This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through something similar right now where UI Online is saying I don't have sufficient wages, even though I've been working steadily for the past two years. Reading about all the different causes - misspelled names, missing employers, maiden vs married names, quarterly reporting delays - really opens your eyes to how many technical issues can cause this error. It's frustrating that the system has so many potential failure points, but at least it sounds like the reps can fix these problems once you actually get through to them. I'm going to gather all my paystubs and W-2s and try calling Wednesday morning at 8 AM like someone suggested. Has anyone had luck with the automated callback feature, or is it better to just keep redialing manually?

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! My UI Online keeps showing "no wages found" even though I've been working full-time for over two years at the same company. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope - it sounds like this is almost always a technical/database issue rather than an actual problem with eligibility. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8 AM with all my documentation ready: paystubs, W-2s, and my employer's full legal name and EIN. It's reassuring to see how many people have had success once they actually got through to a representative. The misspelled name issue really caught my attention - I wonder if that could be my problem too since my name has some unusual spelling. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips! This thread is going to save me so much stress and confusion. I'll make sure to update once I get this resolved.

I'm currently dealing with this same situation! Just transitioned from Navy active duty to reserves last month and filed for EDD benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about reporting when you RECEIVE the pay vs when you PERFORM the drill. That's such an important distinction that I definitely would have gotten wrong. My first drill is coming up in two weeks and I was planning to report it right away on my next certification. Now I know to wait until I actually get the paycheck. The screenshot tip from Charlotte is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to start doing that for all my certifications. It's frustrating that EDD reps give such inconsistent information about military pay, but at least we can help each other figure it out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, especially the cautionary tales about overpayments. Better to be overly careful than deal with that mess later!

As someone who just went through this transition from Marine Corps active duty to reserves about 6 months ago, I can definitely relate to your concerns! The anxiety about getting it wrong is real - I spent weeks worrying about it before my first certification. Here's what worked for me: I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking my drill dates and when I actually received payment. This made certification much easier because I could quickly reference exactly when money hit my account. Also, don't forget that drill pay usually comes in two parts - your base pay and any special pays - and they might arrive on different dates. One more tip: if you're doing online job applications while collecting benefits, keep screenshots of those too. EDD sometimes asks for proof that you're actively seeking work, and having that documentation ready can save you headaches later. The transition period is tough enough without stressing about benefits. You're asking all the right questions upfront, which puts you way ahead of where I was. Thank you for your service, and best of luck with both the reserves and finding civilian employment!

Hey everyone! I just stumbled across this community while frantically googling about late EDD filings, and wow - this thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm in almost the exact same boat as Carmen. Got laid off from my retail supervisor job back in April and kept putting off filing because I was convinced I'd find something quickly (spoiler alert: the job market is brutal right now). Reading through all your experiences has been such a relief - I honestly thought I was completely screwed and had missed my chance at any benefits. The fact that you can backdate up to 52 weeks is news to me! I'm definitely going to file this week and try that Claimyr service if the regular phone lines are as impossible as everyone says. Carmen, thanks for sharing your journey and updates - it's so helpful to see the whole process play out. And to everyone who's shared tips about documentation and the certification process, you're all lifesavers! It's incredible to find a community where people actually help each other navigate this confusing system instead of just complaining. Here goes nothing - wish me luck!

Welcome to everyone who's recently joined this community! As someone who's been following this thread from the beginning, it's been incredible to watch Carmen's journey and see how many people are in similar situations. I wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I was backdating my claim last year - if you have any old emails in your job search folder or screenshots of job applications, those can be really helpful when you're trying to remember what you were doing during specific weeks for your certifications. Even LinkedIn messages about job opportunities can serve as evidence of your job search activities. Also, don't stress if you can't remember every single detail perfectly - EDD understands that people aren't expected to have perfect recall of events from months ago. The most important thing is being honest about what you do remember and not trying to fabricate details. This community has been such a blessing for so many people navigating this process!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - day 5 of "review required" status and the anxiety is eating me alive! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about the 8 AM calling strategy or checking spam folders - thank you all for sharing what actually works! It's ridiculous that we have to become unemployment claim ninjas just to get basic information about our own benefits, but I'm grateful to know I'm not alone in this mess. Planning to set multiple alarms tomorrow morning and join the early calling brigade. The fact that so many people here have successfully gotten through this gives me real hope that it'll work out eventually. Going to stay persistent and keep certifying while I wait. Thanks everyone for the support and practical advice - this community is a lifesaver! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - been stuck on "review required" for about 6 days and the stress is real! This thread has been such a relief to find though. I had no idea about the 8 AM calling strategy that everyone's mentioning, or that I should be checking my spam folder regularly. It's honestly mind-blowing that we have to become EDD navigation experts just to get basic updates on our own claims, but I'm so thankful for everyone sharing what actually works. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling approach tomorrow - setting multiple alarms because based on what I'm reading here, that seems to be the golden ticket. Also going to double-check my spam folder and make sure I keep certifying while this gets sorted out. The reassurance that "review required" is often just routine verification rather than something we messed up has really helped calm my nerves. Seeing all these success stories gives me hope that this bureaucratic nightmare will eventually end! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - knowing we're all in this together makes it feel so much less overwhelming. I'll definitely update if I have any luck getting through! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! EDD hit me with a $7,100 overpayment demand after I cared for my 82-year-old father with heart disease during COVID. What makes it even more infuriating is that I have documentation showing I called EDD multiple times during my claim period specifically asking if family caregiving was allowed, and they told me yes every single time. Now they're acting like those conversations never happened and saying I should have "known better." The gaslighting is unreal! I've already filed my appeal and I'm gathering everything I can - medical records showing my dad's high-risk conditions, proof that his senior day center was closed due to COVID outbreaks, and even some old emails where I was applying for remote work that would let me stay home with him. One thing that's really helped me mentally is connecting with other people going through this same situation. It's validating to know we're not crazy and that EDD really did give contradictory guidance during the pandemic chaos. Don't give up on your appeal - from everything I'm reading here, the ALJs seem much more reasonable than regular EDD staff about understanding the impossible situations families faced. We protected our vulnerable loved ones during a global health emergency and that was the RIGHT thing to do, no matter what EDD says now!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress and financial pressure must be overwhelming! As someone who successfully appealed a similar EDD overpayment case, I want to emphasize that you absolutely have grounds to fight this. The key is framing your situation correctly: during the COVID emergency, you were "able and available for suitable work that was compatible with your extraordinary caregiving circumstances." Document everything - your parents' medical conditions showing high-risk status, any communications with EDD from that time period, proof of remote job searches, and CDC guidelines about protecting vulnerable populations. The fact that you explained your situation during certification and to an EDD rep shows you weren't trying to hide anything. File your appeal IMMEDIATELY (don't wait for perfect documentation), and remember that collection is paused during the appeals process. The Administrative Law Judges handling appeals are much more reasonable than regular EDD staff and have authority to consider the unique pandemic circumstances that made family caregiving medically necessary. You did nothing wrong by protecting your vulnerable parents during a global health emergency - don't let EDD convince you otherwise. Many of us have been in similar situations and won our appeals by showing that the pandemic created extraordinary circumstances that changed what "available for work" meant in practice.