I ran into this exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was creating a completely new account using a different email address, then calling SDI to have them merge my old claims history with the new account. It took about 2 weeks to get sorted out, but the rep was able to transfer everything over. Make sure you have your old claim numbers handy when you call - that speeds up the process significantly. Good luck, and don't give up! The system is frustrating but it can be fixed.

I had this exact same problem when trying to file for bonding leave earlier this year! The "already linked to an account" error is super common. What worked for me was going directly to the SDI office in person with all my documents. I know it's a pain, but the in-person staff were able to access the backend system and unlink my old account on the spot. It took about 45 minutes total including wait time. Bring your driver's license, social security card, and any previous claim documentation you have. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone! Hope this helps and congrats on the new addition to your family! 🍼

I went through the EDD appeals process in December and won my case! I was in almost the exact same situation - employer claimed I quit when they actually cut my hours from 35 to 8 per week. Here's what really helped me prepare: **Documentation is everything:** I gathered pay stubs showing the hour reduction, screenshots of my work schedule changes, and text messages where I asked my supervisor about getting more hours. The judge specifically asked about my attempts to address the situation with my employer first. **Practice your timeline:** I wrote out a simple chronology - when I was hired, what my original hours were, when they got cut, what I did to try to fix it, and when I finally had to leave. Having this clear narrative really helped during the hearing. **The hearing itself:** It was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked me to explain what happened, then asked my employer questions. When they claimed the hour reduction was "temporary," the judge asked them to specify how long and what the plan was to restore hours. They couldn't give a clear answer, which really helped my case. Your situation with 40 hours dropping to 12 is even more dramatic than mine was. That's a 70% reduction in income - no reasonable person could be expected to survive on that. Make sure to emphasize the financial impact and that you tried to work with them before leaving. The whole process took about a month from hearing to decision, but getting that approval letter made all the stress worth it. You've got a strong case - stay organized and confident!

I went through a very similar appeal process in late 2024 and won! My employer also tried to claim I quit voluntarily when they actually made my position untenable by cutting my hours from 32 to 10 per week. Here's what really helped me succeed: **Strong documentation:** Like others mentioned, I had pay stubs clearly showing the dramatic hour reduction, plus email exchanges where I asked HR about the situation and expressed that the reduced hours weren't sustainable. **Clear financial impact:** I calculated exactly what the income loss meant - in my case it was about 69% reduction in weekly pay. I presented this to the judge as "no reasonable person could accept a 69% pay cut indefinitely without a clear restoration plan." **Stayed professional:** Even when my employer's rep made false claims about my "performance issues," I stuck to facts and didn't get defensive. The judge seemed to appreciate my measured responses. **Prepared for common defenses:** My employer tried claiming the cuts were "due to slow business" but when the judge asked why other employees weren't similarly affected and what their plan was to restore hours, they had no good answers. The hearing took about 35 minutes and I got my decision letter two weeks later. Your case with 40 hours down to 12 hours is even stronger than mine was - that's a textbook constructive discharge situation. The fact that you have documentation showing you asked for more hours and explained the financial hardship is huge. Don't let them intimidate you with that $4,800 repayment demand - you don't owe anything until the appeals process is complete, and if you win (which sounds likely), that goes away entirely. You've got this!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Got married 6 weeks ago, updated with SSA right away, and submitted my name change request to EDD about 12 days ago. Still showing "pending review" and I have certification coming up this Friday. Based on all the responses here, sounds like I need to stick with my maiden name for certification until I get that official confirmation email. It's really frustrating that it takes so long when other agencies can process name changes much faster, but at least now I know what to expect timeline-wise. Has anyone noticed if submitting on certain days of the week makes a difference in processing time? I submitted mine on a Wednesday afternoon and wondering if that affects anything. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was starting to worry something was wrong with my submission.

I went through this exact same process last year! It took about 19 business days for my name change to be approved after I submitted my marriage certificate. The "pending review" status is completely normal and unfortunately doesn't give you any updates until it's fully processed. Definitely keep certifying with your maiden name until you get the official confirmation email - I cannot stress this enough! I saw someone else mention they tried using their new name too early and it caused major delays. One tip that helped me: I set a calendar reminder for 3 weeks out from my submission date to call that identity verification number (866-401-2849) if I hadn't heard anything by then. Thankfully I got my confirmation email at day 19, so I didn't need to call. Also, once you do get approved, make sure to update your direct deposit info if your bank account is under your new name. The systems don't always sync that automatically. Good luck and congrats on the marriage!

Hey Javier! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago when I was laid off from my tech job. You'll definitely get multiple pieces of mail from EDD - the approval letter, your customer account number, and the paper certification forms (DE 2063). Mine took about 7-8 days to arrive. For certification without internet, I'd strongly recommend the phone option (telecert) over mail. I used it for almost 2 months when I moved and didn't have reliable internet set up yet. The automated system at 1-866-333-4606 is actually pretty intuitive - it asks the same basic questions as online like whether you worked, looked for work, were available for work, etc. You just press numbers to respond. The key thing is you MUST have your EDD Customer Account Number to use telecert - write it down as soon as you get that letter! Also, make sure to certify during your designated 2-week period regardless of which method you use. Phone certification processes payments just as fast as online (usually 1-2 business days), while mail can take a week or more. One tip: if you're worried about deadlines, you can call the general EDD number to confirm your certification dates once you're in the system. Better to be safe than sorry!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my phone interview. This thread is super helpful - I had no idea there were so many different documents they send out. Quick question for everyone: if I end up getting my interview next week, should I expect the same timeline (5-8 days) for receiving the approval letter and other paperwork? Also, has anyone tried using the EDD mobile app or does that have the same internet connectivity issues as the regular website? My phone data is more reliable than my home wifi right now, so wondering if that might be a backup option for certification if needed.

I'm new here but this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! I've been struggling with this exact ID.me issue for the past two weeks - my account is showing some mysterious @outlook.com email that I've never seen before, and I can't get past the identity verification to file my unemployment claim. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much hope and practical advice. I had no idea there was actually a working phone number for ID.me! I've been going in circles with their chat bot and online support forms getting nowhere. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy that so many people have had success with. Already setting my alarm and gathering all my documents (driver's license, SSN card, recent bank statement, birth certificate). I'm also writing down those key phrases like "search for duplicate accounts under this SSN" and "identity resolution team" that multiple people mentioned. What's really eye-opening is learning how these mystery accounts can come from tax preparation services, previous employers, or other government agencies creating ID.me accounts without us knowing. I used TurboTax a few years ago and now I'm wondering if that's where this phantom account came from! Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and advice. This community support is honestly keeping me sane through this frustrating process. Really hoping to join the success stories soon! 🤞 @Zainab Ibrahim please keep us posted on how your nephew's call goes tomorrow - we're all rooting for you both!

I'm new to this community but found this thread while desperately searching for help with my own ID.me nightmare! My unemployment claim has been stuck for 8 days because ID.me is showing some random @yahoo.com email I've never created or used. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I genuinely thought I was the only one dealing with this! The consistent advice about calling 866-775-4363 at exactly 8:00 AM EST seems to be the golden solution that actually works. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed breakdowns from @QuantumQuasar, @Oliver Weber, and others about what to expect during the call. The fact that these mystery accounts can come from tax preparation services, previous employers, or other government agencies without our knowledge is both infuriating and enlightening. Now I'm wondering if my phantom account traces back to when I used H&R Block a couple years ago. Already have my alarm set for tomorrow morning and all my documents organized (driver's license, SSN card, utility bill, birth certificate). I'm also noting down those key phrases about "duplicate accounts under SSN" and "identity resolution team" that multiple people have mentioned as helpful. This thread has transformed what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into something that actually seems solvable with the right approach. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and creating this supportive community! @Zainab Ibrahim really hoping your nephew's call goes smoothly tomorrow - please keep us posted! We're all in this together! 💪