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!

One more tip - if your claim is stuck in pending, sometimes sending a message through your UI Online account can help. Click on "Contact Us" in your UI Online homepage and select "Where is my payment?" as the category. Be specific about how long it's been pending. Sometimes this flags your account for review faster than calling.

This is such valuable information! I wish I had seen this post before I made the same mistake last week. Spent 2 hours at my local AJCC office only to be told they couldn't even look up my claim status. The staff was nice but clearly frustrated having to explain this to multiple people every day. It really seems like EDD should put up clearer signage or warnings on their website about which offices handle what. For anyone else struggling with pending claims, I've also heard that calling the Spanish language line (even if you speak English) sometimes has shorter wait times - the reps are bilingual and can help with English claims too.

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!

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!

Diego, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! The same-day disqualification is definitely jarring, but please don't lose hope. Your situation actually has several factors that work in your favor for an appeal: The 65-mile each way commute creating a 25% financial burden on your take-home pay is substantial evidence of genuine hardship. Combined with your documentation showing you attempted to negotiate alternatives with your employer first, plus your vehicle reliability issues, you have a much stronger case than you might realize. I've seen similar commute-related appeals succeed when the claimant could demonstrate: 1) The financial impact was significant (which yours clearly is), 2) They made good faith efforts to find solutions before quitting (you have the emails), and 3) The commute created genuine hardship beyond mere inconvenience (130 miles daily with an unreliable car definitely qualifies). File that DE 1000M appeal form as soon as possible - don't wait! Be extremely detailed about the costs, include all your documentation, and emphasize both the financial hardship and safety concerns. Keep documenting your ongoing job search efforts too, as this shows you're actively seeking work. The appeal process gives you a real chance to present your complete story, not just whatever limited information EDD initially reviewed. Stay strong - this quick decision doesn't mean your case is hopeless!

Diego, I know this is incredibly stressful, but don't give up! I went through something very similar in 2024 when my employer moved locations and I got hit with the same instant disqualification after my interview. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super specific about the numbers and having documentation. For your appeal, make sure to include: 1) Exact mileage calculations (65 miles each way = 650 miles per week just for work!), 2) Detailed cost breakdown including gas, maintenance, and time lost, 3) Those emails showing you tried to negotiate with your employer, 4) Evidence of your car's reliability issues, and 5) Documentation that you've been actively job searching. The fact that this would eat up 25% of your take-home pay is huge - that's well above what most people would consider reasonable. I calculated mine at about 20% and that was a major factor in winning my appeal. The appeals judge was much more thorough than whoever made the initial decision. It took about 10 weeks total for my hearing, but I got full backpay once I won. Keep applying for jobs and save all your application records - it shows you're serious about finding work. You've got this!