I've been doing gig work while on UI for about 6 months now and want to share some hard-learned lessons that might help you avoid mistakes I made early on. First, the reporting timing IS confusing at first, but here's how I think about it: EDD wants to know what you EARNED during each certification period, regardless of when the money hits your account. So if you work Thursday-Sunday of your certification week, you report ALL of those earnings even if some payments are delayed. Second thing - and this is HUGE - track your GROSS earnings before any platform fees. So if DoorDash shows you earned $100 but only pays you $85 after their service fee, you report $100 to EDD. I made the mistake of reporting net earnings my first few weeks and had to correct it later. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I use a simple notes app on my phone to log: date, platform, hours worked, gross earnings, miles driven, and gas purchased. Takes 30 seconds after each shift but has saved me multiple times when EDD asked for clarification. One more tip: consider your vehicle expenses. Gig work is hard on your car - oil changes, tire wear, increased insurance. Factor these real costs into whether the work is actually profitable for you after the UI benefit reduction. The system works if you're diligent about accurate reporting, but there's definitely a learning curve!

I've been doing Uber/DoorDash while on UI for about 4 months now and wanted to share some practical tips that have helped me stay compliant and maximize my income. **Key things I've learned:** 1. **Set up a simple tracking system immediately** - I use a notebook in my car where I write down each shift: date, app used, total gross shown in app, hours worked. Takes 10 seconds but creates a paper trail. 2. **Screenshot everything** - At the end of each week, I screenshot my earnings summary from each app before I cash out. This gives me proof of what I reported to EDD if questions come up later. 3. **The sweet spot calculation** - With your $450 WBA, if you earn around $400 gross from gig work in a week, EDD deducts $300 (75%), leaving you $150 in benefits + $400 gig money = $550 total. That's been my target range. 4. **Don't overthink the timing** - I report earnings for the week I did the actual work, period. If I drove Saturday night but got paid Tuesday, it goes on Saturday's week. Keep it simple. 5. **Plan for taxes NOW** - I transfer 25% of each gig deposit into a separate savings account immediately. You'll thank yourself later when quarterly taxes are due. The system really does work if you're honest and organized. I'm actually earning more now than I was at my old job, and it's giving me flexibility to be picky about my next permanent position. Just don't cut corners on the record-keeping!

This has been such an educational thread to follow! As someone who's never dealt with EDD before, I had no idea their registration system could be this complex. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that what should be a straightforward process has turned into a puzzle that requires community crowdsourcing to solve. What really stands out to me is how many different data sources EDD apparently pulls from - it's like they're trying to match your information across a dozen different government databases that were never designed to work together. The fact that something as simple as "Street" vs "St" or including/excluding dashes in your SSN can break the entire registration process is mind-boggling for a system built in 2025. I'm definitely saving this thread as a reference guide. The systematic troubleshooting approach that's emerged here - trying all the name variations, address formats, browser differences, network settings, etc. - is incredibly valuable. It's honestly better documentation than anything EDD has provided officially. Thank you to everyone who shared their specific solutions and frustrations. This kind of community knowledge-sharing is what makes dealing with bureaucratic systems actually manageable. I hope this thread helps save countless other people from the days of trial-and-error that so many of you went through!

This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I'm currently stuck on this exact same error and was getting so discouraged until I found all this incredible troubleshooting advice. As a first-time filer, I had no idea EDD's system could be this finicky about formatting. I'm particularly grateful for the systematic approach everyone has outlined - the SSN without dashes tip, address abbreviation variations, and suffix punctuation differences. I never would have thought to try "Jr" vs "Jr." or consider that my ZIP+4 code might be causing issues. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had issues if they've recently updated their driver's license or state ID? I renewed mine last month and I'm wondering if there's a delay in EDD's system reflecting updated information from the DMV. Might be worth trying the address from my old license if the current one doesn't work. This community is amazing for sharing all these hard-won solutions. I'm going to work through the systematic checklist approach and will definitely report back if I discover any new variations. Thank you all for turning your frustrations into helpful guidance for the rest of us dealing with this broken system! 🙏

UPDATE: Solution found! I tried the browser switching trick and it didn't work, BUT entering "N/A" in all the military fields as someone suggested above DID work! I was able to complete my application and got confirmation that it was submitted successfully. Thanks everyone for your help! To anyone else having this issue, try the N/A trick!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how many workarounds we have to know just to use a basic government service. For anyone reading this later, it sounds like the main solutions that have worked are: 1) Clear browser cache and try different browser, 2) Use mobile version instead of desktop, 3) Enter "N/A" in required fields that shouldn't apply, and 4) Try during off-peak hours. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to discover! I literally just received a $534 check from EDD yesterday for a claim that ended in December 2021, and I was having a complete panic attack thinking it might be some kind of error or fraud attempt. Reading through everyone's nearly identical experiences with these pandemic-era audit payments has been such an enormous relief. The consistency is remarkable - claims ending in 2021/early 2022, people who stopped certifying when they found new jobs without formally closing their claims, and now receiving legitimate retroactive payments from EDD's systematic review process. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service that everyone's been recommending to get through to an actual EDD representative and verify all the details before I deposit my check. This community discussion has been invaluable for understanding what's actually happening with these unexpected payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who provided detailed updates after speaking with EDD - it's exactly the kind of real-world information that helps navigate EDD's confusing bureaucracy!

This thread has been incredibly helpful to read through! I just received a $782 check from EDD yesterday for a claim that ended in September 2021, and I was absolutely terrified it was some kind of error or scam. Like so many others here, I just stopped certifying when I found my current job and never formally closed my claim with EDD. Reading everyone's experiences with these pandemic-era audit payments has been such a huge relief - the pattern is so consistent across all of us. It's clear EDD is doing systematic reviews of 2020-2021 claims and finding people were owed additional benefits they never received. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service everyone keeps recommending to get through to EDD and verify the details before depositing. The fact that multiple people have actually spoken to reps and confirmed these are legitimate retroactive adjustments gives me so much more confidence about the situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who provided updates after getting confirmation from EDD. This is exactly the kind of real community support that makes navigating EDD's confusing processes so much more manageable!

Good news - I just checked and the EDD Appeals Office now has an online portal where you can request postponements! Go to https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Appeals.htm and look for the appeals portal link. You'll need the appeal case number and some personal information to access it. This is much faster than calling or faxing in most cases.

That's such a relief that you got the online portal to work! I just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure to save/screenshot that confirmation page with the reference number. When I used the online portal last year, I didn't save the confirmation and then got paranoid that my request didn't go through. Having that reference number gives you something to reference if you need to follow up. Also, even though they said 24-48 hours, in my experience they usually respond within the first 24 hours if it's submitted during business days. Fingers crossed everything works out for your partner's case!