I went through this exact same frustration a couple months back! The P.O. Box rejection drove me crazy. What finally worked for me was calling the EDD technical support line (not the regular claims line) at 1-800-300-5616. They have a separate queue for online application issues and the wait times are usually shorter. When I explained the P.O. Box problem, they were able to manually flag my application so I could complete it online with a note about the address issue. It took about 20 minutes on hold versus the hours I spent trying the main number. Definitely worth trying before doing the in-person route! Make sure you have your SSN and all employer info ready when you call.

Just want to chime in as someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally created an account because this P.O. Box issue is driving me absolutely insane! I've been stuck on this same problem for over a week now. The system keeps telling me to call, but every time I try the main line it's either busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever. Reading through everyone's suggestions here gives me hope though! I'm definitely going to try Joy's technical support line tip first - that 1-800-300-5616 number sounds like it could be a game changer. If that doesn't work, I might bite the bullet and try that claimyr service Esmeralda mentioned, even though paying $20 feels frustrating when this should just work in the first place. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions. It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this ridiculous system glitch. Hopefully between all these different approaches, we can all get through this P.O. Box nightmare! 🤞

This is exactly what I needed to see today! I've been struggling to get through to EDD for the past 2 weeks and was starting to lose hope. My claim has been stuck in "pending" status since I filed, and I've probably spent 50+ hours on hold only to get disconnected every single time. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially @Isaiah Sanders getting his 6-week issue resolved in just 3 hours and @Connor Murphy's successful combination approach - gives me so much hope that there are actually viable solutions out there. I'm definitely going to start with those free YouTube methods @Tom Maxon shared, but knowing there's a reliable backup option like Claimyr makes me feel so much less stressed about the whole situation. The $5 discount is a nice bonus too! Thank you @Elizabeth Pinedo for sharing this resource and thank you to everyone else for being so open about your experiences. This community is incredible - I wish I had found it weeks ago!

This thread is so encouraging! I've been dealing with EDD issues for about 3 weeks now - my claim went from "paid" to "pending" after a routine eligibility review, and I haven't been able to get through to anyone for answers. I've probably called 200+ times at this point with no luck. Reading all these success stories, especially @Isaiah Sanders getting through in just 3 hours and @Connor Murphy's smart combination approach, really gives me hope that there are actual solutions out there. I'm definitely going to try those YouTube methods @Tom Maxon shared first, but it's such a relief to know there's a reliable backup option like Claimyr if needed. The fact that so many people in this community have actually gotten their issues resolved makes me feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you @Elizabeth Pinedo for sharing this resource and the discount - even small savings help when you're unemployed! This community has already been more helpful in one thread than weeks of trying to navigate EDD's official channels.

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

Just wanted to share my experience - I was stuck in EDD limbo for months after losing my job due to company downsizing. The automated system kept hanging up on me and I couldn't get through to speak with anyone. After trying the methods shared here, I finally got connected and was able to resolve my pending issues. For anyone still struggling, don't give up! Keep detailed records of all your attempts to contact them, save screenshots of error messages, and document everything. It really helps when you finally do get through to have all that information ready. The wait is frustrating but persistence pays off. Good luck to everyone dealing with this system! 🙏

Just to follow up - I checked with an EDD representative today and they officially recommend against using Cash App, Venmo, or similar payment apps for unemployment direct deposit. They specifically mentioned that these can trigger their fraud detection systems and cause payment delays or holds on your account. Best options in order of reliability: 1) Traditional bank accounts, 2) Credit union accounts, 3) Online banks with FDIC insurance (Chime, Ally, etc.), or 4) EDD Debit Card if none of the above are options.

I had a similar situation last year - couldn't get a traditional bank account due to ChexSystems issues. I ended up going with a local credit union (Navy Federal) and they were super helpful. They have a fresh start program that doesn't require ChexSystems approval. Got approved same day and my EDD payments have been coming through perfectly with no delays. The difference in customer service compared to big banks is night and day too. Definitely recommend the credit union route over trying to make Cash App work - not worth the stress!

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for all the advice! I waited 24 hours, tried registering again using my exact name from my license (including my middle initial without a period), made sure I had the correct CAN from the right letter, and it finally worked! I'm now able to access my UI Online account. I also set up the two-factor authentication right away like someone suggested. Really appreciate all the help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is such a common issue and your post will definitely help others who run into the same problem. The 24-hour waiting period seems to be the key factor most people don't know about. I had a similar experience where I kept trying immediately after getting my CAN letter and got frustrated, but waiting that extra day made all the difference. Thanks for posting the update - it's always nice to see a success story on here!