To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I'm in a similar situation and was told the same thing about the 4-6 week wait. It's really frustrating having payments held up for that long! I've heard from others that sometimes calling back and speaking to different representatives can yield different information or timeframes. Some people have had luck getting escalated or finding reps who can expedite things. Has anyone else had success with calling multiple times or asking to speak with a supervisor about the phone interview scheduling?

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD headaches! I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - check showed as "paid" in my account but never arrived in my mailbox. Here's what I learned from that nightmare: The 10 business day wait is frustrating but absolutely mandatory - they literally cannot process a replacement before then due to state regulations. However, once those 10 days are up, you have options beyond just waiting around. What worked for me was calling EDD at exactly 8:00 AM on business day #10 (they seem to have the shortest hold times right when they open). I had all my info ready - claim number, payment date, exact amount, etc. The rep was able to immediately put in the stop payment and reissue request since I was past the waiting period. In the meantime, definitely reach out to local resources! I called 211 and they connected me with emergency rental assistance that helped bridge the gap. Also, most utility companies will give you extensions if you can show documentation that your government benefits were issued but lost in the mail. The whole process took about 3 weeks total for me, but having those backup support systems in place made it way less stressful. Don't suffer in silence - there are resources out there to help while you wait for EDD to get their act together! You'll get through this! 💪

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same nightmare right now! My check for $567 from two weeks ago shows as "paid" but never arrived. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and terrifying - sounds like I'm looking at potentially 3-5 weeks to get this resolved. A few things I've learned from this thread that I wish I'd known earlier: - Start documenting everything NOW (screenshots of UI Online, call logs, etc.) - The 10 business day wait is non-negotiable, so use that time to prepare - Call 211 for emergency assistance programs while waiting - Reach out to landlord/utilities proactively with documentation One question for those who've been through this - when you called EDD after the 10-day period, did you find it helpful to mention financial hardship (potential eviction, etc.) or is it better to just stick to the facts about the lost check? Some reps seem more willing to expedite things when they understand the urgency. This whole situation is incredibly stressful when you're already struggling, but this community has provided more useful information than any official EDD resource I've found. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system! 🙏

I'm going through this exact same registration nightmare right now! Been stuck for 6 days with that "information doesn't match our records" error and I was honestly starting to think my claim was completely broken. This thread has been such a lifesaver though - the level of detail everyone has shared about specific formatting issues is incredible. Reading @Cole Roush's technical explanation about exact string matching really helped me understand why the system is so unforgiving. I never would have thought about case sensitivity or leading spaces causing problems. And @57258824db9c's apartment number solution has me wondering if that's my issue too since I also live in an apartment complex. I'm going to try the systematic approach tonight: check case sensitivity (maybe try all caps), verify no extra spaces, spell out "Street" instead of "St.", and go through every field character by character against my original paperwork. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become forensic data analysts just to access our own benefits when we're already stressed about unemployment, but this community has turned a nightmare into an actionable troubleshooting guide. If the manual checking doesn't work, I'm definitely trying Claimyr based on all the success stories here. Thanks everyone for sharing these specific solutions - this gives me real hope instead of just endlessly guessing!

This thread is absolutely amazing! I'm currently stuck in the exact same registration hell - been trying for 4 days now with that dreaded "information doesn't match our records" error. Reading through everyone's detailed solutions has been so incredibly helpful, especially the technical insights from @Cole Roush about exact string matching and @57258824db9c's apartment number discovery. I never would have thought to check things like case sensitivity, leading/trailing spaces, or how apartment numbers are formatted in different address fields. It's mind-blowing that such tiny formatting differences can completely block access to benefits when we're already stressed about unemployment. I'm definitely going to try the systematic approach everyone's outlined: check all caps vs regular case, spell out "Street" instead of "St.", verify apartment number placement, make sure middle name vs initial matches exactly, and go through every single field character by character. If that doesn't work, Claimyr seems like the proven solution based on all the success stories here. Thank you everyone for turning this nightmare experience into an actual actionable troubleshooting guide! This community support means everything when dealing with EDD's broken system.

Just want to add - make sure you keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs! I learned this the hard way when EDD asked me to verify my reported earnings from 6 months prior. Having everything documented saved me from a huge headache. Also, if your hours vary significantly week to week (like 10 hours one week, 25 the next), your benefits will adjust accordingly using that same formula everyone explained. The system is actually pretty fair once you understand how it works. Good luck with the new job!

I went through this exact situation 8 months ago when I started part-time at a grocery store! The anxiety was real, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Everyone's advice about gross pay is spot on. One thing I wish someone had told me: if you're uncertain about ANY earnings (like if you get tips, bonuses, or your employer pays you for training), always report it. I made the mistake of not reporting a $30 training bonus my first week because I wasn't sure if it counted - EDD caught it later and I had to explain. Nothing major happened, but it was stressful. Also, your retail job might have fluctuating hours during busy seasons (holidays, back-to-school, etc.), so your benefits will go up and down accordingly. That's totally normal! The key is just being consistent with your reporting. You've got this!

To sum everything up for clarity: 1. Unemployment (UI) and Disability (SDI) come from separate funding sources 2. UI is employer-funded, SDI is employee-funded through payroll deductions 3. You cannot collect both simultaneously 4. UI requires you to be able and available for full-time work 5. SDI requires a medical certification that you cannot work 6. Benefit calculations are different for each program 7. Both have separate one-week waiting periods If your condition worsens, you would stop certifying for UI and apply for SDI with your doctor's certification.

Just wanted to add one more important point that might help you - if you do end up needing to switch from UI to SDI, make sure to stop certifying for unemployment benefits immediately once your doctor says you can't work. I've seen people get into trouble because they continued certifying for UI while unable to work, which EDD considers fraud. The key is being honest about your work capacity on each certification. Also, keep all your medical documentation - you'll need it for the SDI application and it helps if there's ever a question about the timeline of when you became unable to work.