I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I'm currently going through something very similar! I was laid off from my warehouse supervisor position in February after 8 years, and I've been encountering the exact same "not accepting applications" responses everywhere I go. Reading through this entire thread has been so incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that documenting these "not hiring" conversations was not only acceptable but actually what EDD expects to see. I was getting really anxious thinking I wasn't meeting the work search requirements properly. What's really helped me after reading everyone's advice is changing my mindset about these visits. Instead of seeing them as rejections, I now view them as market research opportunities. I've started asking questions like "What's your typical hiring timeline?" and "Do you expect staffing needs to change this year?" These conversations often provide valuable insights that strengthen my documentation. Your mother-in-law sounds like she's handling this perfectly! The fact that she's received consistent payments for 6 weeks with no issues is proof that EDD recognizes genuine effort even in this tough market. Her 17 years of manufacturing experience is exactly the kind of stability employers will value once hiring picks back up. This community has been such a lifeline for understanding that we're not alone in dealing with these challenging conditions. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and encouraging advice!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I'm going through something very similar right now! I was laid off from my customer service role at a shipping company in January after 10 years, and I've been running into the exact same "not accepting applications" situation everywhere I go. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I had no idea that documenting these "not hiring" conversations was actually what EDD expects and wants to see! I was starting to worry that I wasn't meeting the work search requirements properly since so many places keep telling me they're not processing applications right now. What's really helped me after reading everyone's advice is preparing a simple list of follow-up questions to ask when businesses say they're not hiring. Things like "When do you typically do your seasonal hiring?" or "What positions do you usually have available?" have turned those brief "no" responses into much more meaningful conversations that give me solid documentation material. Your mother-in-law is absolutely doing everything right! The fact that she's had consistent payments for 6 weeks with no flags or delays proves that EDD recognizes genuine effort even when the job market isn't cooperating. Her 17 years of manufacturing experience shows exactly the kind of reliability and work ethic that employers will value once hiring conditions improve. This community has been incredible for learning that so many of us are dealing with these same challenges. It's reassuring to know that sustained effort and detailed documentation matter more than immediate results. Keep encouraging her - she's handling this perfectly!

This thread has been a lifesaver for me! I'm dealing with this exact same SSN validation issue right now and was starting to panic that I'd never get my claim filed. I've been getting the "invalid SSN" error for over a week and like everyone else here, I kept thinking I must be doing something wrong even though I've had the same SSN my whole life. Reading through all these experiences really shows this is a widespread problem with EDD's database having incorrect or mismatched information. It's so reassuring to see that @Ava Kim and others got it resolved once they reached a live representative - gives me hope that there's actually a solution! I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Aria Park recommended. At this point I'm willing to pay anything to avoid spending more weeks trying to get through on my own. The systematic approach @Javier Morales suggested about having the rep verify ALL personal information also sounds really smart. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions. It makes such a difference knowing you're not alone when dealing with these frustrating EDD system glitches!

This thread is absolutely incredible and should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD SSN validation issues! I'm going through this exact nightmare right now - been getting the "invalid SSN" error for 10 days straight and was convinced I was somehow entering my own Social Security number wrong (which is honestly insane when you think about it). What really strikes me about reading through everyone's experiences is how these errors seem to follow the same pattern every time - people spend weeks thinking they're doing something wrong, when it's actually just data entry mistakes or system glitches on EDD's end. The fact that @Ava Kim's issue was a single digit typo in her birthdate and @Paolo Rizzo's was an outdated address really shows how these validation systems can fail for the most random reasons. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow based on all the recommendations here. The systematic approach @Javier Morales suggested about having the rep verify ALL personal information is brilliant too - I never would have thought to be that thorough but it makes perfect sense. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions, especially those who came back to update with their resolutions. This community support makes navigating EDD's broken systems so much less isolating and stressful!

I'm a newcomer to this community and just started dealing with reduced hours and unemployment benefits. This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening for me! I had no idea that even a single sick day could create such confusion around certification questions. What really stands out to me is how consistently everyone is advising to mark YES and specify the single day - it seems like that's definitely the consensus from people with real experience. I'm particularly grateful for learning about the employer quarterly reporting issue because that's something I never would have considered on my own. It makes total sense that accuracy is crucial to avoid mismatches down the line. As someone who's naturally anxious about making mistakes on government forms, I really appreciate how everyone has emphasized that the EDD system is designed to handle these partial week situations routinely. It's helping me realize that this isn't some edge case that will cause problems - it's actually a pretty normal scenario that the system deals with all the time. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here. This kind of practical guidance from actual community members is so much more valuable than trying to decipher official documentation alone!

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with reduced hours for the first time. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was dreading the possibility of having to deal with this exact scenario, but reading everyone's real experiences has made me feel so much more prepared and confident. What really struck me is how unanimous the advice is - mark YES and specify the single day, even though it feels counterintuitive at first. I had been thinking about this as an all-or-nothing situation where marking YES might somehow disqualify me for the entire week, but it's clear from everyone's experiences that the system is much more sophisticated than that. The point about employer quarterly reports creating potential mismatches was completely new information for me - I never would have considered that angle on my own. It really drives home why accuracy is so important, even for what seems like a minor one-day absence. As someone who tends to overthink these kinds of government forms, I really appreciate how everyone has emphasized that this is actually a routine situation that EDD handles regularly. It's helping me understand that the system is designed to deal with real-life scenarios like occasional sick days, not to penalize people for being honest about them. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences here - this community is amazing for providing practical guidance that you just can't find anywhere else!

I'm currently in a similar situation and getting ready to mail my claim forms to that same address! Reading through everyone's experiences in this thread has been incredibly valuable - it's amazing how many people have successfully navigated this process. The consistent advice about certified mail, keeping detailed records, and the 4-6 week processing timeline really helps set expectations. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful: I called EDD customer service before mailing my forms and they confirmed that address is still the correct one to use. They also mentioned that including "UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM FORMS" written clearly on the outside of the envelope can help with sorting and potentially speed up processing. Anna, it sounds like you're taking all the right steps! The combination of mailing your backlog while staying current with online certifications when the system is available seems to be the best approach based on everyone's shared experiences. For anyone else in this situation, this community has shown that persistence pays off - the system does work, it just requires patience. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and tips!

I'm also dealing with a similar situation and getting ready to mail my forms to that same address. This thread has been incredibly helpful - seeing so many success stories gives me confidence that this process actually works! Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to send mine certified mail with a detailed cover letter listing all the weeks I'm submitting. The 4-6 week processing timeline seems pretty consistent across everyone's experiences, which helps set realistic expectations. Anna, I hope your forms get processed quickly! It's reassuring to know that so many people have used this same address successfully and received their backdated payments. Please keep us updated on your progress - those of us going through the same process would love to hear how it goes for you! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips in this thread. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these EDD challenges!

@Dylan Cooper - I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! The key is persistence and having multiple backup plans. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Try the ID.me verification if you haven't already - sometimes it works better than EDD's own system 2. If that fails, gather EVERYTHING: driver's license, passport, utility bills, bank statements, tax returns - the more official docs the better 3. Call the technical support line (not the general number) - they're more equipped to handle verification issues specifically 4. Document everything - screenshot error messages, keep notes of who you talk to and when The whole process took me about 3 weeks, but I did get it resolved. Don't panic - this is unfortunately super common right now. You've got this! 💪

I'm going through this same nightmare right now! My verification failed twice and I'm so stressed about my benefits getting cut off. @Anna Xian your breakdown is super helpful - I had no idea there was a separate technical support line. One thing I'll add that might help others: I read somewhere that if you have a passport, that tends to work better than just a driver's license for the ID verification. Something about the security features being easier for their system to read? Not sure if that's true but might be worth trying if you have one. @Dylan Cooper hang in there! It seems like most people eventually get it sorted out, it's just a matter of finding the right combination of steps. This whole system is so broken but at least we're all helping each other figure it out 💪