I'm so sorry you're going through this - being fired for requesting basic ADA accommodations is both infuriating and illegal. You absolutely have a strong case for UI benefits based on everything you've described. The key thing working in your favor is the clear timeline: 3 years of solid performance reviews, then termination just 3 months after requesting accommodations. That pattern alone tells EDD exactly what happened here - this wasn't about job performance, it was about your employer choosing discrimination over spending a few hundred dollars on reasonable accommodations. A standing desk and flexible breaks for a back injury are about as reasonable as accommodations get. Any employer claiming "undue hardship" for those basic requests is going to have a very hard time proving that to EDD, especially since you worked in customer service where these accommodations wouldn't impact core job functions at all. When you file, be completely honest and specific: "Terminated after employer determined they could not provide reasonable ADA accommodations for documented disability." Don't let them twist this into you being unable to do the job - you were willing and able to work with minimal accommodations. Your employer will probably contest the claim, but honestly, companies that fire people to avoid ADA costs usually lose these battles. EDD sees right through employers who use "undue hardship" as an excuse to discriminate rather than follow the law. You did absolutely nothing wrong by requesting legal accommodations. Stay strong and fight for those benefits - you've earned them and deserve support while finding an employer who actually respects workers' rights. Good luck with your claim!

I'm really sorry you're going through this situation - it's absolutely maddening when employers think they can just fire people to avoid basic ADA compliance. From everything you've described, you have an incredibly strong case for UI benefits. What strikes me most is how textbook this retaliation case is: 3 years of solid performance, then termination within 3 months of requesting accommodations. The accommodations you requested (standing desk and flexible breaks) are so reasonable that any employer claiming "undue hardship" is going to look ridiculous to EDD investigators. A few things that might help as you navigate this: **For your UI application:** Be crystal clear that you were "terminated after employer refused to provide reasonable ADA accommodations" - don't let them frame this as performance-related when you have years of good reviews. **Documentation to gather:** Keep everything organized - your accommodation requests, medical documentation of your back injury, those solid performance reviews, and their termination letter. The contrast will be obvious to EDD. **Expect pushback:** Your employer will likely contest, but companies rarely win these cases when the timeline is this clear-cut and the requested accommodations are this minimal. You absolutely did nothing wrong by requesting legal accommodations you're entitled to. A standing desk costs what, maybe $300? And flexible breaks cost them literally nothing. Their "undue hardship" argument is going to fall flat when EDD examines the actual costs versus their company size and resources. Stay strong and fight for what you've earned - you deserve support while finding an employer who actually values ADA compliance instead of looking for excuses to discriminate!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this Katherine - EDD bank levies are absolutely terrifying, especially when rent is due so soon. I went through this exact nightmare about 8 months ago and the panic is real. Everyone has given you incredible advice about the WG-007 form, which is definitely your best shot at quick relief. I wanted to add a couple things that specifically helped me: 1. When you call EDD Collections, ask to speak with a supervisor immediately and explain you need emergency hardship consideration due to imminent homelessness - they have expedited review procedures for situations like yours. 2. Take photos of your frozen account screen and any levy notices with your phone - having immediate access to these images helps when you're on calls with EDD or your bank. 3. If you have any regular prescriptions or medical appointments, mention those costs prominently on your WG-007 - EDD seems to prioritize cases where people's health could be impacted. 4. Contact your county's social services office TODAY - many have emergency rental assistance programs that can help bridge the gap while you sort this out, and they're often faster than trying to work directly with landlords. I got my levy released in 4 days and ended up with an $85/month payment plan. The key was being extremely detailed about expenses and calling every single day to follow up. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this situation and the hardship exemption process really does work when you're persistent. You're going to get through this! Keep us posted on what happens.

I'm really sorry you're going through this Katherine - bank levies are one of the most stressful financial situations anyone can face, especially when you're already stretched thin. The community here has given you amazing advice, and I wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's helped family members navigate similar EDD issues. One thing I'd strongly recommend is creating a simple spreadsheet or document to track every single interaction you have with EDD - date, time, who you spoke with, what was discussed, and any reference numbers they give you. EDD reps sometimes give conflicting information, and having a detailed record can really help if you need to escalate or if there are discrepancies later. Also, when you're gathering documents for your WG-007, include a brief personal statement (just a paragraph) explaining your situation in your own words. While the form is the official requirement, sometimes a human explanation of "I'm a single person working part-time retail, barely making ends meet, and this levy is literally preventing me from paying rent and buying food" can help the reviewer understand the urgency. The fact that you're being so proactive about this puts you in a much better position than many people who just panic and don't take action. Most people who follow the hardship exemption process properly do get relief within a few days. You've got this - stay persistent and don't let the bureaucracy wear you down. This community is rooting for you!

Wow, this thread is a goldmine of information! I've been dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for 5 weeks and I was getting nowhere with the standard phone strategies. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach: first the 8:12am timing that @Javier mentioned, then if that doesn't work, I'll contact my assembly member's office like @Malik suggested. The insight from @Connor about assembly offices having dedicated EDD caseworkers with special access is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that resource even existed! Also planning to check out that EDD subreddit for real-time updates on wait times. It's frustrating that we have to become phone system hackers just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least there's a community of people sharing strategies. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This kind of peer support is what gets people through these bureaucratic nightmares. Will report back if I have success!

This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I've been stuck with a pending claim for 4 weeks and was starting to think I was doing something wrong. It's both reassuring and infuriating to see that this is such a widespread problem. I'm going to try the assembly member route first since that seems to have the highest success rate based on what everyone's shared. The fact that they have dedicated EDD liaisons with special access makes total sense - wish I'd known about this weeks ago! Also bookmarking that EDD subreddit for real-time updates. It's crazy that we need to crowdsource solutions like this, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate these broken systems. For anyone else reading this who's in the same boat - document everything! I started keeping a log after reading @Chris's advice and it's already helping me track patterns in when I'm more likely to get through vs hit busy signals. Thanks to everyone who shared their strategies. Going to report back once I try the assembly member contact!

Congratulations on finally getting through! Your success story gives me hope. I'm currently dealing with a similar SDI claim issue - getting the same A1104 error online and can't reach anyone by phone. I've been trying for over a week now. Going to try the 8:01am timing and general questions line approach tomorrow morning. It's so frustrating that these work history conflicts can't be resolved online, but at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it helps to know there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Just want to echo what others have said about the timing strategies - I had success getting through around 1:30pm on a Thursday after trying the morning rush for days with no luck. The afternoon window seems less crowded than the 8am scramble everyone talks about. Also, if you're getting that A1104 error specifically, it's almost always a data mismatch that requires manual review. I had the same issue when I had overlapping employment periods that confused their system. Once I got through to a rep, they cleared it up in about 10 minutes. The key is just staying persistent and trying different approaches. The system is definitely frustrating but most people do eventually get through if they keep at it!

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with EDD. They confirmed there was a processing delay due to quarterly system maintenance. All delayed payments should be released by tomorrow morning. The representative said if you don't see your payment by tomorrow afternoon, then call in because it might indicate a different issue with your specific claim.

This is exactly why I always keep a small emergency fund even when on UI - these random delays happen more often than people think! I've been dealing with EDD for over a year now and I've learned that quarterly maintenance periods (March, June, September, December) almost always cause some kind of hiccup. The good news is they're usually pretty quick to resolve it. For future reference, if you follow EDD on social media they sometimes post about these delays there before updating the website. Also, if you have the Money Network app, sometimes the payment shows up there before it actually posts to your card balance.