If you're still having trouble getting through by phone, another option is to contact your local Assembly or Senate representative's office. They often have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help with urgent cases like yours. I had to do this for my mom when she couldn't get through for her disability claim. Just call their district office and explain it's an urgent SDI filing issue - they usually respond within 1-2 business days and can sometimes get things resolved faster than going through the normal channels. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Worth trying if the direct calling doesn't work out!

I've been through this exact nightmare! Here's what finally worked for me: I created a simple spreadsheet to track all my call attempts with timestamps, which number I called, and how long I waited before getting disconnected. This helped me identify patterns - I noticed I had better luck on Wednesdays around 8:15 AM (not exactly 8:00 when everyone calls). Also, if you have any old text messages or emails that might reference your EDD email address, search for "edd" or "unemployment" - sometimes there are clues buried in confirmation texts or email forwards you forgot about. One last tip: when you do get through, ask the agent to add a secondary email to your account as a backup so this doesn't happen again!

I've been lurking in this community for a while but had to create an account to share my experience with this Money Network app nightmare. I went through the EXACT same freezing issue about 2 months ago and it nearly drove me insane! What finally worked for me was a combo of several suggestions I've seen here: First, I set up my account completely through the website on my laptop (thanks to whoever mentioned that - game changer!). Then I made sure to use WiFi instead of cellular data when trying the app. But here's the weird part that I haven't seen mentioned yet - I had to turn off my phone's auto-brightness and set it to manual at about 75% brightness. Apparently some phones have display settings that can interfere with the app's verification process. I know it sounds crazy but after I did that, plus waiting about 15 seconds before hitting continue like someone else suggested, it worked perfectly. The whole ordeal took me about 3 weeks to figure out but now the app runs smoothly. Hang in there everyone - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's shared their solutions here! I've been struggling with this same Money Network app freezing issue for over a week now and was getting desperate. Reading through all these different approaches gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved. I'm going to try the website setup first approach that Theodore mentioned, combined with the WiFi connection and waiting 15 seconds before hitting continue. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely call their customer service number that Keisha provided. It's really frustrating that such a basic app has so many technical issues, especially when people are depending on it to access their unemployment benefits. But seeing how many people have eventually gotten it working makes me feel more optimistic. Will update if I find success with any of these methods!

As someone who works in HR and has dealt with unemployment issues, I wanted to add that your husband should also be prepared for potential verification requests from EDD. They sometimes do random audits where they ask for documentation of job search activities, especially if there are any changes in your situation. Since he'll be studying while collecting benefits, I'd recommend he keeps extra detailed records - not just of his job applications, but also of his study schedule to show it's truly flexible around work opportunities. Screenshot his online course progress, keep emails from potential employers, document any networking he does related to both construction and real estate. Also, make sure he understands that if he starts networking heavily in the real estate field (attending open houses, meeting with potential mentors, etc.), these activities could actually count toward his work search requirements if they're genuinely aimed at finding employment opportunities. EDD allows some flexibility in what counts as "job search" as long as it's reasonably related to finding work. The key is always transparency and documentation. Better to have too much paperwork than not enough if they ever question his claim!

I'm currently in a very similar situation! My wife lost her retail job 2 months ago and is collecting UI while studying for her nursing prerequisites online. What we've learned is that the key distinction EDD makes is between "able and available for work" versus being a full-time student. Your husband should be fine since real estate licensing courses are typically self-paced and don't have mandatory class times that would conflict with work availability. When my wife certifies bi-weekly, she honestly answers "yes" to being available for work because she genuinely is - she can pause studying anytime for interviews or if she gets a job offer. One tip that's helped us: we created a simple calendar showing her study blocks and job search activities. This way if EDD ever asks, we can clearly demonstrate that studying hasn't interfered with her availability. She's actually found that some employers appreciate that she's using her unemployment time productively to gain new skills. The most important thing is that your husband continues meeting his work search requirements and remains genuinely available for suitable employment. As long as he's not turning down jobs to study or missing interviews because of coursework, he should be completely fine. Good luck with the real estate journey - it's smart to use this time to build toward a more stable career!

I went through this exact process about 6 weeks ago and want to share what worked for me. After completing ID.me verification, my claim stayed pending for 9 business days before switching to paid. Here's what I learned: The most important thing is to keep certifying every two weeks even while pending - I almost made the mistake of skipping a certification thinking I should wait, but thankfully read advice here to keep going. When mine hit day 12 with no change, I used the early morning calling strategy (called right at 8am when they open) and got through on my third try. The rep found that my employer had submitted conflicting information that created a flag requiring manual review. She cleared it immediately and my payments processed within 48 hours. My timeline breakdown: ID.me verification completed → 9 business days later status changed to paid → direct deposit hit my account 2 days after that. So about 2 weeks total from verification to money in bank. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about bills, but based on everything I've seen, most people get resolved within that 7-10 business day window. Just make sure you have direct deposit set up and keep certifying on schedule!

I'm currently going through this same process and the anxiety is real! Just completed my ID.me verification yesterday after my phone interview last week. My UI Online is showing pending status too and I've been refreshing it probably way too much hoping something changes. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It sounds like the 7-10 business day timeline after ID verification is pretty consistent, even though some people have had longer waits due to backend issues only reps can see. I've already set up direct deposit after reading Norman's advice about the debit card delays, and I'm definitely going to keep certifying every two weeks like everyone recommended. The screenshot documentation tip from Liam is smart too - going to start doing that today. Planning to wait until day 10 before attempting the early morning calling strategy. The stories about backend flags and employer information conflicts are making me realize there could be issues I'm not even aware of that might need a rep to resolve. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - it really helps to know others are going through the exact same thing and that there's light at the end of the tunnel!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's honestly been one of the most stressful experiences I've had with any government agency. Filed my appeal about 7 weeks ago after being disqualified - my employer claimed I was terminated for violating company policy, but I have evidence showing the "violation" was actually me following safety protocols they had trained us on just weeks earlier. Like everyone else here, zero certification weeks since filing the appeal. The financial stress has been intense, especially since I have a mortgage and car payment. I ended up having to borrow money from family just to cover basic expenses. What's been most helpful from reading this thread: - Applied for CalFresh yesterday after seeing multiple people recommend it - Started keeping a detailed log of all my job search activities - Found the appeals board direct number and confirmed my case is in their system (they're scheduling hearings 12-14 weeks out now - even longer than what others reported!) - Organized all my documentation including emails, training materials, and witness contact info The complete lack of transparency from EDD during this process is maddening. You file your appeal and then basically disappear into a black hole with no updates or communication. If it wasn't for communities like this sharing experiences, I would have no idea if I was doing something wrong or if this endless waiting is actually normal. For anyone else dealing with this - hang in there. It sounds like the system is designed to discourage people from pursuing legitimate claims, but based on what I'm reading here, most people with solid evidence do eventually win and get their back pay. We just have to survive the waiting period first.

I'm currently in week 5 of waiting after filing my appeal and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My situation is similar - employer claimed I was fired for cause but I have documentation showing it was actually a position elimination due to budget cuts. No certification weeks since filing the appeal, which has been really tough financially. What's been most frustrating is exactly what everyone here is describing - the complete radio silence from EDD after you file. You submit your appeal and then just... wait. No updates, no timeline, nothing. I had no idea if this was normal until reading everyone's experiences here. I've already applied for CalFresh based on recommendations in this thread (great suggestion!) and I'm going to call the appeals board directly tomorrow to at least confirm my case is in their system. The 12-14 week timeline some of you are reporting is honestly scary given my financial situation, but it's better to know the reality than keep hoping for that optimistic "30+ days" they initially quote. One thing I'm curious about - for those who won their appeals and got the batch of back weeks to certify, was that process straightforward or did you run into any additional complications with EDD when trying to actually get paid? I'm trying to prepare mentally for what might come after the appeal (assuming I win). Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here. It's the only place I've found real information about what this process actually looks like!