I'm going through something similar right now - filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still stuck on "pending" payments. From reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like identity verification is the biggest culprit for delays. I actually just got an email yesterday asking me to complete ID.me verification, so that confirms what others have said about this being a common issue. The frustrating part is that they don't automatically tell you what's needed - you have to either call or wait for them to send the verification request. Definitely keep certifying though, because once it gets resolved you'll get all the back payments at once.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and have been stuck on "claim filed" status with pending payments. After reading through all these comments, it's clear that identity verification is probably the issue for most of us. I haven't received any ID.me verification request yet, but based on what everyone's saying, I think I need to be more proactive about calling EDD instead of just waiting. The part about needing a separate letter with your Weekly Benefit Amount to know you're actually approved was really eye-opening - I thought the "filed" letter meant I was good to go! Going to try calling tomorrow using some of the strategies mentioned here. It's reassuring to know that once this gets sorted out, we should get all the back payments for the weeks we've been certifying.

This is absolutely maddening and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess. I went through something very similar in 2023 when EDD suddenly decided my 2020 PUA claim was "improper" despite being approved initially. A few critical things to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. **Document EVERYTHING** - Screenshot your UI Online account showing the disqualifications, save any emails or portal messages (even if there aren't any), and keep records of every phone call attempt. 2. **File the appeal IMMEDIATELY** - Don't wait to talk to someone first. The 30-day clock is ticking from when the tax intercept happened, not when you discovered it. You can always provide additional information later. 3. **Request an "Informal Conference"** when you file your appeal - this is often faster than a full hearing and can resolve many cases without going through the formal process. 4. **Check if your husband received 1099-G forms** for the unemployment income - if EDD issued those forms acknowledging the payments were legitimate, it's harder for them to later claim they were improper. The manufacturing plant closure due to COVID should make this a slam-dunk case once you get in front of an actual human reviewer. These automated mass reviews are catching tons of legitimate claims in their net. Stay strong and don't give up - the appeals process works when you have documentation and persistence!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what a nightmare! This exact same thing happened to my brother-in-law in early 2024. He had legitimately lost his job when the restaurant he worked at closed during the lockdowns, certified properly for over a year, and then boom - suddenly owed back $22,000 with his tax refund seized. The key thing that helped him was proving he never received proper notification. Since you moved out of state and your mail forwarding expired, that's actually strong grounds for appeal. When he finally got through to EDD (took weeks of calling), they admitted the notices were all sent to his old address even though he had updated his address in the system. A few things that worked for him: - He filed the DE 1000M appeal form immediately (don't wait for phone contact) - Got a letter from his former employer confirming the COVID-related closure - Requested all his case files through a records request to see exactly what EDD claimed The whole process took about 6 months but he eventually got the overpayment reversed and his tax refund back. The appeals officers seem much more reasonable than the automated system that's flagging these claims. Hang in there - if your husband was legitimately laid off due to COVID business closure and you never got proper notice, you have a really strong case. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying it back!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I'm dealing with the exact same RESEA confusion right now! I just started the program last month and my counselor told me something very similar - that I don't need to document work search activities in UI Online because they're being tracked through the RESEA system instead. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about that March 2025 policy change. That explains so much! I was getting really anxious because I've been following my counselor's guidance but then seeing conflicting information online. I love the practical advice here about keeping your own documentation and getting written clarification. As someone who's also supporting family members on unemployment, I completely understand the stress of not wanting to mess anything up. I'm definitely going to email my RESEA counselor tomorrow to get the requirements in writing, and I'm going to start keeping my own detailed records of all activities just in case. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusion, and the advice here gives me a clear path forward!

I'm going through the RESEA program right now too and had the exact same confusion! My counselor told me during our first meeting that I didn't need to enter work search details in UI Online since I'm already tracking everything through the RESEA portal. But then I started second-guessing myself after seeing all the warnings online about work search requirements. After reading through all these responses, especially the info about the March 2025 policy change, I feel so much more confident. It sounds like your counselor was actually giving you the correct updated guidance! I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice and get written clarification from my counselor though - better safe than sorry. The stress is so real when you have kids depending on these benefits. I've been losing sleep over whether I'm doing this right! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us navigating the current RESEA requirements.

This is so encouraging to hear! I've been struggling to get through to EDD for weeks and was considering using Claimyr but wasn't sure if it was worth it. Your experience gives me hope that it actually works. Did you have any specific issues that needed to be resolved, or was it just a general payment delay? Thanks for sharing your success story!

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been stuck with a pending claim for 3 weeks now and was hesitant about paying for a service like this. But seeing that you got results so quickly makes it seem worth the investment. Did they give you any updates throughout the process or did you just wait for the callback? Also, was the tier 2 specialist able to explain what was causing the delay in the first place?

Just wanted to add something that helped me get through faster - call right when they open at 8 AM. I know everyone says this, but I literally set my alarm for 7:58 AM and started dialing at exactly 8:00. Got through on my third attempt! Also, when you do get through, don't be afraid to ask the rep to repeat information or spell out reference numbers. They talk fast sometimes and you don't want to miss important details. I made the mistake of not asking someone to repeat a confirmation number once and regretted it later. One more thing - if the first rep can't help you or seems confused about your issue, politely ask to be transferred to someone who specializes in your specific problem. Sometimes you get someone who's newer or not familiar with certain issues, and it's totally okay to ask for a specialist. Better to spend a few extra minutes getting transferred than to get wrong information.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Here's what worked for me - before calling, I made a simple checklist with my specific issue at the top, then listed all my account details, dates, and any error messages I was seeing. When I finally got through (took 3 days of trying), having everything organized made the call so much smoother. The rep was actually really helpful once I could clearly explain that my certification from 2 weeks ago was showing as "not paid" even though I'd submitted it on time. She was able to see exactly what was happening and fixed it during the call. My biggest tip: if you're not sure what your specific issue is yet, spend some time in your online account first and write down exactly what you're seeing vs. what you expected to see. That way when you do get through, you can say "I certified for benefits on [date] for the week ending [date], but it's showing as [status] instead of paid, and I haven't received any correspondence explaining why." So much better than just saying "my payments aren't working" - trust me on this one!