Just a final thought - when your husband does his certifications, he should be very careful about the work search requirements. Since he received a denial, the system won't prompt him if he makes an error in his certification. Make sure he: 1. Reports looking for work for each week 2. Keeps a record of at least 3 job search activities per week 3. Reports any income correctly (even small gigs) 4. Answers all questions honestly If his appeal is successful, they'll review his certifications, and any errors could lead to disqualification or even overpayment issues later. Good luck with the appeal! The alternate base period should help in your situation.

I'm going through something similar right now! Got denied for "insufficient earnings" but still getting those weekly certification emails. It's so confusing when the system seems to be telling you two different things at once. From what I've learned lurking in this community, it sounds like you should definitely keep certifying while you appeal. The automated certification system doesn't know about claim determinations, so it just keeps sending reminders based on your initial filing. I'd also suggest gathering all your husband's pay stubs and employment records before filing the appeal - sounds like the alternate base period might really help your case since he's been working more recently. The warehouse job plus retail work might be enough if they look at the right time period. Hope you get this sorted out soon! The whole system is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? For others who might have this same issue in the future, another option is to visit an in-person EDD office with your ID. They can verify your identity in person and help reset your online access without needing the payment information.

Glad you got it resolved! This is such a common issue and your experience will definitely help others. For future reference, it might be worth downloading and saving important documents like payment history or tax forms right after you access them, since these password reset requirements seem to get more strict over time. EDD really needs to update their security verification methods to something more reasonable than expecting people to remember payment amounts from years ago.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone helpful! After calling about 20 times this morning, I reached a Tier 2 specialist who looked into my case. Apparently, my appeal reversal was sitting in a queue waiting for manual review. The specialist said she would escalate it and marked it as "urgent" since it's been over 30 days since the judge's decision. She said I should see movement within 5-7 business days and to call back if nothing changes by next Friday. She also confirmed I should receive a Notice of Adjustment before any payment is processed, so I'll be watching for that. At least now I have a somewhat definite timeline and someone who actually looked at my specific case instead of giving me generic information. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! I'll post another update when (hopefully) I get my money.

This is so helpful to read everyone's experiences! I'm dealing with a similar situation - won my appeal in October and still waiting for my repayment. The inconsistent timelines from different reps is the most frustrating part. One told me "any day now" three weeks ago, another said it could be 2-3 more months! @Yara Abboud - really glad you finally got someone who could actually help and escalate your case. That gives me hope that persistence pays off. I'm definitely going to try asking specifically for a Tier 2 specialist next time I call instead of just accepting whatever the first rep tells me. Has anyone had luck with the assembly member route? I'm in Orange County and thinking about reaching out to mine if this drags on much longer.

Just a heads up, there's been a lot of ID.me scams going around. Make sure you're only using the official site and never give out your info over the phone!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was doing the video verification during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). The wait times were much shorter and the agents seemed less rushed. Also, make sure you have really good lighting - I failed twice because my documents weren't clear enough on camera. It's frustrating but don't give up! Once you get through, the benefits should start flowing within a few days.

FINAL UPDATE: Good news! The Tier 2 specialist called me back today and reviewed my case. Because my job was permanently eliminated (not just seasonal layoff), they're processing what they called a 'backdated new claim.' I had to provide my Forest Service RIF notice and answer questions about my work history. They said I should see the claim update in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I can certify for benefits again. Such a relief! Thanks to everyone who helped me navigate this complicated situation.

This is such a helpful thread for seasonal workers! I'm actually in a similar situation - worked for Cal Fire seasonally for 3 years and just found out they're cutting our crew due to budget issues. I was supposed to start back up next month but got the elimination notice last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is really getting to that Tier 2 specialist and having all your documentation ready. @Harper Hill - congrats on getting it resolved! Do you mind me asking roughly how long the whole process took from when you first called to when you could certify again? I'm trying to plan my finances and wondering if I should start looking for temporary work while this gets sorted out. The "backdated new claim" option sounds like exactly what I'll need too since my position was permanently eliminated, not just a seasonal break.