EDD account login locked - can't remember last payment amount for identity verification
Guys I'm totally freaking out right now. I tried logging into my EDD account today to check on something and it's asking me security questions I can't remember! It wants the exact date AND amount of my last payment for verification, but it's been months since I got any unemployment money. I don't have any of my old EDD paperwork (long story, had to move suddenly) and I don't have those payment emails anymore. Has anyone dealt with this? Is there ANY way to get back into my account without this info? I tried the password reset option but it still asks for these payment details I don't have. I'm worried because I might need to reopen my claim soon if my new job doesn't work out (already having issues with my boss).
34 comments


Landon Flounder
same thing happend to me last month!! so frustrating. u need to call them directly, theres literally no other way around it
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Jacinda Yu
•Ugh, seriously? Their phone system is impossible! I tried calling yesterday and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message before it hung up on me.
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Callum Savage
This security measure was implemented to reduce fraud. You have three options: 1. Check your bank statements for the exact deposit amount and date if you had direct deposit 2. Look through your mail for any EDD payment notices (they send physical notices even if you opted for electronic communication) 3. Call EDD directly at 1-800-300-5616 to verify your identity through a representative Option 3 is your best bet since you don't have your records. Be prepared with your Social Security number, California ID/driver's license, and address history.
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Jacinda Yu
•Thank you for the detailed info! My bank only shows statements going back 6 months and my last payment was before that. And like I said, I don't have any of my mail from back then. Guess I have to somehow get through on the phone... ðŸ˜
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Ally Tailer
I had this exact issue in January and literally spent DAYS trying to get through on that stupid phone system. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep was able to verify my identity another way and reset my account access. Worth it to avoid the calling nightmare.
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Aliyah Debovski
•is that service legit? sounds sketchy to me
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Jacinda Yu
•This sounds like exactly what I need! I've already wasted hours trying to get through. Did you have to wait long once they connected you? And was the rep able to help without you knowing the last payment info?
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Miranda Singer
There's actually another solution that might work - have you checked if you can access your EDD payment history through the Money Network/Bank of America portal instead? Sometimes the payment card website has a separate login system that doesn't require the same verification steps as UI Online. If you had payments going to the EDD debit card, try logging into that account first to retrieve your payment history.
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Jacinda Yu
•I had direct deposit, not the debit card. So I don't think that would work for me? Unless I'm misunderstanding something about how it works.
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Miranda Singer
•Ah, you're right. If you had direct deposit only, then the Money Network option won't help in your case. Your best option is definitely to speak with an EDD representative directly who can verify your identity through other means and help you regain access to your account.
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Cass Green
I went through this EXACT nightmare scenario last year! The whole security system is ridiculous - they expect us to remember exact dollar amounts from months or years ago?!? Even with my bank statements I had trouble because the deposit showed a different amount than what EDD had in their system (some tax withholding issue). I finally got through after calling 37 TIMES over 3 days. The rep I spoke with was actually really nice and helped me reset everything after verifying my identity other ways. She said they get these calls constantly because so many people can't remember the exact payment details. Just keep trying the phone, unfortunately. Best times to call are right when they open at 8am or around 4pm. Avoid midday when everyone's calling.
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Jacinda Yu
•37 times?! There's no way I can do that with my work schedule. I'm going to try that Claimyr service the other person mentioned. But thanks for confirming that once you DO reach someone, they can actually help. That's reassuring at least.
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Finley Garrett
not to change the subject but make sure ur prepared in case u need to reopen ur claim. they make u do a phone interview for almost everyone these days if u reopen a claim & the waiting period for those interviews is like 2-3 weeks right now. my friend just went thru this. just giving u a heads up since u mentioned ur job situation
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Jacinda Yu
•Oh man, I didn't know about the interview thing. That's good to know - hopefully I won't need to reopen but my boss is already cutting my hours way below what was promised. Ugh, the EDD system is such a pain!
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Ally Tailer
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get your account access issue resolved? I'm curious if you tried Claimyr or found another solution.
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Jacinda Yu
•YES! I used Claimyr yesterday and it worked perfectly! Got connected to a rep in about a half hour. She asked me some identity verification questions (address history, employer info, etc.) and was able to reset my security questions. I'm back in my account now and can see all my payment history. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Luca Esposito
•That's awesome! Glad Claimyr worked out for you. I was skeptical at first but sounds like it really does save time compared to calling endlessly. Good to know for future reference if I ever get locked out of my account too.
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CosmicCrusader
This is such a common issue! I'm a newcomer here but I've been dealing with EDD for months. One thing that might help in the future - screenshot or save your payment confirmations when you receive them, and keep a simple spreadsheet with payment dates and amounts. I learned this the hard way after getting locked out twice. Also, if you end up needing to reopen your claim, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready (pay stubs, separation notice, etc.) because they'll ask for everything during that interview process. The whole system is designed to be difficult but once you know the workarounds it gets easier to navigate. Glad you got back in with Claimyr! That's definitely going in my bookmarks for future reference.
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Sophia Nguyen
•Great advice about keeping records! I definitely learned my lesson the hard way too. One more tip - I set up email alerts for all my EDD correspondence now so everything gets saved automatically to my inbox. Never want to go through that stress again of being locked out when you actually need access to your account!
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Dmitry Popov
As someone who just went through a similar account lockout situation last week, I can definitely relate to the panic! One additional tip that helped me before I had to call - try checking if you have any old text messages from EDD. They sometimes send payment notifications via SMS that include the amount and date. I found one buried in my messages from 8 months ago that had exactly what I needed for the security questions. Also, if you're planning to keep your EDD account active for potential future use, consider setting up a simple note in your phone with key details like your last payment date/amount, claim balance, etc. right after you get back in. I wish someone had told me this earlier - would have saved me hours of stress! Really glad to see you got it resolved with Claimyr though. That service sounds like a game-changer for dealing with EDD's phone system nightmare.
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Jayden Reed
•That's such a smart tip about checking old text messages! I never would have thought of that. I actually did find a few EDD texts when I went back through my messages, but unfortunately they were just generic "your payment has been processed" notifications without the specific amounts. Still good to know for others who might be in this situation though! And yes, I'm definitely keeping better records now. Already made a note in my phone with my current claim details and set up a folder in my email just for EDD stuff. This whole experience taught me that the EDD system basically assumes you'll remember everything perfectly forever, which is totally unrealistic.
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DeShawn Washington
Wow, reading through this whole thread has been so helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - got locked out of my EDD account yesterday when trying to check on an old claim. Like you, I can't remember the exact payment details they're asking for. I tried calling the regular EDD number this morning and got disconnected after being on hold for 2 hours. Definitely going to try Claimyr based on all the positive feedback here - seems like it's worth the cost to avoid the phone system nightmare. One question for anyone who's used it - do they charge you even if they can't get you connected, or only if they successfully reach an EDD rep? Want to make sure I understand how their service works before signing up. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! This community is such a lifesaver for navigating the EDD maze.
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StarGazer101
•Hey DeShawn! Welcome to the community - you're definitely in the right place for EDD help. From what I understand about Claimyr (though I haven't used it personally yet), they typically only charge if they successfully connect you to a rep. But I'd double-check their terms before signing up just to be sure. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening! I'm pretty new to dealing with EDD myself, but it's clear that keeping detailed records is absolutely crucial. The fact that they expect you to remember exact payment amounts from months ago is honestly ridiculous. Hope you get your account access sorted out quickly! Let us know how it goes with Claimyr if you end up trying it - always helpful to hear more success stories (or warnings if it doesn't work out).
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Jacob Lee
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! I was locked out for almost 3 weeks before I figured out a solution. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you happen to have filed taxes last year and claimed unemployment income, your tax software might have saved the 1099-G form from EDD that shows your total payments for the year. It won't give you the exact date/amount of your last payment, but it could help you narrow down the timeframe if you have any bank records at all. Also, pro tip for anyone reading this - EDD sometimes sends duplicate payment notices to your mailing address even if you opted for electronic delivery. Check with family/roommates or previous addresses if you moved recently. I found an old payment stub in a box I hadn't unpacked that saved me! Really glad Claimyr worked for you though @Jacinda Yu - I ended up having to call 50+ times before getting through the regular way. Definitely bookmarking that service for any future issues. The EDD phone system is absolutely broken and it's ridiculous that we need third-party services just to talk to them!
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Freya Collins
•That's a really great point about the 1099-G forms! I totally forgot about that - I did file taxes last year and claimed my unemployment benefits. I should check if TurboTax saved a copy of that form. Even if it doesn't have the exact payment details I need, it might help me piece together the timeline. The duplicate payment notice tip is interesting too. I moved in a hurry last year so there might be some mail still going to my old place. Worth asking my former landlord if anything's been sitting there. It's honestly crazy that we need to jump through all these hoops just to access our own accounts! 50+ calls is insane - I'm definitely grateful for services like Claimyr existing, even though it shouldn't be necessary. Thanks for sharing all these additional tips @Jacob Lee!
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Natalie Khan
Just stumbled upon this thread while searching for EDD help and wow, what a journey! As someone who's relatively new to the California unemployment system, this whole conversation has been incredibly educational. The fact that so many people run into this exact same account lockout issue really shows how flawed their security verification system is. I'm actually bookmarking this entire thread because there's so much useful information here - from the Claimyr service recommendation to all the creative ways people found their old payment info (checking tax forms, old text messages, even duplicate mail at previous addresses). It's like a masterclass in navigating EDD bureaucracy! @Jacinda Yu glad you got everything sorted out! Your experience gives me hope that if I ever run into this issue, there are actual solutions available. And thanks to everyone who shared their tips and experiences - this community is amazing for helping each other through these frustrating government systems. One quick question for the group - is there a recommended frequency for logging into your EDD account to avoid it getting locked for inactivity? I want to make sure I don't accidentally trigger any security measures down the line.
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Bruno Simmons
•Hey @Natalie Khan! Welcome to the community! I'm pretty new here too and this thread has been such a goldmine of information. From what I've gathered from other posts in this community, there isn't really a set "inactivity timeout" that locks your EDD account - the security questions usually get triggered when they detect suspicious login attempts or if you're accessing from a new device/location. That said, I'd probably recommend checking in every few weeks just to stay familiar with your account details and make sure everything looks right. Plus it gives you a chance to screenshot or save any important info while it's fresh! The biggest takeaway for me from this whole thread is definitely the importance of keeping records. I'm already setting up a dedicated folder for all my EDD documents and thinking about creating a simple spreadsheet with key dates and amounts. Better to be over-prepared than go through what @Jacinda Yu and others experienced! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories here - it s'really reassuring to know there are solutions when the system inevitably fails us!
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Liam Duke
As someone who just joined this community, I have to say this entire thread is incredibly valuable! I'm currently dealing with my first EDD claim and honestly, reading about everyone's experiences with account lockouts has me a bit paranoid about keeping better records from the start. The fact that @Jacinda Yu was able to resolve this through Claimyr is really encouraging - I had never heard of that service before but it sounds like a lifesaver given how impossible EDD's phone system seems to be. The tips about checking old text messages, tax forms, and even duplicate mail are brilliant too. It's amazing how creative people have to get just to access their own accounts! I'm definitely going to implement some of the prevention strategies mentioned here - setting up a dedicated EDD folder, keeping screenshots of payment info, and maybe even that spreadsheet idea someone mentioned. It's ridiculous that we have to do all this just because EDD's security system expects perfect memory of details from months or years ago, but better safe than sorry! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This community is such a great resource for navigating these bureaucratic nightmares. Hopefully I'll never need these tips, but it's reassuring to know there are ways to get help if I do run into trouble down the line.
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Alejandro Castro
•Welcome to the community @Liam Duke! You're definitely smart to be thinking about prevention right from the start. I wish I had been that proactive when I first started my EDD claim - would have saved me so much stress later on! One thing I'd add to all the great record-keeping tips mentioned here is to also save any confirmation emails you get when you certify for benefits. Those emails often have useful reference numbers and dates that could be helpful if you ever need to verify your identity with a rep. I learned this the hard way after accidentally deleting a bunch of important EDD emails during a "inbox cleanup" session. Also, if you do end up needing to contact EDD for any reason, don't be discouraged if the first few attempts don't work out. This whole thread shows that persistence (and sometimes creative solutions like Claimyr) really do pay off eventually. The system is frustrating but there are always ways through it with the right approach and community support like we have here!
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
This thread is incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm completely new here and to the EDD system in general, but I'm already taking notes on all these prevention tips. The idea that they expect you to remember exact payment amounts from months ago is honestly mind-blowing. I'm particularly interested in the Claimyr service mentioned by @Ally Tailer - has anyone else here used it successfully? The fact that multiple people had to call 30-50+ times just to reach a human is absolutely insane. It's ridiculous that we need third-party services to access basic government benefits, but if it works, it works! Also really appreciate all the creative solutions people found - checking old texts, tax forms, even asking previous landlords about mail. Shows how resourceful this community is when dealing with bureaucratic nightmares. Definitely going to set up that dedicated EDD folder and spreadsheet system right away. Better to be over-prepared than locked out when you actually need access! @Jacinda Yu so glad you got everything resolved! Your story gives hope to anyone else who might face this same frustrating situation.
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Faith Kingston
•Welcome to the community @Fatima Al-Hashimi! I'm also pretty new here but this thread has been such an eye-opener about how broken the EDD system can be. The fact that so many people have had to deal with this exact same account lockout issue really shows there's a systemic problem with their security verification process. From what I've read here, Claimyr seems to have worked well for several people, though I haven't tried it myself yet. The testimonials from @Ally Tailer and @Jacinda Yu are pretty convincing, especially when the alternative is potentially calling dozens of times with no guarantee of getting through. I m definitely'following everyone s advice'about keeping meticulous records from day one. It s frustrating'that we have to essentially create our own backup system because EDD s verification'process is so rigid, but the peace of mind seems worth it. The spreadsheet idea combined with saving all emails and screenshots sounds like the way to go. Thanks to everyone who s shared'their experiences here - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these government benefit systems that seem designed to make our lives difficult!
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Dmitry Petrov
Just wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me when I faced this same issue a few months ago! If you have a local EDD office near you, sometimes walking in person can be way more effective than trying to call. I know not everyone has this option depending on location and office hours, but the staff there were able to help me reset my security questions after verifying my identity with my ID and Social Security card. The wait was about 2 hours, but still way better than the endless phone loop. They also gave me a printout with my recent payment history so I could write down the key details for future reference. Just another option to consider if Claimyr doesn't work out or if you prefer handling things in person. Really glad this thread exists - it's like having a survival guide for dealing with EDD's broken systems! The community support here is amazing.
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Tyler Lefleur
•That's such a great point about visiting in person @Dmitry Petrov! I completely forgot that EDD offices even exist since everything seems to be online these days. For people who are struggling with the phone system and maybe can't afford services like Claimyr, walking into a local office sounds like it could be a real lifesaver. The 2-hour wait is definitely annoying but probably still less stressful than calling dozens of times and getting disconnected. Do you happen to know if all EDD offices can help with account lockout issues, or are there specific locations that handle different types of problems? I'm asking as someone who's completely new to this system and trying to learn all the available options before I potentially need them. The printout with payment history is brilliant too - having those details written down officially would prevent this whole situation from happening again! Thanks for adding another solution to this already incredibly helpful thread. It's amazing how many different ways people have found to work around EDD's frustrating systems.
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Ethan Taylor
Wow, this entire thread has been such a learning experience! As someone completely new to both this community and dealing with EDD, I'm honestly shocked at how many people have faced this exact same account lockout nightmare. The fact that EDD expects perfect recall of payment details from months ago is absolutely ridiculous - who remembers exact dollar amounts that far back?! I'm taking detailed notes on all the solutions mentioned here. The Claimyr service sounds amazing based on everyone's success stories, and I had no idea that visiting EDD offices in person was even an option anymore. The creative workarounds people found (old text messages, tax forms, duplicate mail) really show how resourceful this community is when dealing with broken government systems. Already setting up my "EDD survival kit" based on all the prevention tips shared here - dedicated email folder, spreadsheet with key details, screenshots of everything important. It's sad that we need to create these elaborate backup systems just to access our own benefits, but better safe than sorry! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. @Jacinda Yu your success story gives real hope, and @Dmitry Petrov the in-person office tip is brilliant! This community is such an invaluable resource for navigating these bureaucratic mazes.
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