I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through on the main line, you can also try calling the 1-855-327-7058 number (the general EDD customer service line) and then asking to be transferred to SDI specifically. Sometimes their call volumes are different and you might get lucky with shorter wait times. Also, I've noticed that if you get disconnected (which happens way too often 🙄), calling back within like 10-15 minutes sometimes puts you back in a better queue position. Not sure if that's actually how it works or just my imagination, but it seemed to help when I was trying to reach them last week. Hope you get through soon and get everything updated! The pregnancy journey is stressful enough without EDD making it worse! 🤗

Reading through all these comments has been both hilarious and super helpful! 😂 I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and dealing with my own SDI nightmare - they somehow have my due date as being 3 months from now when baby is actually due next month. The stress is real! But seeing everyone's strategies here is giving me hope. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM Tuesday/Wednesday calling strategy that multiple people have mentioned. It's wild that we've all had to become phone system hackers just to update basic info, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all the insider knowledge! Sending solidarity to everyone dealing with EDD chaos - we shouldn't have to work this hard for benefits we're entitled to! 💪👶

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you apply initially, you'll need to provide details about your delivery work like when you started, how often you work, and your average earnings. EDD might ask for documentation like your 1099 from last year or screenshots of your earnings from the delivery app. I'd gather those documents before starting your application so you're not scrambling to find them mid-process. Also, don't stress too much about the exact dollar amounts - they understand gig work income can vary week to week. Just be as accurate as possible with what you have.

Adding to what everyone has said - make sure you understand the difference between "gross" and "net" earnings when reporting your delivery income. EDD wants your gross earnings (before gas, car expenses, etc.) not what you actually take home after expenses. A lot of gig workers get confused about this since apps like DoorDash show you different totals. Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries that show the gross amount you earned, because that's what you'll need to report during certification. Your actual business expenses get handled separately when you file taxes, not through EDD reporting.

Update: I just finished setting up direct deposit after my certification payment cleared! The process was super easy - took maybe 3 minutes total. They ask for your routing number, account number, and you have to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN. There's also a confirmation step where you have to verify all the information before submitting. According to the confirmation page, my next payment should go straight to my bank account. SO relieved to finally be done with that Money Network card!

Finally got around to setting up direct deposit after reading through all these comments! For anyone still on the fence, I just want to emphasize how much better this is than the Money Network card situation. I've been dealing with those cards for over a year and had issues with ATM fees, random holds on my account, and terrible customer service. The direct deposit setup really is as straightforward as everyone said - just make sure you have your bank routing and account numbers ready. One tip: I called my bank first to confirm the correct routing number for direct deposits since some banks have different numbers for different transaction types. Can't wait to never deal with that Money Network card again!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a somewhat similar situation, so I wanted to chime in with support and a question. My heart goes out to your son - having your car break down when it's essential for work is such a nightmare scenario, especially when the repair costs are so high. From everything I've read in this thread, it sounds like he has a really solid case for unemployment benefits. The fact that multiple people have shared successful outcomes from nearly identical situations is very encouraging! I'm curious though - has anyone here had experience with whether it matters if the car was financed vs owned outright? My situation involves a financed vehicle, and I'm wondering if that affects how EDD views the "ability to repair" aspect. Just thinking that if someone has car payments, it might actually strengthen the case that they truly can't afford a major repair on top of monthly payments. Regardless, your son should definitely apply right away if he gets terminated. This absolutely wasn't his fault, and from what everyone's shared, EDD seems pretty reasonable about these vehicle breakdown cases. Keeping my fingers crossed for a positive outcome for your family!

I'm new here but wanted to share some encouragement after reading through this whole thread. Your son's situation really resonates with me because I went through something similar about 6 months ago (different type of job, but same issue with unexpected vehicle failure). What really stands out to me from everyone's responses is how consistent the advice has been - this type of situation typically gets approved by EDD because it's clearly beyond his control. The fact that so many people have shared successful outcomes from nearly identical circumstances should give you confidence. One thing I learned during my own unemployment process that I don't think anyone mentioned yet - when he does his phone interview, it helps to be very specific about the timeline. Like exactly when the transmission failed, when his boss gave him the ultimatum, when he got the repair quote, etc. The interviewer will want a clear sequence of events to understand that this all happened suddenly and he didn't have time to make alternative arrangements. Also, the mechanic's quote for $4,300 is actually really important documentation. On a $22/hour job (roughly $3,500/month gross), that repair would eat up more than a month's entire gross pay. No reasonable person would expect someone to come up with that kind of money in just a few days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your son! From everything I've learned and read here, he should definitely qualify. The community advice about applying immediately and certifying every two weeks is spot on too.

I'm a new member here but I've been lurking and reading about all these EDD horror stories. Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and honestly illegal - how can they tell you one thing (that you're done after penalty weeks) and then do something completely different? I wanted to add that if you're dealing with apprenticeship/training pay reporting issues, you might want to contact your training program coordinator too. Sometimes they can provide documentation or clarification letters that help with EDD appeals. Many apprenticeship programs have dealt with this exact reporting confusion before and know how to word things in a way EDD understands. Also, I've heard from friends that when you call EDD, it sometimes helps to say you're calling about "overpayment recovery options" rather than just general questions - apparently it routes you to specialists faster. Not sure if that's true but might be worth trying. This whole system is designed to exhaust people into giving up, but you've gotten so much good advice in this thread. Don't let them steal benefits you've earned and are entitled to receive. Keep fighting!

I just wanted to jump in and say that reading through this entire thread has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. @Paolo, your situation perfectly illustrates how broken and cruel the EDD system has become - serving penalty weeks should mean you've paid your debt to society, not that you still owe thousands of dollars on top of that punishment. What really strikes me is how much collective knowledge this community has developed just to survive EDD's bureaucratic maze. The fact that we need to know about Tier 2 specialists, confirmation numbers, specific forms like DE 1446H, emergency hardship reviews, and even phone call timing strategies just shows how deliberately obtuse this system is. To everyone sharing advice here - thank you for turning your painful experiences into help for others. And Paolo, please keep us updated on how the emergency hardship review goes and whether you're able to get through to someone who can actually help. You've already shown incredible resilience getting through 10 weeks without benefits. Don't let them wear you down now when you're so close to getting some relief. The apprenticeship angle sounds particularly promising since there are often special provisions for training-related income reporting. Definitely pursue that documentation from your program coordinator. Sometimes one properly worded letter from an official source can cut through months of EDD confusion.