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.

I just want to add one more thing that helped me - if you're using Chrome and still having display issues even on desktop, try opening an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes browser extensions or saved login data can mess with how EDD's site displays information. I spent hours trying to find my balance on my regular Chrome browser, but when I opened an incognito window and logged in fresh, everything showed up perfectly in the Claim Summary section exactly where everyone said it would be. Also, if you're worried about running out of benefits, you should get a notification in your UI Online inbox when you're getting close to exhausting your claim balance, but it's definitely smart to keep track yourself so you can plan ahead!

I went through this same frustrating experience a couple months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: log into UI Online on a desktop computer (mobile version definitely hides stuff), go to your main dashboard, click on "Claim Summary", then scroll ALL the way down - and I mean really scroll down past everything you think is the end of the page. Look for "Maximum Benefit Amount" which should show your original $7800, and directly below that you'll see "Remaining Balance" with your current amount left. The interface is honestly terrible and they bury this info way further down than it should be. Also, if you've had multiple claims, make sure you're looking at the right benefit year using the dropdown at the top of the page. If you still can't find it after trying these steps, try clearing your browser cache or using a private/incognito window - sometimes cached data messes with the display. Don't stress too much though, the info is definitely there once you know exactly where to look!

Just wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me when I faced this same issue a few months ago! If you have a local EDD office near you, sometimes walking in person can be way more effective than trying to call. I know not everyone has this option depending on location and office hours, but the staff there were able to help me reset my security questions after verifying my identity with my ID and Social Security card. The wait was about 2 hours, but still way better than the endless phone loop. They also gave me a printout with my recent payment history so I could write down the key details for future reference. Just another option to consider if Claimyr doesn't work out or if you prefer handling things in person. Really glad this thread exists - it's like having a survival guide for dealing with EDD's broken systems! The community support here is amazing.

Wow, this entire thread has been such a learning experience! As someone completely new to both this community and dealing with EDD, I'm honestly shocked at how many people have faced this exact same account lockout nightmare. The fact that EDD expects perfect recall of payment details from months ago is absolutely ridiculous - who remembers exact dollar amounts that far back?! I'm taking detailed notes on all the solutions mentioned here. The Claimyr service sounds amazing based on everyone's success stories, and I had no idea that visiting EDD offices in person was even an option anymore. The creative workarounds people found (old text messages, tax forms, duplicate mail) really show how resourceful this community is when dealing with broken government systems. Already setting up my "EDD survival kit" based on all the prevention tips shared here - dedicated email folder, spreadsheet with key details, screenshots of everything important. It's sad that we need to create these elaborate backup systems just to access our own benefits, but better safe than sorry! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. @Jacinda Yu your success story gives real hope, and @Dmitry Petrov the in-person office tip is brilliant! This community is such an invaluable resource for navigating these bureaucratic mazes.

You'll get through this! One more thing - remember that EDD will ask during your appeal if you were actively looking for work during those weeks. Be prepared with details of any job applications, networking, or resume updates you did during that time. Having specific dates and companies can really help your case.

I went through this exact same situation last year! That certification question is so poorly worded - I think half the people who file unemployment mess it up at first. The good news is that you're absolutely right - you'll only be disqualified for those specific weeks where you answered incorrectly. Since you can still certify for new weeks and they're processing, your claim is definitely still active. I'd 100% recommend filing the appeal. I won mine by simply explaining that I misunderstood the question and providing a list of all the job applications I submitted during those weeks. The key is being super clear that you WERE available and actively looking for work during the disputed period. One tip: start documenting your job search activities now if you haven't been keeping detailed records. Even for your appeal, having specific company names, dates, and application methods will strengthen your case significantly. The whole process took about 2 months for me, but I got those weeks paid retroactively. Don't give up on that money - it's rightfully yours if you were genuinely available for work!

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I called Money Network again this morning, specifically asked for a provisional credit citing Regulation E, and they're processing it now (should be available in 2-3 business days). I've also filed the police report, submitted the EDD fraud form, and filed a CFPB complaint as backup. Going to try reaching EDD's fraud department tomorrow to see if they can help expedite things further. Will switch to direct deposit immediately once this is resolved. This has been such a nightmare but I'm feeling more hopeful now. Will update again when/if I get my money back!

So glad to see your update! You're doing everything right by being proactive and using the specific legal language. That Regulation E reference is powerful - I wish more people knew about it. Keep pushing if they try to delay the provisional credit beyond those 2-3 days they promised. And definitely document that conversation where they agreed to process it. You've got this! The fact that you're already seeing movement after just one day shows you're on the right track. Hope you get your full amount back quickly!