I'm so glad I found this thread! Just got laid off from my job at a startup last week and I'm facing the exact same issue - completely locked out of my EDD account from 2021. I've been putting off dealing with it because the whole situation seemed hopeless, but reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring. The security question problem is so relatable! I apparently chose "What was your first car?" but I have no clue if I put the make, model, color, or some nickname I called it back then. It's like trying to decode messages from my stressed-out past self! Based on all the advice here, I'm going to call that tech support line (1-833-978-2511) first thing tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM. I've already dug up some old EDD emails and bank statements showing previous deposits - found records from three different months which should help with identity verification. If that doesn't work after a few days of trying, I'll definitely look into Claimyr. It's crazy that we need workarounds for basic government services, but I'm just grateful these solutions exist and that this community is so willing to help each other navigate the chaos. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and practical tips - you're turning what felt like an impossible situation into something actually manageable. I'll be sure to post an update once I get through! This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD account recovery! 🙏

This thread is absolutely incredible and exactly what I needed to find! I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now - got laid off from my accounting job two weeks ago and discovered I'm completely locked out of my EDD account from 2022. The stress has been overwhelming but seeing all these success stories is giving me real hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. The security question issue is driving me absolutely crazy! I apparently chose "What street did you grow up on?" but I moved around so much as a kid - did I put the street from when I was 5 or 15? Did I include "Street" or "St." in the name? It's like my past self was setting up puzzles I'd never be able to solve! I'm definitely calling that tech support line (1-833-978-2511) tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM based on everyone's advice here. Already spent tonight gathering up old EDD emails and bank statements - found deposit records from five different months which should really help with the identity verification process. If the phone route doesn't work after a few solid attempts, I'll absolutely try Claimyr based on all the positive feedback. It's honestly mind-boggling that we need third-party services just to access our own unemployment benefits, but I'm grateful these workarounds exist! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and practical advice. This community support is incredible and way more helpful than anything I could find on EDD's official resources. I'll definitely come back with an update once I get through - this thread deserves to be a permanent resource for anyone stuck in EDD account hell! 🙏

try calling at exactly 8:03am. not 8 sharp when everyone else is calling. worked for me twice

Update: Finally got through this morning! Called the 1-800-300-5616 number at 8:05am and used the prompts someone suggested (1, 1, 2, 1, 4). Was on hold for about 35 minutes but finally spoke to a real person who resolved my payment issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm in the exact same boat and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Got terminated during what was obviously departmental restructuring but they marked it as "misconduct" on all the paperwork. My hearing is scheduled for next week and I've been absolutely terrified about potentially having to face my former supervisor. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring though. It sounds like the main things to focus on are: 1) The burden of proof is actually on THEM to show willful misconduct with real documentation, 2) Judges focus on the legal definition rather than just employer accusations, and 3) Many employers either don't show up or can't provide solid evidence when questioned. I've been gathering everything I can - emails about the restructuring, my performance reviews (which were always good), and evidence that several other people were let go around the same time. It's so encouraging to hear all these success stories from people who were in similar situations. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who had their hearings over the phone, was there any technical issues or difficulties with the format? I'm worried about connection problems or not being able to present my documents effectively during a phone call. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - you've all made this process feel so much less scary!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 4 months ago and wanted to address your question about technical issues with phone hearings! I was worried about the same thing, but it actually went very smoothly from a technical standpoint. The Administrative Law Judge called me at the scheduled time, and we had a brief tech check at the beginning to make sure everyone could hear clearly. For documents, I had everything organized in front of me and would reference them by saying things like "According to the email I received on March 15th..." or "My performance review from last year shows..." The judge was very patient and would ask me to read relevant portions aloud when needed. One tip that really helped: I created a simple cover sheet for each document with a brief description, so I could quickly find what I needed during the hearing. The judge also asked at the beginning if I had documents to reference, which gave me a chance to mention what I had prepared. Your preparation sounds excellent - having emails about restructuring and evidence of other layoffs will be really powerful. The phone format actually worked in my favor because I could have all my notes and timeline right in front of me without feeling nervous about being "on camera." You're going to do great! The technical side is honestly the least of your worries - focus on your strong documentation and remember that they have to prove their misconduct claim with real evidence, which it sounds like they won't be able to do.

I've been through the SDI process twice and want to echo what others have said - definitely don't file for both UI and SDI. It's a recipe for delays and headaches. Since your doctor has already certified you can't work, stick with SDI. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also make sure you understand exactly what your doctor put as your disability start date on the medical certification. This matters for when your benefits will actually begin - SDI has a 7-day waiting period before benefits start, and if there are any discrepancies between when you stopped working and when your doctor says your disability began, it can cause processing delays. Also, if you're really strapped for cash while waiting, check if your county has any programs specifically for people waiting on disability benefits. Some areas have "gap funding" programs designed exactly for situations like yours where you're between employment and waiting for benefits to kick in. Keep us posted on how it goes - rooting for you to get through this rough patch!

I'm sorry you're in such a tough spot financially. As others have mentioned, filing for both UI and SDI simultaneously is really risky and will likely delay both claims rather than speed things up. Since you already have medical certification that you can't work, SDI is definitely the right choice. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're facing eviction, make sure you know your tenant rights in California. Even with an eviction notice, the actual eviction process takes time, and there are often legal aid organizations that can help you navigate this while you wait for benefits. Look up your local legal aid society or tenant rights organization. Also, while waiting for SDI, consider reaching out to local gig economy opportunities that might work with your medical limitations - things like online tutoring, virtual assistant work, or other remote tasks that don't conflict with your disability claim. Just make sure anything you do is reported properly if your condition allows for some limited activity. The 3-4 week processing time others mentioned is unfortunately realistic right now. Focus on getting every piece of documentation perfect the first time to avoid any delays, and definitely check that UI Online account daily. Wishing you the best - this community is here to support you through this!

I'm currently on week 12 of my UI claim (conference and trade show management) and this thread has been absolutely life-changing for understanding the reality of the UI system! Like literally everyone else here, I had zero clue about the benefit year vs 26-week distinction - that's such critical information that should be prominently displayed on the EDD website but somehow gets buried in confusing legal language. The conference and trade show industry is still in rough shape. Many companies have shifted to hybrid or fully virtual events that require much smaller teams, and when they do go back to in-person, they're cutting vendor budgets significantly. I've been hoping the industry would bounce back to 2019 levels, but reading all these real experiences is helping me accept that I need to start planning for a much longer transition period. The pivot suggestions throughout this thread are absolutely brilliant - I hadn't considered how my skills in multi-stakeholder coordination, vendor management, and logistics execution could translate to corporate program management or internal operations roles. The ideas about "Program Coordinators" for employee training and "Operations Managers" for corporate facilities are particularly relevant to my background. I'm definitely starting my CalFresh application this week and booking an appointment with my local AJCC office based on the overwhelming consensus here about getting these resources lined up early rather than waiting until benefits are about to run out. One thing I'll add specifically for others in conference/trade show management: I've noticed some larger corporations hiring "Internal Events Coordinators" and "Corporate Communications Program Managers" for roles managing company-wide meetings, sales conferences, and partner events. It's essentially the same logistics and stakeholder management work but in a more stable internal corporate environment rather than the volatile client services world. This community has been absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such honest, practical advice and real experiences. This thread has provided more useful guidance than months of trying to navigate this system on my own. At least now I can make informed decisions and prepare properly instead of just hoping everything will work out!

I'm currently on week 9 of my UI claim (corporate marketing events and brand activations) and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! Like everyone else here, I had no idea about the benefit year vs 26-week distinction - that's such crucial information that could have led to expensive mistakes down the road. The corporate marketing events sector has been particularly challenging since companies are being much more conservative with their marketing budgets and experiential campaigns. Many brands have shifted to digital-only strategies or much smaller activation teams. I've been hoping the industry would return to pre-pandemic spending levels, but reading everyone's real experiences here is helping me realize I need to start preparing for a longer job search. All the pivot suggestions in this thread are eye-opening - I hadn't considered how my skills in brand experience design, vendor relationship management, and campaign execution could translate to employee engagement roles or internal corporate communications. The ideas about "Brand Experience Coordinators" and "Internal Marketing Program Managers" are particularly relevant to my background. Based on everyone's consistent advice, I'm starting my CalFresh application this week and scheduling an appointment with my local AJCC office. Getting these safety nets established early while focusing on expanding my job search makes total sense. One thing I'll add for others in marketing events/brand activations: I've seen some companies hiring "Employee Brand Ambassador Coordinators" and "Internal Communications Experience Managers" - roles that essentially involve creating engaging experiences for employees and internal stakeholders. It's the same experiential marketing skills but applied to HR and internal communications rather than external customer campaigns. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community and sharing real, actionable advice. This thread has given me more clarity and practical guidance than anything I've found through official channels. It's reassuring to know so many others are navigating similar challenges and willing to share their knowledge!