i rember in 2024 edd changed the rules for reopening claims and you have to do a phone interview if you worked more than 4 weeks so don't be surprise if they schedule you for one

Great to hear it worked out smoothly for you! For anyone else reading this thread, I just want to emphasize that reopening is almost always the right choice when you're still within your benefit year and have remaining balance. Filing a new claim when you should reopen can create a huge mess - I've seen people wait months to get it sorted out. The key things to remember: 1) Your benefit year is 12 months from original filing date, 2) You can reopen multiple times within that year, and 3) Always report all wages honestly when certifying. The system is designed to handle these temporary work interruptions!

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! Got the disqualification notice on a Tuesday for "false statement" and the overpayment notice arrived exactly 16 days later. Like everyone else here, I was totally confused about what I supposedly did wrong since I answered everything honestly. Turns out EDD's system flagged me because I reported working 2 days one week but they thought I should have been "unavailable for work" those days. Complete misunderstanding that got cleared up once I reached an actual human being. My advice: start calling EDD NOW while you're waiting for the overpayment notice - don't wait. I used the technique someone mentioned about calling right at 8:01 AM and got through on my 3rd try. The rep was able to explain exactly what triggered the disqualification and even put notes in my file for the appeal. Also, gather EVERYTHING - I printed out all my certifications, work schedules, even text messages with my boss about my hours. When the overpayment notice comes, you'll have 30 days to appeal, but having everything ready beforehand makes the process so much smoother. Don't panic - most of these really are system errors that can be fixed!

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Got my disqualification notice 6 days ago for "false statement" and I've been a wreck ever since. Reading everyone's experiences here has been both terrifying and comforting at the same time. It sounds like I should expect the overpayment notice in the next week or two based on the timelines people are sharing. I've already started gathering all my documentation - screenshots of every certification, confirmation emails, pay stubs, even my work calendar to show my availability. The hardest part is not knowing what I supposedly lied about since I was so careful to answer everything truthfully. I'm going to try calling EDD first thing Monday morning at 8:01 AM like several people suggested. Has anyone had luck getting a specific explanation of what triggered their disqualification when they called? I just want to understand what went wrong so I can properly defend myself in the appeal. This whole process is making me lose sleep, but seeing how many people successfully fought these decisions gives me hope!

Hey Lucas, I feel your frustration! This exact thing happened to me earlier this year. A few things that helped me figure it out: 1) Log into your EDD portal and check the "History" section under your PFL claim - sometimes there are status codes there that give clues about why it was denied. 2) If you submitted your claim recently, double-check that your doctor filled out the medical certification completely - missing signatures or dates are super common denial reasons. 3) Also verify your base period wages meet the minimum requirements (you need at least $300 in wages during your base period). The appeal process is definitely worth it if you believe you qualify - I've seen people get approved after initially being denied for paperwork issues. Don't let this discourage you from getting the support your family needs! 💪

I went through this exact same thing last year and it's absolutely maddening! Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: Don't wait around for explanations - appeal IMMEDIATELY (you only have 20 days, not 30 like some people think). While you're waiting for the appeal, try calling at exactly 8:00 AM - I got through on my 4th try doing this. Also, log into your EDD portal and check every single section - sometimes there are clues buried in there about what went wrong. In my case, it turned out to be a simple issue with my employer's wage verification that got resolved once I knew what to look for. The whole system is frustrating but don't let them wear you down - you deserve those benefits if you qualify! Keep us updated on what you find out 🤞

Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer who's been lurking and reading all your helpful advice! I'm in the middle of my first EDD claim and was honestly panicking when I saw the site was down this morning - thought I'd done something wrong or my claim got flagged. This thread has been a lifesaver in understanding that these outages are just part of the EDD experience (unfortunately). I've already bookmarked the mobile site and started following their social media for updates. Quick question for the veterans here: is there any pattern to when these outages happen? Like certain times of month or specific days? Just trying to plan ahead so I don't stress out every certification period. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this community is amazing for helping navigate this confusing system!

As someone who just went through this exact same panic this morning, I can't thank everyone enough for all the helpful advice in this thread! I was absolutely stressed thinking I'd miss my certification deadline, but reading about everyone's similar experiences really put things in perspective. I ended up getting in around 11 AM after trying on and off since 7 AM. What really helped was switching to the mobile site that someone mentioned - it loaded way faster than the desktop version. I'm definitely going to start certifying during off-peak hours from now on, and I've already bookmarked all the backup options you all shared. It's frustrating that we have to deal with these technical issues just to access our benefits, but at least knowing it's a common problem makes it less scary. Thanks for creating such a supportive space for navigating EDD's quirky system!

Just wanted to add my experience to this thread since I see so many people struggling with the same issue. I finally got through last week after 18 days of trying every trick in the book! What worked for me was calling the disability line (1-800-480-3287) and explaining that I needed to be transferred to unemployment benefits. The wait was only about 45 minutes compared to the 4+ hours I was spending on the main line. The rep told me that since both departments handle similar types of claims, they can often transfer you directly without having to start over in the queue. She was able to fix my payment delay issue right on the spot. I know it sounds like a weird workaround but honestly at this point we have to get creative with this broken system. Hope this helps someone else get the help they need!

I've been reading through all these comments and wanted to share what finally worked for me after 3+ weeks of pure frustration. I tried literally EVERYTHING mentioned here - the 8:01am timing, Spanish line transfer, disability line transfer, file new claim trick - and kept getting nowhere. What finally broke through was using an auto-dialer app called "Auto Redial" from the app store. I set it to call the main EDD line every 30 seconds while I went about my day, and it finally connected me to hold after about 2 hours of automated dialing. Waited another hour on hold but actually got through to a real person who resolved my stuck certification in 10 minutes. The whole ordeal took 4 weeks total but I'm finally getting my back payments. For anyone still struggling - don't lose hope and definitely try the creative approaches people have shared here. This system is absolutely broken but there ARE ways through if you keep trying different methods!