That's excellent advice! I'll definitely request documentation of every conversation. I'm feeling much more hopeful now that I have a concrete plan of action.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a very similar situation. I was laid off from my retail job in April 2023 but couldn't successfully file until July due to constant website crashes and phone system failures. Lost about $6,200 in benefits during those months. What ultimately worked for me was a combination of what others have mentioned here. I used a service similar to Claimyr to actually get through to EDD, then specifically requested a Tier 2 specialist. The key was having all my documentation ready - pay stubs, termination letter, and a detailed timeline of every attempt I made to file. The breakthrough came when I found out about the EDD Ombudsman's office. They're separate from regular EDD customer service and have more authority to resolve complex issues. You can reach them at 1-800-300-5616. They actually investigated my case and overturned the original denial. It took about 4 months total from when I contacted the Ombudsman to receiving my backdated benefits, but I got every penny I was owed. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are still ways to fight it successfully. Document everything and be persistent!

Does anyone know if you have to do more work search activities for the extension? I've been doing the regular 3 job applications per week, but I heard someone say it increases to 5 for extensions?

Just wanted to add that if your husband doesn't automatically qualify for Fed-ED, he might still be eligible for the Training Extension (TE) if he enrolls in an approved training program. The TE can provide up to 26 additional weeks of benefits while you're in training. You can find approved programs through the ETPL (Eligible Training Provider List) on CalJOBS. This could be a good backup option if the automatic extension doesn't come through. Also, some people have had luck contacting their local workforce development office for help navigating the extension process - they sometimes have direct lines to EDD that can help speed things up.

my appeal took 6 months last year and i won. just hang in there

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my appeal in January and still waiting! Reading everyone's responses here has been really eye-opening. I had no idea about the assembly member option or the CUIAB system. McKenzie, have you tried any of these suggestions yet? I'm definitely going to call my assembly member's office first thing Monday morning. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic information about our own cases. The system really does seem designed to wear people down until they give up. Hang in there - sounds like most people eventually get their hearing and many win their appeals once they finally get in front of a judge.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of being wrongly accused of fraud while already struggling financially must be overwhelming. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you have a strong case for your appeal since you have documentation proving it was a layoff. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - while you're waiting for your appeal hearing, consider reaching out to your state assemblyperson's office. Many have caseworkers who specialize in helping constituents with EDD issues, and they can sometimes expedite reviews or connect you with the right people at EDD. It's a free service and they're often more responsive than EDD directly. Also, regarding the job search struggles - have you tried working with a recruiter in your field? Sometimes they can help you navigate around potential employer bias, and they often have inside knowledge about which companies are actually hiring vs just posting jobs. Given your 8+ years of experience, a good recruiter might be able to open doors that aren't responding to your direct applications. Hang in there - from what I've read in this thread, appeals with solid documentation like yours have a good success rate. You've got this!

I went through something very similar last year and want to share a few additional tips that helped me. First, when you file your appeal, also request an "expedited hearing" due to financial hardship - this can sometimes speed up the process by a few weeks. Second, keep detailed records of EVERY interaction with EDD going forward - dates, times, names of reps you speak with, and what was discussed. This documentation becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. For the job search challenges, consider temporarily using a different phone number (like a Google Voice number) on applications to see if that changes response rates. If you suddenly start getting more callbacks, it could indicate your current number is flagged somehow. Also, check if your state has a "rapid response" program through the workforce development board - they often provide free services specifically for people who were laid off, including job placement assistance and sometimes emergency financial aid while you're between jobs. You're dealing with multiple serious issues at once, but tackling them systematically like you're doing gives you the best chance of success. The fact that you have documentation proving the layoff puts you in a much stronger position than many people facing these appeals.

Hey @Liam Brown - I'm really glad to see you were able to get through to a Tier 2 specialist! That's exactly what I was hoping would happen when I suggested trying that route. The fact that they could see the documents were correctly uploaded but flagged in error is so frustrating, but at least now you have someone working on fixing it. The 7-10 business day review timeline that @Elijah Jackson mentioned is pretty accurate from what I've seen. Since you already filed the appeal as backup, you're in a really good position either way. If the review doesn't work out for some reason, you'll still have your appeal hearing scheduled. Keep us posted on how the review goes! Stories like yours really help other people who are dealing with the same broken system. It's proof that persistence pays off and that there ARE people at EDD who can actually fix these technical errors when you can reach the right department. Fingers crossed you'll have good news soon and can put this whole nightmare behind you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD document verification system is absolutely awful right now! I went through something very similar last year where my documents kept getting rejected even though they were crystal clear. One thing that helped me was taking screenshots of EVERYTHING - the upload confirmations, any error messages, confirmation numbers from calls, etc. When I finally got through to someone who could help, having all that documentation made it much easier to prove the system had made an error. Also, when you do get through to EDD (whether through regular calling or that Claimyr service others mentioned), ask the rep to put detailed notes in your file about what happened. Something like "Documents uploaded successfully on [date] but incorrectly flagged by system - claimant has confirmation from previous rep that docs were accepted." This creates a paper trail that appeal judges and other specialists can reference. The good news is that once someone with the right access looks at your case, these technical errors are usually pretty obvious to fix. It's just a matter of reaching the right person who can actually do something about it. Don't give up!