This is absolutely shocking but thank you for the heads up! I just got approved for unemployment last week and was planning to just use the Money Network card they send, but after reading all of this I'm going straight to direct deposit before I even activate the card. It's insane that people are losing their entire benefit payments with zero notification - that money is literally what keeps people housed and fed! I'm bookmarking this thread to share with other people I know who are dealing with unemployment. Everyone needs to know about this. Has anyone reported this to the state legislature or anything? This seems like a systemic failure that goes way beyond just individual fraud cases.

This is absolutely terrifying! I just checked my Money Network account after reading this and everything looks normal thankfully, but I'm definitely paranoid now. I had no idea this was even happening - you'd think with all the EDD problems we've heard about that they'd at least have basic security measures in place to protect our payments. I'm going to follow all the advice here about setting up alerts and changing my password immediately. Thank you so much for posting this warning Dylan - you probably saved so many people from losing their benefits! I'm also going to look into switching to direct deposit ASAP. It's ridiculous that we have to worry about our unemployment money getting stolen on top of everything else we're already dealing with.

Just to be 100% clear for you and anyone else reading this thread in the future: 1. Report work when you PERFORM it, not when you get paid 2. If you worked before your claim began, that work is not reportable on certifications 3. If you're ever unsure, contact EDD directly for guidance specific to your situation Following these guidelines will keep your claim in good standing.

I went through something very similar last year! Had a freelance project that I completed right before filing, but didn't get paid until after my claim was approved. I was so stressed about it, but after reading through EDD's guidelines multiple times and talking to a rep, I learned that Carmen is absolutely right - it's all about when you performed the work, not when the payment arrived. Since you did the work before your claim period began, you don't need to report it on your current certification. The key thing is that you already included this work history when you initially applied, so EDD has a record of it. You're handling this exactly right by asking questions instead of just guessing!

Just wanted to add that I experienced the exact same "offices closed" message today around 10:30am! I was panicking thinking I'd missed some holiday or closure announcement. After reading everyone's experiences here, I tried calling again at 2:15pm and actually got through to the queue (though I'm still on hold as I type this). It's such a relief to know this is just their terrible way of handling call overflow and not an actual closure. For anyone still trying - the afternoon timing seems to be key based on what people are sharing here. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can get my pending payments sorted out too!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Called this morning around 9:30am and got that misleading "offices closed" message multiple times. It's such a poorly designed system - why not just say "all representatives are busy" instead of making us think they're actually closed? Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. I'm definitely going to try the 1-3pm window that seems to be working for people. My claim has been stuck in pending for over two weeks now and I'm getting really anxious about it. @Simon White - so happy you finally got through and got your issue resolved! Gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. The quarterly review flag issue seems way too common - EDD really needs to fix whatever is causing these automatic flags to trigger incorrectly. Thanks to everyone sharing their timing strategies and workarounds. This community is honestly more helpful than EDD's own website!

I've been dealing with EDD issues for months and here's what I've learned: First, make sure you're using the right browser - Chrome or Firefox work best. Clear all your cookies and cache, then try accessing the site in incognito/private mode. If you're still getting the error, it might be because you have an existing claim that needs to be closed or there's a flag on your account. The system is notorious for giving vague error messages when there are backend issues. Document everything - take screenshots of the error messages and keep notes of when you tried to file. This will help when you eventually get through to someone on the phone. Also, try filing during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening when the servers aren't overloaded. Good luck, and don't give up! The system is frustrating but you'll get through it eventually.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The error messages are so unhelpful - it's like they designed them to be as vague as possible. Here's what finally worked for me: Try using a completely different browser (if you're on Chrome, try Firefox or Safari), make sure JavaScript is enabled, and disable any ad blockers temporarily. Also, check if you have any pending identity verification - sometimes the system blocks new claims if there's an ID.me verification that wasn't completed. If none of that works, you might need to call the technical support line (not the regular claim line) - it's 1-833-978-2511. They can actually see what's causing the error on their end. Hang in there, the system is absolutely broken but you'll get through it!

I'm jumping in here as someone who went through a very similar situation about two years ago. Like you, I was a healthcare worker who made mistakes on my UI claim during COVID - I failed to report some per diem shifts properly and also received some COVID-related pay that I didn't report correctly. The most important thing I learned is that the EDD really does distinguish between intentional fraud and honest mistakes, especially when you self-report like you did. My case took almost 14 months to resolve (yes, the wait is brutal!), but when it finally did, it was classified as non-fraud overpayment. Here's what happened in my case: I ended up owing about $3,400 back, paid a 30% penalty (so roughly $4,400 total), and they set me up on a payment plan of $150/month. No criminal issues whatsoever. The EDD representative I finally spoke with actually thanked me for being proactive in reporting the errors. Your medical documentation is going to be crucial - make sure you have everything organized. Since you were legitimately unable to work due to a medical condition, there's a good chance you might have qualified for SDI instead. When you eventually get through to them, ask about potentially converting or adjusting your claim to the correct program. The anxiety is absolutely terrible - I completely understand the sleepless nights. But based on your description, everything points to this being resolved as a standard administrative overpayment. You did the right thing by being honest from the start.

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out after reading your post because I'm dealing with some EDD anxiety myself, though not quite as severe as yours. What really stands out to me is how responsibly you've handled everything - you had legitimate medical reasons for needing time off, you self-reported your mistakes proactively, and you've kept all your documentation organized. Reading through all the responses here has been really educational for me too. The consensus from people with actual experience seems very clear: jail time is not something you need to worry about for self-reported honest mistakes like yours. The amounts involved are relatively small, you have medical documentation, and you disclosed everything voluntarily - these are all major factors working in your favor. I know the waiting is absolutely brutal (I'm dealing with my own EDD delays on a different issue), but it sounds like when this finally gets resolved, it'll be a straightforward repayment situation rather than anything criminal. The fact that you're a healthcare worker who dealt with COVID complications should also be taken into account by the EDD. Everyone here has given such great advice about staying organized, understanding the difference between fraud and non-fraud overpayments, and knowing your options when you eventually get that determination letter. You've clearly done everything right from the beginning, and that integrity is going to matter when your case is finally reviewed. Hang in there - the uncertainty is awful, but you're going to get through this!