I went through something very similar when I filed my claim in 2023. My WBA was calculated based on when I was working reduced hours while caring for my sick parent, so it was frustratingly low at $165/week. Like others have said, the weekly benefit amount is locked in for your entire benefit year - there's no way to get it recalculated even if your recent earnings are much higher. What helped me was focusing on maximizing my partial benefits by picking up every shift I could at my part-time job. Since you can earn up to about $188 without any reduction (as Omar mentioned), try to get as close to that threshold as possible each week. Also, start planning now for when your benefit year ends in January 2026 - if you're still eligible then, your new claim will include those higher earnings from late 2024 and all of 2025, which should give you a much better WBA. It's frustrating that the system looks backward instead of at your current earning potential, but understanding the rules helps you work within them. Hang in there!

I feel your pain on this one! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my WBA is way lower than what I could actually earn now. Just wanted to add one thing that helped me - make sure you're tracking your work hours super carefully when you do pick up those extra shifts. I use a simple spreadsheet to log my hours and earnings each day so I don't accidentally go over the partial benefit threshold or mess up my certification. Also, if you're looking for additional income sources while staying under that $188 limit, consider gig work that gives you flexible scheduling. Just remember what Ravi said about reporting ALL income - even small amounts from apps like DoorDash or Uber need to be reported. The key is finding that sweet spot where you maximize your total income (benefits + wages) without losing your UI eligibility completely. The whole system feels backwards when you're in a situation like this, but at least now you know exactly what to expect going forward!

I'm scheduled for my first RESEA appointment next week and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also initially confused about whether it was mandatory - the letter language is a bit unclear. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this: I called to confirm my appointment details yesterday and the rep mentioned they're now offering both in-person and virtual options for RESEA appointments. If you have transportation issues or scheduling conflicts, it might be worth asking about the virtual option when you call to reschedule. Also, for those struggling to get through on the phone - I had success calling the number on the RESEA letter itself rather than the main EDD line. The wait was only about 15 minutes compared to the hours I've spent trying to reach general EDD customer service in the past. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helped ease my anxiety about the whole process!

I just wanted to jump in and say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time in years and had no idea what RESEA was when I got my letter last week. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. One thing I learned from calling is that if you need to reschedule multiple times due to legitimate conflicts (like job interviews), they're generally understanding as long as you communicate proactively. The rep I spoke with said they'd rather have you attend when you can be fully present and engaged rather than rushing through it. Also, for anyone wondering about what to wear - I asked during my call and they said business casual is fine, nothing too formal needed. They want you to feel comfortable since it's meant to be a collaborative discussion about your job search. Hunter, hope your job interview went well and that your rescheduled RESEA appointment is helpful! This community is awesome for sharing real experiences and practical advice.

This thread has become an absolute masterclass in EDD troubleshooting! As a newcomer to this community, I'm simultaneously impressed by everyone's collective problem-solving skills and horrified that such detailed detective work is needed just to register for unemployment benefits. Reading through all these solutions, I'm struck by how many different ways the system can fail over seemingly minor formatting differences. It's like EDD built a registration system that requires users to guess the exact format their data was entered in across multiple government databases - no flexibility for common variations that any reasonable system would handle automatically. For anyone still struggling with this issue, I'd suggest creating a systematic checklist based on all the solutions shared here: - SSN with/without dashes - Full vs abbreviated address components - Name variations (full middle name vs initial, with/without suffixes, hyphenated vs unhyphenated) - Previous addresses from employment records - Different ZIP code formats - Professional vs legal name usage The fact that we need a 40+ comment troubleshooting thread for basic account registration really highlights how broken this system is. But the silver lining is this incredible community knowledge base that's emerged. Thank you to everyone who's shared their specific solutions - you're literally saving people days of frustration and helping them access benefits they're entitled to!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm facing the exact same "information doesn't match" error and was getting so frustrated until I found this discussion. The systematic approach everyone has outlined here is brilliant - I had no idea there were so many potential formatting variations that could cause issues. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about SSN formatting (no dashes), address abbreviations, and the suffix punctuation differences. As someone with "III" after my name, I never would have thought to try variations like "III" vs "III." vs "3rd". One question for the group - has anyone had success using different browsers or devices? I've been trying on Chrome on my laptop, but I'm wondering if Safari or Firefox might handle the form validation differently. Sometimes different browsers can behave unexpectedly with government websites. Also wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time to share their specific solutions. This kind of community knowledge-sharing is what makes dealing with EDD's broken system actually manageable. I'm going to work through the checklist approach @Darren Brooks suggested and will report back if I discover any new variations that work!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm actually considering a similar temp opportunity myself and wasn't sure about the EDD implications. One thing I wanted to ask - for those who've worked temp contracts, did you find it helpful to stay in touch with the hiring manager or team during your contract? I'm wondering if building those relationships could lead to referrals or recommendations for permanent positions elsewhere, even if the temp role doesn't convert. Also, does anyone know if EDD counts temp contract work differently than regular employment when calculating benefit amounts for future claims? The higher hourly rate Malik mentioned ($28/hr) got me thinking about how that might impact benefit calculations down the road.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm also considering a temp contract offer and was worried about the EDD implications! One thing I haven't seen mentioned is what happens if you get sick during your temp contract or need to take time off. Do you have to report that to EDD differently than you would for a regular job? Also, I'm curious about whether temp agencies typically provide any kind of benefits (health insurance, etc.) for longer contracts like the 3-month one Malik mentioned. The lack of benefits is one of my main concerns about leaving unemployment for temp work, but the higher pay rate and work experience seem worth it. Has anyone dealt with the benefits gap issue when transitioning from unemployment to temp work?

This thread is absolutely incredible - it's like a masterclass in navigating Money Network's broken customer service system! I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and was getting so frustrated with that useless automated system. My card stopped working three days ago and I've been calling their main line repeatedly with zero success. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm 99% sure my problem is also the phone number mismatch - I switched from Sprint to Google Fi about a month ago and never thought it could affect my unemployment card. It's ridiculous that Money Network doesn't just tell you this is the issue instead of giving you that vague "information not recognized" message that makes you think your card is compromised. I'm definitely going to try that alternate number (1-800-240-8100) tomorrow morning using the lost/stolen card trick. The success rate in this thread is amazing - it seems like almost everyone got through within minutes using this method. Thank you all for sharing these solutions and being so detailed about the process. This community is genuinely helping people survive and access their basic needs. I'll report back once I get this mess sorted out! 🙏

I've been following this thread closely and wow, the collective knowledge here is amazing! I'm a newcomer to unemployment benefits and just got my Money Network card last week. Reading through all these experiences about phone number mismatches causing lockouts is both eye-opening and terrifying - I had no idea that something as simple as changing carriers could lock you out of your own benefits! I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a troubleshooting guide. That alternate number (1-800-240-8100) and the lost/stolen card trick seem to be the magic solution that Money Network definitely doesn't advertise. It's frustrating that their error messages are so vague, but at least this community has cracked the code on how to actually get help. For anyone still struggling with this issue, it seems like early morning calls (around 8 AM) with all your updated contact info ready for verification is the winning strategy. Thank you to everyone who shared their solutions - you're literally helping people access their basic needs when the official system fails them! 🙌