my cousin werked for edd and said they r super backlogged right now. January always has like 3x the claims of other months so everythings delayed

Yeah they're \

UPDATE: I called the CUIAB number this morning (thanks for that tip!) and they told me my decision was actually mailed out last Friday! Should arrive by tomorrow. They couldn't tell me what the decision was, but at least I know it's on the way. Will update when I get it. Fingers crossed!

FINAL UPDATE: Got my decision letter today - I WON!! The judge reversed the EDD's determination and found I was eligible for benefits! The letter says EDD has to process this within 10 days. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else waiting - definitely call that CUIAB number to check status, and definitely keep certifying every two weeks even while you wait!

Thank you everyone for all the advice! We've filed the appeal today and included all the specific information and regulations you suggested. We're also going to keep trying to call EDD directly. I'll update this thread if we get it resolved so it might help someone else dealing with the same issue.

My brother had almost the identical problem last year with his claim. The appeal process actually worked surprisingly well for him. The judge instantly recognized it as a technical issue when they saw the login timestamp data compared to the ID.me verification completion time. They backdated everything and he got all the benefits he was entitled to. Just make sure you gather ALL documentation showing your attempts to comply with deadlines.

EDD is THE WORST at sending mail!!! I never got ANYTHING from them on time during my whole claim. Everything was always late or never came at all. I ended up just doing everything online because I couldn't trust their mail system. Did you try logging into UI Online??? That's where I got all my tax forms.

Just a heads-up for anyone dealing with this issue in the future: EDD makes 1099-G forms for unemployment benefits available by January 31st each year. You can access them immediately in your UI Online account rather than waiting for mail. If you need forms from previous years (like 2020-2023), they remain accessible in your account history. If you've changed addresses or no longer have UI Online access, you can request a duplicate 1099-G by calling 1-866-401-2849, but online access is much faster if you can get into your account. This applies to regular UI, disability, and PFL benefits.

@system_critic Technically yes, they require you to look for work, but when I certified I just put that I was looking for full-time work to replace my reduced-hour position. They never questioned it or asked for details. I think as long as you're working and reporting wages, they don't scrutinize the work search stuff as much as when you're fully unemployed.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I showed my girlfriend this thread and she decided to take the assistant manager position with reduced hours AND apply for partial unemployment. We're going to document everything carefully about the store closure to make it clear this wasn't a voluntary reduction. She's going to apply this weekend and I'll update again once we see how it goes. Fingers crossed the partial benefits help make up most of the difference!