idk if this helps but I had a similar issue and I ended up contacting my local assembly member's office. They have liaisons who can sometimes cut through the red tape faster than we can on our own.

I actually went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! My employer had offices in both San Francisco and San Jose, and EDD mixed them up on my paperwork. Here's what worked for me: I called EDD first thing in the morning (around 8:01 AM) and got through after about an hour. The rep was super helpful and fixed it on the spot. She told me that address mix-ups are pretty common with multi-location employers and it's usually a quick fix once you get someone on the phone. Just make sure you have your employer's correct address, your hire date, and any employment verification documents ready. The change showed up in my online account within 24 hours. Don't stress too much - this won't delay your benefits as long as you get it sorted before your interview!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what worked for me after weeks of frustration: The key is to treat this as both identity theft AND an EDD system issue. When I finally got through to a supervisor at EDD, they explained that their systems have a major flaw - once someone creates ANY kind of account with your info (even if it's fraudulent and gets rejected), it permanently locks that email/SSN combination in their database. What finally resolved it for me: 1. Filed a police report specifically mentioning "EDD identity theft" - this gave me a case number that EDD took seriously 2. Went to the local office with the police report, multiple forms of ID, and a notarized identity affidavit (you can get the form from EDD's website) 3. Asked them to completely purge my SSN from ALL EDD systems and start fresh The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but once they cleared the fraudulent account, I was able to apply for legitimate benefits without any issues. Don't give up - this is unfortunately super common right now and EDD does have processes to fix it, they're just buried under bureaucracy. Also - freeze your credit immediately if you haven't already. In my case, the same scammer who hit my EDD account also tried to open credit cards in my name.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My sister had the exact same "email already in use" error when trying to apply for SDI last week. What we discovered is that EDD's fraud reporting system has a specific pathway for SDI identity theft that's different from regular unemployment fraud. Here's what's been working for us so far: 1. Use the SDI-specific fraud report form at: edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/Report_Fraud/ (not the general EDD fraud portal) 2. For San Bernardino specifically, there's also a regional SDI investigator you can reach at (909) 383-4680 - this number is less busy than the main lines 3. When you file the police report, make sure to specifically mention "State Disability Insurance fraud" - apparently this triggers a different process than general identity theft 4. Keep trying to access the account periodically - sometimes the fraudulent accounts get automatically purged by EDD's system after fraud reports are filed We're still in the middle of resolving it, but the SDI investigator was way more helpful than the general EDD reps we talked to initially. They actually seemed to understand the specific technical issues with the SDI Online system. Hope this helps and that you get it sorted out quickly! The whole situation is incredibly stressful when you legitimately need the benefits.

has anyone gotten a real person on the Money Network phone line lately??? i've called like 6 times and just get the stupid robot

UPDATE: I downloaded the Money Network app and tried doing the transfer there. Still got an error but a DIFFERENT one this time - it said "Verification Required" and had a link to verify my bank account! Followed the steps and now I'm waiting for the test deposits to hit my account. Thanks everyone for your help!

One more important point: if you do qualify for unemployment, you MUST be available for and actively seeking full-time work. This means you can't turn down suitable job offers because you're waiting for school to restart. You'll need to document your work search activities when you certify every two weeks. Some substitute teachers find they actually earn more during summer by taking temporary full-time jobs instead of collecting unemployment. Consider all your options!

I went through this same situation a few years ago as a substitute teacher. Here's what I learned: you CAN claim unemployment during weeks with zero assignments during the school year, but you must report ANY income from subbing when certifying. For summer, it really depends on whether you receive a "reasonable assurance" letter. I didn't get one until mid-July, so I was able to collect benefits for about 6 weeks. The key is being completely honest about your situation - don't try to hide that you're a sub, but emphasize that you have NO guarantee of work or hours. I also kept detailed records of my work search efforts and any communication with the district. One tip: if you do apply and get approved, consider it a bridge while actively looking for summer employment. The benefits helped me survive until I found a temporary summer job that actually paid better than inconsistent subbing. Document everything and don't give up if initially denied!

When I got my job back in January, I called EDD to make sure I was doing everything correctly. The representative told me two important things: 1) Do your final certification properly reporting your return to work, and 2) Keep all documentation about your new employment (offer letter, start date, etc.) in case there are any questions later. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you received any benefit payments after your start date (maybe because of certification timing), you'll need to repay those. Better to be careful with your reporting dates to avoid overpayment issues later.

Congratulations on landing the new job! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - take screenshots of your final certification showing that you reported your employment and the confirmation page. I kept these as backup documentation in case there were ever any questions about when I properly notified EDD about returning to work. Also, if your new employer offers direct deposit, make sure to update your banking info with them since you'll want to remove any automatic deposits going to the same account EDD was using (just to avoid any potential confusion). Best of luck with the new position!