FINAL UPDATE: Got my decision letter today - I WON!! The judge reversed the EDD's determination and found I was eligible for benefits! The letter says EDD has to process this within 10 days. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else waiting - definitely call that CUIAB number to check status, and definitely keep certifying every two weeks even while you wait!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This gives me so much hope as someone who's been waiting for my decision too. I had my hearing 6 weeks ago and have been checking the mail obsessively every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the wait times are all over the place but most people are getting decisions between 7-10 weeks. I'm definitely going to call that CUIAB number to check my status - thanks for sharing that resource! And good reminder about continuing to certify - I almost stopped doing it because it felt pointless when everything keeps showing "disqualified." Really glad it worked out for you after all that stress and financial hardship.

I just went through this process last month and wanted to share what worked for me! First, definitely get your driver's license updated at the DMV - they'll need to see that your ID matches your new name. Then I submitted everything through the online portal instead of mailing (way faster!). You'll need: 1) Legal document showing name change (marriage cert, divorce decree, etc.) 2) Updated ID with new name 3) Completed change of information form from their website. Make sure to scan everything in high quality and write a brief cover letter explaining what you're requesting. The whole thing took about 3 weeks for me. One heads up - my payments did get paused for about a week during the review, but they backdated everything once approved. Don't stress if that happens! The online system is actually pretty reliable now compared to a few years ago. Good luck! 🍀

I'm currently going through this process too! Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to update my driver's license first at the DMV, then submit everything through the online portal. One question I have - for those who successfully changed their name, did you need to provide any additional proof of identity beyond the legal name change document and updated ID? I'm wondering if they require things like Social Security card or birth certificate as well. Also, has anyone had experience with name changes due to divorce specifically? I have my divorce decree but want to make sure that's sufficient documentation. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone - this thread has been a lifesaver! 🙏

That sounds like a good plan. One more tip: if you do end up visiting an office in person, bring EVERYTHING with you - your ID, Social Security card, the employer form, any EDD paperwork you've received, and even screenshots of your online account showing the pending status. Better to have too much documentation than not enough. Good luck!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My claim has been pending for 3 weeks because they can't reach my former employer. The frustrating part is that I have all the documentation they need - pay stubs, my final paycheck showing the end date, and even a letter from HR confirming my employment dates. But EDD seems stuck on trying to contact the employer directly instead of just accepting the documents I already have. From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like the interview you had might actually move things forward even though it felt useless. I'm going to try the Claimyr service that @Nick mentioned - I've been trying to call EDD for days with no luck. Has anyone else here had success getting their employer verification issues resolved without EDD actually reaching the employer? I'm wondering if having solid documentation is enough or if they really need that employer contact.

I went through the exact same situation in February - got cut from 40 to 22 hours. The EDD website was confusing but I finally figured it out. One tip: after you apply, there's a mandatory one-week waiting period before benefits start. So you won't get paid for the first week you certify for - that threw me off when I first saw my claim summary. Also check out the Work Sharing program if your company has multiple employees in the same boat: https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/Work_Sharing_Program/

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I was in a similar situation last fall when my hours got cut from 35 to 18 per week. The partial UI definitely helped, but I'd also suggest looking into local food banks and utility assistance programs while you're waiting for your claim to process. In my area, 211 (dial 2-1-1) connected me to emergency rent assistance that helped bridge the gap during that first month. Also, if you have any skills like tutoring, pet sitting, or handyman work, consider picking up some gig work - just make sure to report those earnings accurately when you certify. The combination of partial UI plus a few extra gig hours helped me stay afloat until I found a better full-time position. Hang in there - this situation is temporary even though it feels overwhelming right now!

One more crucial step: Once you've reported the fraud, monitor your credit reports closely for at least a year. The person who stole your identity for EDD fraud may try to use your information for other types of fraud as well. You're entitled to free weekly credit reports through April 2025 at www.annualcreditreport.com from all three major credit bureaus. Set calendar reminders to check them regularly.

Update: I tried several of the suggestions here this morning. After trying to call EDD directly and getting nowhere, I used Claimyr and actually got through to a real person within 30 minutes! The agent transferred me to their fraud department where I reported everything. They're sending me the Form 2362E to complete, and I also filed the FTC report and froze my credit at all three bureaus. Still need to file the police report tomorrow. Thank you everyone for your help - I feel like I'm finally making progress!