FYI - If for some reason your 1099G isn't showing up online by February 1st, or if you believe there's an error, you can request a duplicate or corrected 1099G by calling EDD at 1-866-401-2849. You can also use the "Ask EDD" feature on the website, but calling usually gets faster results for tax form issues.

Pro tip from someone who's been through this process multiple times: if you're planning to file your taxes as soon as you get your 1099G, make sure you have all your other tax documents ready to go first. I made the mistake one year of rushing to file as soon as I got my unemployment form, only to realize I was still waiting on my W-2 from my previous employer. Also, if you had any state taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits during the year, that info will be on the 1099G too - don't forget to account for that when doing your taxes!

When you call EDD about this error, be prepared with all your documentation ready! Have your SSN, full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, and your claim confirmation number if you have it. I had a similar issue and it turned out my middle name was entered differently than expected. Also, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open - you'll have a better chance of getting through. If the first rep can't help, politely ask to speak with a technical specialist since this sounds like a system sync issue. Don't hang up until it's fully resolved, even if it takes a while on hold!

I had this exact same error message a few months ago and it was so frustrating! After trying everything online, I finally got through to EDD and the rep discovered that my name in their system had an extra space between my first and last name that wasn't visible when I was typing it in. She said this happens more often than people think. When you call, ask them to read back exactly how your name appears in their system character by character - including any spaces, periods, or hyphens. Also, if you've ever gone by a different name or had any legal name changes, mention that too. The rep was able to fix it immediately once we identified the issue. Don't give up - this is definitely something they can resolve on their end!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been locked out of Money Network since Monday and I'm getting desperate. My rent was due yesterday and I have over $2,000 sitting on that card that I can't touch. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, calling customer service (waste of time), even went to an ATM but it kept saying "transaction declined" even though I know there's money on there. This thread has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea about the early morning calling strategy or the temporary access code option. Definitely trying @Isaac's phone tree instructions first thing tomorrow at 6am. And @Nina, thank you for explaining the technical side - at least now I know this is a system-wide issue and not just me going crazy. The cash advance option might be my only choice at this point since my landlord is already texting me about late fees. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own benefits. As soon as I can get back in, I'm switching to direct deposit immediately. Never dealing with Money Network again if I can help it!

Just wanted to share my experience from last week when I dealt with this exact same Money Network lockout issue. I was stuck for 4 days and tried everything mentioned here - different browsers, clearing cache, calling during off-peak hours, etc. Nothing worked until I followed @Isaac's advice about the temporary access code. The key thing that made the difference was being VERY specific with the phone agent about what I needed. Don't just say "I can't log in" - say exactly "I need a temporary access code because of the known system authentication issues affecting California EDD cardholders." They seemed to have a specific protocol for that request. Also, for anyone still dealing with ATM declines like @Emma mentioned - I had the same problem even though my card worked fine before the system issues started. The Money Network rep told me their security certificate problems were causing some cards to be flagged as "suspicious activity" which blocks ATM transactions too. They had to manually reset something on their end to fix it. Once you get back in, definitely prioritize setting up direct deposit immediately. I did it the same day and my next payment went straight to my bank account - no more Money Network stress! The whole experience really opened my eyes to how unreliable this system is for people who depend on these benefits. Hang in there everyone - this community's advice is way more helpful than anything Money Network customer service will tell you! 💪

This thread has been incredibly detailed and helpful! I want to add one more consideration that might be useful for people doing plasma donations while on unemployment. If you're planning to donate regularly, it's worth factoring the income into your budget planning since it will reduce your weekly UI benefits through that 75% deduction formula. For example, if you're earning $120/week from plasma and your regular UI benefit is $300, you'll end up with about $229 total ($300 UI minus $71.25 deduction plus $120 plasma income). It's still extra money in your pocket, but not the full $120 on top of your benefits like some people might expect. Also, keep in mind that plasma donation can be physically demanding - make sure you're eating well and staying hydrated, especially if you're also dealing with the stress of job searching. The last thing you want is to get sick or run down and miss donation appointments you were counting on financially!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm actually a former EDD eligibility worker, and I wanted to add a few professional insights that might be helpful. First, you're all absolutely correct about reporting plasma donation income as "Other" income. What I'd emphasize is that EDD's computer system automatically flags accounts when there are discrepancies between reported income and third-party data sources (like those 1099s mentioned earlier), so honesty really is the best policy here. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that if you're donating plasma regularly, EDD might eventually ask for a statement from the plasma center during a routine eligibility review - not because you're in trouble, but just to verify the income source. Most centers can provide a summary statement if requested. Also, for anyone worried about the work search requirements, plasma donation time doesn't excuse you from your weekly work search activities, but the income won't disqualify you from benefits as long as you're reporting it correctly. Keep doing what you're doing - being proactive about reporting requirements shows good faith compliance!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Been trying for over a week now with the same pattern - call at 8am, get the "too busy" message or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to talk to someone about our own benefits. Reading through all these comments has been eye-opening though. The tip about avoiding lunch hours (12pm-1:30pm) and the fact that they stop taking calls after 4pm despite being "open" until 5pm is information that should be public knowledge. I'm seriously considering trying Claimyr after seeing so many success stories here - it seems like the only reliable way people are actually getting through. This whole situation is a perfect example of how broken the system is when we have to pay third-party services just to access basic government assistance.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I've been stuck in the same calling nightmare for almost 3 weeks now. Like so many others here, I get either the "too busy" message or sit on hold for 2+ hours just to have the call drop. My claim got flagged for some reason and I desperately need to speak with someone to resolve it. The tips about avoiding 12pm-1:30pm (lunch blackout) and not calling after 4pm are game-changers - I wish EDD would actually publish this information instead of making us figure it out through trial and error. Based on all the Claimyr success stories I'm reading here, I think I'm going to give it a try. It's frustrating that we have to pay a third-party service just to access our own state benefits, but when people are consistently getting through in 20-40 minutes versus our weeks of failed attempts, it seems like the only realistic solution. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we can help each other navigate this broken system!