I'm going through this exact same identity verification nightmare right now! EDD flagged my account three weeks ago claiming they couldn't verify my identity, even though I was born in California and have been filing with them on and off for years. It's like they just randomly flag accounts now and then put the burden on us to prove we exist. What's really frustrating is how each department gives you different information. The regular customer service reps say one thing, the eligibility interviewers say another, and then appeals is in its own separate world. No one seems to communicate with each other! I've also submitted the DE 1000M form and I'm waiting to hear from my assembly member's office. Reading through these comments gives me some hope that there are actually ways to get through this bureaucratic maze. The suggestion about the One-Stop Career Centers having EDD liaisons is something I hadn't heard before - definitely going to look into that. Hope your husband's job interview went well today! Even if he gets the position, definitely keep pushing on the appeal for those back benefits. They owe you that money for all the weeks you've been waiting around for them to do their job. This whole system is such a mess but it sounds like you're taking all the right steps to fight it.

This is exactly why I tell everyone to document EVERYTHING from day one when dealing with EDD. I went through a similar identity verification mess earlier this year and what saved me was having a detailed spreadsheet with every phone call, every document submitted, and every person I talked to. Here's what I learned that might help: when you contact your assembly member's office (which is absolutely the right move), bring that documentation log with you. They can use it to show EDD exactly how long you've been jerked around and why this needs immediate attention. Also, ask them specifically about getting your case assigned to their "EDD ombudsman" - not all assembly offices advertise this but most have someone who specializes in these cases. One more thing - if your husband does get that job, make sure he keeps detailed records of his start date and wages. When the appeal finally goes through (and it will), you'll need to show EDD exactly which weeks he was unemployed vs employed so they calculate the back benefits correctly. They love to "accidentally" short-change people on retroactive payments. The citizenship questioning for someone born in Michigan is absolutely ridiculous, but unfortunately typical of how broken this system has become. Stay persistent - you WILL get through this eventually!

So glad you got it figured out! This is actually a really common issue that trips up a lot of people - the old account thing catches everyone off guard. Your post and the solutions people shared here are going to help so many others who run into the same problem. Thanks for coming back to update us with what worked!

This thread is gold! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's so frustrating how EDD doesn't make it clearer that you might already have an account from years ago - they should really add a note about checking account recovery first before trying to register as new. The fact that so many people are running into this exact same issue shows there's definitely a communication gap on their end. Glad to see this community helping each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation with my benefits expiring in about 6 weeks. I've been taking some free coding courses on freeCodeCamp and was worried I'd have to start over completely. After reading all these responses, I'm planning to visit my local AJCC office next week to explore the community college and Calbright options mentioned here. One additional resource I found that might help others - the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office has a program locator tool on their website where you can search for career education programs by field and location. I used it to find several data analytics and computer programming certificates in my area that are likely on the ETPL list. It's at cccco.edu if anyone wants to check it out. Also wanted to thank @Oliver Zimmermann for posting this question originally - your situation sounds almost identical to mine and this thread probably saved me from making the same Coursera mistake! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and resources here.

As someone who just went through this process, I wanted to add that timing is absolutely critical! I made the mistake of waiting too long to start the paperwork and almost had a gap in my benefits. Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: 1. Start the process AT LEAST 6 weeks before your benefits expire if possible 2. Have backup options ready - I applied to 3 different programs just in case one fell through 3. Keep detailed records of all your communications with EDD, AJCC, and schools - you'll need to reference them later 4. Some AJCC offices are way more helpful than others - if yours isn't responsive, try calling a different location in your area Also, for anyone considering the community college route - many offer "short-term career training" programs that are 6 months or less and specifically designed for UI recipients. These are often fast-tracked for ETPL approval. I ended up in a 4-month cybersecurity program that got me both the benefits extension AND landed me a job before I even finished! Don't give up if the first person you talk to says "no" - keep pushing and asking to speak to supervisors. The system is confusing but it absolutely works if you're persistent!

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! I'm going to: 1. Research UX programs on the EDD approved list first 2. Complete the DE 8736 form for CTB approval BEFORE enrolling 3. Gather documentation showing UX design is in demand in my area 4. Try to time the approval close to when my regular benefits end Really appreciate all the insights - this community is amazing. Will update once I hear back from EDD about my application!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this recently. I was in a similar situation - graphic designer who got laid off and wanted to transition to UX. One thing that really helped my CTB application was creating a "career transition plan" document that showed how UX design directly builds on my existing graphic design skills. I included salary comparisons, job growth projections for UX vs traditional graphic design, and even found specific job postings that mentioned "graphic design background preferred" for UX roles. The EDD rep during my determination interview was impressed that I had a clear career progression strategy rather than just picking a random program. She said it strengthened my case that this was genuine workforce development, not just extending benefits. Also - start collecting those job demand statistics NOW. I used Bureau of Labor Statistics data, LinkedIn job insights, and local job board searches to show UX demand in my metro area. Having concrete numbers ready made the interview go much smoother. Your timing sounds good with 10 weeks left - that should give you enough buffer to get approved and start the program before your regular benefits expire. Best of luck!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! As someone who's been on EDD for about 4 months now, I had no idea how to handle contract work with delayed payment. The consensus here is super clear and reassuring. What I'm taking away is: 1. Report work when you actually do it, not when you get paid 2. Keep detailed daily records of hours worked 3. Be as precise as possible when estimating earnings 4. Your remaining weeks get preserved for later use (within your benefit year) 5. Have clear contract documentation with start/end dates The stories from people who actually went through this exact situation are so valuable. It's clear that being honest and proactive with reporting is the way to go, while trying to hide work or delay reporting just leads to overpayment headaches and penalties later. @dd84d3bd2424 you're definitely approaching this the right way by planning ahead. This thread should give you all the confidence you need to handle your 2-week freelance project properly while preserving those 3 remaining benefit weeks for when you really need them!

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently on EDD and have been wondering about this exact scenario with freelance work. Reading through everyone's experiences has really cleared up my confusion about the timing of reporting work vs. payment. It's so helpful to see the consistent advice from multiple people who've actually been through this - report when you work, not when you get paid, and EDD will preserve your remaining weeks. The emphasis on keeping detailed records and being precise with earnings estimates is really valuable too. @dd84d3bd2424 it sounds like you have a solid plan now based on all this great advice. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated this same situation should give you confidence that you're handling it the right way. Good luck with your freelance project!