EDD UI Online account setup error - info doesn't match their records

The exact same thing happened to me in January! The problem is likely with how you're entering your personal information. Here are some specific things to check: 1. Make sure you're using your full legal name EXACTLY as it appears on your award letter (including middle initial if present) 2. Don't use any special characters or hyphens in your SSN 3. If you moved recently, try your previous address 4. Make sure you're using the correct EDD Customer Account Number from your award letter (not your claim ID) If none of that works, unfortunately you DO need to speak with an actual tech support person. Regular EDD reps can't help with account setup issues.

r u using the right website? theres like 3 different edd login pages & they all look the same. make sure ur on ui.edd.ca.gov not benefits.edd.ca.gov or the regular edd site

This is a common UI Online registration issue that's been happening a lot recently. The system is extremely picky about exact matching. A few things to try: 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies completely 2. Try a different browser altogether 3. Wait 24-48 hours - sometimes there's a delay between when your claim is processed and when the system allows registration 4. If your name has special characters (apostrophes, hyphens), try with AND without them If none of that works, you absolutely need to speak with someone in the technical support department. The general EDD phone lines won't be able to help with this specific issue. Unfortunately, the tech support line is just as overloaded as the regular lines.

I had this EXACT problem!!!! The EDD system is GARBAGE! They approved me, sent me money, then wouldn't let me make an account. Makes NO SENSE!!! I tried calling for TWO WEEKS straight and never got through. Just busy signals and disconnects. The whole system needs to be thrown out and rebuilt from scratch.

@confusedabouttech yeah I did but only because I literally called 47 times in one day. Finally got through around 3:30pm. The rep told me my birthday was entered wrong in their system (off by ONE DAY) even though all my paperwork had the correct date. Such a stupid system.

I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to EDD when I had almost the exact same problem. They basically call EDD for you and then connect you when they get through. Saved me days of frustration. The website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The tech support person I finally reached told me there was a flag on my account because my name on my driver's license has my middle name, but my SSN record didn't include it. Such a minor thing but it completely blocked me from registering. They fixed it in like 2 minutes once I actually reached someone.

This is so common with EDD it's ridiculous. When I filed back in 2023, I had to mail in paper certifications for the first MONTH before they fixed my online access. Make sure you have paper certification forms as backup just in case. You can download Form DE 4581 from the EDD website to certify by mail until you get this sorted out. Also, don't forget you can also certify by phone using EDD Tele-Cert at 1-866-333-4606. It's a pain, but at least you won't miss certifications while trying to get your online access working.

The phone system is more limited - you can't report detailed work search activities or get the same level of confirmation. But it works for basic certification. Just make sure you write down the confirmation number they give you at the end of each call!

UPDATE: I tried the Claimyr service and it ACTUALLY WORKED! Got connected to a tech support person in about 30 minutes. Turns out there was an issue with how my name was entered in their system - there was an extra space after my last name that I obviously couldn't see. The rep fixed it instantly and I was able to create my UI Online account right after hanging up. Such a stupid technical issue but I'm so relieved it's fixed! Thanks everyone for your help!

good 2 hear! EDD computers r so bad lol. my cousin had same thing happen but his middle name was spelled wrong

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where I can't get into my UI Online account even though I've been receiving benefits for weeks. It's incredibly frustrating that EDD's system can process payments but then can't recognize the same information for account registration. The fact that it's often tiny formatting issues like extra spaces or middle name discrepancies is ridiculous - their system should be able to handle basic variations in how names are entered. Thanks for sharing the Claimyr service recommendation and the phone certification backup option. It's sad that we need third-party services to access our own benefits, but at least there are workarounds while EDD continues to struggle with basic technology.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to set up my UI Online account for over a week with the same "information doesn't match" error. Like you, I'm getting payments just fine, so clearly they have my info somewhere in their system. It's absolutely maddening that their own computers can't talk to each other. Reading through this thread gives me hope though - sounds like it's almost always some tiny formatting issue on their end. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since calling EDD directly seems impossible. The idea of having to mail paper forms in 2025 is just absurd. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this technical hell!

This whole thread perfectly captures the EDD technical nightmare! I'm dealing with a slightly different but related issue - I CAN log into my UI Online account, but every time I try to certify, it kicks me out with a "session expired" error after I've filled out everything. It's like their system is designed to frustrate us at every possible step. What really gets me is that these aren't complex technical problems - they're basic data matching and session management issues that any competent web developer could fix. But instead of investing in proper IT infrastructure, we're all stuck playing detective trying to figure out invisible formatting problems or relying on third-party services just to access our own benefits. For anyone still struggling with the original account setup issue, I'd also suggest trying to register at different times of day. I've noticed EDD's systems seem slightly more stable early in the morning (like 6-8 AM) when fewer people are trying to use them. Not a guarantee, but might be worth a shot before paying for callback services. The fact that we need threads like this just to navigate basic government services is honestly embarrassing for California. We deserve better than this technological trainwreck.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying for 3 days straight to create my UI Online account and getting that same "information doesn't match" error. Like everyone else here, I'm receiving my benefit payments just fine, so obviously EDD has my correct information somewhere in their system. What's really frustrating is that I work in IT and I can see exactly what's happening - their registration system and payment system aren't properly synced, and their data validation is way too strict for normal variations in how people enter their information. It's a classic case of poor system integration. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Caleb Stone recommended since calling EDD directly seems impossible. Has anyone had success with the early morning registration tip that @Keisha Jackson mentioned? I might try hitting their system right at 6 AM tomorrow before the daily traffic hits. It's honestly embarrassing that California's unemployment system is this broken in 2025. We shouldn't need third-party services and community forums just to access basic government benefits. But thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - at least we can help each other navigate this technical disaster!

This thread is incredibly helpful for anyone dealing with EDD's broken account registration system! I'm currently stuck in the exact same situation - approved for benefits, receiving payments, but can't create my UI Online account because of the "information doesn't match" error. What strikes me most about reading everyone's experiences is how these are all preventable technical issues that could be easily fixed with proper system design. Extra spaces in name fields, missing middle initials, systems not syncing between departments - these are basic data handling problems that any decent web developer could resolve. I'm going to try the early morning registration approach first (thanks @Keisha Jackson for that tip!), and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely look into the Claimyr service that @Caleb Stone recommended. It's frustrating that we need to pay a third party to access our own government benefits, but it sounds like it's the most reliable solution right now. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd recommend having those backup certification methods ready (@Daniel Price's suggestions about phone cert at 1-866-333-4606 and paper forms) so you don't miss deadlines while fighting with their system. It's ridiculous that in 2025 we're still talking about mailing paper forms for unemployment benefits, but at least there are options. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - this community support is invaluable when dealing with EDD's technical disasters!