When I had my eligibility interview last month, they barely asked anything! It was like 5 minutes tops. The lady just verified my identity, asked if I was able to work during each of the weeks, and if I'd been looking for work. I said yes to everything and got paid 2 days later. Probably just depends which interviewer you get though.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Won my appeal three weeks ago but still stuck waiting for this eligibility interview. It's so frustrating because like you said, the judge already went through everything thoroughly during the appeal hearing. What's really getting to me is that I've been without income for over 4 months now while they keep adding more hoops to jump through. I understand they need to verify things, but it feels like they could have done this verification process while the appeal was pending instead of making us wait even longer after winning. Has anyone had luck calling the eligibility interview line directly? I keep getting transferred around when I call the main number and no one seems to know when my interview will actually be scheduled.

I'm so glad I found this thread! Just got laid off from my job at a startup last week and I'm facing the exact same issue - completely locked out of my EDD account from 2021. I've been putting off dealing with it because the whole situation seemed hopeless, but reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring. The security question problem is so relatable! I apparently chose "What was your first car?" but I have no clue if I put the make, model, color, or some nickname I called it back then. It's like trying to decode messages from my stressed-out past self! Based on all the advice here, I'm going to call that tech support line (1-833-978-2511) first thing tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM. I've already dug up some old EDD emails and bank statements showing previous deposits - found records from three different months which should help with identity verification. If that doesn't work after a few days of trying, I'll definitely look into Claimyr. It's crazy that we need workarounds for basic government services, but I'm just grateful these solutions exist and that this community is so willing to help each other navigate the chaos. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and practical tips - you're turning what felt like an impossible situation into something actually manageable. I'll be sure to post an update once I get through! This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD account recovery! 🙏

This thread is absolutely incredible and exactly what I needed to find! I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now - got laid off from my accounting job two weeks ago and discovered I'm completely locked out of my EDD account from 2022. The stress has been overwhelming but seeing all these success stories is giving me real hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. The security question issue is driving me absolutely crazy! I apparently chose "What street did you grow up on?" but I moved around so much as a kid - did I put the street from when I was 5 or 15? Did I include "Street" or "St." in the name? It's like my past self was setting up puzzles I'd never be able to solve! I'm definitely calling that tech support line (1-833-978-2511) tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM based on everyone's advice here. Already spent tonight gathering up old EDD emails and bank statements - found deposit records from five different months which should really help with the identity verification process. If the phone route doesn't work after a few solid attempts, I'll absolutely try Claimyr based on all the positive feedback. It's honestly mind-boggling that we need third-party services just to access our own unemployment benefits, but I'm grateful these workarounds exist! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and practical advice. This community support is incredible and way more helpful than anything I could find on EDD's official resources. I'll definitely come back with an update once I get through - this thread deserves to be a permanent resource for anyone stuck in EDD account hell! 🙏

I just went through this exact situation two months ago! My employer did send their HR manager to the hearing along with some documentation, but honestly it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. The Administrative Law Judge was very professional and made sure both sides got to tell their story without interruption. Here's what helped me prepare: I wrote out a timeline of everything that happened leading up to my termination, gathered any emails or texts I had related to the situation, and practiced explaining my side calmly and factually. The key thing I learned is that "misconduct" for UI purposes has a very specific legal definition - it's not just being a bad employee or making mistakes. Since you mentioned it was really a downsizing situation, focus on that. If they can't prove you actually violated company policy willfully and substantially, the misconduct claim won't hold up. The judge in my case was really focused on the facts, not emotions or he-said-she-said stuff. You've got this! The hearing is your chance to tell your side of the story to someone neutral.

I'm in a very similar situation - got terminated during what they called "restructuring" but they're fighting my UI claim saying it was misconduct. My hearing is scheduled for next week and I'm honestly terrified. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful though. It sounds like the key things are: 1) Stay factual and calm, 2) Remember the burden of proof is on them to show actual misconduct, and 3) Many employers don't even show up or send weak representation. I've been gathering all my documentation - emails about the restructuring, my performance reviews (which were good), and notes about the department changes that led to my position being eliminated. @Laura Lopez - have you been able to get through to EDD yet to ask any questions? I'm thinking about trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned since I really want to understand the process better before my hearing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's making this whole process feel less scary knowing other people have gone through it successfully!

try calling at exactly 8:03am. not 8 sharp when everyone else is calling. worked for me twice

Update: Finally got through this morning! Called the 1-800-300-5616 number at 8:05am and used the prompts someone suggested (1, 1, 2, 1, 4). Was on hold for about 35 minutes but finally spoke to a real person who resolved my payment issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

does anyone know if applying for UI after getting denied SDI flaggs your account again??? my doctor sent in the wrong form and my SDI got denied but im thinking of applying for UI now since i am actually looking for work that accommodates my condition

I'm really sorry you're going through this tough situation. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like filing for both would likely cause more delays rather than speed things up. Since you already have medical certification that you can't work for 8 weeks, SDI seems like the right path. While waiting for SDI to process, here are a few things that might help with your immediate financial crisis: - Contact your county's emergency rental assistance program - many have expedited processing for people facing eviction - Look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs through 211 (dial 2-1-1) - Call your utility companies to set up payment plans or see if they have hardship programs - Check if your area has emergency cash assistance programs through social services Also, make absolutely sure you're checking your UI Online account daily for any requests for additional documentation. Missing those notifications seems to be a major cause of delays based on what others have experienced here. Good luck, and I hope your claim processes quickly!