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Hey OP, have you checked if your account is locked? Sometimes they lock accounts for security reasons and you need to call to get it unlocked. Happened to me last year.
I've been dealing with CalJobs issues for months now! One thing that finally worked for me was using incognito/private browsing mode. Also, make sure you're using the most up-to-date version of your browser. The site seems really picky about browser compatibility. If you're still stuck after trying the suggestions here, you might want to try accessing it from a library computer - sometimes their systems work better with government sites. Good luck! 🤞
I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through on the main line, you can also try calling the 1-855-327-7058 number (the general EDD customer service line) and then asking to be transferred to SDI specifically. Sometimes their call volumes are different and you might get lucky with shorter wait times. Also, I've noticed that if you get disconnected (which happens way too often 🙄), calling back within like 10-15 minutes sometimes puts you back in a better queue position. Not sure if that's actually how it works or just my imagination, but it seemed to help when I was trying to reach them last week. Hope you get through soon and get everything updated! The pregnancy journey is stressful enough without EDD making it worse! 🤗
Oh wow, the transfer trick is something I hadn't heard before! That's actually brilliant - using the general line as a backdoor to SDI. 🤯 And you're probably right about the callback thing, I swear these phone systems have all kinds of weird quirks that we have to figure out like we're cracking some secret code. It's honestly ridiculous that we've all become experts at gaming the system just to get basic customer service, but here we are! Thanks for sharing these tips - I'm definitely going to try the transfer method if the direct SDI line doesn't work out. We're all basically EDD phone ninjas at this point! 😂
Reading through all these comments has been both hilarious and super helpful! 😂 I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and dealing with my own SDI nightmare - they somehow have my due date as being 3 months from now when baby is actually due next month. The stress is real! But seeing everyone's strategies here is giving me hope. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM Tuesday/Wednesday calling strategy that multiple people have mentioned. It's wild that we've all had to become phone system hackers just to update basic info, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all the insider knowledge! Sending solidarity to everyone dealing with EDD chaos - we shouldn't have to work this hard for benefits we're entitled to! 💪👶
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you apply initially, you'll need to provide details about your delivery work like when you started, how often you work, and your average earnings. EDD might ask for documentation like your 1099 from last year or screenshots of your earnings from the delivery app. I'd gather those documents before starting your application so you're not scrambling to find them mid-process. Also, don't stress too much about the exact dollar amounts - they understand gig work income can vary week to week. Just be as accurate as possible with what you have.
That's really smart advice about gathering the documents beforehand! I was already dreading having to dig through old paperwork in the middle of filling out forms. I have my 1099 from last year and can easily pull up earnings summaries from the delivery app. One quick question - when they ask about "how often you work" for the delivery job, should I say something like "weekends only" or be more specific about hours? My schedule is pretty flexible so it's not like I work set hours.
For the "how often you work" question, I'd recommend being as specific as possible while still being honest about the flexibility. Something like "primarily weekends, approximately 10-15 hours per week, schedule varies based on demand" gives them a clear picture without boxing yourself into exact times. EDD understands that gig work is inherently flexible - they just want to know the general pattern so they can assess your availability for other work. The key is consistency between what you report initially and what you report during your biweekly certifications.
Adding to what everyone has said - make sure you understand the difference between "gross" and "net" earnings when reporting your delivery income. EDD wants your gross earnings (before gas, car expenses, etc.) not what you actually take home after expenses. A lot of gig workers get confused about this since apps like DoorDash show you different totals. Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries that show the gross amount you earned, because that's what you'll need to report during certification. Your actual business expenses get handled separately when you file taxes, not through EDD reporting.
This is such an important distinction that I didn't even think about! I was planning to just report what I actually pocket after gas and wear-and-tear on my car, but you're absolutely right - they want the gross amount before any expenses. That could be a pretty significant difference depending on how much driving I do. Thanks for clarifying this because I definitely would have reported the wrong numbers otherwise. Do you know if the delivery apps typically make it easy to see the gross earnings, or do I need to do some math to figure it out?
Update: I just finished setting up direct deposit after my certification payment cleared! The process was super easy - took maybe 3 minutes total. They ask for your routing number, account number, and you have to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN. There's also a confirmation step where you have to verify all the information before submitting. According to the confirmation page, my next payment should go straight to my bank account. SO relieved to finally be done with that Money Network card!
Did they give you any kind of timeline for when the first direct deposit will happen? I'm still worried they'll find a way to mess this up somehow... can't trust EDD to do ANYTHING right the first time!
@AstroAlpha The confirmation page said that payments will switch to direct deposit starting with the next certification cycle after setup. So if I certify this Sunday, that payment should go directly to my bank instead of the card. They also mentioned it takes 1-2 business days for the first direct deposit to process, which is still way faster than waiting for the Money Network card to get loaded and then transferred to my actual bank account. Fingers crossed they don't find a way to screw this up! 🤞
Finally got around to setting up direct deposit after reading through all these comments! For anyone still on the fence, I just want to emphasize how much better this is than the Money Network card situation. I've been dealing with those cards for over a year and had issues with ATM fees, random holds on my account, and terrible customer service. The direct deposit setup really is as straightforward as everyone said - just make sure you have your bank routing and account numbers ready. One tip: I called my bank first to confirm the correct routing number for direct deposits since some banks have different numbers for different transaction types. Can't wait to never deal with that Money Network card again!
This is so helpful! I just joined this community and have been dreading dealing with the Money Network card after hearing all the horror stories. I'm still waiting for my claim to be approved, but it's good to know that direct deposit will be an option by the time I (hopefully) start receiving benefits. Did your bank charge any fees for receiving the direct deposits from EDD, or is it treated like a regular deposit?
Samuel Robinson
This thread has been such a revelation! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with Error Code E0020 myself - been stuck for 2 days now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both frustrating and reassuring. Frustrating because it's clear EDD reps are completely clueless about the off-peak hours workaround that actually works, and reassuring because so many people have found success with the midnight login trick. I called EDD yesterday and got the typical "wait 48 hours for system maintenance" response with zero mention of trying during low-traffic hours. It's honestly shameful that their own support team doesn't know about solutions that clearly help the majority of people experiencing this error. I'm definitely setting my alarm for 12:30am tonight to try logging in based on all the success stories here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community is providing better customer service than EDD itself! Will update tomorrow with hopefully good news.
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Jayden Hill
•Welcome to the community! Your frustration is completely understandable - I'm also new here and it's shocking how much more helpful this thread has been than actual EDD support. The consistency of success stories with the midnight login approach is really encouraging. I'm in the same boat as you, planning to try tonight around 12:30am based on everyone's experiences. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to crowdsource these solutions when EDD should be training their reps properly. Fingers crossed for both of us tonight! This community really is a game-changer for navigating EDD's broken system.
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QuantumQuest
I'm dealing with the exact same Error Code E0020 issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Been stuck for 3 days and getting nowhere with EDD's phone support - they keep giving the same "wait 48 hours" response without mentioning the off-peak hours workaround that clearly works for most people here. It's amazing (and frustrating) how this community has figured out real solutions while EDD's own reps seem clueless. The consistency of success stories with the midnight login trick is really encouraging - seems like 11pm-2am is the sweet spot when server load is lightest. Definitely going to try tonight at 12:30am based on everyone's experiences. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive space! This community is providing better guidance than EDD's actual customer service. Will report back tomorrow with hopefully good news!
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Savannah Glover
•Welcome to the community and I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! I just joined recently after having similar EDD nightmares, and this thread has been such a lifesaver. It's incredible how many people here have had success with the midnight login trick - definitely try between 11:30pm-1:30am when the system load is lowest. I'm actually planning to try the same approach tonight for a different EDD issue I'm having. It's so disappointing that we have to rely on community forums to get real solutions while EDD reps just give generic responses. This group has been more helpful than multiple calls to EDD combined! Please update us tomorrow on how it goes - your success story could help the next person dealing with E0020. Good luck tonight!
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