I'm currently stuck with this same verification code issue and have been reading through this entire thread - it's been incredibly helpful! I've been locked out for 4 days now and was starting to panic about missing deadlines for my claim. @AstroAce @Amelia Cartwright - huge thanks for sharing your detailed success stories with the 6:30 AM call strategy! The fact that you both got through with relatively short wait times by using the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase is exactly the kind of actionable advice I needed. I had been avoiding calling because I thought it would mean spending all day on hold. @Mei Zhang - really appreciate all the IT expertise you've shared throughout this thread. I'm going to check my email settings tonight and add edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list, though it sounds like the phone call route is probably going to be my best bet. It's frustrating that EDD's "security upgrade" has created this mess for so many people, but seeing how this community has come together to share real working solutions instead of just complaining has been amazing. You've basically created the troubleshooting guide that EDD should have provided from day one! I'm planning to try the early morning call tomorrow with all my verification documents ready. Will definitely report back with how it goes - hoping to add another success story to this thread! 🤞

I'm going through this exact same verification code nightmare right now! Been locked out for 6 days and was honestly starting to lose hope until I found this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been such a relief - finally have a real action plan instead of just banging my head against the wall. @AstroAce @Amelia Cartwright - thank you both SO much for sharing your detailed success stories with the 6:30 AM call strategy! The fact that you both got through with short wait times by specifically saying "multi-factor authentication failure" is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been avoiding calling because I thought it meant spending my entire day on hold, but 15-20 minutes sounds totally manageable. @Mei Zhang - really appreciate all the IT expertise you've shared throughout this thread. I'm definitely going to check my email provider settings tonight and add edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list, though it sounds like the phone route is probably my best bet at this point. It's honestly incredible (and frustrating) that this community has had to become EDD's unofficial tech support and figure out all these workarounds on our own. But I'm so grateful for everyone taking the time to share what actually works instead of just complaining about the broken system. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning with all my verification info organized and ready. Really hoping I can add another success story to this thread! Will definitely update everyone on how it goes. Thanks again for all the help! 🙏

Has anyone tried contacting their local assembly member for help? I've heard they can sometimes intervene on your behalf with EDD issues.

I actually managed to change my email with EDD about 3 months ago! Here's what finally worked for me after trying everything else: I kept getting stuck in the online system, so I ended up faxing them a written request with my SSN, claim number, old email, new email, and a copy of my ID. Sent it to their general fax line: (916) 319-5760. Took about 10 business days, but they actually processed it! Got a confirmation letter in the mail saying the change was complete. Sometimes the old-school approach works better than their glitchy website. Make sure to include ALL your info clearly - SSN, claim number, both email addresses, phone number, and sign it. Good luck! 🤞

I went through this exact same headache last month! After spending hours on hold with no luck, I ended up going to the DMV in person with my passport, birth certificate, and a recent utility bill. The clerk was able to verify my identity and update my email address on the spot using a DL 14 form (Driver License/ID Card Application). The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got to the window. One tip that really helped - I wrote down my old email address and new email address clearly on a piece of paper to hand to the clerk, which made the update process much smoother. Also, if you have any old DMV paperwork or renewal notices that show your previous email, bring those too as proof. It's frustrating that there's no easy online fix for this, but the in-person route definitely works. Hang in there!

I actually work at a DMV field office and see this issue almost daily! Here's the inside scoop: bring your driver's license, birth certificate or passport, and TWO pieces of mail with your current address (utility bills, bank statements, etc.) that are dated within the last 90 days. Ask specifically for a "change of mailing address/contact information" - don't mention being locked out of your account as that can sometimes complicate things. The process is free and takes about 15-20 minutes once you're seen. We can update your email right in the system and you'll get a confirmation receipt. Pro tip: Tuesday-Thursday mornings around 9:30am tend to be the least busy. You don't need an appointment for address/contact changes, but having one will definitely save you time. Hope this helps from someone on the inside! 😊

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago and was approved for EDD benefits! The key things that helped my case were: 1) I documented everything daily - kept a log of actual hours spent on warehouse work vs office duties, 2) I found old emails where the hiring manager mentioned it would be "minimal warehouse assistance" which contradicted the reality of 5+ hours daily, 3) I formally requested a meeting with HR to discuss the role discrepancy and followed up with an email summarizing our conversation. When they couldn't provide a timeline to fix the situation, I resigned citing "material misrepresentation of job duties." During my EDD interview, I stayed focused on how the actual job was substantially different from what was described during hiring, not that I simply didn't like the work. The interviewer specifically asked if I had attempted to resolve it first, so having that paper trail was crucial. One tip - if you have any text messages or voicemails from the hiring process where they discussed the role, save those too. Even small references can help support your case. Good luck, and feel free to ask if you have questions about the process!

I'm dealing with a really similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I was hired for what was described as a "customer service coordinator" role but I'm spending 6+ hours daily doing warehouse fulfillment work. The hiring manager said there might be "occasional cross-training in different departments" but never mentioned I'd basically be doing manual labor most of the day. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like my best bet is to start documenting everything immediately and formally address it with management in writing first. A few questions for those who have been through this successfully: 1) How detailed should the daily log be? Should I track specific times or just general percentages of warehouse vs office work? 2) When you emailed management about the discrepancy, did you give them a specific timeframe to respond/fix the issue? I'm nervous about being too aggressive but also don't want to wait forever. 3) For those whose claims were approved, did you mention the physical toll of unexpected manual labor, or focus purely on the job duties misrepresentation? I'm already dealing with back pain from the lifting but don't want to overstate anything. Thanks so much to everyone sharing their experiences - this community has been more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found!

I understand you're in a really stressful situation, and it's clear you're trying to handle this responsibly. Based on what you've described, you may have a strong case for "good cause" to quit if the job duties are substantially different from what was presented during hiring. Here's what I'd suggest: First, definitely resolve that held week issue - call EDD first thing tomorrow to understand why it's pending. Sometimes it's just a routine verification that's easily resolved. Second, document everything about the skill mismatch. If you can find the original job posting online, screenshot it. Write down specific examples of tasks they're expecting you to do that weren't mentioned in the interview. Most importantly, have that conversation with your supervisor about the mismatch between your skills and their expectations. Ask if training is available or if there's a better role fit. Even if they say no, this shows EDD you tried to resolve the situation before quitting. Send a follow-up email afterward summarizing what was discussed to create a paper trail. When you do certify, be completely honest about your work hours and reason for leaving. Yes, your payments will likely go to pending during the eligibility review, but if you have good documentation and legitimate reasons, EDD does approve these cases. The anxiety and health impact you're experiencing can also support your case, especially with doctor's documentation. You've got 25+ years of work history and have rarely needed unemployment - that works in your favor. Stay calm, document everything, and follow the proper steps. You've got this!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more important point: when you have that conversation with your supervisor tomorrow, try to stay as professional and solution-focused as possible, even though you're stressed. Frame it as "I want to succeed in this role, but I'm finding that it requires skills X, Y, and Z that weren't discussed during the hiring process. What options do we have?" This approach shows good faith effort to resolve the situation rather than just wanting to quit. Also, regarding your held week - I had a similar experience where one week got held randomly for "wage verification" even though I hadn't worked. It turned out EDD just needed to verify some information from my previous employer and it was resolved quickly once I called. Don't assume it's related to anything you did wrong. Your situation really does sound like legitimate good cause - a significant mismatch between advertised duties and actual job requirements that's affecting your mental health. The fact that you have 25+ years of work experience and have only needed unemployment twice will definitely work in your favor during any eligibility review. EDD looks at your overall work history and pattern of employment when making these determinations. Keep us updated on how the conversations go tomorrow. You're handling this the right way by being proactive and documenting everything!