@OP - I know several people mentioned calling EDD at 8:01am, but honestly, that trick doesn't always work anymore because EVERYONE tries it. That's why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't get through on my own after trying for days with the early morning trick. Just wanted to give you a realistic expectation so you're not discouraged if the 8:01 method doesn't work.

So glad you got through to EDD! That's a huge relief. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me when I went through this same situation: 1. When you submit the police report to Money Network, also email a copy to their fraud department (not just the online form) - it creates a paper trail 2. Ask EDD for the confirmation number of your emergency payment request - you'll need it if you have to follow up 3. Consider freezing your credit reports with all 3 bureaus since the scammers had enough info to impersonate you The whole process is incredibly stressful but you're doing everything right. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - every form, every confirmation number, every email. Document all your phone calls too (date, time, who you spoke with). This saved me when Money Network tried to claim I hadn't followed proper procedures. You've got this! The emergency payment should help cover your immediate needs while everything gets sorted out.

Hey Ethan! I actually just went through this same process a couple months back when I started my new position. One thing that really helped me was calling right at 8:00 AM sharp - literally had my phone ready to dial at 7:59 and hit call exactly at 8. Got through in about 15 minutes which felt like a miracle! Also, when you do get an agent on the line, they'll likely ask if you want to "deactivate" vs "close" your account - make sure you're clear about what you want. Deactivating keeps it dormant but you can reopen it easily if needed, while closing it completely removes everything. Since you mentioned you got a new job, closing is probably what you want, but just wanted to give you the heads up so you're not caught off guard by the question. Good luck with both the call and the new gig! 🍀

Just wanted to add my experience from a few weeks ago - I was in the same boat trying to cancel my account after finding work. What really helped me was having a backup plan ready. I downloaded one of those auto-redial apps on my phone so I could set it to keep calling while I did other things. Also, write down the exact wording you want to use when you get through - something like "I need to close my unemployment account permanently" so you don't stumble over your words when you're finally talking to someone. The whole process took me about 10 minutes once I actually got an agent on the line, but it took 3 days of trying to get through! Definitely worth it though to have it officially closed. Congrats on the new job! 🎊

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

Yes, this has been happening to me too! I've experienced the exact same thing - the hold music stops and then complete silence. It's so frustrating because you don't know if you should hang up or keep waiting. I've tried staying on the line for 10-15 minutes after the silence starts, but nothing happens. It seems like there might be a technical issue with their phone system where calls are getting disconnected or transferred improperly. Have you tried calling at different times of day to see if it makes a difference?

Smart choice waiting for your new ID! I went through this exact situation last year and learned the hard way that EDD's ID.me system is incredibly strict about expiration dates. Even being expired by just a few days caused my claim to get stuck in verification limbo for over a month. The automated system flags expired documents immediately and then you're dealing with manual review processes that take forever. When I finally got my new ID and refiled, everything went through smoothly in just a few days. The peace of mind is worth the short wait!

Just wanted to add another data point - I had this exact situation happen to me about 6 months ago. My ID expired literally the day before I needed to file my new claim (talk about bad timing!). I was so anxious about losing benefits that I tried to file anyway, thinking maybe the system wouldn't catch it or I could figure it out later. Big mistake! The ID.me verification failed immediately and my claim got stuck in "pending identity verification" status. I ended up waiting 5 weeks for them to manually review everything, even after I got my new ID and re-verified. The EDD rep I finally spoke to said if I had just waited the extra week for my new ID from the beginning, it would have been processed normally. So yeah, definitely wait - those extra days of waiting are nothing compared to weeks of being stuck in the system!

This thread is so timely for me! I'm actually on my very last week of benefits and just certified yesterday evening. After reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more prepared for what to expect. It sounds like the key takeaway is that final payments can take 2-3 days instead of the usual 1-2 days, but as long as the UI Online status shows "paid," the money will definitely come through. I really appreciate everyone sharing their actual timelines - it's so much more helpful than the generic info on the EDD website. I'm bookmarking this thread and will definitely update if I experience any delays with my final payment. The Claimyr recommendation is also gold - I had no idea there were services to help skip those insane EDD hold times. Thanks to this community for always having each other's backs during these stressful times!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in the middle of my claim and seeing everyone's experiences with final payments is really valuable information for when I get there. It's reassuring to know that the 2-3 day delay for final payments is normal and that the "paid" status in UI Online is the reliable indicator to trust. The Claimyr recommendation keeps coming up too - I'm definitely going to remember that for future reference since I've already experienced those brutal EDD hold times firsthand. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and timelines. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating all the EDD quirks and uncertainties!