This thread is absolutely incredible - reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been both eye-opening and reassuring. As someone who's currently employed but always worried about potential layoffs, I'm saving every single detail from this discussion for future reference. The step-by-step breakdown you've all created is better than any official EDD guide I've seen. The technical support line number (1-833-978-2511), the 8 AM calling strategy, having identity verification info ready, and especially that 72-hour temporary access code option - these are pure gold for anyone facing account lockouts. What really strikes me is how this community has transformed individual crisis situations into a comprehensive survival guide. The fact that we've had to reverse-engineer EDD's own recovery processes through collective trial and error is both frustrating and impressive. At least now there's a clear roadmap for anyone dealing with this nightmare! @Anastasia Kuznetsov so glad you got everything sorted in time! And massive thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and detailed solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned as the definitive EDD account recovery guide. The level of genuine support and practical advice here is exactly why online communities matter.

This thread has become an absolute masterpiece of community problem-solving! As someone who works in tech support myself, I'm genuinely impressed by how you've all collectively documented and refined the EDD account recovery process. The level of detail here - from the specific technical support number (1-833-978-2511) to the 8 AM calling strategy to having identity verification info prepared - is better than most official documentation I've seen. What really stands out is how everyone transformed their individual frustrating experiences into actionable solutions that are genuinely helping people. The 72-hour temporary access code workaround is brilliant, and those practical tips like writing it down and testing it while still on the phone are the kind of real-world wisdom you only get from people who've actually been through the process. @Anastasia Kuznetsov I'm so relieved you got everything sorted in time for your certification! And huge kudos to @Kai Rivera for helping their elderly neighbor navigate this nightmare - that's exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with California EDD. You've all created something way more valuable than anything on their official website. Bookmarking this entire discussion as the ultimate EDD account lockout survival guide!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my manager created such a hostile environment that I developed anxiety and had to leave. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the "good cause" terminology and constructive discharge concept. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who have been through the appeal process, how long did it typically take from filing the appeal to actually having the hearing scheduled? I just filed mine last week and I'm trying to plan ahead for gathering all my documentation. Also, did anyone find it helpful to practice their testimony beforehand, maybe with family or friends? The advice about organizing everything chronologically really resonates with me. I have emails, text messages, and medical records scattered across different places, so I need to get that all sorted out. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's giving me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!

I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago - toxic supervisor, anxiety diagnosis, and initially denied UI claim. What really helped me win my appeal was focusing on the timeline of events and showing a clear pattern of deteriorating workplace conditions. A few practical tips that weren't mentioned yet: 1. If you have any performance reviews or emails showing you were a good employee before the hostile environment started, bring those to contrast with how things changed 2. Keep a detailed log of any physical symptoms your anxiety caused (sleep issues, headaches, etc.) - this helps establish the medical impact 3. If your doctor recommended the leave specifically because of work stress, make sure that's clearly documented in their notes The hearing itself was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked very specific questions about what I did to try to resolve the situation and why I felt I had no other choice but to quit. Having concrete examples with dates made all the difference. Stay strong - the appeal process exists for exactly these situations where the initial determination missed important context. Your case sounds like you have solid grounds for good cause, especially with the medical documentation and the fact that they essentially pushed you out by removing you from the schedule.

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share my experience since it sounds like we had very similar situations. I was laid off in December but didn't file until mid-January because I thought I'd find something quickly (spoiler: I didn't!). I ended up requesting the backdate and it was approved, but here's what actually happened: EDD put a temporary hold on my account for about 10 days while they reviewed my request. During this time, I couldn't certify for benefits and was freaking out. However, once they approved the backdate, they released all the held payments plus the backdated weeks in one lump sum. The whole process took about 5 weeks total, and I had to do a phone interview where they asked why I delayed filing and whether I was available for work during the backdated period. My advice: make sure you can clearly explain your reason and have documentation if possible (like job applications or emails showing you were actively looking for work during those weeks). Looking back, it was worth the temporary stress for the extra money, but definitely be prepared for some uncertainty during the review period. Your current benefit year won't be affected - you'll just get those earlier weeks added to your claim.

As someone who just went through a backdating situation last month, I wanted to add my perspective. I was in almost exactly the same boat - lost my job in late December 2022 but didn't file until February because I was confident I'd land something quickly (famous last words, right?). I was terrified about potentially messing up my existing payments, but after reading tons of posts like this one, I decided to go for it. Here's what happened: I submitted the DE1181BW form explaining that I delayed filing because I had several promising job leads and expected to be employed again within a few weeks. EDD put my account under review for about 2 weeks, but crucially - my regular bi-weekly certifications and payments continued normally during this time. They eventually approved the backdate and I received payment for those 6-7 missed weeks. The total process took about 3 weeks from submission to receiving the backdated payments. No phone interview was required in my case, which was a relief. The key things that seemed to help: 1) I had a legitimate, documented reason for the delay, 2) I could prove I was available and actively job searching during the backdated period, and 3) I hadn't received any other benefits during that time. My advice: if you truly were available for work and actively seeking employment during those 6 weeks, and you have a valid reason for the delayed filing, it's probably worth pursuing. The worst they can do is deny the backdate - they won't take away your current benefits for asking.

I've been dealing with the same logout issue! What finally worked for me was using the "Sign Out" link at the very bottom of the page - it's in tiny text in the footer. The dropdown menu logout wasn't working for me either, but that footer link did the trick. Hope this helps!

I had the exact same problem last week! The regular logout button wasn't working at all. What ended up working for me was completely closing my browser and reopening it - seems like there was some kind of session bug. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering with the site's functionality. The EDD website is notoriously finicky with ad blockers and privacy extensions.

I went through something very similar in 2022 - EDD hit me with a $3,400 overpayment notice completely out of the blue, no explanation whatsoever. What I learned is that you absolutely MUST respond to both the appeal AND the collection notice separately - they're handled by different departments that don't communicate. For the collection notice, send a certified letter immediately stating that you have an active appeal pending (include the date you filed it) and request a temporary hold on collection activities. I also discovered that many of these mysterious overpayments are actually data entry errors or employer wage reporting mistakes that EDD's automated systems flag incorrectly. In my case, it turned out they had duplicated some wage information, making it look like I earned more than I actually did during certain weeks. The appeal process took 6 months, but I eventually got the overpayment completely reversed. Don't let them intimidate you - keep fighting and demand specific documentation about why they think you were overpaid. The burden of proof should be on them, not you!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - got hit with a $2,800 overpayment demand last month with zero explanation, and like you, we moved out of state (to Arizona) after my claim period ended. What's helped me so far: 1) I sent a certified letter to both the appeals department AND the collections department on the same day, clearly stating I'm appealing and requesting all collection activity be suspended pending resolution. 2) I also sent a separate certified letter specifically requesting an "Administrative Review" of the overpayment determination - this is different from a regular appeal and sometimes gets faster results. 3) Through persistence (and about 40 phone call attempts), I finally got through and learned that out-of-state moves can trigger automatic system reviews that sometimes generate false overpayments. The rep told me to specifically ask for the "Interstate Claims Unit" when I call back for updates. 4) I'm keeping a detailed log of every interaction, and I've also filed complaints with both the California State Auditor and my new state's unemployment office (they can sometimes apply pressure on California's behalf). The whole system is broken, but don't give up - I've read too many success stories here to lose hope. Hang in there and keep fighting!