UPDATE: I tried the 8:01am trick this morning with the button sequence and IT WORKED!! Got through after a 45 minute hold. The rep was actually super helpful and found that my work search documentation was in the system but hadn't been properly reviewed. She manually approved it and said my disqualification is being reversed! Payments should resume in 3-5 business days. THANK YOU ALL for the advice!

Congratulations on getting through! Your success story gives me hope. I've been dealing with a similar disqualification issue for 2 weeks now and will definitely try that 8:01am method with the button sequence tomorrow. Quick question - when you were on hold for 45 minutes, did you have to stay on the line the entire time or could you put it on speaker and do other things? I'm worried about accidentally hanging up after finally getting through the initial queue.

wait so with this new system do we still have to do the work search activities when on a temp job? im so confused about weather i need to list 3 job contacts when im already working but know ill need ui again in a few weeks

Just want to add my experience here - I went through this exact same thing last year with a seasonal retail job. The key is being proactive about reporting your wages correctly, even when the system is confusing. I found that keeping detailed records of every day worked and earnings really helped when I had to call EDD later. Screenshot everything you do in the system too - saved me when there was a discrepancy months later. Also want to mention that for temp work through agencies, make sure you understand whether you're getting a W-2 or 1099 at the end of the year, as this affects how you report the income. Most temp agencies issue W-2s but some contractor positions are 1099, and EDD treats these differently for UI purposes. Good luck with your assignment! The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're being responsible about it.

For anyone still experiencing pending payments: if your certification remains pending for more than 72 hours (3 business days), there may be an issue specific to your claim rather than the system-wide delay. At that point, I'd recommend contacting EDD directly. When you do reach a representative, ask them to check for any 'stop payment alerts' or 'eligibility issues' on your claim. Sometimes they can resolve these on the spot if they're minor verification issues.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still dealing with this - I had the same pending issue last week and it took exactly 4 days to resolve. What helped me was logging into UI Online multiple times throughout the day to check status. I noticed mine switched from pending to paid around 2 AM on a Wednesday, so they seem to be processing these updates at odd hours. Don't lose hope if you're still waiting! Also, make sure you're not missing any messages in your UI Online inbox - sometimes they send notices about why payments are delayed that are easy to overlook.

might sound dumb but have u checked ur spam folder?? EDD sent me an important email and it went to spam and i almost missed my phone interview cuz of it!! also i learned the hard way that if u get a letter from EDD with a time/date for a phone interview u HAVE to answer when they call or ur claim gets auto-denied and thats super hard to fix.

I went through something very similar last year and it took me 3 months to resolve. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. **Document everything** - Take screenshots of your UI Online account showing the processing status, keep copies of all forms you've sent, and write down the names/ID numbers of every rep you talk to. 2. **The "conditional payment" cycle Andre mentioned is spot on** - that's exactly what's happening. Your account has a flag that needs manual review before they'll release your most recent certification. 3. **Don't just ask IF they received your form** - ask them to tell you the EXACT DATE it was processed into their system. If they can't give you a date, it probably got lost and you'll need to resubmit. 4. **For the interview** - this is critical. Get the exact date/time and ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email. Write down the confirmation number. EDD interviews are often the key to unlocking stuck payments. 5. **Try calling the Paid Family Leave line** (1-877-238-4373) and ask them to transfer you to UI claims. Sometimes this gets you through faster than the main number. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with EDD. Keep calling, be polite but persistent, and don't accept vague answers like "we'll escalate it." Demand specifics - dates, reference numbers, next steps. You've got this!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me when I had the same issue a few months ago - if you have a local Assembly member's office, they often have caseworkers who can help with EDD issues. I called my Assembly member's district office and they were able to get my account unlocked within 48 hours. They have a direct line to EDD that bypasses all the phone tree nonsense. You can find your Assembly member by zip code on the CA legislature website. It's worth a shot if the phone numbers aren't working!

I went through this exact nightmare situation about 6 months ago and it was absolutely maddening! What finally worked for me was a combination of persistence and timing. I called the 1-833-978-2511 number exactly at 8:00 AM (not 8:01, not 7:59 - exactly at 8:00) and selected option 1, then option 4 for tech support like Diego mentioned. It took me 4 days of trying but I finally got through on a Wednesday morning. The rep told me that security question lockouts are super common because the system is ridiculously sensitive - even extra spaces or different capitalization can cause it to reject your answers. She reset both my password AND security questions, which was crucial because I would have just gotten locked out again otherwise. Pro tip: when you set up new security questions, write down EXACTLY how you type the answers including punctuation and capitalization. I learned that lesson the hard way! Also, don't give up on calling - that 8 AM window really does seem to be the sweet spot for getting through.