My sister works for EDD (not an agent tho) and she says theyre super backed up right now because of some system updates they did in February. Lots of determinations are taking 3-4 weeks currently. Just FYI.

Quick update question - has anything changed in your UI Online account? Sometimes there are subtle status changes that aren't obvious.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at the EDD. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

If you're looking for your EDD Customer Account Number (ECN), here are a few reliable methods: 1. **Check your mail** - EDD typically sends your account number within 10 business days of enrollment 2. **Log into your EDD account** - If you can access UI Online, your account number should be visible in your profile or account settings 3. **Use Ask EDD** - Go to the Ask EDD portal, select "Unemployment Insurance Benefits" → "UI Online" → "EDD Customer Account Number" 4. **Call EDD directly** - Though wait times can be long, they can provide your account number over the phone If you're having trouble accessing your online account or haven't received anything in the mail after 2 weeks, calling EDD would be your best option. Make sure to have your SSN and other identifying information ready when you call. Good luck getting this sorted out!

I work at a local One-Stop Career Center and want to emphasize that your mother-in-law is doing everything right! We see this situation constantly - especially with manufacturing workers who've been at the same company for years. A few additional resources that might help: - CalJOBS.ca.gov is the state's official job board and creating/updating profiles there counts as work search activity - Many libraries offer free computer classes specifically for job seekers - perfect if she needs help with online applications - Labor unions often have job referral services even for non-members, especially in manufacturing The key thing EDD looks for is "suitable work" - meaning jobs that match her skills and pay at least 75% of her previous wage initially. After a certain period, that percentage requirement drops. So she doesn't need to apply for just any job, but rather positions that make sense for her background. Keep encouraging her to document EVERYTHING. Even a 5-minute conversation with a receptionist who says "we're not hiring" is a legitimate work search contact. The economy is tough right now and EDD knows it - they're much more understanding than people think as long as you're making genuine efforts.

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through EDD's work search requirements after being laid off from a warehouse position last year. Your mother-in-law is absolutely doing everything correctly! What really helped me was creating a simple template for documenting each contact. I used: Date | Company Name | Contact Method | Person Spoken With | Position Inquired About | Response/Outcome | Follow-up Notes. This consistent format made it easy to track everything and showed EDD I was taking the process seriously. One thing I learned that might help - when businesses say "we're not accepting applications," I started asking if I could leave my contact information anyway or if they had a timeline for when hiring might resume. About 30% of the time, they'd take my info or give me useful details about their hiring cycle. These longer conversations really strengthened my work search documentation. Also, don't underestimate the value of industry-specific job boards and trade publications. For manufacturing workers, sites like IndustryWeek.com often list opportunities that don't show up on general job boards. Even just researching these specialized resources counts as legitimate work search activity. The key thing EDD told me during my eligibility interview was that they want to see "sustained, reasonable effort" - which is exactly what your mother-in-law is demonstrating. Six weeks of consistent payments proves she's meeting their expectations perfectly!

This thread has been a lifesaver for me! I'm dealing with this exact same SSN validation issue right now and was starting to panic that I'd never get my claim filed. I've been getting the "invalid SSN" error for over a week and like everyone else here, I kept thinking I must be doing something wrong even though I've had the same SSN my whole life. Reading through all these experiences really shows this is a widespread problem with EDD's database having incorrect or mismatched information. It's so reassuring to see that @Ava Kim and others got it resolved once they reached a live representative - gives me hope that there's actually a solution! I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Aria Park recommended. At this point I'm willing to pay anything to avoid spending more weeks trying to get through on my own. The systematic approach @Javier Morales suggested about having the rep verify ALL personal information also sounds really smart. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions. It makes such a difference knowing you're not alone when dealing with these frustrating EDD system glitches!

This thread is absolutely incredible and should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD SSN validation issues! I'm going through this exact nightmare right now - been getting the "invalid SSN" error for 10 days straight and was convinced I was somehow entering my own Social Security number wrong (which is honestly insane when you think about it). What really strikes me about reading through everyone's experiences is how these errors seem to follow the same pattern every time - people spend weeks thinking they're doing something wrong, when it's actually just data entry mistakes or system glitches on EDD's end. The fact that @Ava Kim's issue was a single digit typo in her birthdate and @Paolo Rizzo's was an outdated address really shows how these validation systems can fail for the most random reasons. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow based on all the recommendations here. The systematic approach @Javier Morales suggested about having the rep verify ALL personal information is brilliant too - I never would have thought to be that thorough but it makes perfect sense. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions, especially those who came back to update with their resolutions. This community support makes navigating EDD's broken systems so much less isolating and stressful!

Quick update for you - I just went through my appeal process last month and they're scheduling hearings by phone now instead of making you come in person like they used to. Makes it WAY easier! But yeah, still have to submit that initial appeal form by mail or fax. The phone hearing was actually pretty straightforward - just had to explain my side and provide documentation.

Just wanted to add one more option that might help - if you have access to a fax machine, that's often faster than mail for the DE 1000M form. The fax number should be listed on your appeal notice. I've heard from others that faxed appeals sometimes get processed a bit quicker than mailed ones, though you still want to keep proof that it went through (fax confirmation page). Also, if you're really pressed for time and worried about the 30-day deadline, you could both fax AND mail it - just note on both copies that you're submitting via multiple methods to ensure timely receipt. Better safe than sorry when it comes to appeal deadlines!