UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD this morning! The rep confirmed my claim went inactive because I missed certifying for a few weeks. She reactivated it right away and I was able to certify for the past 3 weeks. The backpay should hit my account within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help!

Great to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else who encounters this issue, I'd recommend setting up calendar reminders for your certification dates. I learned this the hard way after missing a few weeks myself. The EDD system is pretty unforgiving when it comes to missed certifications, but at least the reactivation process is usually straightforward once you get through to someone.

Have you tried looking at the Amazon warehouse? They're always hiring and the pay is decent until you find something better in your field. That's what I did when my benefits ran out last year.

I'm sorry you're going through this tough situation. As others have mentioned, the pandemic-era extensions are gone, but there might still be some options worth exploring quickly since you have that one week of benefits left. Beyond the Training Extension that others mentioned, I'd also suggest: 1. Contact your local One-Stop Career Center - they often have emergency assistance programs and can help with resume optimization for the current tech market 2. Look into emergency rental assistance programs in your county - many are still active and can help with that rent payment 3. Check if you qualify for any union or professional association assistance programs (some tech groups have hardship funds) The key thing is to act fast on that Training Extension application while you still have benefits remaining. Even if it's just $112 for one week, it might be enough to qualify you for the program. Also, don't forget about food banks and local emergency assistance programs - they're designed exactly for situations like yours and can help bridge the gap while you figure out next steps. Hang in there, the tech market is brutal right now but you're not alone in this struggle.

Just checking back - have you had any success with the resources suggested here? One additional recommendation: If your mother banks with a credit union or local bank, their fraud department might be willing to help advocate on her behalf, especially if she's been a long-term customer. Also, the America's SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers) sometimes help with PPP fraud cases even for non-business owners. They understand SBA systems and may have contacts who can expedite the case. You can find your local office at americassbdc.org.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this nightmare. Identity theft targeting seniors is absolutely heartbreaking, and the fact that government agencies are making victims feel like criminals is unacceptable. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider reaching out to your state's Attorney General's office. Many AGs have elder fraud units that specifically handle these types of cases and can put pressure on federal agencies. Also, if your mom receives any more threatening collection letters, respond in writing (certified mail) stating that this is a case of identity theft under investigation and that you dispute the entire debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they must stop collection efforts once you dispute it in writing. Document everything with photos/scans. The fact that she's been retired for 9 years and never owned a business should make this a slam-dunk case once you get the right people involved. Stay strong - you're doing everything right by advocating for her!

I haven't gone through a CUIAB hearing myself, but I wanted to share something that might help with your preparation. My cousin dealt with identity theft at EDD last year and one thing that really strengthened her case was getting a formal letter from the Social Security Administration showing when and where her SSN was legitimately used for employment during the fraud period. You can request your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov, and it shows your official earnings history by year and employer. If you were working legitimately during the time someone was fraudulently collecting benefits in your name, this creates an official government record that contradicts the fraudulent claim. Also, don't forget to check if your employer reported your wages correctly during that period - sometimes there are discrepancies that can actually help your case by showing you were definitely employed when the fraud occurred. The fact that you already have a police report and fraud alert puts you ahead of a lot of people. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like identity theft cases have pretty good success rates when people come prepared with solid documentation like you're doing. Wishing you the best of luck on April 8th! You've got this!

I went through a very similar CUIAB identity theft hearing about 6 months ago and wanted to share what the actual hearing was like since I was terrified beforehand too! The hearing was by phone and lasted about 35 minutes. The Administrative Law Judge was actually really patient and professional - not intimidating at all. They started by confirming my identity and explaining the process, then asked me to tell my story chronologically. Here's what they asked me specifically: - When did you first become aware of the fraudulent claim? - What was your employment status during the time benefits were allegedly collected? - What immediate steps did you take when you discovered the fraud? - Have you ever applied for unemployment benefits before this incident? - Do you have any idea how someone might have obtained your personal information? The judge was most interested in the timeline and my employment records. Having pay stubs for the exact weeks when fraudulent benefits were collected was huge - it's pretty much impossible to argue that you were both working full-time AND collecting unemployment. My decision took 6 weeks exactly and was fully in my favor. They not only cleared the fraud but also noted in their decision that there was "clear and convincing evidence" of identity theft, which helped when I had to deal with other agencies. One thing that really helped was staying factual and not getting emotional during the hearing. I know it's infuriating to be accused of fraud you didn't commit, but the judge appreciated that I stuck to facts and timeline. You're going to do great! Having all your documentation organized shows you're taking this seriously, and that goes a long way with the ALJ.

This is super helpful info! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need to access my old EDD account someday too. Question for those who've been through this - is there any way to reset your security questions or get help if you can't remember those either? I changed phones since then and lost access to my old email, so I'm worried I'll be completely locked out if I ever need to get back in.

Pro tip for anyone else who might face this issue: if you're trying to recover old EDD account access, check your email for any old payment confirmation emails from 2020-2021. I found mine buried in my Gmail archives when I searched for "EDD" and "payment issued" - they actually show the exact weekly benefit amount which is what the system asks for. Saved me from having to guess! Also, if you had direct deposit, your bank statements from that time period will show the exact amounts too.