UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out there was an issue with my ID verification - even though I completed ID.me successfully, it somehow didn't properly link to my EDD account. The rep was actually really helpful and reactivated the verification process on their end. She said I should receive instructions in my UI Online inbox within 48 hours and once I complete that, my disqualification should be removed within 5-7 business days. Thank you all for your advice! I've still submitted an appeal just in case (better safe than sorry), and I'm contacting my assembly member today too as backup. Will update again once everything is resolved.

So glad you got through and figured it out! The ID verification linking issues have been plaguing EDD for months now - you're definitely not alone in this. I had a similar problem where my ID.me verification completed successfully but somehow didn't sync with my claim. It's infuriating because there's no way for us to know this happened without speaking to someone directly. Your persistence with calling paid off! For anyone else reading this thread dealing with the same issue, Logan's experience shows it's worth filing that appeal as backup even when you think you've resolved the main issue. EDD's systems are unpredictable enough that having multiple safety nets is always smart.

I went thru something similar at a hospital last yr... they were short staffed and kept making me do heavy lifting even tho I had a doctors note for my herniated disk. my doctor told me to stop working completely and apply for disability but i was worried about $$$. wish i had listened bc i ended up making my injury WAY worse and now im on permanent disability. don't make my mistake!!! if ur doctor says u need time off for treatment LISTEN TO THEM not ur employer!!

Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! I'm going to follow your advice and apply for both UI and SDI. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss my work restrictions and treatment plan, so I'll get updated documentation. I'm feeling much more confident about navigating this process now. One last question - if my employer contests my UI claim (which they probably will), how long does that typically extend the process?

Quick update on what I included with my appeal form since you asked: I sent the form plus my final paystub, a letter from my employer confirming my last day of work, and a timeline I wrote out showing all the dates I'd certified and when I received the disqualification notice. The more documentation, the better! And yes - using Claimyr was a game-changer. I wasted so many hours getting busy signals and disconnections before finding them. The EDD rep I finally spoke with actually helped correct some info on my file that might have been causing the problem in the first place.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got disqualified last week and still haven't received the appeal form they promised would come in 3-5 days. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! For anyone else in this situation, I just want to emphasize what others have said about the 30-day deadline being FIRM. I almost made the mistake of just waiting around for their mail. Downloaded the DE 1000M form this morning after reading this thread and I'm getting it in certified mail tomorrow. One thing I learned from calling around - if you're dealing with ID.me verification issues at the same time as a disqualification (like I am), those are two separate processes that don't automatically talk to each other. So even if you complete ID.me successfully, you still need to file the appeal for the disqualification separately. Has anyone had success getting their case expedited due to financial hardship? I'm about to lose my apartment and wondering if there's any way to speed up the appeal timeline.

my friends husband got out of army and claimed in ca but got denied cuz he moved to nevada right after discharge so make sure ur actually establish residency in cali before u claim!!!!!

Hey Luca! As a fellow service member who went through this transition, I want to emphasize what others have said - definitely wait until after your official separation date. I made the mistake of trying to get a head start and it just caused headaches. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is that you should also gather all your Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) from your final year of service. EDD will use these to calculate your benefit amount since military pay works differently than civilian wages. Also, if you have any terminal leave being paid out, that might affect your claim timing - make sure you report that accurately. The good news is that California generally handles military claims pretty well once you have all your documentation ready. Just be patient with the process, especially during the holidays. Good luck with your transition back to civilian life!

oof, been there done that. the PFL struggle is real. sending positive vibes your way, hope you get it sorted soon! 🤞

Hey Nia! I went through something similar a few months ago. What ended up working for me was going to my local EDD office in person - I know it's a pain with a new baby, but sometimes showing up physically gets faster results than waiting on hold forever. Bring all your paperwork and your claim number. The staff there were actually pretty helpful and got my missing timesheet sorted out the same day. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your address is updated in their system - sometimes mail gets delayed or lost. Hope this helps and congrats on your little one! 💙