Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! I'm going to sit down with my dad tonight and help him understand exactly how to report his Social Security retirement during certification. It's a huge relief to know it won't reduce his benefits but also that he definitely needs to report it to avoid problems later. Will definitely have him keep documentation of everything too!

Just wanted to add that it's also important to know that Social Security retirement benefits are considered "non-countable income" by EDD, which is why they don't reduce your UI benefits. However, if your dad ever receives any OTHER type of retirement income (like a 401k distribution or employer pension), those might be treated differently. Also, make sure he's not confusing Social Security retirement with Social Security Disability (SSDI) - the rules can be different for disability benefits. The key is always being honest and specific about the type of income when reporting during certification!

I had this exact same frustration when I first got approved! The direct deposit option is essentially locked until you complete your first certification cycle. Here's what worked for me: 1) Make sure your ID.me verification is 100% complete (you can check this in your account profile), 2) Certify for your first week this Sunday, 3) Wait 3-5 business days for EDD to process that payment, 4) Log back into UI Online and look for "Payment Method" or "Payment Preferences" - it should finally appear after your first payment processes. I know it's backwards that you can't set it up beforehand, but that's just how their system works. The good news is once you get it configured, direct deposit is much faster than waiting for the card! Pro tip: have your bank routing/account numbers and a voided check ready because they'll need to verify your account with micro deposits before fully activating it.

I went through this same exact situation about 6 months ago and it drove me absolutely crazy! The direct deposit option is basically hidden behind a series of requirements that EDD doesn't clearly explain anywhere. From my experience, you need to complete ALL of these steps before the "Payment Method" section will even show up in your UI Online account: 1) Have your claim fully approved (✓ you've got this), 2) Complete ID.me identity verification (double-check this is 100% done), 3) Certify for at least one benefit week, and 4) Have EDD successfully process that first payment. The system literally won't unlock the direct deposit feature until after your first certification goes through their system. I know it's completely backwards - you'd think they'd want you to set this up RIGHT AWAY - but that's just how their antiquated system works. Once you certify this Sunday, wait about 3-5 business days for processing, then check your UI Online account again. The payment preferences section should magically appear! Make sure you have your bank routing number, account number, and a voided check ready because they'll verify your account with small test deposits before fully activating direct deposit. Hang in there - once it's set up, getting payments directly to your bank is SO much better than dealing with those Money Network cards!

The whole system needs an overhaul. In 2024 there's no excuse for not being able to reach an EDD representative when people's livelihoods depend on it. We deserve better than this broken phone system.

I feel your frustration completely. I've been in the same situation for 2 weeks now - my claim got flagged for identity verification and I can't get anyone on the phone to help me submit the required documents. The automated system just loops me back to "call during business hours" even though I'm calling at 10am on a Tuesday. It's like they've designed this system to be as difficult as possible to navigate. Has anyone had success with the identity verification process specifically?

UPDATE: Success! I used the number from my interview notice (thanks again for that tip!) and got through after only about 35 minutes on hold. The representative was actually very understanding and rescheduled my interview for next Monday. She said they're used to rescheduling requests and it won't affect my claim negatively. Such a relief! Thank you everyone for your help and advice!

Congratulations on getting it rescheduled! This is such a good reminder for everyone to always check their interview notice for specific contact numbers. I've been dealing with EDD for months and never thought to look for alternative numbers on the actual paperwork. Your experience will definitely help other people in similar situations. Good luck with your Monday interview!

As someone who's been dealing with EDD issues for months, this entire thread is pure gold! I can't believe I didn't know about the Tele-Cert number (1-866-333-4606) until now - it's shocking that EDD doesn't make this backup option more visible, especially when their website is constantly having issues. @Javier Morales - so glad you got everything sorted out! Your experience with Claimyr is really encouraging. I've been hesitant to try third-party services, but 15 minutes vs potentially hours of busy signals seems like a no-brainer. The fact that you went from complete panic to fully resolved in just one day is amazing and gives hope to all of us dealing with EDD nightmares. I'm definitely saving that Tele-Cert number in my contacts right now as a backup. It's ridiculous that we have to rely on community knowledge to learn about EDD's own systems, but this is exactly why this community is so valuable. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice - this thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with EDD!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been navigating EDD challenges for the past few months, I had no idea the Tele-Cert number (1-866-333-4606) even existed. It's honestly mind-blowing that EDD has this backup system but doesn't promote it anywhere obvious - I've been completely reliant on their website which seems to crash at the worst possible times. @Javier Morales - your success story is so inspiring! Going from complete panic about missing certifications to having everything resolved in one day is amazing. The fact that Claimyr actually got you through to a real person in 15 minutes is incredible - I've literally spent entire afternoons calling EDD just to get busy signals. I'm immediately saving that Tele-Cert number in my contacts and bookmarking Claimyr's site. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community knowledge to learn about EDD's own systems, but that's exactly what makes this community so valuable. Thanks to everyone who shared detailed steps and practical advice instead of just saying "call EDD" - this is the kind of information that actually helps people solve real problems! For anyone finding this thread in the future: screenshot these phone numbers and save them NOW before you need them. This whole conversation should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with EDD!