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UPDATE: Since it's been over 24 hours, I would suggest checking these things: 1) Log into BofA/Money Network and check your recent transaction history, not just the balance 2) Make sure you don't have any account holds 3) Check that your card is still active and hasn't expired. If you still don't see it by tomorrow, definitely call the card provider first, and if they don't see a pending deposit, then you'll need to contact EDD directly.
Glad to hear your payment came through! 30 hours is pretty typical in my experience. For anyone else reading this thread - this is a good reminder that the timing can vary quite a bit depending on when during the day your payment gets processed. The key is not to panic if it doesn't show up immediately, but definitely follow up if it's been more than 48 hours like others mentioned.
This is such helpful advice! As someone new to the EDD system, it's really reassuring to see that 30 hours is normal and that there are clear steps to take if payments don't show up within the expected timeframe. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly for newcomers like me who might be panicking unnecessarily!
Just checking back - were you able to resolve this issue? The suggestion to login directly to ID.me (not through the EDD link) usually works for these document classification problems.
Yes! We finally got it resolved. You were right about logging into ID.me directly. We were able to modify the document type from driver's license to CA ID, then scheduled another video call. The referee approved everything right away once the documents were properly classified. My daughter's claim status finally changed from "pending verification" to "processing" today. Thank you all for the help!
So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to try the direct ID.me login first before calling support. The document classification issue trips up so many people, but once you fix that categorization error, the verification usually goes smoothly. For anyone else reading this thread with similar problems - Grace's experience shows that the system isn't actually asking for MORE documents, it's just confused about the TYPE of document you uploaded. Always double-check that you're selecting the right category (CA ID vs driver's license, etc.) before submitting! Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it'll help other people who run into this same frustrating issue! 👍
This entire thread is like a masterclass in navigating EDD's broken system! As someone who works in tech support, I can tell you that what @Alicia Stern experienced is a classic case of poor form validation - the system probably accepted her "Yes" response but then failed to properly save or validate the subsequent work search details due to session timeouts, browser issues, or just plain bad code. The advice everyone's given here is spot-on, especially the documentation strategies. I'd add one more tip: if you're using Chrome or Firefox, you can actually save the entire webpage (Ctrl+S) during each step of certification, not just screenshots. This saves all the form data and can serve as proof of what you actually entered if there's ever a dispute. Also, for anyone dealing with this in the future - if you get the dreaded "disqualified" status, try submitting a message through the UI Online portal BEFORE calling. Sometimes this creates a paper trail that speeds up the phone resolution process. Include your work search details in that message so it's already in their system when you do get through to a rep. The fact that we need these workarounds for a basic government service is ridiculous, but at least this community exists to help each other navigate the maze!
@Mei Wong This is such valuable insight from a tech perspective! The form validation issue you described makes so much sense - I bet that s'exactly what happened to me during certification. Your tip about saving entire webpages Ctrl+S (is) brilliant and something I never would have thought of. I m'definitely implementing that for my next certification along with all the other documentation strategies people have shared here. The suggestion about submitting a message through UI Online before calling is really smart too - creating that paper trail could save so much time explaining the situation over the phone. It s'honestly mind-blowing that we need to become amateur tech support specialists just to access unemployment benefits, but I m'so grateful for communities like this where people share these workarounds. Between all the tips in this thread - screenshots, detailed spreadsheets, Claimyr for getting through phone lines, confirmation numbers, and now your webpage saving trick - I feel like I actually have a fighting chance of navigating this system successfully. Thanks for adding your expertise to help all of us!
@Mei Wong Your tech perspective on this is incredibly helpful! The form validation explanation makes perfect sense - I ve'noticed similar issues with other government websites where data just seems to vanish between screens. Your Ctrl+S tip is genius and I m'definitely going to start doing that. I actually tried the UI Online message route when I had my own work search issue a few months ago, and you re'right that it helped speed things up when I finally got through on the phone. The rep could see my message and all the details I d'provided, so I didn t'have to re-explain everything from scratch. It s'crazy that we basically need computer science degrees to successfully file for unemployment these days! But honestly, between your technical insights and all the other survival strategies people have shared in this thread, I feel like we re'building the unofficial EDD user manual that should have existed from day one. This community is literally saving people s'rent money with these tips!
Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times unfortunately! The "disqualified" work search issue is SO common, and @Alicia Stern I'm really glad you got it sorted out quickly. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're someone who tends to have browser issues or slow internet, consider doing your certification on a computer rather than your phone if possible. I've noticed the mobile version of UI Online seems even more prone to these form submission glitches. Also, try to certify earlier in the certification period (like Sunday morning) rather than waiting until the last minute when servers might be overloaded. And here's a tip that saved me once: if you ever get halfway through certification and the page freezes or you lose connection, DON'T immediately restart. Sometimes if you wait 10-15 minutes and then try to log back in, your partial submission is still there and you can complete it. But if you restart right away, you might lose everything and have to start over, which increases the chance of making mistakes. The system is definitely broken, but knowing these little quirks can help prevent issues before they happen. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread is going to help so many people!
@Miguel Castro These are such practical tips! The computer vs mobile advice is especially valuable - I ve'definitely noticed government websites work better on desktop browsers. Your point about waiting if the page freezes is something I never would have thought of, but it makes total sense that the system might still have your partial data saved temporarily. I m'bookmarking this entire thread because honestly, between everyone s'advice about documentation, calling strategies, technical workarounds, and now your prevention tips, this is basically the comprehensive EDD survival guide that should be pinned somewhere! It s'ridiculous that we need all these strategies just to certify for benefits, but I m'so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate the system. Definitely going to certify early and on my laptop from now on!
I'm a former EDD representative and can provide some clarity on your situation. You should absolutely still qualify for benefits! The key factors working in your favor are: 1) You were involuntarily separated (laid off) from your previous position, 2) Your new job doesn't start for 2.5 months, leaving you genuinely unemployed now, and 3) The significant pay reduction ($15k less) demonstrates you have legitimate reasons to continue seeking better employment. The "reasonable assurance" provision that applies to school employees typically only applies when the SAME employer provides assurance of future work. Since you're moving to a different district at lower pay, this shouldn't disqualify you. During your eligibility interview, be completely honest about your situation. Emphasize that you're actively seeking immediate employment at your previous salary level, and that the August position was accepted as a backup due to financial necessity. Keep detailed records of all job applications and interviews - this shows genuine work search efforts. One important note: always answer "yes" when asked if you're looking for work during weekly certifications, because you legitimately are seeking better opportunities that could start immediately. Good luck!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who actually worked at EDD! I was getting conflicting information online about the reasonable assurance rules, but your explanation about it applying to the SAME employer makes total sense. Since I'm switching districts entirely and taking a major pay cut, it sounds like I should be in good shape. I really appreciate you taking the time to break down all the key factors - knowing what to emphasize during my interview gives me so much more confidence. Thank you!
As someone who's been through the EDD system multiple times as a teacher, I want to add that timing is really important here. Since you're actively interviewing (you mentioned one this Friday), make sure to report any job offers you receive during your weekly certifications, even if you don't accept them. EDD appreciates transparency. Also, don't let the phone wait times discourage you from calling if you have questions before your interview. I've found that calling right when they open (8am) gives you the best chance of getting through in under an hour. Having that direct conversation with a rep can clear up a lot of confusion about your specific situation. One last thing - if your eligibility gets delayed or denied initially, don't panic. The appeals process exists for exactly these kinds of nuanced situations where the automated system might not capture all the details. But based on what you've described, I think you have a strong case for approval. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Cynthia Love
Have you checked if your license is expired? Sometimes that can cause login issues.
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Harold Oh
•Just checked, it's still valid. Good thought though!
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Madison King
I had a similar issue after updating my email! What worked for me was clearing my browser cache and cookies completely, then trying to log in again. Sometimes the system gets confused with cached login data. Also, make sure you're using the exact same format for your driver's license number as you did when you first created the account (some people add dashes or spaces differently). If that doesn't work, you might need to contact them directly to merge or clean up any duplicate entries in their system.
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Levi Parker
•This is really helpful advice! I'm going through the exact same thing right now. Just cleared my cache and cookies like you suggested - fingers crossed it works! 🤞 The tip about the license number format is smart too, I never thought about that. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Great advice! I had a similar cache issue with a different government site last year. One thing I'd add is to try using an incognito/private browsing window first before clearing everything - sometimes that's a quicker test to see if it's a cache problem. Also, @Harold Oh, if you're still having trouble after trying these steps, you might want to check if your old email account is still active. Sometimes the system tries to send verification emails to the old address even after you've "updated" it.
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