I'm also in a similar boat - just exhausted my benefits and looking at EDD positions! One thing I haven't seen mentioned here yet is that they also have seasonal hiring surges. A friend who works in their Sacramento office told me they typically do big hiring pushes right before tax season (January-March) and again before the holidays when claim volumes spike. So timing your application might matter. Also, for those worried about the long wait times - I've heard that some offices are more desperate for staff than others. Rural offices sometimes move faster through the hiring process than the big city ones because they get fewer applicants. Might be worth looking at positions outside your immediate area if you're willing to commute or relocate. The state does offer relocation assistance for some positions too.

I just wanted to add something that might help with the immediate financial pressure while you're waiting for the EDD hiring process - have you looked into gig work or freelance accounting services? Since you have an accounting background, you could potentially pick up some bookkeeping clients through platforms like Upwork or even local small businesses. I know it's not ideal when you want stable employment, but it could help bridge the gap during those 3-6 months of waiting for state employment. Also, don't forget to check if your local One-Stop Career Centers have any rapid employment programs or connections with employers who need immediate hires. Sometimes they have relationships with companies that aren't widely advertised. The combination of applying for EDD positions AND having some income coming in from temporary work might take some of the financial pressure off while you wait for the state bureaucracy to move. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a solid plan forming!

I'm having a similar issue where I can't access my UI Online account. It's been really frustrating trying to get through to EDD by phone. Has anyone tried the ID.me verification process? I heard that might be required now for account access, but I'm not sure if that's related to this specific error message. Would appreciate any guidance from others who've dealt with this!

I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! That error message usually means your account has been flagged for security reasons or identity verification. Here's what worked for me: First, check if you have any pending mail from EDD about identity verification - sometimes it gets delayed or goes to spam. If not, try calling the technical support line at (800) 300-5616 early in the morning (around 8:01 AM) for better chances of getting through. They can tell you exactly why your account is blocked and what steps you need to take. In my case, I had to complete the ID.me verification process online, which took about 3-4 business days to get approved. Don't give up - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

Hey Justin! I totally understand that panic you felt seeing "excessive earnings" - I had the EXACT same reaction when it first showed up on my account about 5 months ago! I literally thought I had somehow violated the terms of my UI claim by working part-time. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - your claim is completely fine! "Excessive earnings" is just EDD's unnecessarily scary way of saying you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is around $450, that explains the status perfectly. I've been working part-time at a local grocery store while on UI, and my hours vary between 14-24 per week depending on scheduling needs. I've seen "excessive earnings" probably 8-9 times now, and every single time my claim stayed completely active. The weeks I worked fewer hours, I received partial benefits again like normal. What really helped me stop stressing was realizing this is actually a positive thing - it means you had a financially successful week and didn't need UI assistance! Now when I see that status, I actually feel good about it because it shows I'm making progress toward financial stability. Your warehouse job is perfect for bridging the gap while you search for full-time work. Keep certifying every two weeks regardless of what status appears, keep doing your work search activities, and definitely don't let EDD's confusing terminology discourage you. You're handling everything exactly right - that "excessive earnings" status is actually proof you're being proactive and responsible!

Hey Justin! I totally get that panic you felt when you first saw "excessive earnings" - I had the exact same heart-stopping moment about 2 months ago when it appeared on my account! I literally thought I had somehow broken the rules by taking a part-time job while on UI. Everyone here has given you absolutely perfect advice - your claim is 100% safe and active! "Excessive earnings" is just EDD's really unfortunate way of saying you earned more than your Weekly Benefit Amount for that specific week. Since you earned $487 and it sounds like your WBA is probably around $450, that's exactly why you got that status. I've been working part-time at a local gym while collecting UI for about 3 months now, and my hours fluctuate between 12-22 per week depending on class schedules. I've seen "excessive earnings" maybe 5-6 times, and every single time I initially stressed out, but my claim has remained completely intact. The weeks I work fewer hours, I get partial benefits again without any issues. What really helped me was starting to see "excessive earnings" as actually a GOOD thing - it means you had a solid earning week and didn't need UI support! Now when I see that status, I try to celebrate it because it shows I'm making progress toward getting back on my feet financially. Keep doing exactly what you're doing - that warehouse job is smart for staying stable while job hunting. Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what status shows up, keep up your work search activities, and definitely don't let EDD's terrible terminology stress you out. You're handling this perfectly!

One more thing to add - make sure you have your bank account info updated in UI Online before your penalty period ends. I've seen people have their first payment delayed because their direct deposit info expired or was incorrect. Also, if you haven't certified for benefits during your penalty weeks, you'll need to start certifying again right away when the penalty period ends. Don't wait - EDD won't automatically restart your payments, you have to actively certify to trigger them. The system doesn't always make this clear!

Hey there! I went through almost the exact same situation last year - had 12 penalty weeks and a $4,200 overpayment. Once my penalty period ended, EDD automatically started taking 25% of my weekly benefit amount (mine was non-fraud like yours). The deductions happened without any notice - it just showed up in my payment history as "Overpayment Recovery" or something like that. What really helped me was setting up a repayment plan using that DE 1447 form others mentioned. I was able to get it reduced to 15% by showing my rent and utility bills. The process took about 6 weeks to get approved, but they made it retroactive so I got refunded the difference from the higher deductions they had already taken. One heads up - make sure you keep detailed records of all your payments and deductions because EDD's accounting isn't always perfect. I had to dispute an error where they miscalculated my balance by about $300. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been on UI for about 2 months and just finished a short freelance project that paid $450 as a 1099. I was honestly considering not reporting it since it was such a small amount, but after reading everyone's experiences here I'm definitely going to include it when I certify this week. The stories about EDD's cross-matching system catching unreported income months later are genuinely scary - I had no idea they were that thorough! It sounds like even trying to hide a few hundred dollars can result in thousands in penalties and overpayments. That's just not worth the risk, especially when I'll likely still get partial benefits even after reporting the income. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, both the success stories and the warnings. This community is incredibly helpful for navigating these confusing situations. I'm going to start keeping detailed records of any freelance work I do going forward, including dates worked and amounts earned. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard later!

I'm currently on UI and considering taking a small 1099 project, so this thread has been incredibly valuable! Reading through everyone's experiences has made it crystal clear that reporting ALL income is non-negotiable. The stories about EDD's cross-matching system catching unreported income months or even a year later are honestly terrifying - I had no idea they were that thorough with their record-keeping. What really strikes me is how consistent everyone's advice is: report the gross amount for the week you actually worked, keep detailed records, and accept that you'll get reduced benefits rather than risk those massive fraud penalties. The math people shared about EDD's benefit reduction formula is also really helpful - it sounds like you don't necessarily lose your entire weekly benefit, just a portion based on what you earned. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread as a reference. The tip about over-reporting rather than under-reporting if you're unsure is something I hadn't heard before but makes total sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales. This kind of practical advice from people who've actually been through it is way more valuable than trying to decipher EDD's confusing website!