California Unemployment
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Can't get through to EDD by phone and unable to recover old account - help!
I'm at my wit's end trying to contact EDD! My husband needs to reopen his claim but we've been hitting roadblocks everywhere. We've been calling since exactly 8:00am this morning, taking turns dialing nonstop, and keep getting the dreaded 'we're experiencing high call volume' message before it hangs up. We tried logging into his UI Online account but he created it years ago (probably around 2019) and completely forgot the password. The password recovery asks for the amount of his last payment which is impossible to remember from so long ago. We don't have any old paperwork with that information either. Has anyone found a backdoor method to either: 1) Actually get through to a real person on the phone, or 2) Recover an ancient UI Online account when you don't remember payment amounts? Getting desperate here!
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EDD appeal wait time now 4+ months - should I keep waiting or take action?
I filed an appeal with EDD after being disqualified for benefits back in November 2024. It's now mid-March 2025, and I STILL haven't heard anything back about my hearing date. That's over 4 months of waiting! I know the system is backlogged since the pandemic, but this seems excessive even by EDD standards. My wife keeps telling me to be patient and that we'll eventually hear back, but our savings are almost depleted. I've tried calling the appeals office twice a week for the past month, but either get disconnected or told there's no update. Has anyone else waited this long for an appeal hearing to be scheduled? At what point should I stop waiting and try something else? My car payment is due next week and I'm getting seriously worried.
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The appeal system is completely overloaded right now. I work in a legal aid office, and we're seeing wait times of 4-7 months across all our clients' cases. This is significantly longer than the pre-pandemic standard of 6-8 weeks. While waiting, make sure you: 1. Continue certifying for weeks (if the system allows you) 2. Document all attempts to contact EDD (dates, times, who you spoke with) 3. Gather and organize all evidence supporting your case 4. Apply for other assistance programs if eligible (food stamps, rental assistance) If you're facing immediate financial crisis, consider contacting 211 for emergency assistance resources in your area while your appeal is pending.
Thank you for the professional advice. I've been certifying every two weeks even though the payments show as $0 due to the disqualification. At least I'm documenting my continued eligibility. The 211 suggestion is helpful too - I'll give them a call tomorrow.
Has anyone ever tried going IN PERSON to the appeals office??? I'm wondering if that works better than calling?
In-person visits to Appeals Offices are generally by appointment only since 2023. While you can attempt a walk-in, most offices will simply take your information and call you back later. The Appeals Offices are separate from regular EDD offices and often have stricter access protocols. Your best bet is still calling the Appeals line directly or using assistance services to reach them by phone.
EDD payments delayed this week - anyone else waiting for UI funds to hit Money Network card?
So frustrated right now. Been certifying on time every two weeks but my payment that should have hit my Money Network card yesterday is still nowhere to be seen. Usually it's there within hours of certification, but it's been over 36 hours now and my account just shows 'payment pending.' No explanation or anything. Called EDD 17 times this morning but can't get through (shocker). Anyone else experiencing delays with their unemployment payments this week? Starting to worry since rent is due Friday and I was counting on this money!
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Is anyone else having issues with the Money Network app too? I can't even log in to check my balance since yesterday afternoon. Keeps giving me an error message about "service unavailable." Wondering if this is connected to the payment delays everyone's talking about.
the app is ALWAYS broken!!! i stopped using it months ago & just check on the website through a browser. works way better
UPDATE: My payment just hit my Money Network card about an hour ago! Logged in and it's there. So it took about 3 days total after certification. Relief! Hopefully everyone else sees their payments soon too.
just checked and mine came thru too!! thx for the update
Still NOTHING on mine! This is so frustrating and unfair. Did anyone have to DO anything or did it just randomly show up?
EDD payment delay today - anyone else still waiting?
I certify every 2 weeks like clockwork & my payment usually hits my Money Network card by 11pm Sunday or early Monday morning. Its now Tuesday afternoon & still nothing showing in my account! Status on UI Online still says 'paid' but no money deposited yet. Anybody else experiencing delayed payments this week or is it just me? Getting worried cuz rent due in 3 days & landlord dont care about EDD delays!!!
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Just a quick update - I checked with a couple other claimants I know, and they're also experiencing a 1-2 day delay this week. Seems like there might be a system-wide processing slowdown. As long as your UI Online shows 'paid,' I wouldn't worry too much yet.
Thanks for checking! That makes me feel a little better knowing its happening to lots of people and not just us.
EDD certification timing - normal for payment status not updating immediately?
I just certified for benefits about 2 hours ago on a Tuesday morning and my status is still showing 'pending' instead of 'paid'. Is this normal? I usually certify late Saturday night and by Sunday morning it always switches to paid. Getting a little worried since I have rent due soon and was counting on this payment to hit my account on schedule. Has anyone else noticed the payment status taking longer to update when certifying on different days of the week?
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@OP - To directly answer your follow-up question: Yes, stick with Saturday night certifications if you need predictable payment timing. EDD's main processing batches run early Sunday morning, and the majority of payments processed then hit accounts via Bank of America EDD debit cards or direct deposit by Monday/Tuesday. If you have a Money Network card instead of the older BofA card, timing might be slightly different, but weekend certification is still fastest.
wait is everyone getting switched to those Money Network cards now?? i still have my BofA card and was wondering if i need to do anything??
Update on Money Network cards: Yes, EDD has been transitioning claimants from Bank of America debit cards to Money Network debit cards since 2022. If you still have a BofA card and are currently receiving benefits, you should have received information about the transition. The new Money Network cards are being issued as claimants file new claims or reopen existing ones. Regarding the original certification timing question: I've tracked my certification times for the past year, and weekend certifications (Sat/Sun) have consistently processed 12-24 hours faster than weekday certifications. This isn't official EDD policy, just my observation from experience.
UPDATE: My status just switched to 'paid' this morning! So it took about 18 hours total. Still slower than weekend certification but not as bad as I feared. Thanks everyone for your help!
Carmen Flores
One more thing I forgot to mention... if all else fails you can actually fax EDD a written request to reset your account! I know it sounds ancient but my neighbor did this when she couldn't get through on the phone or recover her password. Send it to the UI Online support fax number.
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Nia Davis
fax? what is this, 1995? 😂 but seriously if it works it works i guess
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Aisha Rahman
Government agencies still use fax extensively. It's often faster than mail and creates a paper trail. The UI Online support fax number is 1-855-726-5608 for account reset requests. They typically respond within 3-5 business days.
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Luca Ferrari
UPDATE: Success! We tried the Spanish queue trick this morning and got through after only 15 minutes on hold! The rep was super helpful and was able to both reset the UI Online account AND file the new claim all in one call. She said they've been having major phone system issues this week which is why it's been even harder than usual to get through. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions - this community is amazing!
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QuantumQueen
Great to hear! That Spanish queue trick works almost every time. Glad you got it sorted out.
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Ethan Wilson
nice!! gonna remember that trick for next time
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