Congratulations on getting your interview done and claim approved! This is such a perfect example of why it's important not to panic when EDD runs behind schedule. I went through this same situation last year - they called me 3 hours late and I was convinced my claim was going to be denied. It's frustrating that they don't give any updates during the waiting period, but at least now other people reading this thread will know that late calls are totally normal. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

So glad to see this thread with a happy ending! I've been following along because I have my interview scheduled for next week and was already getting anxious about it. Reading everyone's experiences - especially how both Savanna and Juan got their calls hours late but everything worked out - really helps calm my nerves. It's good to know that EDD running behind schedule is normal and doesn't mean your claim will be denied. I'll definitely keep my phone charged and close by for the entire day (and maybe the next day too based on what others shared). Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating the EDD process!

When my husband got laid off last month, his card came EXACTLY 12 business days after approval. Not 11, not 13. I think they have some kind of policy where they won't even consider it "late" until after 12 business days. Such a stupid system when people are desperate for their benefits! Why can't they just email us a temporary virtual card or something while we wait for the physical one??

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - approved 10 days ago and still checking my mailbox obsessively every day! Reading through these comments gives me hope that it's normal but also frustrating that this is such a common issue. The fact that we have to rely on third-party services just to get basic help from our own state agency is honestly ridiculous. I'm going to try that Claimyr service mentioned above since I've had zero luck getting through on the regular lines. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we're not alone in this mess!

So glad to hear you're taking action and getting help! Your update gives me hope for my own situation. I'm dealing with a similar overpayment issue right now and was feeling completely overwhelmed. One thing I'd add from my experience - when you meet with legal aid, ask them about requesting a hearing if your initial appeal gets denied. Sometimes you need to go through multiple levels of appeals, but having legal aid guide you through that process makes a huge difference. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING - every form, every letter, every communication. EDD has a habit of "losing" paperwork, so having your own complete file is crucial. Thanks for sharing your progress - it really helps to know there are people out there who successfully navigate this nightmare!

I'm really glad to see this thread helping so many people! As someone who went through a similar EDD overpayment situation about 6 months ago, I wanted to add a few more tips that might help: 1. When you're gathering documentation for your hardship waiver, include utility bills, rent receipts, medical bills - anything that shows your actual monthly expenses. The more detailed your financial picture, the stronger your case. 2. If you were homeless, try to get documentation from any shelters you stayed at, social services you contacted, or even friends/family who can write letters confirming your housing situation. 3. Don't be discouraged if your first appeal gets denied - this happens a lot even for legitimate cases. The hearing process that others mentioned is where many people finally get their overpayments resolved. 4. Consider reaching out to your local assembly member's office. They often have staff who specialize in helping constituents with EDD issues and can sometimes get faster responses. The system is definitely broken and unfair, but seeing people like Freya take action and get results gives me hope that others can too. Keep fighting for yourselves - you deserve better than this bureaucratic nightmare!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to recover your account using any of the methods suggested? If you're still having trouble, I recommend trying the EDD online assistance form at https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/ and selecting the option for account technical issues. Sometimes they respond faster to written requests than phone calls. Also, be aware that if you're reapplying after a long break, you'll need to go through ID verification again with ID.me even after you recover your account access.

Congrats on getting back in! For anyone else reading this thread who might be stuck on the ID.me verification step - here's a tip that helped me: make sure you're using the EXACT same name format that's on your driver's license or state ID. Even small differences like using "Mike" instead of "Michael" or having a middle initial vs full middle name can cause the verification to fail. Also, if you're doing the video call verification, have good lighting and hold your ID steady - the representatives are usually pretty patient if the system is being finicky with reading your documents.

UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! For anyone with similar issues - I called this morning and specifically asked about both the August system update AND if there were any stop payment alerts. The rep confirmed there was a system error that affected accounts certifying on the last weekend of August (which is when I certified). They had to manually override something in the system and release my payments. The money should be in my account within 48 hours! Thank you everyone for your help - especially the tip about asking for a Tier 2 specialist and mentioning the August update specifically. That seemed to immediately help the rep understand my issue.

That's amazing news! So glad you got it resolved. This is really helpful for others who might be dealing with the same August system update issue. I'm curious - did they mention if this is still affecting other accounts, or have they mostly fixed the underlying problem? Also, did you end up needing to do those paper certifications they mentioned, or did the manual override make that unnecessary?