This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation as the original post, with EDD owing me around $3,800 from late 2020/early 2021. After reading through everyone's advice, I'm going to try calling tomorrow at 8:01am sharp and ask specifically for the "Claim Review Unit about retroactive certification for unpaid weeks from 2020-2021." I've spent tonight gathering all my documentation - claim number, exact dates of the unpaid weeks, old determination letters, and even found some screenshots of my certifications from that time. If the direct calling approach doesn't work within a week, I'll escalate to contacting my assembly member's office and filing a formal complaint through the EDD website. It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to get money we're legally owed, but seeing recent success stories like Mei's gives me hope that there are finally people at EDD who can resolve these pandemic-era issues. I'll update this thread with my results - whether successful or not - since this conversation has become such a valuable resource for all of us still fighting for our benefits. We shouldn't have to deal with this in 2025, but at least we can support each other through the process!

I've been reading through this entire thread and it's both reassuring and infuriating to see so many of us still fighting for pandemic-era benefits. EDD owes me about $2,600 from March 2021 when my claim got flagged during their fraud sweep, even though I was legitimately unemployed. What really caught my attention was Mei's success story about using the specific phrase "Claim Review Unit about retroactive certification" - that seems to be the magic words to get transferred to someone who actually knows how to handle these old cases. I'm definitely going to try that approach at 8:01am sharp. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I just discovered that if you still have access to your old UI Online account, you can print out your payment history which shows the weeks that were certified but never paid. This creates a clear paper trail that proves you were owed the money. Look under "Payment Activity" and filter by the date range from your pandemic claim. It's absolutely ridiculous that we're all still dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare in 2025, but this thread has given me more actionable strategies than years of frustrating phone calls. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - we shouldn't have to become EDD experts just to get our own money, but here we are!

Honestly, at this point I'm convinced the entire unemployment office is just one very overwhelmed person named Greg trying his best with an old Dell computer from 2003

As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, here's what finally worked for me: I sent a certified letter to the main EDD office with copies of everything I had, including screenshots of my account showing the missing payments and a detailed timeline of all my contact attempts. I also included a statement that I never received the documentation letter they referenced. Within 10 days of them signing for that certified letter, I got a call back and my payments were released. Sometimes you have to create an undeniable paper trail that forces them to respond. Hang in there - it's frustrating but you will get through this!

did u try logging out and back in? sometimes the site is just buggy

Just wanted to check back - any updates? Were you able to get through to EDD and find out what was happening with your certification?

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - fraud on unemployment cards seems to be happening way too often lately. Based on what others are sharing here, it sounds like you should prepare for potentially 2-4 weeks minimum for resolution, which I know doesn't help your immediate rent situation. A few things that might help while you wait: contact your landlord ASAP to explain the situation and see if they'll work with you on a payment plan or extension. Most landlords would rather work with you than go through eviction proceedings. Also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs - many do and they can sometimes help within just a few days. For the Money Network side, definitely take the advice about calling every few days and mentioning financial hardship. Sometimes being the squeaky wheel really does help. And yes, file that police report - it creates an official record that can strengthen your fraud claim. Hang in there - this system is absolutely terrible but you will get your money back eventually. Just focus on protecting your housing situation in the meantime.

I'm dealing with Money Network card fraud right now too - had $800 stolen from my account three weeks ago. Based on my experience so far, here's what I've learned that might help: 1. When you call Money Network, ask to speak with the "fraud resolution department" specifically - don't just go through regular customer service. They have different timelines and seem more empowered to help. 2. Get everything in writing via email if possible. I started requesting email confirmations of our phone conversations and it's made a huge difference in tracking progress. 3. Check if your state has any emergency UI assistance programs. California actually has some rapid response funds for situations like this, though they're not well publicized. 4. Document the financial impact this is having on you - late fees, inability to pay rent, etc. This can be used as evidence for expediting your case and potentially getting additional compensation beyond just the stolen amount. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you have bills due. I'm still waiting on mine but following these steps has at least made me feel like I have some control over the process. Stay strong and keep fighting - these fraudsters shouldn't get away with stealing from people who are already struggling!

Update: I used TeleCert yesterday and it went through! The automated system is painfully slow but at least it worked. Still having trouble getting through to an actual person though. I have questions about why my last payment was less than I expected. Going to try the Claimyr thing as a last resort if I can't get through by Friday. Thanks everyone for all your help!

Just wanted to add - if you're still having trouble with TeleCert or need to speak with someone urgently, try calling the EDD switchboard at 1-800-480-3287 first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM. This number sometimes has shorter wait times than the main UI line. They can transfer you to the right department once connected. Also, check if your local library has free computer/internet access while yours is down. Most libraries let you use computers for 1-2 hours at a time, which would be enough to access UI Online and check for any important messages in your inbox. Some even have staff who can help navigate government websites if you're not sure what to look for. Hope your situation improves soon - the stress of dealing with EDD while unemployed is really tough. You're doing the right thing by staying on top of your certifications!