EDD SDI account says email already in use - possible identity theft?

This definitely sounds like potential identity theft. The same thing happened to my cousin back in January. Here's what you need to do: 1. Report suspected fraud to EDD immediately through their fraud reporting portal: https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/ 2. For San Bernardino County specifically, try this direct number for the local EDD office: (909) 383-4663. They handle all disability claims for the region. 3. Document everything - take screenshots of the errors you're seeing when trying to register. 4. Check your partner's credit report for any suspicious activity. The local office tends to answer more reliably than the main EDD line. Call first thing when they open at 8am for the best chance of getting through.

omg this happened to me too!!! but with regular unemployment not disability. someone was using my ssn to file claims!!! its a HUGE problem right now with edd. check your mail too bcuz u might get letters for claims u never filed thats how i found out

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an EDD rep? I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through on any of the numbers I tried. Claimyr got me connected to an actual EDD agent in less than 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. It basically navigates the phone system for you and calls you back when it gets through to a real person. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Their website is claimyr.com - it was seriously worth it because the agent I spoke with was able to immediately see that someone else had tried using my info and they put a fraud alert on my account.

This is a clear case of identity theft affecting your SDI application. I work as an insurance processor who deals with EDD claims frequently. Here's what you need to understand: When the system says "email already in use" but your partner has never applied, it means someone has already created a profile using his personal information. This is serious and needs immediate attention. Contact information for San Bernardino County: - EDD Disability Office (San Bernardino): (909) 383-4663 - State Disability Insurance Regional Office: (866) 401-2539 (press options in this order: 1, 2, 1, 4) - Identity Theft Specialized Unit: (866) 401-2849 You should also: 1. File a police report immediately 2. Contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert 3. Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov 4. Document all communication with EDD Don't wait on this - identity theft cases with EDD can take months to resolve if you don't act quickly.

Idk if this is helpful but when i had a problem with my disability claim i just went in person to the san bernardino office on hospitality lane. the address is 371 W Hospitality Ln, San Bernardino. they open at 8 but get there at like 7:30 cuz theres always a line. way better than trying to call!!!

The ID verification issue is likely because someone has already created a partial account with your husband's information. This happened to my brother and it turned out someone had filed for PUA benefits back in 2020 using his information, and even though that claim was never approved, the account remained in the system and caused exactly the same error messages you're describing. One thing nobody's mentioned: CHECK YOUR MAIL CAREFULLY. If someone has filed using his info, they might have changed the mailing address, but sometimes EDD still sends verification letters to the address on file with the DMV. So watch for any unexpected mail from EDD. Also - be prepared for this to take MONTHS to resolve. EDD's fraud department is still working through a massive backlog. Document EVERYTHING.

my freind had this same thing happen last month with edd!!! she kept getting the email already registered message. turned out it wasnt fraud, it was that she had filed for unemployment like 3 years ago and forgot about it lol. maybe ask ur husband if he ever applied for ANY kind of edd benefit even years ago? sometimes people forget

One more thing - when you do get through to EDD, ask them to check ALL types of claims that might exist under your husband's SSN. Sometimes the fraud isn't just limited to disability claims. I've seen cases where scammers file multiple types of claims (UI, SDI, PFL) using the same stolen identity. Also, after you resolve this, make sure EDD updates BOTH systems (SDI Online and UI Online) with fraud alerts. Sometimes they only flag one system and the fraudster just switches to the other program.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what worked for me after weeks of frustration: The key is to treat this as both identity theft AND an EDD system issue. When I finally got through to a supervisor at EDD, they explained that their systems have a major flaw - once someone creates ANY kind of account with your info (even if it's fraudulent and gets rejected), it permanently locks that email/SSN combination in their database. What finally resolved it for me: 1. Filed a police report specifically mentioning "EDD identity theft" - this gave me a case number that EDD took seriously 2. Went to the local office with the police report, multiple forms of ID, and a notarized identity affidavit (you can get the form from EDD's website) 3. Asked them to completely purge my SSN from ALL EDD systems and start fresh The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but once they cleared the fraudulent account, I was able to apply for legitimate benefits without any issues. Don't give up - this is unfortunately super common right now and EDD does have processes to fix it, they're just buried under bureaucracy. Also - freeze your credit immediately if you haven't already. In my case, the same scammer who hit my EDD account also tried to open credit cards in my name.

This is such a frustrating situation but unfortunately very common right now. I work in financial services and see EDD identity theft cases almost daily. A few additional things to consider: 1. Check if your partner has ever worked for a company that auto-enrolled employees in SDI or had mass layoffs - sometimes HR departments file claims on behalf of employees without them knowing 2. The "can't verify identity" error often means the fraudster provided different personal details than what's on file with DMV/Social Security. This actually works in your favor as proof of fraud 3. When you do get through to EDD, ask for a "fraud packet" - it's a specific form set that expedites identity theft cases 4. Consider contacting your state assembly member's office - they have direct lines to EDD and can often resolve these issues faster than going through normal channels The San Bernardino office on Hospitality Lane is definitely your best bet for in-person help. Bring bank statements showing your partner's employment history to prove he wasn't collecting benefits elsewhere. Stay persistent - I've seen these cases resolved in as little as 2 weeks when handled properly, despite what others say about months-long delays.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My sister had the exact same "email already in use" error when trying to apply for SDI last week. What we discovered is that EDD's fraud reporting system has a specific pathway for SDI identity theft that's different from regular unemployment fraud. Here's what's been working for us so far: 1. Use the SDI-specific fraud report form at: edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/Report_Fraud/ (not the general EDD fraud portal) 2. For San Bernardino specifically, there's also a regional SDI investigator you can reach at (909) 383-4680 - this number is less busy than the main lines 3. When you file the police report, make sure to specifically mention "State Disability Insurance fraud" - apparently this triggers a different process than general identity theft 4. Keep trying to access the account periodically - sometimes the fraudulent accounts get automatically purged by EDD's system after fraud reports are filed We're still in the middle of resolving it, but the SDI investigator was way more helpful than the general EDD reps we talked to initially. They actually seemed to understand the specific technical issues with the SDI Online system. Hope this helps and that you get it sorted out quickly! The whole situation is incredibly stressful when you legitimately need the benefits.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating when you need legitimate benefits but can't even start the application process due to fraud. I went through something similar with my unemployment claim last year. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to check if your partner received any EDD debit cards in the mail that he didn't apply for. Sometimes that's the first sign people notice that someone has been filing fraudulent claims in their name. The fraudsters often have the cards sent to the victim's address initially before trying to redirect mail. Also, when you do get through to EDD (whether by phone or in person), ask them to put a "high priority" flag on the case since your partner has an active medical condition requiring SDI benefits. I've heard this can help expedite the fraud resolution process. The combination of going to the Hospitality Lane office in person early in the morning AND calling that SDI investigator number that Sean mentioned seems like your best strategy. Bring copies of everything - medical documentation showing why he needs SDI, employment records, multiple forms of ID, and any correspondence you've received. This whole situation is a nightmare, but it sounds like you have a solid plan now with all the great advice in this thread. Hang in there!

This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing advice! I just wanted to add one more resource that helped me when I dealt with EDD identity theft earlier this year. If you're having trouble getting through to the numbers mentioned above, you can also try contacting the EDD Director's office directly at (916) 654-8210. They have a small team that handles escalated fraud cases, and while they don't take many calls, they sometimes can fast-track urgent situations like yours where someone needs legitimate SDI benefits but can't apply due to fraudulent accounts. Also, when you go to the San Bernardino office on Hospitality Lane, ask to speak with a "Fraud Resolution Specialist" specifically - not just any representative. They have specialized staff who handle these identity theft cases and they're much better equipped to actually purge the fraudulent account from the system rather than just documenting the issue. One last tip: if your partner's employer offers any kind of employee assistance program (EAP), they sometimes have resources or contacts that can help navigate EDD issues faster. Some larger employers actually have direct relationships with EDD for their employees' disability claims. Good luck with everything - this thread shows just how common this problem has become, but also that there are definitely pathways to resolution!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding EDD identity theft issues! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - my mom tried to apply for SDI benefits last week and got the exact same "email already in use" error, even though she's never applied for any EDD benefits before. Reading through all these responses has given me a much clearer action plan than the generic advice we got when we called the main EDD line. I'm definitely going to try that SDI investigator number (909) 383-4680 that Sean mentioned, and we're planning to go to the Hospitality Lane office early Monday morning with all our documentation. One question though - has anyone had success getting the fraudulent account removed completely, or do they just flag it and let you create a new one? I'm worried about ongoing issues even after we get this initial problem resolved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific contact information. It's terrible that this is so common, but at least there's a community here helping each other navigate this mess!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely maddening when you need legitimate benefits but can't even access the system! I actually work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate government benefits, and unfortunately EDD identity theft has become epidemic-level common since 2020. A few things that might help based on what I've seen work for our clients: 1. When you file that police report, ask for multiple copies - EDD often "loses" documentation and you'll need to resubmit 2. If you have any old tax returns or W-2s showing your partner's legitimate employment history, bring those to prove he wasn't collecting benefits elsewhere during those years 3. The San Bernardino office actually has a "fraud intake specialist" who works Tuesday-Thursday mornings - if you can get there on one of those days, you're more likely to get someone who really knows the fraud resolution process 4. Keep a detailed log of every call, every person you speak with, and their employee ID numbers if possible - this documentation becomes crucial if the case drags on The fact that the system can't verify his identity is actually a good sign for proving fraud - it means the scammer likely provided fake details that don't match official records. EDD knows this is a red flag for fraudulent accounts. Hang in there - this is fixable, just frustrating to get through the bureaucracy!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stressful situation! As someone who just went through a very similar EDD identity theft case a few months ago, I wanted to share what ultimately worked for me. The combination of going in person AND having the right documentation made all the difference. Here's my specific experience: 1. I went to the San Bernardino office on Hospitality Lane around 7:15 AM on a Tuesday (based on the fraud intake specialist schedule mentioned above) and was seen by 10 AM 2. Brought a "fraud affidavit" that I downloaded and notarized beforehand from EDD's website - this seemed to speed things up significantly 3. Had my partner call that SDI investigator number (909) 383-4680 the same day I was there in person - apparently having both channels working simultaneously helped flag it as urgent 4. The key phrase that got results: I told them I needed to "request a complete SSN purge and system reset due to fraudulent account creation" - this seemed to trigger the right process The whole thing was resolved in about 10 business days, which was way faster than I expected based on horror stories I'd heard. The fraud specialist was actually really knowledgeable and walked me through exactly what had happened (someone had filed a fake PUA claim in 2021 using my info that got rejected, but it left my email/SSN locked in their system). Don't lose hope - this is definitely solvable! The fact that you have all this great advice from the community here puts you way ahead of where I was when I started this process.