EDD UI Online registration error: "you must have registered before" - but I'm a first-timer!
I'm totally confused trying to set up my EDD UI Online account for the first time. I got laid off last week (tech company downsizing), filed my initial claim by phone on Tuesday, and now I'm trying to register for UI Online. But every time I enter my info, I get this weird message saying "you must have registered before" to access the system. How does that make any sense? I'm literally trying to register for the first time! I double-checked all my personal info, SSN, EDD Customer Account Number from my paperwork, but keep hitting this wall. Do I need to wait longer after filing my initial claim? Has anyone else faced this strange catch-22 situation? I need to get this set up ASAP so I can certify when the time comes!
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Lucas Parker
yea its super annoying. u gotta wait til u get ur official paperwork in the mail with ur EDD customer account number. took me like 10 days to get that. system is dumb, u cant register online until they send u the thing that lets u register online lol
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Katherine Hunter
•Oh jeez, 10 days?! But I already have my EDD Customer Account Number from when I called. The rep gave it to me over the phone and I wrote it down. That's not enough?
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Donna Cline
This is actually a common issue with new UI Online registrations. There are a few possible explanations: 1. The system needs 24-48 hours to process your initial claim before allowing online registration 2. The EDD Customer Account Number you received verbally might not be fully activated in their system yet 3. There could be a mismatch between how your name/SSN was entered in the phone claim versus how you're entering it online I'd recommend waiting until tomorrow and trying again. Make sure you're using the exact same format for your name as on your Social Security card (including middle initial if applicable). If you still get the error after 48 hours, call the technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 rather than the regular claim line.
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Katherine Hunter
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'll wait until Friday morning and try again. I was putting in my middle name instead of just the initial, so maybe that's the problem. Really appreciate the help!
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Harper Collins
I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!!! I was ready to throw my laptop out the window. What fixed it for me was clearing my browser cache and using a different browser (switched from Chrome to Firefox). For some reason the EDD website is SUPER picky about browsers and cookies. Also make sure you're not using autofill - type everything manually. The website is total garbage honestly.
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Katherine Hunter
•I'll definitely try a different browser! I was using Safari, so maybe Firefox will work better. And good point about autofill - I was letting it populate some fields. Will turn that off and try again, thanks!
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Kelsey Hawkins
There's a timing issue at play here. The EDD system needs to fully process your claim in their mainframe before the UI Online registration will recognize your information. Even though you have your Customer Account Number, there's a delay between when your claim is filed and when all systems recognize it. The most reliable approach is: 1. Wait 3-5 business days after filing your initial claim 2. Use Microsoft Edge or Firefox (their site has known issues with other browsers) 3. Try registration early morning or late evening when server load is lower 4. Enter your name EXACTLY as it appears on your Social Security card 5. Use the format MM/DD/YYYY for any dates If you still have issues after trying these steps, you'll need to contact EDD directly.
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Dylan Fisher
i was stuck in this loop for THREE WEEKS last month!!! kept getting the same error over and over. called edd like 50 times and could never get through. was about to lose my mind. finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human at EDD. they have this system that holds your place in line so you don't have to keep calling back. saw their video demo (https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km) and decided to try it. got through to an agent in like 20 mins who fixed whatever was wrong with my account on their end. turns out there was a flag on my account because i had an old claim from 2021 that was confusing their system. agent removed the flag and i could register right away after that. might be worth a shot if waiting doesn't work.
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Edwards Hugo
•Is that service actually legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach EDD these days.
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Dylan Fisher
•yeah its legit, i was skeptical too but it actually worked. my roommate used it 2 weeks after me when she had problems with her certification. saved us both tons of frustration.
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Gianna Scott
Does anyone know if this same error happens with SDI claims too? I'm about to apply for disability and getting nervous after reading all these UI Online problems.
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Donna Cline
•SDI uses a different system called SDI Online. It has its own registration process and doesn't share these particular issues, though it has its own quirks. But that's really a separate topic from what the original poster is asking about.
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Gianna Scott
•Oh ok thanks for clarifying! Still learning all the differences between these programs.
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Katherine Hunter
Update: I waited 48 hours, cleared my cache, used Firefox instead of Safari, turned off autofill, and made sure to enter my name exactly as it appears on my SS card (with just middle initial). IT WORKED! I'm finally registered. Thanks everyone for your help! Now I just need to figure out the whole certification process...
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Kelsey Hawkins
•Great news! For certification, you'll get an email notification when it's time (usually every two weeks). Just log in, answer the questions truthfully, and submit. Make sure you report any work/earnings during the certification period. The first payment usually comes on a Money Network debit card that they'll mail to you, though you can set up direct deposit later.
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Faith Kingston
•Awesome, glad you got it sorted out! @Katherine Hunter Just a heads up - keep that Firefox browser for all your EDD stuff. I learned the hard way that switching browsers mid-process can sometimes log you out or cause weird glitches. Stick with what works! And yes, certification is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.
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Taylor To
Glad to see you got it working @Katherine Hunter! This is such a common issue that trips up so many first-time filers. For anyone else reading this thread who might be stuck on the same problem, here's a quick checklist based on what worked: 1. Wait at least 48 hours after filing your initial claim 2. Use Firefox or Microsoft Edge (avoid Chrome/Safari for EDD) 3. Clear browser cache and cookies completely 4. Turn off autofill and type everything manually 5. Enter name exactly as shown on Social Security card (middle initial only, not full middle name) 6. Try during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) The system architecture at EDD is pretty outdated and has all these weird timing delays between their phone system and online portal. It's frustrating but once you know the workarounds it's manageable. Save yourself the headache and don't try to rush the registration - patience really does pay off here!
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Arjun Kurti
•This is super helpful! I'm going to bookmark this thread for future reference. As someone who just started collecting unemployment myself, I wish I had seen this checklist earlier - would have saved me hours of frustration. The part about off-peak hours is especially good advice. I noticed the EDD site runs way smoother at like 7am compared to during lunch when everyone's trying to use it.
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Finley Garrett
•This checklist is gold! I'm saving this for when my sister applies next month. Quick question though - does the 48 hour wait time apply even if you file your claim on a Friday? Like should you wait until Tuesday to try registering online, or is it actually 48 business hours vs calendar hours?
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