are u reporting ALL ur income?? cuz if u dont they will find out and make u pay everything back plus penalties. my roomate got caught and now owes like $8k

Hey Isaiah, I'm in a similar boat - been on UI since August and my balance is getting low too. One thing that helped me was calling EDD super early in the morning (like right when they open at 8am) - I actually got through after only 30 minutes on hold instead of the usual hours. The rep told me that if you're still actively looking for work and certifying, you can definitely file a new claim once your benefit year ends. Just make sure to keep documenting all your job search activities because they might ask for proof. Also, have you looked into any local workforce development programs? Some of them offer additional support or training that might help bridge the gap. Hang in there!

I'm going through this EXACT same issue right now! Just got laid off 10 days ago and I'm completely trapped in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2021. Every time I click "File New Claim" it says I have an existing claim, but then when I try to access it, it just spins me back to the homepage. It's like being stuck in some kind of bureaucratic nightmare! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both a huge relief (I'm not going crazy!) and absolutely terrifying (this could take forever to resolve). The fact that so many people have dealt with this EXACT same issue and EDD still hasn't fixed it is mind-blowing. I'm definitely going to try the 833-978-2511 number tomorrow morning at 8:05 AM with all the magic phrases you've shared: "purge the old claim" and "clear the benefit year end date." Already have all my employment info ready for the past 18 months. Fingers crossed I can finally break free from this digital prison! Will report back with results - hopefully with some good news to help the next person who gets stuck in this loop. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked! 🤞

This is incredibly frustrating but you're definitely not alone! I went through this exact same issue last month when I got laid off. The EDD portal gets completely confused by old COVID-era claims and creates this endless loop that's impossible to escape on your own. Here's what finally worked for me: Call 833-978-2511 (not the main 800 number) at exactly 8:03 AM - seems to be the sweet spot after the initial 8:00 AM rush but before it gets completely swamped. Be prepared to redial multiple times - I had to hit redial about 30 times before getting into the hold queue. When you finally get a rep, use these exact phrases: "I need you to purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date so I can file a new claim." Don't just ask them to "close" it - they need to completely purge it from the system or you'll still be stuck in the loop. Most importantly: Once they clear your old claim, have them walk you through filing the new one while you're still on the phone! Don't hang up and try to do it yourself later because you might hit another glitch. The rep can complete your new filing right then and there. I know it seems impossible right now, but literally everyone in this thread eventually got through. Your persistence will pay off! Make sure you have all your employment info from the last 18 months ready to go. Good luck! 🍀

Just want to echo what others have said about documenting everything and being proactive. I actually had a similar situation where I received unexpected payment for what I thought was unpaid training, though mine was only about 6 months later, not 4 years! One thing that might help ease your mind - since this was genuinely unpaid orientation that you had no expectation of being compensated for, and the company is now doing retroactive payments as part of an audit, this shows a clear pattern that this wasn't standard practice at the time. That context really strengthens your case that this was an honest oversight. The written statement approach through UI Online sounds like the best plan. Make sure to mention that the company's HR confirmed this was part of a broader audit affecting multiple people - that shows this was a systematic issue on their end, not something you should have anticipated. Given the small amount and the circumstances, I really think you'll be fine. The fact that you're asking about it and want to do the right thing says a lot about your integrity. EDD deals with much bigger fish than this, and honest mistakes with good faith disclosure typically get resolved pretty smoothly.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might be relevant to your situation. I actually work in payroll for a mid-sized company, and we've had to do similar audits where we discovered unpaid orientation time from years back. It's more common than you'd think, especially after labor law changes or when companies realize they weren't properly classifying certain activities as compensable time. From what I've seen, when companies do these retroactive payments, they usually have to file amended wage reports with the state. So there's a decent chance EDD might already have documentation that you earned this money in 2021, even though you're just receiving it now. The good news is that this creates a paper trail showing the payment was a legitimate business correction, not unreported income you were hiding. When you submit your written statement, definitely mention that this came from the company's internal audit - it demonstrates that neither you nor the company initially realized this orientation should have been paid. Based on the experiences others have shared here, it sounds like you're taking the right approach with the written statement through UI Online. The combination of the small amount, the time elapsed, and the clear documentation that this was an honest mistake should work in your favor. Good luck!

I'm in a similar boat - been trying to reach SDI about my own pregnancy disability claim for the past week with no success. Reading through all these responses is so helpful! I'm definitely going to try the 8:07am timing and the afternoon 3:15-3:20pm window that seems to have worked for a few people here. It's reassuring to hear that claims can be approved even when the website still shows "processing" - that gives me hope that mine might be further along than I think. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and specific timing tips. This community is a lifesaver when dealing with the nightmare that is SDI!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same nightmare! I've been trying to reach SDI for 5 days about my disability claim and it's beyond frustrating. Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in this struggle. I'm going to try all the timing suggestions - the 8:07am trick, the 10:30-11:15am window, and the afternoon 3:15-3:20pm slot. It's ridiculous that we have to become strategic about when to call just to access our own benefits! Has anyone noticed if certain days of the week work better than others? I saw someone mention Wednesdays/Thursdays but curious if there are other patterns. Thanks for creating this thread - it's exactly what I needed to see today!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I've been struggling to get through to EDD for weeks! The main number 1-800-300-5616 is always busy. Has anyone tried calling early in the morning right when they open? I heard that might increase your chances of getting through. Also wondering if there are specific days that tend to be less busy than others?