I'm going through this exact same issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My Cal Jobs 2FA emails aren't coming through either, and I've got less than a week before my deadline. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the new Gmail account approach has the highest success rate. I'm definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow morning. The fact that @Freya Christensen got it working immediately with a fresh Gmail account gives me hope! I also had no idea about the registration bypass code that @Anastasia Kozlov mentioned - that's such valuable insider knowledge. And the Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for actually reaching EDD without the endless "maximum callers" message. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops for what should be basic functionality, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these broken systems. Will definitely update with my results in case it helps others dealing with this nightmare!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this Cal Jobs 2FA nightmare! I tried the Gmail approach that worked for so many people here, but in my case it was actually my email provider (Outlook) that was the problem. What finally solved it for me was contacting my ISP directly - turns out they had automatically enabled some new "enhanced security" feature that was blocking authentication emails from government domains. Once they whitelisted *.ca.gov for my account, the 2FA codes started coming through immediately. So if the Gmail trick doesn't work for anyone, it might be worth checking with your internet/email provider about any recent security updates or blocks. The support rep told me this has been happening more frequently with government emails lately. Also seconding everyone's praise for this thread - you all probably saved hundreds of people's benefits with these solutions! The fact that we have to crowdsource fixes for broken government systems is frustrating but I'm so grateful this community exists.

I've been dealing with this exact same E318 error for the past two weeks and I'm at my wit's end! Reading through all these solutions has given me so much hope though. I've tried a few individual fixes but clearly need to go with the "nuclear option" approach that @Ava Harris mentioned. Going to try the VPN + incognito + early morning combo tomorrow. Quick question for everyone who's had success - did you notice if the day of the week matters? I've been trying mostly on weekends thinking it would be less busy, but maybe weekdays are actually better? Also, for those using free VPNs, are there any specific ones you'd recommend that worked well with the EDD site? Thanks to everyone for turning this into such a helpful troubleshooting community - it's wild that we have to do this but at least we're not suffering alone! 🤝

I've been lurking here for days watching everyone's troubleshooting journey and finally decided to jump in! Just wanted to say thank you to this incredible community - you've all basically created the unofficial EDD E318 error survival guide that should honestly be pinned somewhere. I'm dealing with the same nightmare and have been taking notes on all the successful combinations people have shared. Planning to try the full "nuclear option" approach tomorrow morning: VPN (thinking ProtonVPN to LA), Edge incognito, disable security software temporarily, early morning timing (5:30 AM), minimal required fields only, and login through CA.gov first. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a 10-step battle plan just to file a basic disability claim, but seeing so many success stories here gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Will report back with my results to add to the collective knowledge base. Seriously though, this thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with EDD technical issues - you've all done the work that their IT department should have done! 🙌

This thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm a UX designer who's been on UI for 2 months and just got offered a 5-week contract. I was literally about to turn it down because I thought it would mess up my claim, but reading everyone's experiences here has completely changed my perspective. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated temporary work while on UI without major issues is really encouraging. I especially appreciate the practical tips about reporting gross earnings before expenses and emphasizing that freelance work keeps you active in your profession. It's amazing how much anxiety gets created by not understanding the process, when it's actually pretty straightforward - just keep certifying biweekly and be honest about your earnings. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of community knowledge that makes all the difference when you're trying to make these decisions!

As someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times, I wanted to add one more reassuring voice to this thread! I'm a freelance marketing consultant who's navigated several temporary contracts while on UI over the past couple years. The process really is as straightforward as everyone's describing - just keep certifying every two weeks and report your earnings honestly. One thing I'd emphasize that hasn't been mentioned much: don't be surprised if your UI Online account shows $0 payments for the weeks you're working full-time hours. This is totally normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your claim! Your benefit amount will automatically resume once you report lower or no earnings again. Also, since you're in design, definitely keep track of any new skills or software you learn during the freelance gig - this can actually strengthen your job search narrative when you're back to looking for permanent work. The freelance experience shows you're staying current and adaptable in your field. You're making the right call taking this opportunity. Temporary work while on UI is much more common than people realize, and the system is designed to handle it smoothly. Best of luck with your project!

One other important thing to know - if you're married and file jointly, your spouse's portion of the tax refund could also be taken unless they file a special form called an "Injured Spouse Allocation" (Form 8379 for federal). This protects your spouse's portion of the refund from your EDD debt.

Just wanted to add another perspective - I had a $3,200 overpayment and was able to get it reduced to $800 through the hardship waiver process. The key is to provide detailed financial documentation showing that repayment would cause serious financial hardship. I submitted bank statements, rent receipts, utility bills, and a letter explaining my situation. It took about 6 weeks to get approved, but it was worth it. Even if you don't qualify for a full waiver, they might reduce the amount significantly. Don't give up without exploring this option!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such amazing news and 16 days is actually really fast compared to what most people experience here. I'm currently waiting for my own appeal decision - had my hearing about 5 days ago for almost the exact same situation. My employer claimed it was performance-related but it was clearly part of a larger restructuring they were doing to cut costs. The waiting is absolutely brutal and I've been checking my mailbox multiple times a day! Your timeline gives me hope that maybe I'll hear something within the next week or two. Did you have a lot of documentation to support your case about it being restructure-related rather than performance? I'm wondering if I presented enough evidence during my hearing. Thanks for sharing your success story - it really helps those of us still in the waiting phase to know that positive outcomes can happen relatively quickly. This community has been such a lifeline during this whole stressful process!

Congratulations on your successful appeal! That's wonderful news and 16 days is definitely faster than what most people experience. I'm currently going through a similar situation myself - had my appeal hearing about 3 weeks ago for what my employer labeled as "performance issues" but was really part of company-wide budget cuts and restructuring. The waiting has been absolutely nerve-wracking, and I've been obsessively checking my mailbox every single day! Reading your success story gives me so much hope that my decision might be coming soon. It's so encouraging to see someone with such a similar case (performance vs restructuring) get a positive outcome in a reasonable timeframe. Did you feel confident about how your hearing went when it ended, or were you second-guessing yourself like I am? I keep replaying mine wondering if I presented my case clearly enough about the company's financial situation versus their performance claims. The judge seemed fair but didn't give any indication either way. Thanks for sharing your good news with the community and for all your follow-up responses to everyone's questions. This thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us still waiting - it's such a relief to know that positive outcomes do happen and sometimes relatively quickly!