EDD PFL account verification fail - possible ID.me connection?

This is definitely related to the ID.me system update they did in January 2025. My wife had the same issue last month when trying to file for her PFL. The EDD switched to a new identity verification protocol and it's causing all kinds of problems with existing accounts. Here's what worked for us: have your husband create a brand new ID.me account using a different email address than his original EDD account. Then call the main EDD office (not tech support) and ask them to link his new ID.me to his existing EDD account. It's an extra step but it bypasses the verification error.

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT NIGHTMARE last week!!! Spent 4 days trying to reach someone at EDD. Their phone system is completely broken - it just disconnects you after making you listen to all those automated messages. So infuriating! I finally got through to a live person using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that basically calls EDD for you and then connects you when they get a representative. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent I spoke with confirmed there's been a huge spike in verification issues since the ID.me update. They had to manually override something in my husband's account. Took about 15 minutes once I actually talked to someone.

It's legitimate - they don't access your EDD information at all. They just connect the call and then you talk directly with the EDD rep. Saved me hours of frustration, and the rep I got was actually really helpful with fixing the verification issue. They explained that the new ID verification system is causing conflicts with existing accounts.

ya the verification errors r happening to TONS of people right now. my sister couldnt do her maternity leave app for like 2 weeks cuz of this. she finally got in by using incognito mode on chrome + clearing all cookies. maybe try that??

I work as an HR benefits specialist and we've had multiple employees facing this exact issue when trying to file for PFL baby bonding. The root cause is indeed related to the EDD's transition to the enhanced ID.me verification protocol implemented earlier this year. The system is struggling to reconcile existing accounts with the new verification requirements. Here are a few options that have worked for our employees: 1. The New ID.me Account method others mentioned (most successful) 2. Requesting a manual override by speaking with an EDD representative (requires getting through on phone) 3. Submitting a paper application (DE2508) instead of using the online system (slower but bypasses the verification issue) I'd recommend trying option #1 first, then using Claimyr or a similar service to actually reach someone if that doesn't work. Option #3 should be your last resort as paper applications are taking 3-4 weeks to process currently.

omg this brings back nightmares from when i had my baby last summer!!! the whole edd system is such a mess honestly. i had this weird thing where the pregnancy disability went through fine but then when i tried to switch to baby bonding it gave me that same verification error!! i ended up having to go to the actual edd office in person!!! with a newborn!!! just to fix a stupid computer glitch. maybe see if theres an office near you? sometimes in person is faster than calling these days

Having been through pregnancy disability and baby bonding twice in the past 3 years, I can tell you that the phone system is completely useless during high volume periods. I wasted probably 20+ hours trying to get through for a similar issue. I finally had success by calling right when they open at 8:00am, but even then I had to try multiple days in a row. If you're down to the wire with your due date, I would honestly try multiple approaches simultaneously - new ID.me account, early morning calls, and maybe even start the paper application process as backup. Just make sure your husband's employer has already submitted their portion of the information or the claim will get stuck regardless of whether you fix the verification issue!

Just a quick follow-up to my earlier comment - make sure when he creates the new ID.me account that he uses ALL of his legal name exactly as it appears on his driver's license. My wife's middle name was the issue in our case. She had used her middle initial on one system but her full middle name on another, and that tiny discrepancy was causing the verification to fail.

UPDATE: We got it fixed! Combination of approaches worked. My husband created a new ID.me account with a different email address, and then we used Claimyr to reach someone at EDD this morning. The rep was super helpful and manually linked his accounts. The verification is working now, and he was able to submit his baby bonding claim! Thanks everyone for your help. For anyone else having this issue, definitely try the new ID.me account approach and use a call service if you're getting disconnected repeatedly. Saved us hours of frustration!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This thread is going to be so helpful for other parents dealing with the same issue. The ID.me verification problems seem to be affecting a lot of people right now. Quick tip for anyone else reading this - if you're planning to take PFL for baby bonding, start the application process at least 2-3 weeks before you actually need the benefits to start. These technical issues can really eat into your time, and the last thing you want is to be stressed about benefits when you should be focused on your new baby. Also, keep all your documentation organized (birth certificate, doctor's notes, etc.) because sometimes the manual override process requires you to resubmit everything. Better to have it ready than scramble to find it later!

As someone who just went through this exact same verification nightmare last month, I can't stress enough how broken the EDD phone system is right now. I literally called 47 times over 3 days (yes, I kept count because I was so frustrated!). What finally worked for me was a combination of what others have mentioned: created a fresh ID.me account using my work email instead of personal, then got through using one of those callback services. The EDD rep told me they're getting hundreds of calls daily about this specific verification issue since the January system update. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your husband has ever changed his name (like after marriage or legally), make sure the ID.me account uses whatever name is currently on file with EDD, not necessarily what's on his current ID. That was my issue - I had legally changed my last name but EDD still had my maiden name in their system. The verification kept failing because of that mismatch. Also, once you get it resolved, screenshot EVERYTHING. The system is glitchy and sometimes loses the verification status randomly. Having screenshots of successful pages saved me when it happened again 2 weeks later. Good luck! It's so stressful dealing with this when you're already preparing for a new baby, but it is fixable!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My partner has been trying to file for PFL for the past week and keeps getting the verification error. It's so reassuring to see we're not the only ones experiencing this nightmare. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to try the new ID.me account approach first thing tomorrow morning. The fact that multiple people have had success with this gives me hope. I had no idea the January system update was causing so many problems - EDD really should have communicated this better to users. One question for those who successfully got through - after creating the new ID.me account, did you have to wait any specific amount of time before calling EDD to link the accounts, or were you able to call immediately? We're also cutting it close with timing, so every day counts at this point. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions. This thread is incredibly helpful for those of us navigating this frustrating system!