when they open in the morning. You might have a better chance of getting through quickly.

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I found a way to get someone on the phone without the endless hold times. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

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Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?

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I was skeptical at first too, but it really did work for me. Saved me hours of frustration.

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20 bucks to skip the hold time? Sign me up! 🙌

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idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong somehow

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I get that, but for me, time is money. I'd rather pay $20 than waste half a day on hold.

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Have you tried clearing your browser cache and cookies? Sometimes that can help with weird website errors. Also, make sure you're using a supported browser. The SDI website can be picky.

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This happened to me too! Turns out my license had expired and I didn't even realize it. Double check that your license is still valid - that might be why the system is freaking out.

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Oh wow, I hadn't even thought of that. I'll definitely check. Thanks for the tip!

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The whole SDI system is a joke. I've been trying to get my claim processed for weeks now. Good luck, OP. You're gonna need it. 🙄

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Preach! 🙌 The system is so broken. We need to demand better from our government agencies.

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C'mon, it's not that bad. I got my claim processed in just a couple of weeks. Maybe y'all are doing something wrong? 🤷‍♂️

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LOL found the EDD employee 🤡

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Here's what I would recommend: 1. Double-check all your info: Make sure your name, DOB, and license number exactly match what's on your physical license. 2. Try a different browser: Sometimes the site works better in Chrome or Firefox. 3. Use a desktop/laptop if you've been trying on mobile. 4. If all else fails, you can request a paper application. It takes longer, but it's an option if the online system keeps failing. 5. As others have mentioned, calling can work, but be prepared for long hold times. Hope this helps! Let us know if you get it figured out.

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Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll give these a try and update if I have any luck.

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This is great info. Mods should pin this comment!

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am i the only 1 who thinks its crazy we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we've paid into? smh

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You're not alone. The system seems designed to discourage people from claiming their benefits. It's messed up.

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for real tho. like, we're already stressed about being out of work, why make it harder? 😤

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Hey OP, congrats on the baby! 🎉👶 Sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of everything else. Sending positive vibes your way!

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Aww, thank you! That's so sweet of you to say. 💖

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I had this exact same issue a few months ago! The problem for me was that my middle initial was included on my driver's license but I wasn't entering it in the online form. Make sure you're entering your name EXACTLY as it appears on your license - including any middle initials, Jr./Sr., etc. Also, if your license has any leading zeros in the number, make sure you include those too. The system is super picky about exact matches. If that doesn't work, try entering your info in all caps - sometimes that helps with their validation system. Good luck mama! 🤞

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This is super helpful! I never would have thought about the middle initial thing. I'm definitely going to try entering everything exactly as it appears on my license, including trying the all caps suggestion. Really appreciate you sharing what worked for you - gives me hope that I can get this sorted out! 🙏

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I went through this exact same frustration when I was pregnant with my daughter! The validation error drove me crazy because I was 100% sure my info was correct. What finally worked for me was going to the DMV website and checking how my name appears on their records - turns out there was a tiny difference in how they had my name formatted compared to what I thought it was. Also, if you recently moved or updated your license, sometimes there's a delay between the DMV updating their records and the SDI system recognizing the changes. You might want to try using your previous address if you moved recently. Hang in there - you'll get through this! The benefits are definitely worth the hassle once you finally get registered. 💪

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This is such a smart tip about checking the DMV website first! I never thought about there being formatting differences between what I think my name is and how it's actually stored in their system. The thing about address delays makes total sense too - bureaucratic systems are notoriously slow to sync up with each other. Thanks for sharing your experience and the encouragement! It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing and came out the other side successfully. 🤗

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I'm going through this same issue right now and it's so stressful! I've been trying for days to register and keep getting that validation error. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful - I had no idea about things like middle initials or leading zeros making a difference. I'm definitely going to try the DMV website check and the all caps approach. Has anyone had success with contacting their local SDI office in person instead of dealing with the phone system? Sometimes face-to-face can be easier than navigating all the automated systems. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

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I haven't tried going to a local office in person, but that's actually a really good idea! Sometimes the staff there can override system issues or help troubleshoot in ways that phone support can't. You might want to call ahead to make sure they handle SDI registrations at your local office though - not all locations offer the same services. Also, bring all your documents just in case they can help you register on the spot. Hope you get it sorted out soon! The stress of dealing with this while pregnant is the worst. 😔

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I just went through this nightmare last month! The trick that finally worked for me was making sure EVERY single character matched exactly - including spaces and punctuation. The system rejected me because I had a hyphen in my last name but was entering it without the hyphen. Also, if your license shows your full middle name but you usually just use your middle initial, try entering the full middle name instead. Another thing to check - if you have any accent marks or special characters in your name, the system might be picky about those too. Don't give up! It took me 6 tries but I finally got through. The maternity leave benefits are worth fighting for! 💪👶

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Oh my gosh, the hyphen thing makes so much sense! I bet that's what's happening with my name too - I have a hyphenated last name and I've been entering it sometimes with and sometimes without the hyphen. I never realized the system would be THAT picky about punctuation. Six tries sounds exhausting but I'm glad you finally got through! Did you keep track of exactly which format worked so you could use it consistently for future logins? This gives me hope that it's just a formatting issue and not something more complicated. Thanks for sharing what worked for you! 🙏

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