tell him 2 check his inbox on UI online too, sometimes they send notices there that u miss and that can delay payment

Glad to see your fiancé's payment went through! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - seasonal workers should also keep track of their total weeks paid on their current claim. If you exhaust your regular UI benefits during the benefit year, you might be eligible for extensions depending on the unemployment rate in your area. Also, if you're in construction like your fiancé, make sure to report any union dues or other work-related expenses when you certify - sometimes people forget about those deductions. The EDD customer service is definitely hit or miss, but the UI Online portal is usually pretty reliable for checking payment status and managing your claim.

Just a heads up, there's been a lot of ID.me scams going around. Make sure you're only using the official site and never give out your info over the phone!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was doing the video verification during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). The wait times were much shorter and the agents seemed less rushed. Also, make sure you have really good lighting - I failed twice because my documents weren't clear enough on camera. It's frustrating but don't give up! Once you get through, the benefits should start flowing within a few days.

FINAL UPDATE: Good news! The Tier 2 specialist called me back today and reviewed my case. Because my job was permanently eliminated (not just seasonal layoff), they're processing what they called a 'backdated new claim.' I had to provide my Forest Service RIF notice and answer questions about my work history. They said I should see the claim update in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I can certify for benefits again. Such a relief! Thanks to everyone who helped me navigate this complicated situation.

This is such a helpful thread for seasonal workers! I'm actually in a similar situation - worked for Cal Fire seasonally for 3 years and just found out they're cutting our crew due to budget issues. I was supposed to start back up next month but got the elimination notice last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is really getting to that Tier 2 specialist and having all your documentation ready. @Harper Hill - congrats on getting it resolved! Do you mind me asking roughly how long the whole process took from when you first called to when you could certify again? I'm trying to plan my finances and wondering if I should start looking for temporary work while this gets sorted out. The "backdated new claim" option sounds like exactly what I'll need too since my position was permanently eliminated, not just a seasonal break.

I've been through this exact situation! In my case, it turned out to be a random system audit that triggered after my first payment went through. What helped me was logging into my UI Online account and checking the "History" section - sometimes there are cryptic messages buried in there that give clues. Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to check if there's a "stop payment indicator" on your account. That's the technical term they use internally. If there is one, they can usually remove it right away once they verify your identity. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" - ask for specific next steps and a timeline. You've got this! 💪

I went through something similar a few months ago! My second week got stuck in pending for almost 10 days. What finally worked for me was calling and specifically asking them to check for any "eligibility reviews" on my account. Sometimes they trigger these mini-reviews randomly and forget to notify you. Also, make sure you didn't accidentally answer any of the weekly certification questions differently than usual - even small changes can flag your claim. The rep I talked to was able to see that my account had been flagged for a routine review and cleared it immediately. Definitely push for specifics when you call - don't accept vague "it's processing" answers. Good luck! 🍀

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified for two weeks because I misunderstood that availability question too. It's honestly such a relief reading everyone's responses here because I was panicking thinking my whole claim was ruined. Already filed my DE 1000M appeal form and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The waiting is the hardest part but it sounds like most people who made honest mistakes like this get their appeals approved eventually. Thanks for posting about this - knowing I'm not alone in making this error really helps!

This happened to me too about 6 months ago! That availability question is seriously the most confusing one on the whole certification form. I made the same exact mistake - kept answering 'yes' because I thought I needed to explain my situation. Got disqualified for 3 weeks before I figured out what was happening. Filed the DE 1000M appeal right away and won after about 8 weeks. The key is being really detailed in your explanation about how you misunderstood the question. I literally wrote out my thought process step by step so they could see it was genuine confusion, not trying to fraud the system. Keep certifying every two weeks while you wait - that's super important! And don't let that "indefinitely" comment scare you too much, the rep probably just meant you'd be disqualified until you either appeal successfully or answer correctly going forward.