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Just wanted to add another perspective - I went through this same ID.me hell last month and actually found success with a hybrid approach. After failing the online verification multiple times, I started the mail application process BUT also kept trying to get through to EDD by phone using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I got lucky and connected with an EDD rep after about 2 hours on hold, and they were able to bypass the ID.me requirement entirely. They had me answer some verification questions based on my employment history and SSN, then sent me a secure email link to upload my documents directly to their system. My claim was processed within 5 days instead of waiting weeks for the mail application. So my advice would be to start the mail application as your backup plan, but also try calling EDD directly or using the callback service. Sometimes having multiple approaches going at once increases your chances of getting through faster. The key is not putting all your eggs in one basket when you're dealing with these broken systems!
@LunarLegend That's a really smart strategy! I never thought about doing both approaches simultaneously. How long did you wait before the EDD rep called you back with Claimyr? And did they charge anything for the callback service? I'm willing to try anything at this point since I've already wasted so much time with ID.me. Having a backup plan with the mail application while also trying to get through by phone sounds like the best way to cover all bases.
I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago and it was absolutely maddening! The ID.me facial recognition failed on me 8 times, and like you, I had multiple "trusted referee" appointments where they just never called. It's like they set these appointments and then completely forget about them. I ended up doing the mail application route and it worked, but here are some tips I wish I had known: 1. Use the most recent version of Form DE 1101I - I initially downloaded an older version and had to resubmit 2. Write "ID.me VERIFICATION FAILED - APPLYING BY MAIL" in big letters at the top of the first page so they know why you're not applying online 3. Include a brief cover letter explaining your ID.me issues and listing everything you're including in the package 4. Make copies of EVERYTHING before you send it - keep a complete backup set for yourself My timeline: Mailed application on a Tuesday, they received it that Friday (certified mail tracking), got my EDD customer account number in the mail 3 weeks later, and my claim showed up online 4 days after that. Total time was about 25 days from mailing to seeing benefits. Don't give up! The mail option definitely works, it's just slower. Your financial situation will improve once this gets processed. Hang in there!
@Amara Okonkwo This is incredibly helpful! I m'so glad to hear from someone who actually went through the whole process recently. That tip about writing ID.me "VERIFICATION FAILED at" the top is brilliant - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense to flag why you re'applying by mail. Your timeline gives me hope too. 25 days feels like forever when you re'waiting, but it s'way better than being stuck in ID.me limbo indefinitely. I m'definitely going to follow your advice about making copies of everything and including that cover letter. One question - when you got your customer account number in the mail, were you able to log into the EDD website right away or did you have to wait until the claim actually appeared online? I m'trying to figure out what I should expect in terms of being able to track progress once I mail everything out. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed advice. It really helps to know there s'light at the end of this tunnel!
my neighbor went thru this last year. the person who stole his identity also applied for credit cards and bought a CAR using his info! definitely check everything and freeze ur credit not just put alerts
I'm so sorry you're going through this - identity theft is absolutely terrifying! I just wanted to add that you should also check with your bank to see if they can put additional monitoring on your accounts. When my brother dealt with EDD fraud, the thieves also tried to change his direct deposit information to steal future legitimate benefits he might be entitled to. Also, don't forget to check if they filed claims in other states too - some scammers file in multiple states using the same stolen identity. You can search for "[state name] unemployment fraud report" to find the right departments if you want to be thorough. Stay strong - this really is becoming unfortunately common and most people understand you're the victim here, not the perpetrator. Document everything and keep pushing until it's resolved!
UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! After trying everything suggested here, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to an EDD rep after waiting 3 hours on hold. Turns out when I updated my email on ID.me, it created a verification mismatch. The rep had to manually update something on their system and then had me clear my browser and try again. I'm finally back in my account and was able to certify for all my weeks! Thank you everyone for your help!
This is such a relief to see this resolved! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where I updated my phone number on ID.me and now I'm getting authentication errors. Based on your experience, it sounds like any changes to ID.me can mess up the sync with EDD's system. I'm going to try the phone certification number first to make sure I don't miss my deadline, then work on getting through to a rep. Thanks for sharing your solution - it gives me hope that this can actually be fixed!
Yes, any changes to your ID.me profile can definitely cause sync issues! The phone number change will likely cause the same problem I had. Definitely call 1-866-333-4606 to certify by phone first so you don't miss your deadline - that was such a relief when I found out about that option. When you do get through to EDD (whether through regular calling or using a service like Claimyr), make sure to tell them exactly what you changed on ID.me and when. The rep I spoke to said they see this all the time and it's usually a quick fix on their end once they know what happened. Good luck!
UPDATE: I tried the automated phone number that @unemploymentpro suggested, and was able to verify with my SSN and California ID number instead! Then I requested a temporary password be sent to my email. Successfully logged in now. Thanks everyone for your help!
So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend trying the automated phone system first before going through the online reset process. The phone system often has more flexible verification options. For anyone else reading this thread, that automated number (1-866-333-4606) is available 24/7 and can be a real lifesaver when the online system is being difficult. Thanks for updating us with the solution that worked!
This is such valuable info! I had no idea that automated phone line existed or that it was 24/7. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. It's amazing how much easier the phone system verification was compared to the online mess. Really shows that sometimes the "old school" methods work better than the fancy web interfaces!
Aaron Boston
glad u got ur money!! the whole system is so random sometimes. i swear it depends on which edd employee processes ur claim and what mood their in lol
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Melody Miles
•It's not actually random or dependent on moods. The EDD payment system runs on batch processing schedules. First, claims are approved, then batches of payments are generated, then transfer files are created and sent to payment processors like Money Network. Delays usually happen when there's a technical issue in any of these steps. The 4-business-day timeframe actually matches the standard processing window when there's a minor hiccup in the transfer file generation.
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CosmicCaptain
Thanks for sharing your experience and the update that your payment finally came through! This thread is super helpful for understanding the typical timeline when there are delays. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my payment shows as issued on 5/6 but hasn't hit my Money Network card yet. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like 4-6 business days isn't uncommon when there are processing hiccups. I'll give it until Thursday before starting to panic and trying to get through to EDD. It's reassuring to know that these delays, while stressful, usually do resolve themselves eventually.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Hang in there! I'm actually in the exact same boat - my payment from 5/7 is showing as issued but still nothing on my card. Reading through this thread has been really helpful too. It's crazy how inconsistent the timing can be - sometimes it's next day, sometimes it's almost a week! At least we know from Sofia's experience that it usually does come through eventually, even if the wait is stressful. Thursday sounds like a reasonable deadline before escalating. Fingers crossed both our payments show up soon!
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