The menu shortcut is great but the real bottleneck is the 'we're too busy' message. No shortcut can fix that - you just have to keep redialing until you get lucky with timing.

Start calling at 7:55am sharp. Make your coffee the night before, set multiple alarms, and be ready to dial right before they open. Those first few minutes after 8am are your best shot at getting through.

One more important tip: During your appeal hearing, if the employer says you were fired for poor performance, immediately ask the judge to have the employer provide documentation of warnings, write-ups, or performance improvement plans. If they can't produce these, it strongly supports your case that this was a layoff disguised as a termination. \n\nAlso, if they mention that they hired someone new to take over your duties, that's actually helpful for your case - it proves your position wasn't eliminated due to misconduct but for other reasons (likely financial).\n\nFinally, continuing to certify while waiting for your appeal is critical. If you win, you'll get all those back payments, which can be a significant amount depending on how long the appeal process takes.

This advice is gold! I will definitely ask about documentation if they claim performance issues. My annual review from just 3 months ago rated me as

Quick update on something I forgot to mention: Make sure you check your UI Online inbox daily. Sometimes they'll send requests for additional information through the portal but won't email you about it. Missing these can cause further delays in getting your backpay processed. Also, if your appeal was based specifically on work search requirements, they might assign you to the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program which requires attending an orientation workshop.

Congratulations on winning your appeal! I just went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Here's what you can expect based on my experience: The good news is that once your appeal shows "approved" in UI Online, the hardest part is behind you. Your claim will automatically be reprocessed and those disqualified weeks should flip to "paid" status within 7-14 business days. You don't need to do anything special - just keep certifying for your current weeks as usual. One thing to watch out for: sometimes there can be small technical holds that aren't visible on your end. If you don't see movement within 2 weeks, definitely call EDD to make sure there aren't any hidden issues blocking the payment release. Your backpay should include all the weeks you were disqualified for, calculated at your original weekly benefit amount. The money will come through your normal payment method (EDD debit card or direct deposit). Keep checking your UI Online inbox daily for any additional requests - they sometimes ask for follow-up documentation even after winning an appeal. Also save/screenshot everything related to your successful appeal in case you need it for reference later. You should be proud that you kept good records and fought the disqualification - a lot of people don't realize they can appeal these decisions!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! Just found out last week that someone filed unemployment claims in my name while I'm still employed full-time. I've been absolutely panicking about the potential tax and credit implications. Like everyone else here, I made the mistake of trying the fraud hotline first - called about 30 times over 3 days and got nowhere. It's such a relief to hear that this is a known dead end and not just me doing something wrong. Based on all the incredible advice shared here, my action plan is: 1. File police report today for case number 2. Email identitytheft@edd.ca.gov with full details + police case number 3. Contact my state assembly member's office immediately (and CC them on the EDD email per @Zachary Hughes's brilliant tip) 4. Notify my employer's HR department per @Savannah Vin's advice 5. File Form 14039 with IRS preemptively 6. Put fraud alerts on all credit bureaus 7. File complaints with CA State Auditor for additional paper trail The assembly member route seems to be the real secret that cuts through all the bureaucratic nonsense. I had no idea they had dedicated EDD liaisons - that's invaluable information! One question for those who successfully resolved this - did you ever get any pushback from EDD claiming you waited too long to report it? I'm worried they might try to blame me for not discovering the fraud sooner, even though I never received any of their notices (probably going to the fraudster's address). Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of the useless "official" advice. This community has probably saved me months of frustration and given me actual hope this can be resolved!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - I know exactly how terrifying and frustrating it feels! I went through EDD identity theft about 8 months ago and the stress was unreal, especially worrying about tax implications. Based on my experience and everything shared in this thread, here's what I'd recommend: **Skip the fraud hotline entirely** - it's a complete waste of time. I called over 100 times and never got anywhere useful. **Your immediate action plan should be:** 1. File a police report TODAY and get that case number 2. Email identitytheft@edd.ca.gov with all details + police case number 3. Contact your state assembly member's office immediately - this is the real game changer 4. Put fraud alerts on all three credit bureaus 5. File Form 14039 with the IRS preemptively **Pro tip:** When you email EDD, CC your assembly member's office on the same email. This puts immediate pressure on EDD to actually respond instead of ignoring you. The assembly member route was what finally got my case resolved after months of getting nowhere through regular channels. Their EDD liaisons deal with these cases daily and know exactly who to contact to get things moving. **For tax protection:** Start documenting everything now because you'll likely need it if any 1099-G forms get issued in your name. The IRS Form 14039 creates a flag on your account that you're an identity theft victim. Don't let this consume you - the system is broken but there are ways around it once you know the right channels. You'll get through this! The fact that your employer already contacted you about it actually helps prove you're the victim, not the fraudster.

Just wanted to say I'm in a similar situation and it's nice to not feel alone in this frustrating process. My claim is still stuck after my interview 2 weeks ago. Has anyone had success with the ID.me verification? I'm wondering if that's causing additional delays for anyone else.

Just checking in - any updates on your claim status? It's been about a week since your original post, which would put you close to that 10-day timeline they mentioned.