Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still dealing with this. I'm a digital nomad who's been collecting CA unemployment while traveling (legitimately - I'm still available for remote work in CA). After trying multiple VPNs that all got blocked, I found that Surfshark's "NoBorders" mode worked for about 2 weeks before EDD caught on. But honestly, after reading everyone's experiences here, I think calling EDD directly is the way to go. The temporary workarounds aren't worth the risk of getting your account flagged. @GalaxyGlider your update gives me hope that they're reasonable about legitimate travel situations. Planning to call them before my next trip to get ahead of any issues.

I've been dealing with this exact issue for months! I'm currently in the Philippines caring for my elderly mother and had the same problem with EDD blocking my VPN access. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I used a dedicated IP from PureVPN (costs extra but gives you a static residential IP that's less likely to be flagged) AND I called EDD proactively to explain my situation. The rep was surprisingly understanding and added a note to my account about legitimate overseas travel while remaining available for CA work. The key is being completely honest about your circumstances and emphasizing that you're still actively job searching and available for California-based remote positions. Don't try to hide your location - it's better to work WITH EDD rather than trying to circumvent their security. Also keep detailed records of your work search activities while abroad as they may ask for this during your call.

I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion as someone who's been through the EDD penalty week nightmare myself. Reading through everyone's experiences really validates how broken and unfair this system is for people who make honest mistakes. The most important thing I learned from my own case is that EDD often rushes to classify reporting errors as "willful false statements" when they should really be treated as non-fault overpayments. The difference is HUGE - non-fault means you pay back the money but don't get punished with penalty weeks. For anyone still fighting their determination, here are a few additional tips that helped me: 1. Ask EDD to provide the specific legal standard they used to determine "willfulness" vs. honest mistake 2. Request a supervisor review if the front-line rep can't explain their reasoning 3. Keep detailed notes of every conversation - I caught them in several contradictions later The fact that so many people in this thread never received proper written notices is really concerning. It makes me wonder if EDD is deliberately making it harder for people to appeal by "forgetting" to send required documentation. Don't give up fighting these determinations! The penalty week system is supposed to punish fraud, not honest people trying their best to navigate a confusing system during already difficult times.

I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - EDD hit me with 4 penalty weeks for what they're calling "willful misrepresentation" but it was honestly just confusion about how to report tips from my restaurant job. Like many others here, I never received any written notices explaining the determination. What really gets me is that I actually OVERPAID on one of my certifications because I wasn't sure how to calculate my tip income correctly, so I reported higher earnings than I probably should have. How is trying to be extra careful and potentially reporting MORE income considered fraud?? The whole system is backwards. Reading through everyone's advice about the missing notices being a procedural violation gives me hope. I'm definitely going to use that script from @Zainab Ahmed when I call tomorrow. The point about asking them to verify the address they used for mailing is really smart - I've been living at the same address for 3 years and receiving other EDD mail just fine, so there's no reason those determination notices shouldn't have reached me. Has anyone successfully gotten penalty weeks converted to just a regular overpayment without the punishment weeks? I'd be totally fine paying back whatever I legitimately owe, but these penalty weeks are destroying my budget when I'm already struggling financially. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and strategies. This community is providing way better guidance than anything EDD has offered!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now and it's such a relief to find this thread! I've been stuck for 3 days trying to access my EDD account after registering. The system says my account exists when I try to register again, but won't let me log in. I've tried everything - password reset (no emails received), different browsers, clearing cache, checking spam folders multiple times a day. The regular EDD phone line is completely useless - just get hung up on every time. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that this can actually be resolved. I'm definitely going to try calling that technical support number (1-833-978-2511) first thing tomorrow morning at 8am sharp. It's so frustrating that their system is this broken when people are already stressed about being unemployed. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - knowing this is a widespread issue and not something I did wrong makes me feel so much better!

I'm experiencing this exact same problem right now! Started my registration 4 days ago and I'm completely stuck in the same limbo - can't log in but the system says my account already exists when I try to register again. This thread has been incredibly helpful because I was starting to think I had done something wrong during the registration process. I've tried all the basic troubleshooting (password reset, different browsers, clearing cache, checking spam folders) but nothing works. The regular EDD phone line is a joke - I've called at least 20 times and never gotten past the busy signal. I'm definitely going to try that technical support number (1-833-978-2511) that @Dmitry mentioned tomorrow morning at 8am. It's such a relief to see that this is a known system issue and that people have actually gotten it resolved. My unemployment benefits are my only income right now so every day this drags on makes me more anxious. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - knowing there's hope at the end of this tunnel really helps!

I'm completely new to this community and the unemployment process, and I have to say this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I just submitted my initial claim application last week and I'm still waiting to do my first certification, but after reading through everyone's experiences, I feel like I've been given a masterclass in avoiding the documentation pitfalls that are clearly plaguing the new EDD system. It's honestly shocking (but also reassuring) to see how systematic this work search documentation issue is - when dozens of people are making the exact same "mistake," that's not user error, that's terrible interface design! The fact that required fields are appearing optional is causing so much unnecessary panic and delays for people already stressed about unemployment. Thanks to all of your shared experiences, I now know to treat EVERY field in the work search section as mandatory during certification, regardless of how optional they might appear. I've already been maintaining a detailed job search log (company names, specific positions, application dates, methods used, follow-up actions) for my own organization, but now I understand how crucial it is to enter every single detail into their system. For everyone currently dealing with disqualified weeks - seeing that multiple people have resolved this by calling with their documentation ready is so encouraging! The fact that you can all see your weekly benefit amounts means your claims ARE approved. You're dealing with a certification issue, not a denial. This community support is incredible. Thank you all for turning what could have been individual nightmares into a shared solution that's helping so many people navigate this broken system!

I'm brand new to this community and the unemployment system, and wow - this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I just filed my initial claim a few days ago and haven't done my first certification yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me such valuable insight into what to expect and how to avoid the documentation issues that seem to be affecting so many people. It's really striking how the same work search documentation problem keeps happening to person after person - that's definitely a sign of poor system design rather than user error. The fact that the new EDD interface makes required fields look optional is creating so much unnecessary confusion and stress for people who are already dealing with unemployment challenges. Based on everyone's shared experiences, I'm going to make absolutely sure to fill out every single detail in the work search section during certification, even if those fields appear optional. I've been keeping a detailed spreadsheet of my job applications anyway (company names, job titles, dates, application methods, follow-up actions), and now I know how important it is to transfer all that information into their system. For those currently dealing with disqualified weeks - it's so reassuring to see that this issue is consistently getting resolved when people call EDD with their detailed job search documentation ready. The fact that you can see your weekly benefit amounts is proof your claims are approved! Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions. This thread is going to help so many people navigate this confusing system successfully. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - so much valuable real-world information! I'm currently doing IHSS for my elderly father-in-law and just got laid off from my accounting job last Friday. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like my IHSS wages will definitely count toward my UI calculation since I'm caring for my father-in-law (not spouse or minor child). The detailed breakdown of the $99 threshold and 75% reduction formula has been so helpful - I had no idea how those calculations worked! One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet: has anyone dealt with EDD questions about the legitimacy of family caregiving arrangements? I'm worried they might question whether I'm actually providing real care services or if it's just a way to get extra income while unemployed. My father-in-law has dementia and genuinely needs the assistance, but I know EDD can be suspicious about family employment situations. Also, should I be concerned about any potential conflicts of interest since I'm both receiving benefits and technically being "employed" by a family member through the county system? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any scrutiny when I file my claim this week. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this community has been more helpful than any official resources I've found!

I haven't personally experienced EDD questioning the legitimacy of family caregiving arrangements, but you're right to think about this ahead of time. The key thing is that IHSS has already vetted and approved your caregiving arrangement - you went through their assessment process, your father-in-law was deemed eligible for services, and you were approved as his provider. This isn't just informal family help; it's an official county program with proper documentation, timesheets, and payroll. If EDD has questions, you can point to your IHSS authorization paperwork, the county's assessment of your father-in-law's needs, and your regular timesheet submissions as proof of legitimate services. There's no conflict of interest issue here - thousands of family members provide IHSS care while receiving various benefits. The county IHSS program specifically allows family caregivers because they recognize it's often the best care arrangement. Just be honest about the relationship when you file, keep good records of your actual caregiving activities, and remember that EDD is primarily concerned with accurate wage reporting, not micromanaging who provides the care. Your situation is very common and completely legitimate!