UPDATE: I finally got through using the fraud department number that @angryedd4ever suggested! Turns out my account WAS flagged for suspicious activity because I logged in from the coffee shop. They were able to verify my identity over the phone and reset my access. I'm back in my account now and was able to transfer money for rent. Thanks everyone for your help!!!

Wow, this whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my Money Network app has been giving me errors for the past two days and I was starting to panic. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions gives me hope that I can get this resolved. It's frustrating that EDD uses such a glitchy system, but at least there's a community here to help each other out. Going to try calling that fraud department number first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions!

Update us after your interview! I'm curious how it goes because I'm in a similar situation. My understanding is that as long as you're honest going forward and explain that you didn't realize you needed to report the 1099 work initially, you should be okay. They might reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn from the contracts, but you should still qualify for something if your main job was providing most of your income.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Lost my full-time W-2 job but had been doing some freelance graphic design work on the side that I initially forgot to mention. I was terrified about the interview too, but honestly being upfront about it was the best decision. Here's what helped me: I prepared a simple timeline showing when I started each 1099 contract (both were before my job loss), brought copies of the contracts, and had a rough estimate of monthly earnings from each. The interviewer was actually really understanding when I explained that I didn't think to include them initially because they were such a small part of my income. They did reduce my weekly benefit amount, but I still qualified and have been receiving partial unemployment for months now. The key is being honest and showing that you're actively looking for full-time work to replace your main income source. Good luck with your interview - you've got this!

glad it worked out for u! thats faster than mine took lol

Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread is super helpful for understanding how separation pay affects EDD benefits. I'm bookmarking this in case I run into the same issue. The Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for actually getting through to a human at EDD - their phone system is brutal to navigate on your own.

This is definitely a workable situation! Here's what you should do: 1. File the appeal IMMEDIATELY (DE 1000M form) 2. Include copies (not originals) of pay stubs, W2s, or anything showing your work history 3. Write a clear explanation that they missed some of your wages 4. Request an overpayment waiver due to financial hardship 5. Keep certifying every two weeks 6. If possible, try calling EDD to explain the situation Most importantly - don't ignore this! Responding quickly and thoroughly usually resolves these issues.

Great job submitting your appeal so quickly! Since you found the missing employer wages, you're in a really strong position. Just wanted to add a couple more tips: 1. Take screenshots or print copies of everything you submitted online as proof you filed within the 30-day window 2. If you can't get through by phone, try calling right at 8am when they open - that's usually the best time 3. Consider reaching out to your local assembly member's office if you continue having issues - they often have direct contacts at EDD for constituent services You did everything right by catching the wage discrepancy and filing immediately. Most of these cases get resolved in your favor when it's clearly an EDD error like this. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Guys, I think I figured it out. We need to perform a ritual sacrifice to the EDD gods. Anyone have a spare goat? 🐐

I'm dealing with a similar identity verification nightmare right now! It's so frustrating when you know it's YOUR account but the system won't let you access it. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every attempt I made to contact them - dates, times, reference numbers, etc. When I finally got through to someone, having all that documentation really sped things up. Also, if you have any old EDD correspondence or claim numbers from before this mess started, make sure to have those handy when you do get to talk to someone. The whole system is definitely broken, but don't give up! You'll get through this eventually.