I work as a paralegal at a legal aid office and see EDD appeals cases regularly. Here are a few additional tips that might help: First, when you call CUIAB at 1-800-967-5253, have your Social Security number, appeal case number, and the date of your hearing ready - they'll ask for all three to verify your identity. Second, the 10-day evidence submission rule mentioned earlier is crucial, but you can also bring additional evidence to the hearing itself if it's newly discovered. Third, for "availability for work" disqualifications, the key is proving you had no restrictions that would limit your job search - document any steps you took to remain available (reliable transportation, childcare arrangements, flexible schedule, etc.). Finally, if you absolutely cannot reach anyone by phone, you can mail questions to the specific CUIAB office handling your case - the address should be on your hearing notice. While slower than phone contact, they are required to respond to written inquiries about pending cases. Don't give up - these cases are absolutely winnable with proper preparation!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been trying to reach someone about my appeal for weeks with no luck. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to try calling the CUIAB number (1-800-967-5253) first thing at 8 AM tomorrow and ask specifically for the Administrative Law Judge's clerk for my case. I also didn't realize there was a 10-day evidence submission rule - thankfully my hearing isn't for another 3 weeks so I still have time. For anyone else struggling with this, it sounds like the key is being persistent with multiple strategies rather than just relying on the main EDD number. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know that these appeals are winnable even when the phone system seems impossible to navigate!

Just wanted to chime in as another person who successfully got through this nightmare! I was stuck on the occupation selector for almost a week before finding this thread. What finally worked for me was a combination of several suggestions here: I used Safari on my iPhone (not my computer) around 11:30 PM, turned off my WiFi and used cellular data instead, and typed "food service" in the search box rather than trying to find the exact "restaurant manager" match. Sometimes being less specific with your search terms helps the buggy system find results faster. The mobile browser approach might be worth trying for folks who are still stuck - the mobile version of the EDD site seems to have fewer JavaScript conflicts than the desktop version. Also, I noticed the search function works better if you wait about 10 seconds after the page fully loads before trying to type anything. The system needs time to initialize that database connection everyone's been talking about. Hope this helps add another option to this amazing collection of workarounds!

This thread is absolutely incredible - it's like a masterclass in troubleshooting the EDD's broken system! I'm currently dealing with this exact same occupation dropdown freeze and have been pulling my hair out for the past 4 days. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions gives me so much hope that I can actually get through this nightmare. What strikes me most is how we've collectively had to become amateur system administrators just to access benefits we're legally entitled to. The fact that we need strategies like "use Edge at 1am in private mode" or "try Safari on mobile with cellular data" just to select our job type from a dropdown menu is absolutely insane for a government service in 2025. I'm going to try a combination approach tonight: starting with the mobile Safari + cellular data method around 11:30 PM (thanks Adrian!), and if that doesn't work, switching to the Edge + private mode approach that worked for Drew. I've also written down all my employment info in advance based on Nathan's timeout warning, and I'll make sure to wait 10 seconds before typing as Adrian suggested. Thank you all for turning this frustrating experience into such a helpful resource. I'll definitely report back with my results to add to this amazing collection of real-world solutions. This community support makes dealing with EDD's technical disasters so much more bearable!

Just wanted to add another data point here - I had this exact same issue last week and it turned out to be related to how my address was entered in the system. The EDD rep I finally reached told me that sometimes the address verification can also cause the "no match found" error even when your name and SSN are correct. In my case, they had my apartment number in a different field than expected. For anyone still struggling with this, when you do get through to a rep, ask them to verify ALL the information in your file - name, DOB, SSN, AND address. Don't assume it's just a name issue. The whole system is way more finicky than it should be. Also seconding the recommendation for asking specifically for "UI Online Technical Support" - regular claims reps couldn't help me but the tech support team knew exactly what to look for.

Adding to this incredibly helpful thread - I'm a former EDD employee (worked there 2018-2021) and can confirm that the CAN registration system has multiple validation layers that can trip people up. Beyond the name and address issues already mentioned, here are a few other things that can cause the "no match found" error: 1. **Date format inconsistencies** - Make sure you're entering your birthdate in MM/DD/YYYY format, not DD/MM/YYYY 2. **Phone number variations** - The system sometimes stores phone numbers with or without area codes differently than expected 3. **Employment history timing** - If you filed very recently, sometimes the system needs 72+ hours to fully process all the data linkages The UI Online Technical Support team is definitely your best bet - they have access to backend tools that regular reps don't. One thing that might help while you're waiting to get through: try the registration process at different times of day. The system runs maintenance updates overnight and sometimes cached data gets cleared, which can resolve temporary mismatches. Really glad to see this community helping each other navigate these frustrating technical issues!

I went through this exact same frustration about 3 months ago! Here's what worked for me: I called the EDD technical support line (1-833-978-2511) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and got through in about 20 minutes. The rep was really helpful once I explained I needed a "security question reset" due to forgotten answers. They verified my identity using my SSN, full name, DOB, last employer info, and surprisingly they also asked for my mother's maiden name (which was one of my original security questions I couldn't remember - ironic!). The whole reset process took about 10 minutes once they confirmed my identity. Pro tip: When you set up your new security questions, use your phone's notes app to write down both the questions AND answers immediately. I made that mistake the first time thinking I'd remember, but honestly who remembers what their "first pet's name" was from 2 years ago when you've had multiple pets? Also bring up your bank account while on the call - they might ask for your last payment date or amount as extra verification. Having all that info ready speeds things up significantly. You should be able to get back into your account the same day. Hang in there!

I actually just went through this same exact situation about a month ago! I was locked out of my EDD account because I couldn't remember my security questions from when I first set up my account back in 2022. It's honestly ridiculous that they expect us to remember answers from years ago, especially when we were probably stressed and just trying to get through the application process quickly. Here's what worked for me: I called the EDD technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 right at 8 AM on a Wednesday morning. I waited about 45 minutes on hold, which wasn't fun but definitely better than the 2+ hour waits I've experienced with their regular unemployment line. The representative was actually really understanding about the situation. They verified my identity using my SSN, full name, date of birth, last employer information, and my current address. They also asked for the last date I certified for benefits and the amount of my most recent payment, so definitely have that information ready if you can find it in your bank records. The whole security question reset process took about 15 minutes once they confirmed my identity. They let me create new security questions right there on the call, and I immediately wrote them down in my password manager this time so I'll never forget again. They also sent me a temporary password via email that I could use to log in immediately. One tip: when you're creating your new security questions, pick answers that are factual and won't change over time, rather than trying to be clever or obscure. I learned that lesson the hard way! Good luck with your call tomorrow - you should be able to get this resolved pretty quickly once you get through to someone.

Just following up - were you able to get clarity on this? For anyone finding this thread later, here's the official word: According to the EDD's UI benefit determination guide, distributions from qualified retirement plans (including 401k, IRA, etc.) are NOT considered wages for UI purposes. These distributions should not affect your weekly benefit amount. However, ongoing pension payments (not one-time distributions) might reduce your benefits, depending on whether your base period employer contributed to that pension. The safest approach is always to report and let EDD make the determination rather than risk an overpayment situation.

Great to hear you got confirmation from EDD! This is such a common source of confusion for people dealing with layoffs. Your experience perfectly illustrates why it's worth the hassle of getting through to an actual representative when you're unsure - better to get the official word than stress about it or potentially miss out on benefits you're entitled to. Thanks for following up with the resolution - this thread will definitely help others in similar situations!