Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like it's most likely the waiting week, which is annoying but at least it's normal. I'll certify for my next two weeks tomorrow and see what happens. If I notice any more issues, I might try getting through to a rep with that Claimyr thing someone mentioned. Really appreciate all the help!

Just went through this exact same situation last month! It's definitely the waiting week - super confusing because they don't really explain it clearly anywhere on their website. I panicked for weeks thinking something was wrong with my claim too. The good news is once you get past that first week, payments should come through normally if you keep certifying on time and answer all the questions correctly. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful! My work email got shut down when I was laid off and now I can't access my EDD account at all. Based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like calling EDD is really the only reliable option when you're completely locked out of your old email. I'm planning to follow the advice here about calling at 8 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday with all my information ready. Has anyone tried the "Ask EDD" online feature for this issue, or is that just a waste of time? I'm a bit nervous about the phone call since I've heard horror stories about wait times, but it seems like many of you have had success once you actually get through to a human. Thanks to everyone who has shared their step-by-step experiences - it's making this feel much less overwhelming for those of us who are new to dealing with EDD issues!

As someone who just successfully changed my EDD email address last week, I wanted to add my experience to help others! I was in the same situation - my old email got compromised and I had to close it. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number on a Wednesday at exactly 8:00 AM and got through after about 1 hour and 20 minutes on hold. The rep was really helpful once I got connected. They asked for my SSN, driver's license number, full name, previous addresses from the last 2 years, and details about my last employer (company name, dates worked, and my weekly benefit amount). The whole verification process took about 5 minutes, then they updated my email immediately and sent a password reset link while I was still on the phone. I was able to log into my account with the new email within 10 minutes of hanging up. One tip that really helped - I wrote down all my information beforehand and had it right in front of me, which made the verification super quick. Don't give up on calling - it really is the fastest way to resolve this once you get through!

Reading through all these responses, I'm amazed at how many people are dealing with the exact same email mismatch issue - it really shows how widespread this problem is with EDD's system! I'm planning to try the 833-978-2511 number tomorrow morning at 8:01 AM sharp and specifically request a "contact information audit" like Sadie suggested. If that doesn't work, the in-person office visit that Abby mentioned sounds like a solid backup plan. I also really appreciate Mateusius's advice about documenting everything - I'm starting a call log today so I don't lose track of what different reps tell me. It's ridiculous that we need all these strategies just to get basic account info corrected, but this thread has given me hope that there are actually ways to get through the system. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually works instead of just complaining (though the complaints are totally justified too!). Will definitely update once I make some progress.

This is such a comprehensive thread with so many helpful strategies! I'm dealing with the exact same email mismatch issue and have been banging my head against the wall for weeks. The specific phone number (833-978-2511) and the "contact information audit" terminology are game changers - I never would have known to ask for that specifically. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM approach tomorrow morning with my SSN and claim number ready. The documentation advice is brilliant too - I can't believe I haven't been keeping a call log this whole time. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become experts in navigating government bureaucracy just to get basic account information corrected, but I'm so grateful everyone is sharing actual solutions that work. The in-person office visit option also sounds promising as a backup plan. Will definitely report back once I make some progress. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share detailed, actionable advice instead of just venting (though the venting is totally justified too!).

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

Ugh, that's so frustrating! I've been in the same situation before. Unfortunately, they do drop calls at closing time (8pm), so you'll likely get disconnected if you haven't already. Your best bet is to try calling again tomorrow morning right when they open. Some people have luck with the callback option if it's available, or you could try calling different EDD numbers. The wait times are brutal but don't give up - you'll eventually get through!

I went through this exact same process about 2 months ago when I was laid off from my electrical work on a solar installation project. Got that same anxiety-inducing call from EDD and immediately started spiraling, thinking I'd done something wrong or that my benefits were in jeopardy. Here's what I wish someone had told me then: the eligibility questionnaire is literally just EDD's way of making sure all the paperwork matches up. Since you've already been approved and certifying for 4 weeks, you're clearly eligible - this is just their quality control process. The questionnaire itself was about 5 pages and pretty straightforward. Questions about employment dates, supervisor contact info, exact reason for separation, last day worked, whether you got severance, etc. Since you have that termination letter saying "end of project," you're in perfect shape - that's exactly the documentation they're looking for. My advice: fill it out the same day you receive it, use the exact same language you used in your original application, and include a copy of your termination letter. I sent mine back via priority mail with tracking and never had any follow-up issues. My benefits continued normally after about a week of showing "pending" status while they reviewed it. Construction layoffs are bread and butter for EDD - they see these situations constantly. You worked 3 years at the same company and got laid off when the project ended. That's textbook unemployment eligibility. Try not to stress - this really is just routine paperwork, and you're going to be fine!

I totally understand your anxiety about this - I went through the exact same thing about 3 months ago when I was laid off from my roofing job after our commercial warehouse project finished. Got that same call from EDD and immediately thought something was wrong with my claim, even though I'd been certifying and receiving payments for about 5 weeks. The good news is that everyone here is absolutely right - these questionnaires are completely routine for construction workers. EDD sees project-based layoffs in our industry constantly, and they just need to verify that your story matches what your employer reported. Since you have that termination letter stating "end of project," you're in excellent shape. That's exactly the kind of clear documentation EDD wants to see. When I filled mine out, I made sure to: - Use the same exact wording I used in my original application - Be specific about the project details (dates, location, reason for completion) - Include a copy of my project completion notice - Send it back within 2 days via priority mail with tracking The form was about 4-5 pages and took me roughly an hour to complete thoroughly. My UI Online showed "pending" for about 10 days while they processed it, but then everything went back to normal and my payments continued without interruption. Construction layoffs due to project completion are one of the most straightforward unemployment scenarios EDD handles. You've already been approved and successfully certifying - this is just their way of crossing the t's and dotting the i's. Fill it out completely, send it back quickly, and try not to stress. You've absolutely got this!