I'm a new member here but I've been lurking and reading about all these EDD horror stories. Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and honestly illegal - how can they tell you one thing (that you're done after penalty weeks) and then do something completely different? I wanted to add that if you're dealing with apprenticeship/training pay reporting issues, you might want to contact your training program coordinator too. Sometimes they can provide documentation or clarification letters that help with EDD appeals. Many apprenticeship programs have dealt with this exact reporting confusion before and know how to word things in a way EDD understands. Also, I've heard from friends that when you call EDD, it sometimes helps to say you're calling about "overpayment recovery options" rather than just general questions - apparently it routes you to specialists faster. Not sure if that's true but might be worth trying. This whole system is designed to exhaust people into giving up, but you've gotten so much good advice in this thread. Don't let them steal benefits you've earned and are entitled to receive. Keep fighting!

I just wanted to jump in and say that reading through this entire thread has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. @Paolo, your situation perfectly illustrates how broken and cruel the EDD system has become - serving penalty weeks should mean you've paid your debt to society, not that you still owe thousands of dollars on top of that punishment. What really strikes me is how much collective knowledge this community has developed just to survive EDD's bureaucratic maze. The fact that we need to know about Tier 2 specialists, confirmation numbers, specific forms like DE 1446H, emergency hardship reviews, and even phone call timing strategies just shows how deliberately obtuse this system is. To everyone sharing advice here - thank you for turning your painful experiences into help for others. And Paolo, please keep us updated on how the emergency hardship review goes and whether you're able to get through to someone who can actually help. You've already shown incredible resilience getting through 10 weeks without benefits. Don't let them wear you down now when you're so close to getting some relief. The apprenticeship angle sounds particularly promising since there are often special provisions for training-related income reporting. Definitely pursue that documentation from your program coordinator. Sometimes one properly worded letter from an official source can cut through months of EDD confusion.

This thread has been super helpful for understanding retention bonuses and unemployment! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation - my company is offering a retention bonus before layoffs next month. One question I haven't seen addressed: if the retention bonus is paid in installments (like half now, half on the last day), do you report each installment separately for the weeks you receive them? Or is there a different way EDD wants you to handle split payments? Just want to make sure I understand all the scenarios since companies seem to handle these bonuses differently.

I just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through the EDD process with a retention bonus. The advice here is all excellent - definitely report it! One thing I'd suggest is to also check if your company is reporting the bonus correctly to EDD. When I got my retention bonus last year, my employer initially coded it wrong in their wage reporting system, which caused a delay in my claim processing. If possible, ask your HR department how they plan to report the retention bonus to state agencies - whether as regular wages, bonus compensation, or other pay. Having that info ahead of time can help you match what you report on your certification with what your employer reports, which might prevent any processing delays or discrepancies that could flag your claim for review. Also, just a heads up that the EDD online system sometimes glitches when you're entering bonus amounts, especially larger ones like yours. Make sure to double-check that the amount saved correctly before submitting your certification. I had to re-enter mine twice because the system didn't save it properly the first time.

I'm completely new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! As someone who's never dealt with EDD issues before, I had absolutely no idea that funds could remain accessible on expired cards. This whole discussion has been such an education - it's incredible how many people seem to be in similar situations with forgotten money on old cards. I'm pretty sure I don't have any old EDD cards myself, but I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and will share it with friends and family who might. The detailed advice about calling EDD first, then the appropriate card issuer, and having ID ready for verification is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes these systems less intimidating. It's amazing how much you can learn just by reading other people's real experiences. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help others navigate this process!

I'm brand new to this community and this thread has been absolutely mind-blowing! I had no idea that money could still be sitting on expired EDD cards - I always assumed once the card expired, any leftover funds would just vanish into thin air. Reading through everyone's success stories has been so encouraging, especially seeing how helpful people have been with sharing specific phone numbers and step-by-step processes. I'm pretty sure I have an old card from early 2020 when I was briefly unemployed at the start of the pandemic, but I completely forgot about it once I found new work. That whole period was such chaos that I'm not even sure if I used all the funds or not. Based on everything I've read here, it definitely seems worth digging through my old paperwork this weekend to see if I can find it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes these confusing government systems feel a little less overwhelming!

Just to add one important detail - make sure you activate your card as soon as you receive it by calling the number on the sticker. You'll need to create a PIN. Also, Money Network now has an app you can download to manage your funds, check balances, and set up alerts for deposits. Much easier than their website in my experience.

One thing I don't see mentioned here - once you get your card, you can also set up direct deposit to your regular bank account instead of waiting for the card each time. You just need to log into your UI Online account and go to the "Profile" section to add your bank info. Takes about 1-2 business cycles to take effect, but then your payments go straight to your bank instead of the prepaid card. Much more convenient if you prefer using your own bank!

Just wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me when I faced this same issue a few months ago! If you have a local EDD office near you, sometimes walking in person can be way more effective than trying to call. I know not everyone has this option depending on location and office hours, but the staff there were able to help me reset my security questions after verifying my identity with my ID and Social Security card. The wait was about 2 hours, but still way better than the endless phone loop. They also gave me a printout with my recent payment history so I could write down the key details for future reference. Just another option to consider if Claimyr doesn't work out or if you prefer handling things in person. Really glad this thread exists - it's like having a survival guide for dealing with EDD's broken systems! The community support here is amazing.

Wow, this entire thread has been such a learning experience! As someone completely new to both this community and dealing with EDD, I'm honestly shocked at how many people have faced this exact same account lockout nightmare. The fact that EDD expects perfect recall of payment details from months ago is absolutely ridiculous - who remembers exact dollar amounts that far back?! I'm taking detailed notes on all the solutions mentioned here. The Claimyr service sounds amazing based on everyone's success stories, and I had no idea that visiting EDD offices in person was even an option anymore. The creative workarounds people found (old text messages, tax forms, duplicate mail) really show how resourceful this community is when dealing with broken government systems. Already setting up my "EDD survival kit" based on all the prevention tips shared here - dedicated email folder, spreadsheet with key details, screenshots of everything important. It's sad that we need to create these elaborate backup systems just to access our own benefits, but better safe than sorry! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. @Jacinda Yu your success story gives real hope, and @Dmitry Petrov the in-person office tip is brilliant! This community is such an invaluable resource for navigating these bureaucratic mazes.