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Just wanted to jump in and say I had this EXACT same issue two months ago and what worked for me was persistent calling between 10:30-11:30am. For some reason that seemed to be when their call volume dipped a bit. I got through after about 12 tries one Wednesday morning around 10:45. The rep fixed my mistake in like 2 minutes and my payment switched from pending to paid that night. Just keep trying different times - there's definitely a sweet spot when it's easier to get through!
UPDATE: I finally got through!!! Used Claimyr this morning after failing again with regular calling. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 35 minutes. The agent was super nice and fixed my certification answer while I was on the phone. She said it was a common mistake and took less than 5 minutes to correct. My payment already switched from pending to paid! Thanks everyone for your suggestions - this community seriously saved me!
So happy it worked for you! Fingers crossed your payment processes quickly. Mine took about 16 hours to go from pending to paid.
I'm confused about something... I just got into the system but it's asking me about "employment search" requirements but I thought I was exempt because I'm on a temporary layoff with a return date? Do I still need to list 3 job contacts with the new system or does the temporary layoff exemption still apply? I don't want to mess this up and get disqualified when I'm supposed to go back to work in 3 weeks. The instructions are so unclear!!
If you have a definite return-to-work date within 8 weeks of your layoff, you should select "Yes" when asked if you're exempt from work search requirements. The next screen will ask for the reason - select "I am temporarily laid off with a definite return date" and enter your expected return date. The new system requires you to provide this information each certification period, unlike the old system which carried over your exemption status. This is one of the "improvements" in the upgrade that's causing confusion.
i think you're overthinking this lol... just don't report it since it was for work before your unemployment claim started. my cousin didn't report his bonus from his old job and nothing happened
This is dangerously incorrect advice. EDD regularly cross-references income reported to them against what employers report to tax authorities. Intentionally failing to report income is considered fraud and can result in disqualification from benefits, repayment with penalties, and in serious cases, criminal charges. Please do not encourage others to commit unemployment fraud.
UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your advice! I talked to our union rep who confirmed I need to report all payments when received. She said what typically happens is people just don't get benefits for that one week when the large payment hits, but then everything goes back to normal. She also warned that EDD and our company's payroll system definitely share information, so trying to hide income would be a really bad idea. I'll be reporting everything when I get paid and just accept the one-week gap in benefits.
Good news - it sounds like this is a fixable issue based on what you've described. If the automated system "can't find him in the system," this typically means one of two things: 1. The claim has been temporarily suspended pending the interview (most likely) 2. There's been an identity verification flag placed on the account In either case, once you speak with a representative, they should be able to resolve it fairly quickly. Make sure your nephew has his claim number, SSN, and any correspondence from EDD (especially the interview notice) available when you call. The good news is that once resolved, any back payments for certified weeks should be processed. The key is getting through to someone who can help, which is admittedly the hardest part of dealing with EDD.
wait so if the EDD person doesnt call for the interview you still get backpay for those weeks? i thought you lose those weeks forever
No, you don't lose those weeks permanently. When a scheduled interview doesn't occur (regardless of why), your claim is put on hold until the issue is resolved. Once resolved, you can certify for those past weeks and receive payment, though there may be a delay depending on how long it takes to fix the issue. This is why it's important to take action quickly to get the claim back on track.
UPDATE: After trying for 3 days, we finally got through to EDD! Using the phone prompts that were suggested plus calling right at 8:01am did the trick. The representative confirmed that because the interviewer didn't call, the system automatically flagged his account for review, which is why he couldn't certify. She rescheduled his eligibility interview for next Tuesday and removed the block on his account. He should be able to certify for his past weeks once the interview is completed. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help and suggestions! This community is amazing. 🙏
That's great news! Make sure he's fully prepared for the interview with any documents they might ask for. Also, take notes during the call including the interviewer's name and ID number (they'll provide this). That way if there are any issues afterward, you have documentation of what was discussed and who you spoke with.
Charlie Yang
Update for anyone dealing with access code issues: EDD has actually created a new dedicated phone line specifically for UI Online access problems as of February 2025. The number is 1-866-401-2849 and they're open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. They can help with access codes, password resets, and account recovery. I just learned about this from an EDD representative I spoke to last week, and it seems to be less overwhelmed than the main line. Might be worth a try!
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Lucas Kowalski
•THANK YOU!! I just called this number and actually got through after only 15 minutes on hold! The rep was able to verify my identity and generate a new access code that worked immediately. I can finally see my claim status now. This specialized number was the key - I wish I'd known about it days ago. For anyone else struggling with access codes or login issues, definitely try this number first!
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Olivia Martinez
i had a friend who went thru this last month and she said what worked was calling EXACTLY at 8:01am not 8:00 because everyone tries right at opening. also she said try the 2511 number which sometimes has different people answering
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Lucas Kowalski
•Thanks! I actually just got through using the specialized UI Online access number that someone else posted (1-866-401-2849). But I appreciate the tip about calling at 8:01 instead of 8:00 - that makes a lot of sense!
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