EDD UI Online site freezing and timing out - can't certify for benefits
I've been trying to certify for my weekly unemployment benefits since Sunday but UI Online is completely broken! The page just keeps spinning and eventually times out. I've tried everything - cleared cache, used incognito mode, and even borrowed my girlfriend's laptop. No matter what I do, the certification page either freezes or crashes. I've tried Brave, Chrome, Firefox and even Safari (ugh). Nothing works! Has anyone else had this problem this week? My rent is due in 5 days and I NEED this payment. Is EDD having some kind of system outage? The status page says everything's normal but that's obviously not true. Any ideas on how to get through? Should I try calling or is there another way to certify when the website won't work?
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Carmen Ruiz
same here! been trying since monday morning and keep getting error messages or timeouts. super frustrating!!! 😡
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Yuki Yamamoto
•At least it's not just me. Have you tried calling them? I've been trying to get through but can't even get in the queue.
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Andre Lefebvre
This is a known issue that started around Sunday evening. According to what I've heard from an EDD rep, they're experiencing database connectivity problems that are affecting UI Online certification. They're working on it, but there's no official ETA. In the meantime, you do have options: 1. You can certify by phone using the EDD Tele-Cert system at 1-866-333-4606 2. You can request a paper certification form by calling the main EDD number 3. Most importantly, remember that you have 14 days to certify, so you still have time before it becomes a late certification Don't panic about your payment - once the system is back up or you certify through an alternative method, payments are typically processed within 24-48 hours.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Thank you! I'll try the Tele-Cert system right now. Do you know if there are any specific hours it operates? And will this delay my payment beyond the normal timeframe?
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Andre Lefebvre
•Tele-Cert is available 24/7, but it works best during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). As for payment timing, as long as you certify within your certification window, your payment shouldn't be delayed any more than the normal processing time once certification is complete. The system just needs your certification to trigger the payment process.
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Zoe Dimitriou
I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM last week!!! The site kept loading forever then giving me some error about "service unavailable". I tried calling EDD like 20+ times and NEVER got through - just the stupid "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then it hangs up. What finally worked was trying at like 4:30 AM when less people were on the system. Not ideal but at least I got it to work. Might be worth setting an alarm if you're desperate.
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QuantumQuest
•the early morning trick worked for me 2... got in at 5am yesterday after trying all afternoon with no luck
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Jamal Anderson
If you're struggling to connect with EDD about this issue, I'd recommend using Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last month when the site wasn't working and I needed to speak with an agent ASAP. Claimyr connected me to an EDD representative in about 12 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They can help you bypass the phone tree and actually get a real person. I was skeptical but their video demo showed exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Much better than setting 4am alarms or spending hours redialing!
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Yuki Yamamoto
•I've never heard of this service before. Did you actually talk to someone who was able to help with certification issues? I'm desperate at this point so willing to try anything.
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Jamal Anderson
•Yes, the agent I spoke with was able to manually process my certification over the phone. They verified my identity and then asked the same questions you'd answer online. The payment hit my account two days later. Just make sure to have your employment info ready when you call.
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Mei Zhang
hav u tried using ur phone instead of computer? sometimes the mobile site works when the regular site is down. at least thats what worked for me b4
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Yuki Yamamoto
•I tried that too, but got the same timeout error. The mobile site actually seemed to crash even faster than the desktop version for some reason.
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Liam McGuire
This has been happening periodically since EDD updated their systems last month. The database can't handle peak traffic periods, especially on Sunday and Monday when most people certify. Technically, you have three options for certification: 1. UI Online (when it's working) 2. EDD Tele-Cert: 1-866-333-4606 3. Paper DE 4581 form sent by mail When system outages occur, I always recommend calling the main EDD number (1-800-300-5616) to report the issue and ask them to make a note on your account about the technical difficulties. This creates a record in case your certification is delayed, which protects you from any potential penalties for late certification. For future reference, try to certify during off-peak hours (weekday evenings or very early mornings) to avoid these system issues.
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Carmen Ruiz
•does anyone know how long the paper certification takes to get processed once u mail it in? seems like it would take way longer than online
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Liam McGuire
•Paper certifications typically take 7-10 business days to process once received by EDD, compared to 24-48 hours for online certification. It's really a last resort option when all electronic methods fail. The processing time includes mail transit in both directions plus manual data entry by EDD staff.
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QuantumQuest
try using edge browser it worked 4 me when chrome didnt
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Yuki Yamamoto
UPDATE: I finally got through! I tried the Tele-Cert system like @profile2 suggested but it kept saying my information wasn't in the system (??). Then I tried logging in to UI Online at 5:30am this morning and it worked! The site was super slow but I managed to complete my certification before it crashed again. Thanks everyone for your help. For anyone else having this problem, definitely try early morning hours when traffic is lower. Now fingers crossed the payment comes through before my rent is due...
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