I'm new to this community but had to jump in after reading through this incredible thread! I'm 64 and have been terrified about what would happen if I lost my job since I started collecting Social Security last year. My HR department actually told us in a meeting that "people on Social Security can't collect unemployment" - and I just accepted it as fact! Reading everyone's experiences here has been both a huge relief and really frustrating. It's clear this misinformation is absolutely everywhere, and who knows how many seniors have missed out on benefits they deserved because of these lies. Elijah, thank you for having the courage to question what your supervisor told you instead of just accepting it. This thread is going to be a lifesaver for so many people! I'm bookmarking it and sharing it with my senior center - I bet there are others there who have been given the same wrong information. To all the people who shared their stories and expertise here - THANK YOU. You've literally changed how I think about my financial security in retirement. If I ever face a layoff, I'll know exactly what to do and won't let anyone discourage me from filing for benefits I've paid into for 40+ years of working!

I'm so glad you found this community and got the truth about your situation! As someone who's been lurking here for a while but never posted, I felt compelled to share my story after reading through all these responses. I'm 69 and went through the EXACT same thing 8 months ago - got laid off from my warehouse job after 6 years, and my manager told me "seniors on Social Security can't get unemployment." I was so discouraged that I didn't file for almost 3 weeks, which cost me hundreds of dollars in benefits I could have received. When I finally did apply (after my daughter convinced me to research it myself), not only was I approved, but I found out that my delay in filing meant I lost those first few weeks of benefits forever. That's money I'll never get back because I believed my employer's misinformation. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected. Yes, you report your Social Security income during certification, but it doesn't reduce your weekly benefit amount at all in California. And honestly, the extra income from both sources made such a difference while I was job searching. Please don't make my mistake - file tonight like everyone is telling you! Every day you wait is literally money you're losing. And to everyone else reading this who might face this situation in the future: don't trust what employers tell you about benefits. Always verify directly with EDD or through communities like this where people share real experiences. You've paid into this system for decades - claim what you've earned!

I feel for you - I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it's incredibly stressful when you're facing bills and can't get through to anyone. Since you found that employer verification notice, you're actually in a better position than most people who have "pending" status without knowing why. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is trying to call the EDD disability number (1-800-480-3287) and asking them to transfer you to UI. Sometimes they can do warm transfers to UI reps when the main lines are jammed. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot. Also, when you do get through (and you will eventually), be ready to potentially do a three-way call with your former employer if they need additional verification. The rep might set this up on the spot to resolve everything faster. The rental assistance suggestions others made are spot-on too. In the meantime, you might also want to reach out to your landlord to explain the situation - many are understanding about EDD delays since it's such a common problem. Some will accept partial payment or give a few extra days when they know unemployment benefits are just delayed, not denied. Keep us posted on how it goes! This community has helped so many people navigate these EDD nightmares.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more strategy that helped me when I was in a similar situation last year. Try calling the EDD Technical Support line at 1-800-300-5616 and pressing different menu options to see if any route you to a live person faster. Sometimes the "employer" or "general information" options have shorter hold times than the main UI claims line. Also, since you mentioned you're in San Bernardino County, there's a local advocacy group called Inland Empire United that sometimes helps people navigate EDD issues. They might have additional resources or contacts that could help expedite your case. One last tip - if you do end up using a service like Claimyr that someone mentioned earlier, make sure you're prepared for the call when they connect you. Have your Social Security card, ID, all employment documents, and that employer verification notice right in front of you. These calls can move quickly once you're connected, and you don't want to waste time looking for documents. Really hoping you get through soon - the stress of pending benefits when bills are due is just awful. Keep trying all these different approaches and something will work!

This entire discussion is so validating! I'm literally going through my first unemployment experience right now and was completely caught off guard by the waiting period. Like everyone else here, I saw "waiting period" with $0 and immediately thought I had screwed something up during my application or certification. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD doesn't explain this basic requirement anywhere prominent - I had to dig through like 5 different pages on their website just to find a tiny mention of it buried in the fine print. The fact that literally every single person in this thread went through the exact same panic shows how broken their communication system is. Why not just add a simple notification during the filing process that says "California law requires an unpaid waiting period for your first eligible week - this is normal for all claims"? It would save thousands of people from unnecessary stress every week. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been way more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found!

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying about how confusing EDD makes this! I'm currently in week 4 of my claim and that first "waiting period" week absolutely threw me for a loop. I spent probably 2 hours on their website trying to figure out if I had made some mistake during filing. What's really frustrating is that they could literally fix this confusion with one simple sentence during the application process - something like "Note: Your first eligible week will be unpaid per California law." Instead, we all end up here trying to figure out if we broke something! At least this community exists to help each other navigate EDD's terrible communication. For anyone just starting out - yes it's normal, no you didn't mess up, and yes it's frustrating that they don't tell you upfront!

Hey Emma! Just wanted to chime in since I went through this exact same confusion when I first applied. The waiting period is definitely one of those things they should explain better upfront! One tip that helped me - when you certify this Sunday, double-check that you're answering all the questions correctly, especially about availability for work and any job search activities. Sometimes people accidentally trigger issues that can delay payments. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly in your UI Online account - that'll help ensure your payments come through smoothly once they start processing. The good news is that after this initial confusion, the process becomes pretty routine!

Yes, you absolutely need to meet all eligibility requirements during the waiting period week, including being available for work and conducting job search activities if required. The waiting period isn't a "free pass" week - you still have to be actively seeking employment and meet all the same criteria as any other week you're claiming benefits. The only difference is you don't get paid for that first week. California typically requires 3 job search activities per week (though this can vary), so make sure you're documenting your applications, interviews, or other qualifying activities. When you certify, you'll be asked about your job search efforts for both weeks, including that waiting period week.

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! 💪

I'm new to this community but stumbled across this thread while frantically searching for help with my own ID.me disaster! My unemployment claim has been completely stuck for 6 days because ID.me keeps showing some mysterious @hotmail.com email address that I absolutely never created. This entire discussion has been such a godsend - I honestly felt like I was going crazy thinking I was the only person experiencing this! The overwhelming consensus about calling 866-775-4363 right at 8:00 AM EST gives me real hope that there's actually a solution to this nightmare. What's been most helpful is reading the detailed play-by-plays from people like @QuantumQuasar and @Oliver Weber about what actually happens during these calls. Learning that these phantom accounts often trace back to tax preparation services, employers, or other government agencies creating ID.me accounts without our knowledge is both maddening and illuminating. I'm now suspicious that my mystery account might be linked to when I used TaxAct a few years back. I've got my alarm set for 7:55 AM tomorrow and all my documents ready to go (driver's license, SSN card, recent bank statement, birth certificate). I'm also jotting down those crucial phrases about "searching for duplicate accounts under this SSN" and "identity resolution team" that so many successful callers have mentioned. This thread has completely changed my perspective from feeling helpless to having a clear action plan. The community support here is absolutely incredible and makes this bureaucratic maze feel so much less overwhelming! @Zainab Ibrahim really hoping tomorrow brings good news for your nephew! Please update us - we're all cheering you on! 🙏