This is exactly why the EDD system is so terrible. They make everything so complicated with all these verification hoops. My cousin has been waiting 9 weeks because of some ID issue. The whole system is designed to delay payments and make people give up. They should just have ONE system instead of making us deal with ID.me AND EDD verification!!

To address your follow-up questions: The verification process has two parts - ID.me (which verifies your identity) and EDD's own verification (which confirms your eligibility for benefits). Here's what you should do: 1. For ID.me: Upload your ID plus documents showing your current address (utility bill, lease agreement, bank statement) 2. For EDD: Ensure your current mailing address is listed in your application 3. Be prepared to explain the address discrepancy if you get an eligibility interview phone call 4. Keep checking your UI Online account for any pending issues or required actions Most importantly, don't panic if there's a slight delay. Address mismatches are common and usually resolved with proper documentation. Just be honest and consistent with your information.

@OP - Since your overpayment is classified as "non-fraud", you have a good chance at either getting a waiver or at minimum setting up a reasonable payment plan. The key steps now are: 1. File your appeal immediately (today if possible) 2. Request a hold on collections in writing as part of your appeal 3. Apply for the overpayment waiver using the DE 1446W form 4. Get through to EDD by phone to confirm they've received your appeal and put a hold on collections For the appeal itself, you'll need to explain why you believe you were eligible for PUA at the time you received it. Include any documentation from that period showing your employment was affected by COVID. Many of these cases are being resolved favorably when proper documentation is provided.

my friend said if u owe less than $10k they cant garnish wages but can take tax refunds. is that true?? cuz now im confused about whats gonna happen with my situation

One more important thing: during your appeal process, you should request a formal hearing. At this hearing, your employer will need to provide EVIDENCE that you were terminated for cause. If they cannot provide documentation (written warnings, termination notice specifying cause, etc.), the Administrative Law Judge will likely rule in your favor. Also, if your employer fails to appear at the hearing (which happens frequently), you will almost certainly win your appeal. The burden of proof is on them to show you were terminated for cause, not on you to prove you weren't. During the hearing, stick to facts, not emotions. Present your layoff letter, any positive performance reviews, and timeline of events clearly. Even if the employer shows up, they often aren't prepared with proper documentation.

I had this EXACT situation in January!!! EDD is such a mess - they believe employers without question most of the time. What eventually worked for me was getting my coworkers who were also laid off to write statements confirming there was a layoff and I was part of it. EDD finally reversed their decision after I submitted these as additional evidence. If you're still in touch with any former colleagues who were also laid off, ask them to write a brief statement that you can submit.

Just to clarify about the false statement penalty weeks since you mentioned not understanding that part - if EDD determines you willfully made false statements, they impose penalty weeks where you can't receive benefits in the future. Each penalty week equals one week of benefits you were overpaid. But if you prove this was an employer reporting error, the penalty weeks should be removed along with the overpayment determination. Make sure you specifically address this in your appeal letter and ask for removal of ALL penalties.

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP CERTIFYING!!! Even during the appeal process!! I say this because I made this mistake and lost out on 6 weeks of payments even though I won my appeal. The system is DESIGNED to trip you up! Also, don't be surprised if you get different answers from different EDD reps - write down the name and ID number of EVERY person you talk to. I caught them contradicting each other multiple times!

also check out ur county services! lots of countys have rent assistance programs for ppl who r about to lose housing. not saying ur gonna be homeless but better to apply early b4 u actually need it

I was in almost the same situation last month! My benefits ran out after 26 weeks and I was really worried. I contacted my local America's Job Center (the AJCC office in my county) and they connected me with a job counselor who helped me completely revamp my resume and gave me access to some job listings I hadn't seen before. I also found out about the Training Benefits program another commenter mentioned, and while I didn't end up using it, it's definitely a good option if you want to learn new skills. The good news is I just got a job offer yesterday! It's in a slightly different field than my previous work (I was in marketing, now moving to customer success), but the skills transfer well enough. Don't lose hope! I also recommend joining industry-specific groups on LinkedIn if you haven't already. That's where I found my new position.

does any1 know if u file on website do u still have to do phone interview??

Update: I followed the instructions and found the right page to file a new claim! You guys were right - it's completely separate from the UI Online system. I had to answer a bunch of questions about my previous employment and reason for separation. The whole process took about 45 minutes. Thanks everyone for your help!

i went thru this last month, total nightmare. ended up driving to an actual edd office (the one in san bernardino) and waited in line for 2hrs but atleast got to talk to someone face to face who could help. if ur near any edd location might be worth it instead of the phone game

I understand your frustration completely. Having worked with many EDD claimants, I recommend trying these steps: 1. Call the alternate number: 833-978-2511 (sometimes less busy) 2. Try calling Wednesday or Thursday afternoons between 1-4pm 3. When prompted for SSN, try entering only the last 4 digits 4. Use the Ask EDD feature on the website and select "Where is my payment?" 5. Contact your state assembly member's office - they have dedicated EDD liaisons Your pending status could be due to identity verification issues, quarterly income review, or work search requirement flags. Don't give up - keep documenting all your call attempts in case you need to demonstrate due diligence later.

u might also qualify for partial benefits if they offer u a job at lower pay than what u make now. my friend got reduced from 40hrs to 28hrs and got partial unemployment to make up some of the difference. just something to think about if they offer u something part time or lower pay

I didn't even know partial benefits were a thing! That's good to know in case they only offer me something with significantly lower pay or hours. This whole situation is so stressful, but all this advice is making me feel more prepared for whatever happens. Thank you everyone!

did u try making a new account? thats what i did when mine got messed up

UPDATE: I ended up using that Claimyr service that someone mentioned above and it actually worked! Got connected to an EDD tech support person in about 30 minutes. Turns out my account WAS locked because of too many incorrect password attempts. They unlocked it, helped me set a new password, and I was able to certify right away. Also took the advice about setting up text verification so this doesn't happen again. Thanks everyone for your help!

THE EDD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN! I was in this exact situation and they messed up my payments for MONTHS. I reported everything correctly and they still flagged my account and froze my benefits. Good luck getting anyone on the phone to fix it too!!!!

Thanks everyone for the advice! My payment finally switched from pending to paid today (took 9 days). They did reduce it based on my part-time earnings just like you all said. I'm getting about $320 in unemployment plus my part-time wages, which is helping me stay afloat until I can find something full-time. I really appreciate all the guidance!