I had a very similar situation last year! Got fired for being late due to my car breaking down multiple times over 2 months. The difference between your case and some others mentioned here is that you have DOCUMENTATION - those texts to your supervisor are gold! Here's what worked for me: During my eligibility interview, I emphasized three key points: 1. The tardiness was due to circumstances beyond my control (mechanical failure) 2. I communicated proactively with my employer each time 3. I was actively trying to resolve the issue but couldn't afford repairs immediately EDD approved my claim after the interview. The interviewer specifically asked if I had proof of communication with my employer and proof of the car issues. Your repair estimates will be crucial evidence. One tip: If they do schedule an eligibility interview, don't just say "car problems" - be specific about the transmission failure and how it was unpredictable. They need to understand this wasn't you being irresponsible but dealing with an urgent mechanical issue while trying to keep working. You've got a strong case with your documentation. Stay positive and keep certifying while you wait for their decision!

I work for a legal aid organization and see cases like yours regularly. You actually have a stronger case than many people realize! The key factors working in your favor: 1. **Documentation** - Those texts to your supervisor are crucial evidence 2. **Frequency** - 4-5 times over 3 months isn't "excessive" by most standards 3. **Legitimate cause** - Transmission failure is mechanical, not behavioral 4. **Good faith effort** - You communicated each time and tried alternatives like carpooling California EDD uses a "misconduct" standard, which requires deliberate or willful disregard of employer interests. Mechanical breakdowns don't typically meet this threshold, especially with your documentation. My advice: During any eligibility interview, emphasize that this was an ongoing mechanical issue you were actively trying to resolve within your financial means. Bring your repair estimates and screenshot those texts. Don't let them frame it as "chronic tardiness" - frame it as "dealing with an urgent vehicle emergency while maintaining employment." If denied initially, absolutely appeal. I've seen many similar cases win on appeal when the full story gets properly presented. Keep certifying throughout the process - you'll get backpay if approved. Your situation is actually quite defensible legally. Stay confident!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Had my eligibility interview last Tuesday, certified this morning, and just logged in to see that dreaded "disqualification" status. My heart completely sank when I saw it because I thought for sure I had somehow messed up during the interview. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I can't believe how many of us are experiencing the identical timeline and situation. It really does seem like EDD's system just defaults to "disqualification" as a placeholder while they process interview results, which is such poor design. They should really use something less panic-inducing like "interview results pending" or "under review." Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to wait until Thursday or Friday before calling EDD, and I'm starting to document all my job search activities today just in case I need them for an appeal. The fact that so many people eventually saw their status change to "paid" after about a week gives me real hope that this is just their broken process rather than an actual denial. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - this community support is honestly keeping me sane while I wait this out! I'll definitely update you all on what happens by the end of the week.

I'm experiencing the EXACT same thing right now and finding this thread has been such a relief! Had my eligibility interview on Thursday, certified this weekend, and just saw that terrifying "disqualification" status appear today. I was absolutely panicking thinking I had somehow failed my interview, but reading everyone's experiences here has really calmed me down. It's amazing how many people are going through this identical situation with almost the same timeline - interview one day, certify a few days later, then that scary status shows up. It definitely seems like this is just EDD's broken system using "disqualification" as a default placeholder while they process interview results, which is such poor design on their part. The fact that so many people have eventually seen their status change to "paid" after about a week, especially when their interview notification disappeared (which happened to me too), gives me real hope that this is just normal processing rather than actual rejections. I'm going to follow the advice everyone's given - wait until Thursday before calling, start documenting all my job search activities now, and keep checking my UI Online inbox obsessively for any notices. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive discussion - this community is honestly a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's stressful and confusing system!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just got laid off from my warehouse job two weeks ago due to "seasonal downturn" and filed my claim last Friday. Got that terrifying "identified eligibility issue" message yesterday after my first certification. The panic is real when you see that - I immediately thought I did something wrong on my application! Like everyone else here, I filled out the eligibility questionnaire right away. The questions were pretty standard - why I left my job, availability for work, employment history. Nothing seemed tricky, but seeing "pending" status while my bills are piling up is stressing me out big time. What's really helping after reading all these responses is realizing how common this is for warehouse/logistics layoffs. I had no idea that seasonal slowdowns are so routine that EDD basically has a standard process for them. The fact that so many people here had similar timelines and positive outcomes is giving me hope. I'm going to take everyone's advice about waiting at least a week before calling, continuing to certify every two weeks, and looking into local emergency assistance programs as backup. The documentation tip is gold too - I'm starting my screenshot folder today! Thanks for posting this question Levi - you've helped a whole bunch of us realize we're not alone in this waiting game. Fingers crossed we all get good news soon!

I'm currently experiencing the exact same situation! Filed my claim about 10 days ago after getting laid off from my job at a shipping facility due to "reduced seasonal demand" and just got that heart-stopping "identified eligibility issue" message after certifying yesterday. The financial anxiety is overwhelming - I've got exactly 18 days before my rent is due and my emergency fund won't cover it. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring though! I had no idea how common this verification process was for logistics/warehouse layoffs. I submitted my eligibility questionnaire immediately (similar questions about job separation, work availability, etc.) and now I'm in the dreaded waiting phase. What's really helped me after reading all these responses is creating an action plan while I wait: I've started documenting everything with screenshots, researched local emergency assistance programs, and I'm continuing to certify every two weeks regardless of the pending status. The fact that so many people here had positive outcomes with similar timelines is giving me hope that this will resolve itself within the next week or so. Thanks Levi for posting this - it's amazing how many of us are dealing with identical situations right now! The support and shared experiences in this thread have been a lifeline during this stressful waiting period. Hoping we all get good news soon!

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! Been locked out for 2.5 weeks now because my old university email was deactivated after graduation. Reading through all these responses gives me so much hope - I had no idea about the Trusted Referee video call option! Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to: 1. Try the Trusted Referee video call first using incognito mode (great tip about clearing cache!) 2. Have all my documents ready and use good lighting 3. If that fails, create new ID.me account and use Claimyr to reach EDD The technical tips about browser issues and keeping the tab open are exactly what I needed to know. This thread should honestly be stickied - it's the most helpful resource I've found for this specific problem. Will definitely update with my results to help the next person stuck in ID.me purgatory!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! My old work email got deactivated about a month ago and I've been dreading having to deal with this ID.me mess. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea there were so many actual solutions that work! I'm definitely going to try the Trusted Referee video call first thing tomorrow morning. The technical tips about using incognito mode and clearing cache are exactly what I needed to know - I would have definitely made those mistakes otherwise. Having all the documents ready and good lighting setup makes total sense too. If the video call doesn't work out, it's really reassuring to know that creating a new account and using Claimyr to reach EDD is a viable backup plan. The fact that multiple people have had success with that approach gives me confidence there's actually a way through this nightmare. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific tips - this is exactly the kind of real-world problem solving that makes all the difference when you're stuck in bureaucratic hell. I'll make sure to update with my results to help the next person dealing with this ID.me disaster!

I know everyone's already given you great advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me when I went through this - bring a pen and paper to take notes during the call! The interviewer told me some specific things I needed to follow up on, and I was so nervous I almost forgot the details afterward. Also, if they do find an issue and ask you to repay anything, don't panic. They usually set up payment plans that are very reasonable. In my case, I had accidentally double-reported some part-time income and owed back about $800, but they let me pay it back over 6 months with no interest or penalties since it was an honest mistake. You sound super prepared and responsible, and from all your responses it's clear you've been trying to do everything correctly. The vast majority of these interviews end up being simple clarifications. Try to get some rest the night before your call - being well-rested will help you think clearly and answer their questions confidently. You've got a whole community here supporting you!

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I had my EDD interview about 2 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most straightforward government calls I've ever been on. The interviewer introduced herself, explained that they just needed to verify some information, and then asked very specific, factual questions. In my case, the issue was that I had reported my separation reason as "laid off" but my employer had told EDD it was a "workforce reduction" - same thing, just different terminology. The whole call took maybe 12 minutes and she was actually quite nice about it. One thing I wish someone had told me: they might ask you to verify your identity at the beginning with your SSN and birthdate, so have that ready. Also, they may reference specific weeks or dates, so having your original claim paperwork in front of you is super helpful. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're incredibly well-prepared. The fact that you care this much about getting it right tells me you're going to be just fine. This community has your back, and we'd love to hear how it goes! Wishing you the best of luck with your interview.