Can't certify for benefits during EDD appeal - normal or system error?

Yes, you ARE supposed to continue certifying during an appeal. That's actually a critical part of the process. If you win your appeal, EDD can only pay you for weeks that you properly certified for. If the website isn't giving you the option, it's definitely a technical issue with your claim. Call EDD asap and explain that you need to have the certification weeks made available. Make sure to document the call (date, time, rep name if possible).

I had this EXACT problem last year during my appeal. Try logging in late at night around 11pm - sometimes the system refreshes and the certification weeks appear. If that doesn't work, you need to have an EDD rep manually release the weeks for certification. They CAN backdate them if you explain the situation. Also check your UI inbox for any notices that might explain why certifications stopped - could be an identity verification flag or something else completely.

I had a similar problem with my claim a few months ago (not appeal related). I was getting desperate after calling for days with no luck. Then I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They basically call EDD for you and then connect you when they get through. Saved me so much frustration! Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Worth it for me because the rep was able to fix my certification issues on the spot.

@profile8 yeah it's legit. my brother-in-law used it too when his claim was stuck in pending for weeks.

There's actually a form you can fill out for missed certifications during appeals called a DE 1275CGA. I don't think many people know about it. You can download it from the EDD website and mail it in. That being said, it's MUCH faster if you can get someone on the phone to fix it in real-time. The DE 1275CGA can take 2-3 weeks to process. You definitely need to resolve this because: 1) You must certify to receive benefits if you win the appeal 2) If you go too long without certifying, your claim can become inactive 3) Backdating certifications gets more complicated the longer you wait

@profile3 You're right to question this. The DE 1275CGA is for general missed certifications. For appeals specifically, you should call and have a rep manually release the weeks. If the system isn't allowing certification during appeal, it's usually because there's a technical flag on the account that only a rep can remove. The form is a backup option if you absolutely cannot reach anyone by phone.

Update us if you get this resolved! I'm curious if it's a system-wide issue. My friend just filed an appeal last week and he's having the same problem with certifications. EDD might have changed something in their system recently.

my dog ate my edd paperwork once lol. but seriously tho appeals are the worst. took me 5 months to get a hearing and i had to keep bugging them about certifying. the system is completely backwards. good luck!!

yeah i did win. the judge was actually really fair. just getting TO the hearing was the nightmare part. keep all your docs organized tho, they like that.

UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD! Used that Claimyr service and connected with a rep in about 25 minutes. She confirmed that during appeals you ARE supposed to keep certifying, and there was indeed a technical flag on my account preventing it. She manually released all my missed weeks for certification, and I'm able to complete them now. She said this is a common issue with appeals - the system sometimes automatically blocks certification even though policy says you should continue. For anyone with the same problem, definitely call and have them fix it!

@profile2 Already did! Certified for all 3 missed weeks. The rep also put a note in my file about the system error so there shouldn't be any issues with backpay if I win my appeal. Now I just have to wait for the actual hearing... fingers crossed it doesn't take 5 months like someone else mentioned.

Glad you got it sorted out! This is super helpful info for anyone else dealing with the same issue. I'm actually dealing with an appeal right now too (different situation) and was wondering if I should keep certifying. Your experience confirms I need to stay on top of it. Quick question - did the rep mention anything about how long appeals are taking right now? I filed mine about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet about a hearing date.

This is such valuable information! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need to reference it later. The fact that the system automatically blocks certification during appeals even though policy says you should continue is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare that makes dealing with EDD so frustrating. Thanks for sharing your experience and the solution - knowing about services like Claimyr could be a lifesaver for people who can't get through the phone lines. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least there are workarounds when the system fails us.

This thread is incredibly helpful - I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. Filed my appeal 6 weeks ago for a disqualification and noticed last week that my certification option disappeared from UI Online. I was starting to panic thinking I'd done something wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is actually a common technical issue with EDD's system during appeals. I'm definitely going to try calling (or that Claimyr service if I can't get through) to have them manually release the certification weeks. It's so frustrating that their system blocks something that policy says we're supposed to continue doing! Thanks especially to @334def0feab9 for sharing the detailed update about getting it resolved - gives me hope that this can be fixed relatively quickly once you actually reach someone who knows what they're doing.

Wow, this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm going through the same issue right now - filed my appeal 4 weeks ago and just noticed yesterday that my certification weeks aren't showing up in UI Online. I was getting really worried that I was missing something important or that my appeal was affecting my ability to get benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @334def0feab9's detailed solution, gives me so much relief. It's absolutely ridiculous that EDD's system has this kind of technical bug that goes against their own policy, but at least now I know it's fixable. I'm going to try calling first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so valuable when dealing with EDD's confusing system!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my appeal 5 weeks ago and just discovered this weekend that my certification options have vanished from UI Online. I was starting to panic thinking I'd somehow messed up my appeal or missed a critical step. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially the detailed solutions, has been incredibly reassuring. It's mind-boggling that EDD's own system creates technical barriers that contradict their policy of continuing to certify during appeals. I'm planning to try the Claimyr service first since so many people here had success with it. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions - it's frustrating that we have to figure out these workarounds for basic system functionality, but at least we're helping each other navigate this bureaucratic maze. Will definitely update once I get this resolved!