I've been having the exact same problem with Telecert for the past week! It's so relieving to see I'm not the only one dealing with this. I tried calling yesterday around 2 PM and got the same "transferring you to a representative" message followed by endless ringing. Based on all the helpful advice in this thread, I'm going to try the early morning approach (around 5 AM) and also download the UI Online mobile app as a backup. It's really frustrating that we have to work around these system issues, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all these practical solutions. Has anyone noticed if certain days of the week work better than others for Telecert, or is it pretty much random when the system decides to cooperate?

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been pulling my hair out trying to certify through Telecert for the past three days with the exact same issue - it just rings forever after saying it's transferring me. I had no idea about the early morning trick or that there was a separate mobile app! This community is amazing - reading through everyone's solutions gives me hope that I can actually get this done. I'm definitely setting my alarm for 5 AM tomorrow and downloading the UI Online mobile app right now as a backup. It's crazy that we have to work around all these system issues just to get our benefits, but at least we're all helping each other figure it out. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

Hey Carmen! I had this exact same frustration when I first got my Money Network card. Here's what worked best for me: The cash advance at bank tellers is definitely the way to go for immediate access to larger amounts. I've successfully withdrawn $1,500+ at once from Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo. Just bring your ID and the Money Network card - tell them you want a cash advance on your Visa debit card. Sometimes you might get a teller who's not familiar with the process, but if you ask nicely for a supervisor they usually figure it out quickly. For your $1,600 rent payment specifically, you could also consider asking your landlord if they accept Zelle, Venmo, or other payment apps. You can link your Money Network card to most of these services and transfer the full amount instantly without dealing with ATM limits or bank visits. The bank transfer through the Money Network app really is the most convenient long-term solution once you get it set up. Yeah it takes 2-3 days, but then you have normal access to all your funds through your regular bank account. One last tip: if you do multiple ATM withdrawals, try to use the same ATM network to avoid extra fees. The Money Network website has a fee-free ATM locator that can save you money. Hope this helps and good luck with your rent payment!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - you can also get a cashier's check or money order from many grocery stores and pharmacies using your Money Network card. Places like Kroger, Safeway, and CVS usually offer this service. There's typically a small fee ($1-3) but you can get a cashier's check for your full rent amount without dealing with daily withdrawal limits or waiting for bank transfers. I did this last month when I needed to pay $1,800 for rent and my landlord only accepts checks. Just go to the customer service counter, tell them you want a money order, and they'll run your Money Network card like a regular debit purchase. The money order is as good as cash to most landlords and you get it immediately. Also wanted to second what others said about credit unions - they're usually much more helpful with cash advances than big banks. My local credit union has never charged me a fee for cash advances and the staff actually knows how to process them quickly.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and both of my first two weeks came back as "disqualified" even though I can see my weekly benefit amount ($402) in the system. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong with my entire claim. Like so many others, I'm pretty sure I made the work search documentation mistake. I've been applying to jobs every single day (easily 5-6 applications per week through Indeed, LinkedIn, and company career pages) but when I certified, I just answered "yes" to looking for work without filling out all those detailed fields. They honestly looked like optional bonus information rather than required documentation! The new interface is absolutely horrible compared to what I expected based on friends' descriptions of the old system. Nothing is intuitive and it's causing the same mistake for tons of people. I'm going to call EDD tomorrow with my job search log ready - I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet anyway because I'm serious about finding work quickly. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions. This thread is going to save so many people from the same documentation nightmare. It's encouraging to know this is fixable and that our claims are actually approved - we just need to get past this certification hurdle!

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Just filed my claim last week and I'm still waiting for my first certification results, but after reading through all these experiences, I'm definitely prepared for potential issues now. It's incredibly helpful that so many people have shared their stories here. What strikes me most is how the new EDD interface seems to be systematically causing the same documentation mistake for tons of people. The fact that required work search fields appear optional is such a massive design flaw - it's creating unnecessary stress and delays for people who are already dealing with job loss. I've been keeping detailed records of my job search activities in a spreadsheet (company names, positions, application dates, methods used, follow-up actions) specifically because I've heard horror stories about EDD documentation requirements. After reading this thread, I'm going to make absolutely sure to enter every single detail into their system during certification, even if the fields look optional. For everyone dealing with the "disqualified" weeks issue - it's so encouraging to see that multiple people have gotten it resolved by calling with their job search details ready. The fact that you can all see your weekly benefit amounts means your claims are approved, which is the hardest part! This really seems to be a fixable certification documentation issue rather than anything wrong with your actual eligibility. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - you're probably saving dozens of people from making the same mistakes and providing a clear path to resolution for those already dealing with it. This is exactly what community support should look like!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still stuck on "pending" payments. From reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like identity verification is the biggest culprit for delays. I actually just got an email yesterday asking me to complete ID.me verification, so that confirms what others have said about this being a common issue. The frustrating part is that they don't automatically tell you what's needed - you have to either call or wait for them to send the verification request. Definitely keep certifying though, because once it gets resolved you'll get all the back payments at once.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and have been stuck on "claim filed" status with pending payments. After reading through all these comments, it's clear that identity verification is probably the issue for most of us. I haven't received any ID.me verification request yet, but based on what everyone's saying, I think I need to be more proactive about calling EDD instead of just waiting. The part about needing a separate letter with your Weekly Benefit Amount to know you're actually approved was really eye-opening - I thought the "filed" letter meant I was good to go! Going to try calling tomorrow using some of the strategies mentioned here. It's reassuring to know that once this gets sorted out, we should get all the back payments for the weeks we've been certifying.

This is absolutely maddening and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess. I went through something very similar in 2023 when EDD suddenly decided my 2020 PUA claim was "improper" despite being approved initially. A few critical things to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. **Document EVERYTHING** - Screenshot your UI Online account showing the disqualifications, save any emails or portal messages (even if there aren't any), and keep records of every phone call attempt. 2. **File the appeal IMMEDIATELY** - Don't wait to talk to someone first. The 30-day clock is ticking from when the tax intercept happened, not when you discovered it. You can always provide additional information later. 3. **Request an "Informal Conference"** when you file your appeal - this is often faster than a full hearing and can resolve many cases without going through the formal process. 4. **Check if your husband received 1099-G forms** for the unemployment income - if EDD issued those forms acknowledging the payments were legitimate, it's harder for them to later claim they were improper. The manufacturing plant closure due to COVID should make this a slam-dunk case once you get in front of an actual human reviewer. These automated mass reviews are catching tons of legitimate claims in their net. Stay strong and don't give up - the appeals process works when you have documentation and persistence!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what a nightmare! This exact same thing happened to my brother-in-law in early 2024. He had legitimately lost his job when the restaurant he worked at closed during the lockdowns, certified properly for over a year, and then boom - suddenly owed back $22,000 with his tax refund seized. The key thing that helped him was proving he never received proper notification. Since you moved out of state and your mail forwarding expired, that's actually strong grounds for appeal. When he finally got through to EDD (took weeks of calling), they admitted the notices were all sent to his old address even though he had updated his address in the system. A few things that worked for him: - He filed the DE 1000M appeal form immediately (don't wait for phone contact) - Got a letter from his former employer confirming the COVID-related closure - Requested all his case files through a records request to see exactly what EDD claimed The whole process took about 6 months but he eventually got the overpayment reversed and his tax refund back. The appeals officers seem much more reasonable than the automated system that's flagging these claims. Hang in there - if your husband was legitimately laid off due to COVID business closure and you never got proper notice, you have a really strong case. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying it back!